highsomatic's recent activity
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Comment on What’s good? in ~talk
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
highsomatic Link ParentMan I miss that game so much. Was there a remake of it or did you play it on ps3? I really wish there’d be a sequel for it. The fighting mechanics were so good, and the boss fights/soundtrack were...Man I miss that game so much. Was there a remake of it or did you play it on ps3? I really wish there’d be a sequel for it. The fighting mechanics were so good, and the boss fights/soundtrack were fabulous.
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Comment on What's your unpopular opinion or idiosyncrasy about video games or games in general? in ~games
highsomatic Link ParentSpot on about dishonored. I think a big part of why the morality/multiple endings system is broken in most games is because they should be decoupled from one another. The endings should be related...Spot on about dishonored.
I think a big part of why the morality/multiple endings system is broken in most games is because they should be decoupled from one another. The endings should be related to the consequences of the choices you make, related to how much they bring you closer or further from your goal, and not whether they make you a good or evil person. You should be able to play as a good leaning character but pragmatic enough to forgo morality in favour of your goals. They should be different dimensions of a character.
The morality system should be essential to maybe the different skills, powers and features that you could unlock in a game, but it should only weigh in on the story where it makes sense. I killed this guy’s sister for a sum of money and now he won’t come to my rescue? Ok, yes, makes sense.
Let the poor, powerless, inconsequential orphan boy die of hunger instead of giving him some of my food and now for some reason the main antagonist is able to telegraph some of my moves in the final cutscenes and defeat me? Fuck off with that bullshit.
I’d really like to see a game that rewards greed as well. You get the best outcomes by treating every non essential character as disposable. It would be really fun and cathartic. There’s no reason why morality in a game should link restraint and reward all the time.
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Comment on So, uh, about the UK in ~talk
highsomatic Link ParentIgnorance can easily be weaponized by driving a perception of scarce resources. When people believe resources are scarce, they easily shift inwards towards their in-group as a social instinct....Ignorance can easily be weaponized by driving a perception of scarce resources. When people believe resources are scarce, they easily shift inwards towards their in-group as a social instinct. What I don’t understand is how people can look around them, notice how the UK is worse off now than it was 15 years ago, and, still, not connect the dots with the party they’re voting in power.
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Comment on So, uh, about the UK in ~talk
highsomatic LinkIt still bewilders me how The UK economically shot itself multiple times across several leaderships. Where I originally come from, the UK is seen as one of the places to go for higher education,...It still bewilders me how The UK economically shot itself multiple times across several leaderships. Where I originally come from, the UK is seen as one of the places to go for higher education, and a door to a better life either in the west or even at home. Where things are supposed to be better, and people appreciate the role they can take in forming a healthy government. How? Just how did it manage to boot itself out of a great trade deal with Europe, increase tensions between England, North Ireland and Scotland, and when shit is hitting the fan and inflation is high, pour gasoline on the fire by suggesting tax cuts. Honestly how? It really is leaving me stupefied.
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Comment on So, uh, about the UK in ~talk
highsomatic Link ParentIs the whip an official acknowledged position within the party or is it more of an unspoken role? I would wager given the current circumstances with Truss, the whip holds more power than her in...Is the whip an official acknowledged position within the party or is it more of an unspoken role? I would wager given the current circumstances with Truss, the whip holds more power than her in the government.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
highsomatic LinkI just saw Smile (supernatural/psychological horror) in the movie theatre today with some friends and it kept me on edge. The formula is nothing new, but I found it to be very well executed, I...I don’t see a dedicated post for movies so I’ll just put this over here.I just saw Smile (supernatural/psychological horror) in the movie theatre today with some friends and it kept me on edge. The formula is nothing new, but I found it to be very well executed, I have to praise the sound effects and music which really contributed to the unnerving tensions.
I usually like to watch horror movies because my coping strategy when I get scared or nervous is to laugh, the relief I get is a good rush. This one actually have me a feeling of claustrophobia all throughout and had me tensed up—but I still couldn’t look away. Loved the acting as well from the star actress and some of the side characters.
Spoilers
The guy who managed to break the curse and was in prison, while his scene was brief, his acting was amazing. He really sold the fear of god placed into him with his screams and panicking behaviour.
