TonesTones's recent activity
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Comment on OpenAI says hundreds of thousands of ChatGPT users may show signs of manic or psychotic crisis every week in ~health.mental
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Comment on What the hell are we doing with hierarchical tags? in ~tildes
TonesTones Link ParentI just want to say I’m grateful for all the tagging that you and other members do. I think I speak for many when I say that I do not care that much about the details as long as they are internally...I just want to say I’m grateful for all the tagging that you and other members do. I think I speak for many when I say that I do not care that much about the details as long as they are internally consistent, and you all have been doing a great job with that.
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Comment on Changes to Advent of Code starting this December in ~comp.advent_of_code
TonesTones LinkI usually only make it 10-ish days anyway before getting burnt out or needing to focus on other things for the holidays. I hope that harder problems come earlier now! As an aside, I’m sure the...I usually only make it 10-ish days anyway before getting burnt out or needing to focus on other things for the holidays. I hope that harder problems come earlier now!
As an aside, I’m sure the advent of AI programming means that the global leaderboard was a lot less meaningful anyway.
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Comment on 'This is definitely my last TwitchCon': High-profile streamer Emiru was assaulted at the event, even as streamers have been sounding the alarm about stalkers and harassment in ~games
TonesTones Link ParentI see. I didn’t understand that it was a different incident. My best understanding is if the stalker sued, the bodyguard would have a legal defense if Emiru could show that she was legally...This is not the situation in the video, which is clearly assault and battery, but a previous a case. A known stalker was loitering around her.
I see. I didn’t understand that it was a different incident.
My best understanding is if the stalker sued, the bodyguard would have a legal defense if Emiru could show that she was legally assaulted: in CA, this would require a visible attempt to touch or harm her. (In other states, I believe you only need to reasonably fear being harmed for it to be assault.)
I don’t think a stalker just “standing” would constitute an attempt to touch or harm, so I’d agree that the bodyguard would have a hard time making a legal defense.
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Comment on 'This is definitely my last TwitchCon': High-profile streamer Emiru was assaulted at the event, even as streamers have been sounding the alarm about stalkers and harassment in ~games
TonesTones Link ParentObligatory I am not a lawyer, but I’m pretty sure that assualt and battery law is clear here in the U.S. (although each state has its own nuances). In general, one can use reasonable force to...Obligatory I am not a lawyer, but I’m pretty sure that assualt and battery law is clear here in the U.S. (although each state has its own nuances). In general, one can use reasonable force to protect themselves or someone else from imminent harm. Here, reasonable meaning equal or lesser force that the attacker is using, or force to the extent necessary to protect (I think, and I forget which one takes precedence).
I’m less sure about what the precendents and laws are for restraining someone else for a long period of time, but I am fairly confident those precedents have been clearly established for quite some time.
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Comment on Silksong should’ve came with a guide from developers in ~games
TonesTones Link ParentI 100% agree. I think these design criticisms are reasonable, but it’s clear Team Cherry is full of big fans of metroidvanias (the original Metroid games suffered from this “problem” too), and...I 100% agree. I think these design criticisms are reasonable, but it’s clear Team Cherry is full of big fans of metroidvanias (the original Metroid games suffered from this “problem” too), and this is definitely an intentional artistic choice and not an error.
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Comment on AI slop is killing our channel in ~tech
TonesTones LinkI’m not very convinced that the problem of “fake information” is that new to the age of AI. There are lots of great stories in the study if history about “facts” appearing from thin air. Searching...I’m not very convinced that the problem of “fake information” is that new to the age of AI. There are lots of great stories in the study if history about “facts” appearing from thin air. Searching for primary sources and then debating about the validity of those primary sources was my favorite part about the few history classes I did take.
I guess random stuff just being fabricated about today is new. Realistically, I think AI will just reinforce the practice of “trust trusted sources” that you see before the age of pictures and videos.
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Comment on Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without an online account in ~tech
TonesTones Link ParentAren’t online installs generally preferable for businesses? I’m not in IT, but afaik online installs make it way easier to do business device management at scale. In my experience, businesses use...Aren’t online installs generally preferable for businesses? I’m not in IT, but afaik online installs make it way easier to do business device management at scale. In my experience, businesses use Windows because of these policies (and price), not in spite of them.
I agree that this is consumer-hostile, and I’ll never have a Windows machine as my personal computer. I’m just hesitant to say that this is corporations “putting up with shit” rather than Microsoft giving them what they want.
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Comment on The hydrostatic paradox in ~science
TonesTones Link ParentI think the video was well-paced. I likely have a stronger background in physics than the average Youtube viewer, but I haven’t taken a fluid mechanics class so the second demonstration in the...I think the video was well-paced. I likely have a stronger background in physics than the average Youtube viewer, but I haven’t taken a fluid mechanics class so the second demonstration in the video was new to me. The video didn’t belabor one point but showed different applications of the same principle, which is a great educational technique.
