DefinitelyNotAFae's recent activity
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Comment on The truth about AI (specifically LLM powered AI) in ~tech
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Comment on CBS News pulls report on “brutal and torturous conditions” at El Salvador prison where Donald Trump Administration sent deportees in ~tv
DefinitelyNotAFae Link Parent'60 Minutes’ Pulled a Segment. A Correspondent Calls It ‘Political (gift link) Changes requested by Bari Weiss - who is not qualified for this position - included an interview with Stephen Miller...'60 Minutes’ Pulled a Segment. A Correspondent Calls It ‘Political (gift link)
CBS announced the change three hours before the broadcast, a highly unusual last-minute switch. The decision was made after Bari Weiss, the new editor in chief of CBS News, requested numerous changes to the segment. CBS News said in a statement that the segment would air at a later date and “needed additional reporting.”
But Sharyn Alfonsi, the veteran “60 Minutes” correspondent who reported the segment, rejected that criticism in a private note to CBS colleagues on Sunday, in which she accused CBS News of pulling the segment for “political” reasons.
“Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices,” Ms. Alfonsi wrote in the note, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times. “It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.”
Changes requested by Bari Weiss - who is not qualified for this position - included an interview with Stephen Miller (the White House, DHS and State Dept didn't provide comment)and not calling people in the US illegally (allegedly) "migrants."
All of which to say, your instincts are right.
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Comment on The truth about AI (specifically LLM powered AI) in ~tech
DefinitelyNotAFae (edited )LinkIf there were no negative effects to generative AI I still have never been able to be told, not by my university's "AI guy", nor by anyone on the internet, nor by the "power users" exactly how...If there were no negative effects to generative AI I still have never been able to be told, not by my university's "AI guy", nor by anyone on the internet, nor by the "power users" exactly how what they keep selling our VPs and Board of Trustees is useful for me improving on how I'm doing my job.
It's not faster to ask it to write an email than to write one, or use a template. And replacing my words with Copilot's words would remove the whole human connection thing I'm offering the students. I can't and won't input student information into it. The one time I gave it a shot on a project it did ok on a list but immediately fucked up the little graphic it made from said list and I still would have to review the output and rewrite large chunks of it to use any of the material.
I get told "it helps you do the parts of your job you like, more." It does not. Or at least it hasn't.
I heard (they presented on it, and I got it second hand from an attendee) one university was creating a centralized phone number where all the depts input their common FAQs into the AI and then two people could answer the phone calls by asking the AI chat bot for the answers. They bragged about firing people, I mean, saving on labor costs due to this. Meanwhile they took a good idea - one central number and not bouncing callers around - and removed any critical thinking or institutional expertise from the process. Now a student gets told "no" regardless of unusual circumstances, because the people answering the phone don't actually know anything about these departments.
I'm a hater, but I've also genuinely tried to find any sensible usecase. And that ignores all the flat out negatives. Even if I grant it's great for coding - idk, nowhere near my industry but still seems bad for the future of entry level jobs - I don't see any evidence it's more than a nuisance at absolute best.
And that doesn't get into the whole copyright infringement/theft from authors (and literally everyone else on the internet)
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Comment on CBS News pulls report on “brutal and torturous conditions” at El Salvador prison where Donald Trump Administration sent deportees in ~tv
DefinitelyNotAFae LinkIf it tells anyone where my hope is right now ... When the reports come out of the atrocities we do in our own country, and they're not from major news sources, or they're rumor mills, or they're...If it tells anyone where my hope is right now ... When the reports come out of the atrocities we do in our own country, and they're not from major news sources, or they're rumor mills, or they're being downplayed by CBS or NBC or The Washington Post....
Please believe them.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
DefinitelyNotAFae LinkI'm finishing Blood over Brighthaven which is a great story about the civilized city and the savages that live outside of it, being killed by the Blight. Coincidentally it's also about...I'm finishing Blood over Brighthaven which is a great story about the civilized city and the savages that live outside of it, being killed by the Blight.
Coincidentally it's also about colonialism, racism, sexism and how systems of power work, even when they're magical. It's really very good and does a good job of stringing me along with the hope that maybe they can fix things. Also the audiobook narrator is Moira Quirk, one of my favorites!
Vorkosigan saga - finished Captain Vorpatril's Alliance - I didn't like the writing choices in this one. The verbal ticks of the narration/POV characters were repetitive to the point of irritation. I think Ivan deserves better. (First read through of the series, and almost done)
Reading Hogfather with my partner for Christmas vibes
About halfway into After the Flood which is most quickly described as a woman and her daughter live in (Rocky mountain-ish) Waterworld, and she has to decide whether to go after her older daughter and rescue her from raiders near Greenland. They live on boats, some live on small outcrops of mountains. No tattoos to dry land yet (◠‿◕)
And next I'm starting The Small and Mighty about Americans who changed history despite being relatively unknown (I think, I will find out)
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentIt's definitely more space opera though there's some military elements built in with the books that focus on Miles feeling often like puzzles, with some of the later ones feeling like a farce or a...It's definitely more space opera though there's some military elements built in with the books that focus on Miles feeling often like puzzles, with some of the later ones feeling like a farce or a romance. Some more action, some less.
