Xenophanes's recent activity
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Comment on Heat death of the internet in ~tech
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Comment on An honest assessment of American rural white resentment is long overdue in ~misc
Xenophanes Link ParentI think that's a great comparison, and the lesson I take from it is: these changes are mostly generational, not individual. I grew up in a Catholic environment where homophobia was the norm and I...I think that's a great comparison, and the lesson I take from it is: these changes are mostly generational, not individual. I grew up in a Catholic environment where homophobia was the norm and I have never witnessed an adult changing their mind about this. Rather, many of those adults failed to convince their children because we had access to art and media that contained stronger arguments.
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Comment on An honest assessment of American rural white resentment is long overdue in ~misc
Xenophanes LinkI haven't read the book or the criticism of that book that this article is responding to, so I'm not sure whether they have a good point about the "scholars" they seem to be at war with. It all...I haven't read the book or the criticism of that book that this article is responding to, so I'm not sure whether they have a good point about the "scholars" they seem to be at war with.
It all seems kind of moot to me. America needs an honest assessment of rural white resentment to happen among rural whites themselves, and no amount of scholarly books or think pieces is going to reach them. They think you're a pedophilic satanist who wants to inject them with poison and brainwash their children to be gay.
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Comment on The small company at the center of ‘Gamergate 2.0’ in ~games
Xenophanes Link ParentI didn't say anything about a conspiracy, and I provided adequate proof of the claim that I did make. I didn't say this either. Why aren't you willing to engage with anything that I actually said?There’s no conspiracy here.
I didn't say anything about a conspiracy, and I provided adequate proof of the claim that I did make.
There’s no justification for attempting to create a targeted harassment campaign
I didn't say this either. Why aren't you willing to engage with anything that I actually said?
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
Xenophanes Link Parent...Sylvestor Stallone? It's almost like the intention was to disrespect her name....Sylvestor Stallone? It's almost like the intention was to disrespect her name.
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
Xenophanes Link ParentI can't wait to see the official gesture of Florida.I can't wait to see the official gesture of Florida.
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Comment on The small company at the center of ‘Gamergate 2.0’ in ~games
Xenophanes Link ParentIt's not that strange. The Steam curator list was not the beginning of this story, nor was it a one-off act by "some random Brazilian guy." It was part of an already growing movement amongst...It's not that strange. The Steam curator list was not the beginning of this story, nor was it a one-off act by "some random Brazilian guy." It was part of an already growing movement amongst "anti-woke" circles to target Sweet Baby. It was created on January 29th and here's a popular KIA post about SB from several months before that, which includes 4chan screenshots going back even farther.
It's true that Kindred embarassed himself and his company with a bad judgment call, but it's obvious why he did it. It's also obvious that this Gamergate is exactly the same as the old one: reactionary identity politics with a thin veneer of concern about games, ethics, or anything else.
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Comment on Canadian father asks court to stop 27-year-old daughter's MAID death, review doctors' sign-off in ~health
Xenophanes Link ParentI would not have said anything if it were just that, but you also said it was "the only concrete evidence" which is not true, because - again - 2 doctors approved the application (for reasons we...I would not have said anything if it were just that, but you also said it was "the only concrete evidence" which is not true, because - again - 2 doctors approved the application (for reasons we don't know).
I certainly didn't mean to imply that you were doing it "purposely" in the sense of malicuous intent. I assumed you were just playing a little fast and loose with words, as we all do sometimes.
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Comment on Canadian father asks court to stop 27-year-old daughter's MAID death, review doctors' sign-off in ~health
Xenophanes Link ParentNo one in the article claimed that there is "nothing wrong" with her, and we also know that 2 out of 3 doctors approved her application. I don't feel like I have enough information to say what...The only concrete evidence we have in this case is that a neurologist concluded their is nothing wrong with the patient and that she is "normal".
No one in the article claimed that there is "nothing wrong" with her, and we also know that 2 out of 3 doctors approved her application.
I don't feel like I have enough information to say what ought to be done here, but I don't see how misrepresenting the situation could be beneficial.