I also think your perspective on education is a bit miscalibrated. Most high schoolers only ever make it to Physics 1, where force diagrams are first introduced. Many students in those classes likely couldn’t explain what’s going on here, especially in the second demonstration because of the implicit pressure gradient.
The video certainly is trivial to someone who has taken a introductory fluid mechanics class and is used to those forces, but I think that’s fewer people than you’d think.
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Comment on Introducing Kagi News in ~tech
TonesTones Link ParentIt’s worth pointing out that they only take what is publicly available on RSS. They are not scraping past paywalls or on websites. So, I wouldn’t consider it stealing in the same way that lots of...since Kite/Kagi News is based on other outlets’ output, with articles authored by typically human and thus typically opinionated writers, I’m not sure how sustainable the project can be long-term. Who pays for the pre-LLM work?
It’s worth pointing out that they only take what is publicly available on RSS. They are not scraping past paywalls or on websites. So, I wouldn’t consider it stealing in the same way that lots of LLM scrapers operate (except insofar as one believes all LLMS are trained on stolen data).
I agree the funding pathway is not obvious, but there’s certainly an incentive to fund publications if you want to push a certain perspective available. A place like the Guardian believes in free access and reader donations, and they might be willing to make content available via RSS to push their own reporting over someone else’s.
It’s also worth noting that providing content (like a summary) via RSS might make your website more likely to show up in the cited sources of Kagi’s feed, potentially driving clickrate.
I believe that news fundraising is already a problem in the age of social media and LLMs without something like Kagi News, and I don’t think this makes it worse.
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Comment on Spotify removed 75m spam tracks over the past year as artificial intelligence tools increase the ability of fraudsters to create fake music in ~music
TonesTones Link ParentAh, this explains some weird tracks I’ve noticed under artists I enjoy but clearly aren’t their music, especially on platforms that are not Spotify. I assumed it was just a case of shared artist...Ah, this explains some weird tracks I’ve noticed under artists I enjoy but clearly aren’t their music, especially on platforms that are not Spotify.
I assumed it was just a case of shared artist name and immature database practices, but track metadata fraud makes way more sense.
Verification does not seem that hard of a problem to solve, luckily.
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Comment on Announcing the seventh annual Tildes' Make Something Month (Timasomo)! in ~tildes
TonesTones Link ParentI’m curious. How much different music do you listen to? Are these structures of music that is already your favorite intended to tell a story, or are you constantly listening to new things to...I’m curious. How much different music do you listen to? Are these structures of music that is already your favorite intended to tell a story, or are you constantly listening to new things to gather for this project?
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Comment on Tiny co-living spaces are popping up across New York. Local communities see them as ‘harbingers of gentrification’. in ~life
TonesTones LinkSounds like a complicated situation. I read that there are historical NYC neighborhoods full of single-family or double-family homes, but developers are coming in to turn these homes into these...Sounds like a complicated situation. I read that there are historical NYC neighborhoods full of single-family or double-family homes, but developers are coming in to turn these homes into these co-living units to house many more people, thus making the same area of land much more profitable and responding to the housing shortage.
In turn, real estate companies see that and then raise rents to try and extract comparable value out of their properties. In the worst case, the tenants move out and they can redevelop into a multi-housing unit.
There’s really no winning here. Either you price historical residents out of their family home and businesses or you price new young residents out of finding a property. These kinds of shifts and cultural losses are inevitable as the tides of time roll forward and the demand passes from generation to generation. Appreciate what you have while it lasts.
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Comment on Why people embrace conspiracy theories: It's about community, not gullibility in ~life
TonesTones LinkWhen I was younger, I had an opportunity where I went to a new community where I knew nobody and had zero connection to my previous life. After a few months, I got to return back and restore those...When I was younger, I had an opportunity where I went to a new community where I knew nobody and had zero connection to my previous life. After a few months, I got to return back and restore those old connections, mostly leaving that new community behind.
When I returned, I was immediately and profoundly shocked that my time in the community had altered my behavior, my expectations of others, my attitude, and even my personality. In hindsight, that new community was pretty small, so it was likely hard to find people that “fit” with my previous behavior.
So, without my own awareness, I had adapted and altered pieces of myself to fit my new community for the sake of finding connection. This process was so subconscious that I think this adaptation to new communities is evolutionarily built into human beings.
It’s crazy to me how much we can change if it allows us to find a community. My own experience made me much more understanding of cults, religions, and political movements. I’m not surprised that people are willing to believe in conspiracy theories, sometimes outright rejecting their own sensory evidence, in order to preserve their sense of belonging.
