frailtomato's recent activity
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Comment on What "one-hit wonder" do you think has a discography worth exploring? in ~music
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Comment on What "one-hit wonder" do you think has a discography worth exploring? in ~music
frailtomato Link ParentWow! While it makes perfect sense, I'm a kiwi, so seeing one of NZ/Australia's most iconic bands in a one-hit wonder thread was quite a shock.Wow! While it makes perfect sense, I'm a kiwi, so seeing one of NZ/Australia's most iconic bands in a one-hit wonder thread was quite a shock.
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
frailtomato Link ParentCaps Lock I'm guessing. I do it on MacOS and Linux. Huge improvement. I don't swap them though, I just make caps lock an alternative ctrl/cmd button.Caps Lock I'm guessing. I do it on MacOS and Linux. Huge improvement. I don't swap them though, I just make caps lock an alternative ctrl/cmd button.
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
frailtomato Link ParentMe too - I've never understood the appeal of bangs.Me too - I've never understood the appeal of bangs.
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Comment on What do you need to vent about? in ~talk
frailtomato LinkI'm so sick of my workmate and buddy leaning into his recent ADHD diagnosis as an excuse for everything and not only that, feeling the need to impute neurodiversity onto every shitty, hurtful, or...I'm so sick of my workmate and buddy leaning into his recent ADHD diagnosis as an excuse for everything and not only that, feeling the need to impute neurodiversity onto every shitty, hurtful, or annoying student behaviour.
I'm sure there's a closer saying to what I mean, but I'm reminded of "To a man with a hammer, every problem is a nail"
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Comment on How do you decide when to buy a new computer, smartphone, etc.? in ~tech
frailtomato Link ParentI've certainly read that Asian countries in general have much greater respect for elders and therefore strong generational networks.I've certainly read that Asian countries in general have much greater respect for elders and therefore strong generational networks.
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Comment on How would you rate adulthood? in ~life
frailtomato Link ParentI'm sorry this has been your experience. Are there bright spots?I'm sorry this has been your experience. Are there bright spots?
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Comment on What is your weirdest kitchen appliance and what do you think of it? in ~food
frailtomato Link ParentI think this is it!I think this is it!
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Comment on Bluesky advertises itself as an open network, they say people won't lose followers or their identity, they advertise themselves as a protocol ("atproto"). These three claims are false. in ~tech
frailtomato Link ParentI'm a FOSS advocate, but I have observed a startling disconnect between "normies" and people like us when extolling FOSS. So often - including in this thread - people will point out an obstacle to...Also why is FOSS advocate a slur recently?
I'm a FOSS advocate, but I have observed a startling disconnect between "normies" and people like us when extolling FOSS. So often - including in this thread - people will point out an obstacle to adoption, and FOSS-folk will dismiss them out of hand while pointing out how "simple" it is to jump through hoops of unfamiliar words and tech stacks. I think it's simply a matter of losing touch and talking past one another. The other day I began to explain to a friend (a Javascript programmer!) my self-hosted stack and realised how much I've learned in the last two years. She was quickly lost in the small sea of terms I had casually dropped into the conversation.
Seeing FOSS-folk dismiss people's concerns is frustrating. As somebody here pointed out, Mastodon's obstacles matter a whole lot when there's a much simpler product right there.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tv
frailtomato LinkSilicon Valley, The Wire, Utopia (UK) and my other favourites have been mentioned, so I'll put my oar in the water for Justified. Based on Elmore Leonard characters/stories and set in Kentucky...Silicon Valley, The Wire, Utopia (UK) and my other favourites have been mentioned, so I'll put my oar in the water for Justified. Based on Elmore Leonard characters/stories and set in Kentucky (shot in Cali), it follows Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) and his frenemy Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) through six seasons of great one liners, great hats, and great characters. Goggins as Crowder was meant to last one season, but IIRC the showrunners reshot the S1 finale when they realised how well the show worked with him in it.
The first season is a bit "monster of the week", but has several standout episodes. As the writers themselves have said, they were still figuring it out. Things pick up episode 5 (we meet Raylan's dad) and 7 (we meet Boyd). Some people have even started in S2! The remaining seasons follow arcs, with the larger series kind of doing the same. As I write this, I wonder if there's really any character development - maybe a little? But that's part of the fun.
FWIW, if you've read Elmore Leonard and not liked it, maybe still give Justified a shot. I couldn't finish Pronto and only finished Fire in the Hole because it was so short.
A couple of scenes with minimal spoilers:
Fairly representative of Raylan's character...
Dewey Crowe meets Raylan Givens. This scene says so much about both characters. Smooth, dangerous Raylan. Confident, stupid Dewey. You will learn to love Dewey. He's a live action /r/iamverybadass post.
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Comment on What long standalone book is worth its page count? in ~books
frailtomato Link ParentI got about 1/4 of the way through it - maybe just past the Niagara stuff? Plus a bit of background and overview of his wider career. Holy smokes, even that was enough to marvel at the Moses...I got about 1/4 of the way through it - maybe just past the Niagara stuff? Plus a bit of background and overview of his wider career.
Holy smokes, even that was enough to marvel at the Moses machine. It's late and I can't think of a better word than "marvels" - I certainly don't mean it in a heroic way!
