beneGesserit's recent activity
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Comment on Tildes Virtual Film Festival? in ~movies
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Comment on What's a question you want to ask, but you're worried about how it might come across? in ~talk
beneGesserit Link ParentThis is a big question with a complicated answer, but I'll give it a shot. I won't go into the gory details but trust me when I say I understand where you are coming from. For me, (and this is...This is a big question with a complicated answer, but I'll give it a shot. I won't go into the gory details but trust me when I say I understand where you are coming from. For me, (and this is just my experience, take what resonates) there were a few steps that allowed me to turn things around:
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I started out by setting really small goals for myself. Like small. Like getting out of bed in the morning, cooking a meal for myself, cleaning, etc. They were tiny promises to my future self, and keeping them mattered. Once you start being able to slay small goals, you can start adding on slightly more complex ones. Don't rush it, and don't set yourself up for failure by taking on too much at once.
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Embarking upon a serious journey of self-compassion. It's cheesy as hell, but gradually and consistently altering how I spoke to/about myself in my head fundamentally changed my life. I have had many abusive people in my life, but by far the person who was most abusive to me was me. I sabotaged myself, said things to myself I would never say to another human, put myself in wildly unsafe situations, etc. and basically existed in a deep and seething hell of self-loathing. Learning to shift my thoughts went a long, long way in healing the relationship with myself and now I can confidently say that I care for myself and that my actions reflect that. It takes a lot of time, but it's simple, free, and if you're able to be even moderately consistent with an approach results will inevitably follow.
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Meditation, sleep, and exercise. It blew my fucking mind how effective these tools were at managing the very severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD I have struggled with. Getting serious about these three things (i'll also say making sure I eat relatively well) was a huge factor in my recovery and continues to be to this day. They seem simple but it's weirdly advanced practice-having the discipline to follow through on just one of these (practicing good sleep hygiene by going to bed and getting up at approximately the same time every day and making sure you sleep ~8hrs, 15mins daily meditation, weekly exercise) requires the kind of self-care muscles that it takes a while of slaying the small goals to build. I always suggest starting with sleep because it provides the most immediate and direct relief and once you've mastered that start adding on the others.
There's definitely more but I don't want to overload you so I will stop there but I just wanted to put it out there that change, even profound change, is absolutely possible and attainable. Go slow, be gentle with yourself, and learn to be consistent. You'll get there. Feel free to DM me if you have questions about what I wrote here.
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Comment on Do I need a new computer? in ~tech
beneGesserit Link ParentAwesome. This was extremely helpful, thanks so much for the in-depth response!Awesome. This was extremely helpful, thanks so much for the in-depth response!
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Comment on Do I need a new computer? in ~tech
beneGesserit Link ParentI've been looking at Lenovos (I have been happy with mine, even doing the transition to Linux was a little fiddly but way easier than I had been led to believe), but the newer ones are pricey!I've been looking at Lenovos (I have been happy with mine, even doing the transition to Linux was a little fiddly but way easier than I had been led to believe), but the newer ones are pricey!
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Comment on Do I need a new computer? in ~tech
beneGesserit Link ParentCool! Thanks for the tip on that website.Cool! Thanks for the tip on that website.
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Comment on Do I need a new computer? in ~tech
beneGesserit Link ParentI have been considering the desktop route more and more-it's just sometimes hard to invest that much money into an unknown (and a laptop works just fine). Thanks for mentioning the wifi...I have been considering the desktop route more and more-it's just sometimes hard to invest that much money into an unknown (and a laptop works just fine). Thanks for mentioning the wifi issue-that's something I wouldn't have picked up on.
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Comment on Do I need a new computer? in ~tech
beneGesserit (edited )Link ParentChips are- Model: 69 Model name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4510U CPU @ 2.00GHz I haven't noticed much of a performance issue other than it freezes when running slack, zoom and firefox all at once which...Chips are-
Model: 69
Model name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4510U CPU @ 2.00GHzI haven't noticed much of a performance issue other than it freezes when running slack, zoom and firefox all at once which I figured was a RAM issue. The fan does run pretty consistently, tho. It's good to know that a hardware upgrade is probably within my capability-I tend to prefer to modify/fix things if I can and avoid buying.
Oh also: any recommendations on where to buy used if I decide to go that route?
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Do I need a new computer?
Long time lurker, first time poster. I have a 7 year old lenovo y-40 running Ubuntu which has served me well, but I am starting to get concerned that it may be time to put it out to pasture....
Long time lurker, first time poster. I have a 7 year old lenovo y-40 running Ubuntu which has served me well, but I am starting to get concerned that it may be time to put it out to pasture. Nothing has broken, but I know it's getting a little old.
The way I see it, my options are to stick with this computer and upgrade the ram (currently 8gb, space for up to 16) and perhaps replace the hard drive (although replacing things makes me a little nervous, I have only replaced the battery thus far), or buy a new computer.
I kinda hate buying things but will throw down for a decent piece of gear if I need it. I have a budget of ~1000 (but if it can be cheaper that's better), want to run linux and use my computer mostly for programming and internet-stuff. I am also unsure if I need to stick with a laptop-I almost never take my computer anywhere and have it hooked up to a monitor anyway. I mostly have been looking at getting a T14 or something from System76 but they all seem a little pricey. Thoughts?
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Comment on A Writing Club in ~creative
beneGesserit LinkLate to the party but i am interested!Late to the party but i am interested!
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Comment on Down to earth, present or near-future, science or science fiction stories featuring space? in ~books
beneGesserit LinkAurora, by Kim Stanley Robinson, is fantastic. Stanley blends fiction and hard science effortlessly and the result is deeply compelling and eminently readable. The book also features a highly...Aurora, by Kim Stanley Robinson, is fantastic. Stanley blends fiction and hard science effortlessly and the result is deeply compelling and eminently readable. The book also features a highly plausible, possibly-conscious AI. Highly recommend.