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Comment on iOS 26 is here in ~tech
TonesTones LinkI’m not planning to upgrade. Apple’s in a weird spot because their stuff… works? I’m pretty happy with my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. I don’t need them to change. There are some things that would...I’m not planning to upgrade. Apple’s in a weird spot because their stuff… works? I’m pretty happy with my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. I don’t need them to change. There are some things that would be nice, like exposing some more settings programatically or making the OS a bit faster. Maybe some better organization options or third-party syncing for Messages.app?
However, there’s no glaring things that need upgrading. I don’t want change. Still, no company can rest on their laurels. Apple needs to show big, meaningful change. I’m just not sure that exists for them in the OS space anymore.
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Comment on Your phone already has social credit. We just lie about it. in ~finance
TonesTones Link ParentThis seems like the best we can do? I don’t see a reasonable alternative. (A) You are entitled to use Uber no matter what — not great for people who regularly harass drivers (B) You are entitled...This seems like the best we can do? I don’t see a reasonable alternative.
(A) You are entitled to use Uber no matter what — not great for people who regularly harass drivers
(B) You are entitled to use Uber unless some third-party deems it inappropriate — now they can just do the same denylisting with no oversight
(C) You are entitled to use Uber unless Uber doesn’t let you — very similar to B, except that Uber’s decisions are kept in check by Lyft, taxis, and other ridesharing services who want their business.It’d be nice if you could just say “You are allowed to use a service if and only if your use of that service will not be harmful” but in reality, someone somewhere will need to make that call.
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Comment on Your phone already has social credit. We just lie about it. in ~finance
TonesTones Link ParentAfter reading the article, I came here to post until I found that my perspective had already been said! I’d argue that reputation is one of the fundamental values of the human economy; it’s built...After reading the article, I came here to post until I found that my perspective had already been said! I’d argue that reputation is one of the fundamental values of the human economy; it’s built into every exchange. We pay brand premiums because of reputation. We hire and admit based on reputation.
Ironically, the author’s insight is precisely what they overlook. The fact that reputation is privatized is a good thing. It means that companies and people can go to a different party to regain reputation if they have lost it with one party.
The issue with social credit as a centralized measure is that can be used for consolidation of power. The government is not subject to the same market checks and balances. At the end of the day, humans can choose to do things or not do things. It’s better for that power to be in the hands of companies and individuals than with the government, who already has a monopoly on violence.
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Comment on Can AI rescue us from the mess of prior auth? in ~health
TonesTones Link ParentI wasn’t aware! That actually changes the article quite a bit. Because that implies if their insurance plan receives more funding, their profit maximum goes up. So the theoretical incentive is...Obamacare requires the "loss ratio" (the amount of premiums spent on medical care) for Medicare Advantage and larger insurance plans to be at least 85%. If they pay out less than that, the profits go to the government. So I imagine they'd try to get it to exactly 85%?
I wasn’t aware! That actually changes the article quite a bit. Because that implies if their insurance plan receives more funding, their profit maximum goes up. So the theoretical incentive is actually the opposite of what the article’s author claims: a fixed cap on benefits is also a fixed cap on profits for each plan. They would prefer to convince the government for more general funding.
I still believe that private health insurance should be strictly a non-profit endeavor. Although society could probably do just fine with a strong board enforcing antitrust measures on profit-based companies.
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Comment on Slay the Spire 2 Early Access delayed til March 2026 in ~games
TonesTones LinkHaha I feel very similar to StS2 as I do Monster Train 2. So much content in the original that I have yet to explore. Perhaps this is just an artifact of me having very little time to play games now.Haha I feel very similar to StS2 as I do Monster Train 2. So much content in the original that I have yet to explore. Perhaps this is just an artifact of me having very little time to play games now.
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Comment on Photo digitizing in ~tech
TonesTones LinkDepends if you have access to a scanning machine like a ScanSnap. It would not be worth buying one for this project (unless I’m dramatically underestimating the cost of the scanning service), but...Depends if you have access to a scanning machine like a ScanSnap. It would not be worth buying one for this project (unless I’m dramatically underestimating the cost of the scanning service), but if you don’t have a ScanSnap, I imagine scanning all those photos individually with a printer will take an eternity. If you do have access to a ScanSnap or similar, you could probably scan them all in a day.
My feeling are mixed on this. I’ve been concerned about AI psychosis for a few months, and I think the risk that chatbots pose to human relationships is much greater than the risk of superintelligence or mass unemployment, at least right now. I’m worried what it means for someone to choose to talk to ChatGPT over anyone else in their life.
However, it’s also worth noting that these statistics include people who are voicing these thoughts to ChatGPT without being prompted. I’m only just acknowledging there’s people who are unwilling to talk to anyone about their issues except for ChatGPT. I can see why an immediate response available at any time in a venue that seems private is very appealing to these people.
I despise that the technology is in the hands of a company that needs to deliver substantial returns to all of its investors. Yet it’s also true that their reach opens up an opportunity to help people or get earlier intervention in a lot of cases that would normally fall through the cracks.