bchall's recent activity
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Comment on The most forgotten rule of Tildes, and why I'm leaving in ~talk
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Comment on Transit union refuses to bring White nationalists to 'Unite the Right' rally in ~transport
bchall Link ParentI agree, this would have been a bad idea doing nothing but bolstering the cause of hate. The security issue is an important one -- the last thing you want is a physical confrontation on a moving...I agree, this would have been a bad idea doing nothing but bolstering the cause of hate. The security issue is an important one -- the last thing you want is a physical confrontation on a moving train or bus. I could see it being appropriate to position law enforcement on trains for this reason, but I don't think they should offer any special accomodation to these kind of events. If the UTR people want private transports to their rally, they should charter some busses like anyone else.
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Comment on How's your attention span? in ~talk
bchall Link Parent"Ugh" is right. Every time I catch myself I just kind of get disappointed that I couldn't hold my attention for 1 paragraph (or whatever). If I could complete my education just fine, why not this?..."Ugh" is right. Every time I catch myself I just kind of get disappointed that I couldn't hold my attention for 1 paragraph (or whatever). If I could complete my education just fine, why not this? I wonder if this phenomenon is more widespread, and if it affects schools in any way.
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Comment on How's your attention span? in ~talk
bchall LinkI've noticed this a lot more recently. I'll find a long-form article that I'm interested in and when I try to read it, my eyes just jump straight down the page. It seems like my brain is expecting...I've noticed this a lot more recently. I'll find a long-form article that I'm interested in and when I try to read it, my eyes just jump straight down the page. It seems like my brain is expecting the paragraphs to be absorbed far more quickly that is actually possible, to the point where I'll have scrolled the page farther than where I left off reading.
I've been a habitual reddit-reader for something like 7 years now and I suspect it has something to do with that. Not that reddit itself is inherently bad, but I think I may have "trained my brain" to read much shorter, broken up text rather than long works. I still read books and articles, but it doesn't come as naturally as perhaps it once did.
One of my goals with being on Tildes is to try and change that to some extent. I appreciate the focus on quality, longer form discussion where ideas have the opportunity for growth and development instead of being crowded out by predictable jokes and identical pun-threads.
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Comment on Posting AMP links in new topics? in ~tildes
bchall LinkI would prefer to avoid any mobile-specific link when posting a link topic, including AMP links. Posting m.website instead of just website forces desktop users to the mobile site in many cases....I would prefer to avoid any mobile-specific link when posting a link topic, including AMP links. Posting m.website instead of just website forces desktop users to the mobile site in many cases. Posting the "desktop" site allows the site itself to redirect to a mobile-specific page on a case-by-case basis, which I think is better for both types of users.
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Comment on What operating system do you use? in ~comp
bchall Link ParentFor what it's worth, I probably wouldn't buy one of their phones today. They don't have the best track record for customer service if someting goes wrong with it. When it comes time to get a new...For what it's worth, I probably wouldn't buy one of their phones today. They don't have the best track record for customer service if someting goes wrong with it. When it comes time to get a new phone, I would look into the ability to unlock it and install third-party ROMs on it, if that's something that interests you.
That's what's most important to me, anyway, because when the manufacturer stops supporting a phone with software updates most people have to buy a new phone to keep current. This phone is going on 4 years old now and I don't feel any immediate need to get a new phone since I've been able to keep the software current using LineageOS.
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Comment on What operating system do you use? in ~comp
bchall Link ParentEssentially, yes. My phone is a Oneplus One, which has an unlockable bootloader and a strong community building alternative versions of Android for it. At the moment, installing Android ROMs is...Essentially, yes. My phone is a Oneplus One, which has an unlockable bootloader and a strong community building alternative versions of Android for it. At the moment, installing Android ROMs is about the closest thing you can get to a custom OS on most phones.
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Comment on What operating system do you use? in ~comp
bchall LinkI've been using Arch for about the past 5 years now, and the installation on this machine has been going for about 3.5. I use i3wm as my window manager on a Thinkpad X220. It's a bit of a...I've been using Arch for about the past 5 years now, and the installation on this machine has been going for about 3.5. I use i3wm as my window manager on a Thinkpad X220. It's a bit of a stereotype, but the tiling functionality is a great fit, especially on the 1366*768 display.
On my phone, I use LineageOS with microG for the few apps that need Google's messenging service. Most of my applications come from F-Droid.
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Comment on GOP to Silicon Valley: Promote the far right or else in ~tech
bchall Link ParentI really hope the EFF can step in on this. I'm no big fan of Google, but I'm even less a fan of the GOP telling them how to operate. This kind of controlling step just reeks of authoritarian...I really hope the EFF can step in on this. I'm no big fan of Google, but I'm even less a fan of the GOP telling them how to operate. This kind of controlling step just reeks of authoritarian governments a la China, Russia, etc. And you can imagine this expanding from "Silicon Valley companies" to "online news companies" and beyond...
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Comment on Steve Bannon plans foundation to fuel far right in Europe in ~news
bchall Link ParentI think it's reassuring to see that there are so many people who are becoming more aware of the widening class inequalities and the methods that are being used to enforce those inequalities. I...I think it's reassuring to see that there are so many people who are becoming more aware of the widening class inequalities and the methods that are being used to enforce those inequalities. I think that the more people who are aware, the more likely it is that some kind of corrective action will be taken -- either by those at the top, or those at the bottom -- and the opportunity or environment for change will exist. I hope.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~talk
bchall Link ParentThe video made the important point that fascists, especially those of today, are great at marketing. Their alignment with Fox News, Breitbart, et. al. definitely helps in this regard. It seems...The video made the important point that fascists, especially those of today, are great at marketing. Their alignment with Fox News, Breitbart, et. al. definitely helps in this regard. It seems pretty evident that if antifascists want to be more effective against the false equivalency argument, they'll need to get good at marketing as well. Videos like this certainly help, but I can't imagine your average Joe watching a 1-hour Philosophy Tube video after work the same way one might come home and switch on Fox News.