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Comment on Police bodycam shows sheriff hunting for 'obscene' books at library in ~books
Xenophanes Link ParentYour second link provides arguments from two librarians on each side of the question "Is labelling censorship?" and the "yes" argument is not at all convincing. A couple of highlights: Lists and...Your second link provides arguments from two librarians on each side of the question "Is labelling censorship?" and the "yes" argument is not at all convincing. A couple of highlights:
Many different elements may come into play: Perhaps the child is drawn to the book’s cover, or its artwork, or its main character. However, one factor that never enters into the “appeal equation” for a child is the book’s presence on a list of prescribed books.
Lists and labels are useful for finding things that have similar characteristics. Whether or not children find this concept exciting is completely irrelevant to the usefulness, and to censorship.
The problem is that a labeled collection creates opportunities for censorship.
So labeling isn't censorship, but can enable it. Ok? Having a home address allows the government to find you if they want to violate your rights, but if someone said "addresses are oppression" with a serious face... frankly, I would be embarrassed for them.
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Comment on CMV: Once civilization is fully developed, life will be unfulfilling and boring. Humanity is also doomed to go extinct. These two reasons make life not worth living. in ~talk
Xenophanes LinkSometimes I wonder if my brain is wired weird, because these sorts of inquiries that drive so many people to religion and what not just carry no weight at all for me. Life is worth living because...Sometimes I wonder if my brain is wired weird, because these sorts of inquiries that drive so many people to religion and what not just carry no weight at all for me.
Life is worth living because it feels good. Even if there were an ultimate cosmic purpose, and you somehow found out what it was, the only value it would add to your life is to make you feel good in a different way before you die anyway. So what is all this baggage for?
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Comment on Bioluminescent houseplant hits US market for first time in ~enviro
Xenophanes Link ParentI just ordered one. That is indeed fucked and I'm absolutely going to try to reproduce them anyway. I'm guessing that they are engineered not to seed (even though they do flower), but petunias can...I just ordered one. That is indeed fucked and I'm absolutely going to try to reproduce them anyway. I'm guessing that they are engineered not to seed (even though they do flower), but petunias can be grown from cuttings.
When asked whether Light Bio is worried about plant lovers sharing cuttings of the petunia with friends, Sarkisyan says that although the firm owns patents for the technology, it doesn’t plan to crack down aggressively on the behaviour. “The most positive way of dealing with it is to come up with new, better products,” he says.
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Comment on Destroying movies for fun and profit in ~movies
Xenophanes LinkFirst they came for Batgirl, and I said nothing because I'm not a manchild. Then they came for Scoob, and I said nothing because I'm not a literal child. Then they came for me, but I didn't even...And sure, you can say that you didn’t want to watch those movies anyways. Kid movies! Superheroes! Cartoons, yuck. I get it, you’re tough and cool. But one day, this will happen to something that you were looking forward to.
First they came for Batgirl, and I said nothing because I'm not a manchild. Then they came for Scoob, and I said nothing because I'm not a literal child. Then they came for me, but I didn't even notice because I only watch anime and old movies anyway.
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Comment on Joe Biden’s chances of US re-election are better than they appear in ~misc
Xenophanes Link ParentI'm struggling to think of things you could make up that would be worse than his actual behavior.I'm struggling to think of things you could make up that would be worse than his actual behavior.
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Comment on Frustrations with Cities Skylines 2 are starting to boil over among city builder fans and content creators alike in ~games
Xenophanes Link ParentYour feelings are coming through loud and clear, but that doesn't tell me what's wrong with the gameplay. City Skylines 1 was definitely a game with gameplay. I recall the most engaging part being...Your feelings are coming through loud and clear, but that doesn't tell me what's wrong with the gameplay. City Skylines 1 was definitely a game with gameplay. I recall the most engaging part being traffic management rather than any of the things you listed, but that seems like a style choice rather than a flaw to me.