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Comment on What are your unpopular movie opinions? in ~movies
beneGesserit Link ParentThank you! Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was a misogynistic dumpster fire. I can't believe I wasted three hours of my life watching it and genuinely wondered if I was losing my mind because it...Thank you! Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was a misogynistic dumpster fire. I can't believe I wasted three hours of my life watching it and genuinely wondered if I was losing my mind because it garnered such positive reviews.
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Comment on Any hams around? in ~hobbies
beneGesserit Link ParentPacket radio is a thing! It's part of how I got interested in ham in the first place. Definitely excited about diving deeper into it.Packet radio is a thing! It's part of how I got interested in ham in the first place. Definitely excited about diving deeper into it.
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Comment on Any hams around? in ~hobbies
beneGesserit LinkI'm a total newbie and I am taking the exam this weekend! Very excited about it. Thanks for posting this, I learned a few things and now am even more excited than I was.I'm a total newbie and I am taking the exam this weekend! Very excited about it. Thanks for posting this, I learned a few things and now am even more excited than I was.
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Comment on If you could start a conversation about anything you'd like, what would it be? in ~talk
beneGesserit Link ParentCrossing the Rubicon, Fossil Capital, Ghost Wars, Blowback, The Prize, Derrick Jensen etc etc etc. Too many. I've lurked in the collapse subreddit for years, and I have been reading the news...Crossing the Rubicon, Fossil Capital, Ghost Wars, Blowback, The Prize, Derrick Jensen etc etc etc. Too many. I've lurked in the collapse subreddit for years, and I have been reading the news obsessively for over 20 years now. One does not have to be that observant to understand what is coming.
My interests lie less in trying to understand or stop collapse and more in figuring out what is the ethical way to respond to it. I spent my youth protesting and agitating for a different world, and yet here we are. Discussing it makes me feel less powerless, but ultimately I'd like to have a better solution for people than "I don't know. let's talk." Although that is a beginning, and a necessary one, I think.
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Comment on If you could start a conversation about anything you'd like, what would it be? in ~talk
beneGesserit Link ParentIf you're interested in prefigurative urban design/design science, I'd highly recommend the works of Buckminster Fuller. This is exactly what he spent his life working on. "Critical Path" is a...If you're interested in prefigurative urban design/design science, I'd highly recommend the works of Buckminster Fuller. This is exactly what he spent his life working on. "Critical Path" is a great place to start.
There are like-minded people out there. Oddly enough I feel like it might have been easier to find them pre-internet, as there was much more emphasis on in-person organizing and action. Nevertheless, they are out there and people are waking up left and right to the precarious situation we are all in. I don't have hope, necessarily, that we can save what we have, but I do believe we have a shot at forging something better out of the ashes. But it won't be pretty.
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Comment on If you could start a conversation about anything you'd like, what would it be? in ~talk
beneGesserit Link ParentI agree with a lot of what you've said here. I've come to similar conclusions: the earth has been through five extinction events prior to this one, and I have no doubt that life in some form will...I agree with a lot of what you've said here. I've come to similar conclusions: the earth has been through five extinction events prior to this one, and I have no doubt that life in some form will flourish in the future. One just has to look at the complex ecosystems found at methane vents on the ocean floor to understand that life is fantastically adaptable and tenacious.
That being said, I still find the looming potential loss of the blue whale and the elephant (to name just a few charismatic megafauna) indescribably sad. I also wonder how we can transition from an economic ideology whose logic most closely resembles that of cancer to something more sane and sustainable. Buckminster Fuller talks about this in one of his final books, "Critical Path," but the amount of change that society would need to undergo to implement just a fraction of his ideas make it seem more like a fairy tale than a manual. It's still worth a read, though.
I am a fan of KSR's work but I wasn't aware of this talk, I'll take a look! Thanks for the recommend.
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Comment on If you could start a conversation about anything you'd like, what would it be? in ~talk
beneGesserit Link ParentHave you read "Fossil Capital"? It's both fascinating and informative, and I'd highly recommend it.Have you read "Fossil Capital"? It's both fascinating and informative, and I'd highly recommend it.
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Comment on If you could start a conversation about anything you'd like, what would it be? in ~talk
beneGesserit LinkI would love to talk about how the world could transition from our current situation to one that isn't on an accelerating path to near-term human extinction. I think we have about ten years to do...I would love to talk about how the world could transition from our current situation to one that isn't on an accelerating path to near-term human extinction. I think we have about ten years to do it.
As you can imagine, it's not a popular subject at parties, but it dominates my thoughts these days.
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Comment on A dark consensus about screens and kids begins to emerge in Silicon Valley in ~tech
beneGesserit LinkThis reminds me of an anecdote told to me by a teacher friend recently: a five-year-old in her classroom picked up a book and swiped at the cover over and over, attempting to turn it on. He had...This reminds me of an anecdote told to me by a teacher friend recently: a five-year-old in her classroom picked up a book and swiped at the cover over and over, attempting to turn it on. He had never seen a book before, only book-sized screens.
I cannot fathom what these technologies are doing to kids. The thought of an entire generation raised on screens is horrifying, and I shudder to think about what it's gonna look like when they grow up. I know first-hand the difficulties of managing screen addiction and I have the privilege of having formed the vast amount of my neural circuitry pre-internet.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tildes
beneGesserit Link ParentLikewise!Likewise!
I vote yes, and while I'm at it nominate Stalker (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalker_(1979_film)) as I've always wanted to see it but never took the time.