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Comment on What is your favorite "drug", and why? in ~talk
bchall LinkRunning is definitely my "drug". I'm a student, so I spend a significant amount of time on or near my computer, on my phone, etc. Going for a run allows me to unplug from all that. I don't listen...Running is definitely my "drug". I'm a student, so I spend a significant amount of time on or near my computer, on my phone, etc. Going for a run allows me to unplug from all that. I don't listen to music or anything while I'm out, so my mind has space to breathe and think. It costs only my time, and because I hold a CDL for my job, doesn't run me the risk of losing my employment. Plus I enjoy the hell out of it, and the benefits I get from maintaining physical fitness are mroe than worth it.
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Comment on Daily Tildes discussion - thoughts about the site's activity level in ~tildes.official
bchall Link ParentDo you think it would be possible to have "low-quality" content quarantined within the site? For example, a ~funny or ~fluff. If people are more engaged with the site in general when that kind of...Do you think it would be possible to have "low-quality" content quarantined within the site? For example, a ~funny or ~fluff. If people are more engaged with the site in general when that kind of content is present, perhaps they will contribute more in the "high-quality" tildes as well?
Personally, I usually come here after browsing Reddit for a bit and I expect to see higher-quality discussions here. it's a little discouraging when many of the topics have 0-3 comments, though. Perhaps allowing some "lower-effort" content will help keep the userbase engaged, since it's evident that many people want that here.
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Comment on Public access Unix systems, another alternative social environment in ~comp
bchall LinkThis was a great post -- exactly the kind of stuff I'd love to see on this site. I've been interested in the concept of shared computing systems for a while, but I never ended up looking deeper so...This was a great post -- exactly the kind of stuff I'd love to see on this site. I've been interested in the concept of shared computing systems for a while, but I never ended up looking deeper so I wasn't aware of how active they still are. I will be checking out a few of these, thanks.
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Comment on Mechanical keyboards, anyone? in ~hobbies
bchall Link ParentI've never had the chance to use a real Model M, but I do have a Unicomp. Despite having a few issues with it, it seems to type like those originals are described. It's a joy to use and it...I've never had the chance to use a real Model M, but I do have a Unicomp. Despite having a few issues with it, it seems to type like those originals are described. It's a joy to use and it probably keeps the neighbors down the street awake. IIRC, Unicomp basically got the IP from IBM for their buckling-spring tech so the switches should be pretty similar.
For what I paid, I'm happy, but if I could pick up a cheap Model M I'd go for that. I suspect the build quality would be better; after all, they're still being passed around 20+ years after being manufactured.
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Comment on Firefox is back. It’s time to give it a try. in ~tech
bchall Link ParentTree Style Tab is the main reason I never left Firefox for Chrome. With the amount of tabs I often have open, Chrome's top-tabs got way to crowded. Firefox was the "power user's browser" for a...Tree Style Tab is the main reason I never left Firefox for Chrome. With the amount of tabs I often have open, Chrome's top-tabs got way to crowded. Firefox was the "power user's browser" for a long time as well, and so it had some great plugins in addition to TST that meant I could really make it my own.
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Comment on Has anyone tried the keto diet? If so, would you recommend it? in ~health
bchall Link ParentI agree. There are so many foods that are vegetarian or vegan that are good in their own right, but that many people won't try because they're labeled as such and that turns them away. I think a...I agree. There are so many foods that are vegetarian or vegan that are good in their own right, but that many people won't try because they're labeled as such and that turns them away. I think a lot of this is due to the "meat in every meal" cultural meme that seems to exist in many places (US especially).
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Comment on Looking for a nice pen suggestion in ~hobbies
bchall Link ParentThe Lamy Safari, as suggested by @DramaticExit, is a great pen. I bought one years ago and still use it. It's a quality textured plastic that feels good in the hand. If you want to go metal, Lamy...The Lamy Safari, as suggested by @DramaticExit, is a great pen. I bought one years ago and still use it. It's a quality textured plastic that feels good in the hand. If you want to go metal, Lamy also makes the Al-Star, which to my knowledge is essentially identical but is aluminum instead of plastic.
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Comment on Cutting out meat and dairy is the best way to reduce your environmental impact in ~food
bchall Link ParentI went through a similar long transition of reducing my meat intake over years, and now I'd consider myself a vegetarian. Personally, I found that it became easier as time went on to displace meat...I went through a similar long transition of reducing my meat intake over years, and now I'd consider myself a vegetarian. Personally, I found that it became easier as time went on to displace meat with plants, not as alternatives (i.e. bean burgers or faux-chicken strips) but by trying plant-based meals that were good in their own right. It seemed to help my exercise as well as my day-to-day feeling, but that may have been the addition of more plant-based variety in my diet and not neccessarily the exclusion of meat.
To your point about the vegetarian/vegan movement: I think to outsiders many movements are defined by their loudest/most obnoxious examples and not by the "normal" people who don't bring it up every conversation. I consider myself a vegetarian even though these types of people don't represent what it meanst to me.
I think a
ranttag would be appropriate. I think the meta-discussion and so forth is important, but I don't come to this site to read about people talking about the site. Not that these discussions are inherently bad, just not what everyone always wants to see.