My one issue is that the practical effects in the final monster kinda broke the spell a bit for me. It felt like it was taken out of a horror video game.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
highsomatic Link ParentThanks for the heads up! I’ll move my comment and delete it from the TV Tuesday thread.Thanks for the heads up! I’ll move my comment and delete it from the TV Tuesday thread.
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Comment on Rogers CEO says service back online for most Canadian customers, blames outage on 'network system failure' in ~tech
highsomatic Link ParentThe irony of working for the other big telco but having to take the day off because you can’t connect from home. All our meetings have been postponed to Monday because of this crap. My whole...The irony of working for the other big telco but having to take the day off because you can’t connect from home. All our meetings have been postponed to Monday because of this crap.
My whole family was off the grid. Can you imagine needing an ambulance but can’t even call 911? When I think of state cyberterrorism, this is the kind of scenario that comes to mind. The risk can’t be overstated.
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Comment on What childhood beliefs or misconceptions took you an embarrassing time to figure out? in ~talk
highsomatic LinkWhen I was 6 I asked my grandma why are some of the shows she watches in black and white. She replied that it’s because they’re old shows. So, of course, I concluded that once a show gets past a...When I was 6 I asked my grandma why are some of the shows she watches in black and white. She replied that it’s because they’re old shows. So, of course, I concluded that once a show gets past a certain age it loses its colours. I still was bothered why that is until 1-2 years later when I figured out that I misunderstood what she meant.
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Comment on Should I quit smoking right now, or wait? in ~health
highsomatic LinkI would say quit now. Odds are you’ll be infected with the omicron variant which mainly resides in the throat rather than lungs. The one I had gave me the worst throat pain I’ve ever dealt with...I would say quit now. Odds are you’ll be infected with the omicron variant which mainly resides in the throat rather than lungs. The one I had gave me the worst throat pain I’ve ever dealt with that no medication that I was able to find would alleviate the pain (for 2 days). Every swallow felt like I had daggers in the back of my throat and it was so bad it affected my eating habits. if you happen to have this symptom, would it feel nicer as you’re further along in your nicotine detox or right at the very start?
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Comment on Autistic people care too much, research says in ~science
highsomatic Link ParentI’m not diagnosed, but I do relate to some of the descriptions some of the people on this post and others sometimes write about. With regards to lying, I found very stark results in myself. If I...I’m not diagnosed, but I do relate to some of the descriptions some of the people on this post and others sometimes write about. With regards to lying, I found very stark results in myself. If I put myself on the spot telling myself that I am going to lie and becoming aware of this act, I fall into the description that you just portrayed. However, I have developed two approaches around it that have helped me a lot.
My brain doesn’t panic if I convince myself that I’m not lying. It’s hard to describe, but sometimes, in the heat of the moment, out of a sense of desperation, I’m able to force myself to believe the opinion or the point of view that I want to push. After all, it’s more about whether what I believe what I would be saying is right or wrong rather than what is truly right or wrong. In that sense, I push my mind into being this person that holds this opinion, and whenever this happens, it makes my interaction feel a lot more natural.
Another workaround I found is to lie seldom, in order to establish a relationship of trust. If people believe you’re honest most of the time, then they’re more likely to doubt themselves rather than your lie when you do choose to lie if they happen to be suspicious.
Neither of these approaches require focusing on reading the other person, and I find this to help a lot.
In werewolf for example, at one point I was able to win as a werewolf by accusing the other werewolf masquerading as a villager and getting them eliminated, thus establishing a sense of trustworthiness in myself.
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Comment on I forgot how to have fun in ~talk
highsomatic Link ParentAn update 4 months later: this was exactly what I needed. I signed up for YNAB and used my student card to get a year off, and now I don’t feel bad spending since I have better visibility on...An update 4 months later: this was exactly what I needed. I signed up for YNAB and used my student card to get a year off, and now I don’t feel bad spending since I have better visibility on what’s going in and out of my budgets.
Next step is to take the same mindset towards time.
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Comment on What did you do this week? in ~talk
highsomatic LinkI'm correcting coding assignments for a "principles of programming" course. One of the students submitted her C code in .txt files. She also was copying and pasting the code into an online...I'm correcting coding assignments for a "principles of programming" course.
One of the students submitted her C code in
.txtfiles.