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Comment on What's a life lesson you've applied that has changed your life? in ~life
frailtomato Link ParentThe first person I heard say that was Jaime Foxx!'Everything you want is on the other side of fear.'
The first person I heard say that was Jaime Foxx!
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Comment on What's a life lesson you've applied that has changed your life? in ~life
frailtomato Link ParentI got a version of that from uni mate who'd been in the army. They had various types of mindless forms they'd have to fill out, which were generally blue or green. The green ones were tedious,...I got a version of that from uni mate who'd been in the army. They had various types of mindless forms they'd have to fill out, which were generally blue or green. The green ones were tedious, pointless, and not considered worth the officers' time. But they were eternal and non-negotiable.
When we were discussing the tedium of our uni admin he told "Don't fight the greens".
I think of it constantly in my new career.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life.style
frailtomato Link ParentI've replied to multiple people in this thread - it's a column not an article. It's just opinion fluff and a small part of many, many newspapers. Here are some other pieces for you :-) -
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life.style
frailtomato Link ParentIt's a column, not an article. Comparing the Guardian to Fox is laughable.It's a column, not an article. Comparing the Guardian to Fox is laughable.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life.style
frailtomato Link ParentFair point - perhaps I'm more inclined to respond "It's humour!" to this kind of comment. And perhaps I'm wrong there.Fair point - perhaps I'm more inclined to respond "It's humour!" to this kind of comment. And perhaps I'm wrong there.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life.style
frailtomato (edited )Link ParentI don't think she's shaming men, I think she's pointing out that the lack of any kind of judgement of men in shorts - at least compared with the judgement of women - is striking. Perhaps I'm being...I don't think she's shaming men, I think she's pointing out that the lack of any kind of judgement of men in shorts - at least compared with the judgement of women - is striking. Perhaps I'm being generous here, but I would say this piece is most useful for starting a conversation here:
"Then there are the double standards. Micro-shorts are also trending for women, but too often it seems that anything showing any part of the female body (cleavage, midriff, thighs) is enough to provoke the slut-shaming hordes. Is this as true for men? Or is it the case that, whatever they wear, however skimpy and provocative, they’re not accused of “slutty” desperation, “pathetically” thirsting for attention, or letting down their entire sex, as women habitually are whenever they show some flesh.
It says everything that, at worst, Mescal’s short-shorts prompted a few bemused giggles. If they are the latest sexual-political minefield, it’s still very different for boys."
Editing to add: In a perfect world, reading something like this would prompt people to think "Would I judge a man/woman for doing the same thing?". I don't think the devolution of online discourse should lead writers to avoid nuance. I'm not sure if my edit makes sense :-)
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life.style
frailtomato Link ParentYou're being deliberately disingenuous and poisoning the waters by comparing submissions from the Guardian to content farms. No. Newspaper columns are a long-established form of writing. They are...Then let's call a spade a spade and ask the purpose behind posting opinion pieces from a content farm that purposefully lack nuance if that's "the entire point".
You're being deliberately disingenuous and poisoning the waters by comparing submissions from the Guardian to content farms.
Saying "it's a newpaper column" unfortunately and likely unintentionally seems very reminiscent to the "it's just a meme" excuse we should all be familiar with from other communities that spread divisive content online.
No. Newspaper columns are a long-established form of writing. They are no less valuable just because they are informal or anecdotal. They often come directly from the writer's lived experience and can generate conversation.
I'd go back to reddit if I wanted takes on gender issues that can't be bothered to self-reflect
Have you read the article? She absolutely reflects, throughout the whole second part of the piece.
I don't mind opinion pieces
What's the issue with this particular submission? Are you so jaded by online discussion that any writing about gender sets you off? I realise that sounds like I'm poking at you, but I ask it in good faith.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life.style
frailtomato Link ParentMate it's a newspaper column, not a hard-hitting article. Musings, opinions, and anecdotes are the entire point.Mate it's a newspaper column, not a hard-hitting article. Musings, opinions, and anecdotes are the entire point.
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Comment on Are we watching the internet die? in ~tech
frailtomato Link ParentI'm a secondary school teacher. We (teachers and society in general) have a lot of work to do in shaping critical thinking. As I currently see it, 12-15 year olds absolutely don't mind the dross...The majority of people don't want to talk to copycat machines or read spam garbage, and I think they will avoid any sites that have this issue.
I'm a secondary school teacher. We (teachers and society in general) have a lot of work to do in shaping critical thinking. As I currently see it, 12-15 year olds absolutely don't mind the dross that comes out of content farms. The 16-18 year olds seem pretty wise to it, but their mushy little brains have some point of comparison from the before times.
With regards to the part of your comment I quoted, imagine a higher and higher percentage of your inputs as a kid were from AI-generated sources. So much of our education is focused on "will this be marked" and just copying and pasting from Google summaries that kids just...don't really notice.
There's a huge amount more to discuss and discover on this topic, but for now I'll just say I'm kinda shitting myself about the next decade of my (new!) career. And I'm somebody who doesn't like doom-and-gloom scenarios, despite being cynical about the tech/capitalism intersection.
The Seven Worlds Collide concerts are a treasure - enjoy!