I guess it doesn't matter though. I didn't buy it on release because I didn't feel like I needed a second game, and given all the negative response, I probably never will.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Xenophanes Link ParentGood gosh, Advance Wars 2 is a masterpiece. Dual Strike felt bloated after that perfect balance, and Days of Ruin was just plain ugly. Hopefully the series gets a little new life after the Switch...Good gosh, Advance Wars 2 is a masterpiece. Dual Strike felt bloated after that perfect balance, and Days of Ruin was just plain ugly. Hopefully the series gets a little new life after the Switch remake.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Xenophanes LinkI'm playing Against the Storm and it's a really outstanding city builder. Each town is a randomized 1-2 hour puzzle, making them feel like binge-able little snacks, but they're also steps in a...I'm playing Against the Storm and it's a really outstanding city builder. Each town is a randomized 1-2 hour puzzle, making them feel like binge-able little snacks, but they're also steps in a caravan route, so you always have long-term goals to work towards. Rewards for each town can also be plowed back into the capital city to unlock meaningful gameplay changes for a sense of rogue-lite global progression. Within each town you have to balance the demands of food, fuel, housing, industry, and exploration under constant pressure from the weather and random events, but it manages to avoid being either unfair or tedious by giving you as much agency as you care to take on - even allowing you to select your own objectives from procedurally generated options. The cartoonish world and idiosyncratic fantasy races also set a pleasant tone that reminds me of playing Warcraft 3 as a kid. Now that games are a service and fun has been rendered obsolete by seasonal battlepasses, it is an absolute delight to find a game that never takes my time or my effort for granted. 10/10 Instant classic.
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Comment on Why do hardly any straight men write about sex and dating? in ~life.men
Xenophanes Link ParentOf course not. I think you're accurately describing the difficult position that responsible men find themselves in when dating. My objection, again, is to the way you used the question "Where have...But do you think any of that is what I am advocating?
Of course not. I think you're accurately describing the difficult position that responsible men find themselves in when dating.
My objection, again, is to the way you used the question "Where have all the good men gone?" to claim that your position also benefits women. Women have different interests - much more pressing ones - when it comes to whether men feel comfortable approaching them.
You're assuming in your deal that a smaller dating pool somehow means the quality of it has gone up and the creeps aren't in it anymore
No, I am not at all. I'm saying that being approached less by men is good for women across the board, regardless of what sort of men you think they are. Your reasoning around all this seems to be based on unrealistically sharp divisions between good and bad men. I'm pretty sure most men (most people, in fact) fall into a middle category: well-intentioned, but morally lazy and willing to behave badly when there are no social consequences for it.
"I think some women cut off their husband's balls and then they wonder why they're not attracted to them anymore"
Respectfully, if that character's relationship is anywhere near what you're aiming for, then I can see why we disagree.
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Comment on Why do hardly any straight men write about sex and dating? in ~life.men
Xenophanes Link ParentSorry to jump on something a day later, but this seriously irks me every time I see it. I have personally never heard a woman ask where the good men have gone, except in the song "Holding Out for...your approach as a man is what then leads women to ask “Where have all the good men gone?”
Sorry to jump on something a day later, but this seriously irks me every time I see it.
I have personally never heard a woman ask where the good men have gone, except in the song "Holding Out for a Hero" and maybe some old movies written by men.
What I actually hear from the women in my life - when I listen to what they are most concerned about - is that they are consistently harassed by men in public places. Just when they start to think that maybe men have gotten better and they are safe in their own community, a man decides that's it's reasonable to cat-call them or follow them or cold open with a sexual proposition. I have a very small social circle, yet I know women who have been roofied and sexually assaulted. They have justified fears about going anywhere alone or at night, dressing they way they want, and saying "no" to men directly. I can't imagine how stifling, how smothering of the human spirit it must be to deal with these things every day of your life.
I'm not a woman and can't speak for them, but if I were I would gladly take a smaller dating pool in exchange for less harassment. That seems like a great deal. And that's assuming that women really are missing out on "good" men because they are browbeaten by feminism, which I don't accept without some real data.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~humanities
Xenophanes LinkPeter Adamson's "History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps" podcast is a good introduction to any of the schools or personalities in ancient philosophy, with an emphasis on how they fit into the...Peter Adamson's "History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps" podcast is a good introduction to any of the schools or personalities in ancient philosophy, with an emphasis on how they fit into the context before and after.
I must be one of those horrible pedants you're talking about, because I'm not seeing the problem. That page has about as much detail as I would expect from an encyclopedia, and I find it extremely helpful that Wikipedia entries tend to err on the side of skepticism.