To me some of the issues I have with them are that they're not written in chronological order so the character development seems to stall out often.
I'm just now to Cryoburn next myself on a first read through.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentHow to Defeat A Demon King in Ten Easy Steps I think this is the first litrpg I read and I find it a nice, self contained introduction to the idea. With a touch of tongue in cheek nostalgic...How to Defeat A Demon King in Ten Easy Steps
I think this is the first litrpg I read and I find it a nice, self contained introduction to the idea. With a touch of tongue in cheek nostalgic riffing off classic RPG video games.
Our main character lives in a world where everyone gets a class at adulthood. She does not get a particularly exciting one, but the Dark Lord is conquering the world and it isn't really time for the Hero to conquer him... So she's gonna have to do it herself.
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Comment on The gift card accountability sink in ~finance
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentYeah for me there's an internal "I should be responsible and use this on _________” or save it for bill or whatever. I am not saying cash is bad. It's fine. But like, my Amazon gift card balance...Yeah for me there's an internal "I should be responsible and use this on _________” or save it for bill or whatever. I am not saying cash is bad. It's fine. But like, my Amazon gift card balance is for ebooks, so I don't feel bad buying my favorite author instead of waiting for the library.
It's just how my brain works. Sometimes it's thoughtful, sometimes it's easy.
(When partner was in the hospital, a few people brought me food, some sent me gift cards. And since his hospital was 40 min away in a different city, it was incredibly helpful. Fast food meant I could eat on the road and spend more time with him and I was pretty non-functional otherwise. Cash would have been fine, but required thinking a bit more and sometimes it was helpful not to on my end. )
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Comment on The gift card accountability sink in ~finance
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentYeah it very much depends on the person. It's helpful to me to have "special money" set aside. My step kid is saving up for some expensive tools and would rather have a giftcard towards that...Yeah it very much depends on the person. It's helpful to me to have "special money" set aside. My step kid is saving up for some expensive tools and would rather have a giftcard towards that purchase than something else. My partner feels less guilty about building a new game with a gift card than with "cash" because the money was for that
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Comment on The gift card accountability sink in ~finance
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentI did whittle it down to one sentence so I hoped so. It's just the recent stuff has made me attentive/self-conscious (and annoyed, just not at anyone in this thread). Ty I am probably just being...I did whittle it down to one sentence so I hoped so. It's just the recent stuff has made me attentive/self-conscious (and annoyed, just not at anyone in this thread).
Ty I am probably just being overattentive.
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Comment on Want to get in the gym? Here are some tips from a beginner.* in ~health
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentYeah his shorts are definitely edited for Tiktok and are very snappy. I'm glad it was helpful!Yeah his shorts are definitely edited for Tiktok and are very snappy. I'm glad it was helpful!
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Comment on The gift card accountability sink in ~finance
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentSure, and sometimes that is a better option (my gift cards don't expire, work via checkout, don't skim... Idk I haven't had those issues) for me gift cards are a way to make sure I use the money...Sure, and sometimes that is a better option (my gift cards don't expire, work via checkout, don't skim... Idk I haven't had those issues) for me gift cards are a way to make sure I use the money on the thing - instead of putting it in savings and never doing anything nice for myself. Or it helps me budget my "fun" shopping. Or it's a way of getting more gift card money than the cash spent (when you shop at Costco for example).
They're a way to "buy" someone new clothes while letting them buy the clothes themselves. You know?
But I was just providing a different perspective -
Comment on The gift card accountability sink in ~finance
DefinitelyNotAFae (edited )Link ParentI am not sure how you took my statement to mean your comment was "shiesty and unnecessary". I was just providing an alternative POV. * I've not had the hurdles you describe with gift cards for...I am not sure how you took my statement to mean your comment was "shiesty and unnecessary". I was just providing an alternative POV. *
I've not had the hurdles you describe with gift cards for decades though. Not sure if that's state law or something but I just use them like cash at the places I want to buy things.
*I have recently been criticized for my "tone" and while I do not believe I'm doing anything but being direct I specifically here tried not to give anything other than the intended statement and still got what seems like a ton of additional interpretation.
This isn't about you, just at a bit of a loss.
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Comment on As a reindeer herder, I am watching Norwegian renewable energy projects threaten our land, livelihoods and an Indigenous way of life the state once tried to erase in ~enviro
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentI could see the argument that tearing up a more natural location for them is not visibly appealing. I like how they look, though I don't know that they're really "attractive". But ours are in...I could see the argument that tearing up a more natural location for them is not visibly appealing. I like how they look, though I don't know that they're really "attractive". But ours are in corn/bean fields which are already artificial landscapes. Idk if that makes a difference to everyone but it probably would to me. The people who I see complain about them mostly tack aesthetics on to the end of a longer list of complaints.
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Comment on Hobson v. Hansen and the decline of DC schools in ~humanities.history
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentCfabbro mentioned specifically that the linked article raised red flags and I felt similarly and then looked up their history. Another commenter felt similarly too. It's obvious that at least to...Cfabbro mentioned specifically that the linked article raised red flags and I felt similarly and then looked up their history. Another commenter felt similarly too. It's obvious that at least to us, the history wasn't necessary it's just relevant.
And sure my hackles would probably be up too. And then I'd probably go "fuck I should stop posting these authors" because I'd been tricked by something that seemed reasonable and was actually leaning right into scientific racism and I don't agree with those things.
But when I've said things when such articles are posted, nicer or direct without the cursing, I get told to stop bringing it up. And then someone will decide it is worth debating how much of a problematic person the linked author could really be, rinse, repeat. It's nice to have some other folks speak up first.
It'd be nice not to keep running across these sorts of posts on Tildes, personally. But as long as they do, I personally want to see the community push back.
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Comment on $6 Michelin stock in sixty minutes in ~food
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentSame!Same!
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Comment on Hobson v. Hansen and the decline of DC schools in ~humanities.history
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentThe website link is very clearly not the problem. The author and his previous statements under various pseudonyms as well as the points @cfabbro brought up regarding this article (and IMO his...The website link is very clearly not the problem. The author and his previous statements under various pseudonyms as well as the points @cfabbro brought up regarding this article (and IMO his associated "friends" and favorite other writers also highlight this) and the persistent posting of similar materials all seem to feed into this particular interjection and question, which while profane is not a personal attack on the OP.
The link in the post you quoted also goes into extensive detail which would help you add the missing context if you're still in need of it.
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Comment on Hobson v. Hansen and the decline of DC schools in ~humanities.history
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentThe comments are also pretty gross and that says a lot to me in substack comments (in contrast to Facebook comments for example. ) I went down a similar deep dive and decided not to be the person...The comments are also pretty gross and that says a lot to me in substack comments (in contrast to Facebook comments for example. ) I went down a similar deep dive and decided not to be the person to say it because I'd get yelled at by OP and probably others, again.
Hell, the OSC reference is indicative enough to me, personally.
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Comment on The gift card accountability sink in ~finance
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentSometimes giftcards are the thoughtful thing.Sometimes giftcards are the thoughtful thing.
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Comment on Cato Institute - The US Government unconstitutionally labels Immigration and Customs Enforcement observers as domestic terrorists in ~society
DefinitelyNotAFae Link ParentTo me those clocks are fast or slow, the timing is off but they're not "broken" but I played with a lot of broken clocks as a kid. (◠‿◕) I take your meaning thoughTo me those clocks are fast or slow, the timing is off but they're not "broken" but I played with a lot of broken clocks as a kid. (◠‿◕)
I take your meaning though
I disagree that it's unavoidable. We could make a different choice as a society. We could regulate this shit.
But I also disagree with your summarization of our points. To my mind, OP was saying that they're useful, more so now than ever before.
I'm saying they aren't, especially outside of the programming bubble.
I have nothing to keep experimenting with. I'm absolutely out of ideas and have zero interest in pushing my ethical bounds beyond this point. I was honestly curious if folks had actual ideas but what good does fucking around with something useless and unethical do.
You say "helps real people with real problems " but human contact while picking up my pizza isn't a problem... and either the restaurant has an online system or .... The AI is ordering by phone for you? Why not just use the non-AI online ordering system? Or talk to a human in the time it takes to order by AI? Like, that's not a real problem unless your local pizza guy really hates talking to real people. (My local pizza place has online ordering, and no AI). I really don't get how this demonstrates anything. It's really indicative of how my experiences with AI advocates has gone tbh.
Also, my experience of what you're describing as "what happens today" in an office isn't accurate. I have a support staff person, she's not a secretary, and yet she makes my job easier, I helped her get a pay raise even though I'm not her direct supervisor. As a team and department, we talk in person all the time, empathetically. We don't put that load on a secretary? Nor has it gone away here. I'm bringing homemade cookies as presents for my team tomorrow. I got a Christmas card from my coworker Friday. I send a teams message to check in one someone. Or call them. And then we meet up if they need to talk. Like this is just normal.
Have folks just forgotten how to be human in these other industries? Because I've worked for the sort of shitty company John Oliver mentions on his show and yeah, I expect that out of a private prison company. I guess tech?
But this highlights why people keep swearing it's useful to people like me and when I say it's not...I'm not bullshitting.