She also was copying and pasting the code into an online compiler during her demo.
One of the fully written C code files was erroring out on an include statement, even though the rest of the logic has been fully written.
One of the questions including implementing the cdr function. I asked her to scroll to it, she couldn't figure out which assignment question I was referring to, or explain the logic to me.
One question required printing a linked list in the following format: (a(b,c),d,e)
Her program printed it out in the much more elaborate way:a -> b -> d -> e | cAnd yet she still couldn't explain to me how cdr works.
Methinks there's a case of very bad cheating. -
Comment on I forgot how to have fun in ~talk
highsomatic Link ParentYes, my life could use a bit more planning since I'm starting a new chapter. It would definitely help me adjust. I would welcome the sense of relaxation from knowing I can afford to take...Yes, my life could use a bit more planning since I'm starting a new chapter. It would definitely help me adjust. I would welcome the sense of relaxation from knowing I can afford to take guilt-free activities while still being on schedule. I think I've been reluctant to get into more planning because in my mind it seemed like extra overhead.
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Comment on I forgot how to have fun in ~talk
highsomatic (edited )Link Parent[redacted], where temperatures are subzero (Celsius) for the moment. Neighbourhood is very urban with some close by parks. I've gone skiing for the first time recently. Waiting to warm up but I...[redacted], where temperatures are subzero (Celsius) for the moment. Neighbourhood is very urban with some close by parks. I've gone skiing for the first time recently. Waiting to warm up but I definitely want to take a look into hiking/camping over the warmer seasons.
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Comment on I forgot how to have fun in ~talk
highsomatic Link ParentCongrats on the mountain bike :) Definitely love me some outdoor activities. My friend taught me how to ski recently and it's been an absolute blast. Canadian winters limit most of the activities...Congrats on the mountain bike :)
Definitely love me some outdoor activities. My friend taught me how to ski recently and it's been an absolute blast. Canadian winters limit most of the activities you listed here unless you're committing with the gear, however it's something I'm looking forward to do once The Great Thaw comes around.
As another commenter mentioned, gaming PCs are a bit of a complex issue right now, but I'll definitely get myself a new console once I have the space and tv for it.
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Comment on I forgot how to have fun in ~talk
highsomatic Link ParentI'm definitely planning on pursuing some form of therapy, thanks for reminding me. For the budget, one preliminary question I guess is what should your emergency fund look like? I've started...I'm definitely planning on pursuing some form of therapy, thanks for reminding me. For the budget, one preliminary question I guess is what should your emergency fund look like? I've started putting some money in a retirement fund for a short while now but what should a minimum base amount look like that can act as an available buffer, as in "okay, my bank account shouldn't ever fall beyond X$, if I'm at X, it means I should tone down my spending".
Beyond that thank you for the comment, if you have any resources that you used on budgeting, I'd love to take a read at. Up until now my budgeting has been looking at total monthly spending, and mentally estimating how long I can live off of what I currently have if I suddenly found myself without a reliable source of income.
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I forgot how to have fun
Like the title says, over the past couple of years, I think I slowly forgot how to have fun. I'm looking for any advice anyone might have (whether you've gone through the same process or not) on...
Like the title says, over the past couple of years, I think I slowly forgot how to have fun. I'm looking for any advice anyone might have (whether you've gone through the same process or not) on how to have a bit more fun.
The past 4 years have been transformational and formative for me. At 21 I decided to switch majors and move out from my parents' house to a more urban city. I mentally (depression) and financially struggled for the first 3 years, going broke in my second year of my second chance at undergrad at one point, eating bowls of rice. I identified my shortcomings (lack of achievements and disposable income) and worked on them. In the 3rd year I worked part-time while also taking a TA position with a full engineering course load. Last summer I completed an internship while also working as an independent contractor for a startup and kept the contractor position while being a full-time student up until this year. I signed a full-time offer at a big company this January and have one course left to fully graduate. I'm also correcting exams and tests on a part time basis for a professor. All this to say, I suddenly had a significant boost in income the last couple of months, and even more free time, whereas I was living on ~20k/year previously, with no free time.
This doesn't mean I don't enjoy or appreciate any fun activity I partake in. When I do go out with my friends I'm having a lot of fun and I'm breathing in every moment. I'm not depressed (not anymore), but I find myself having a more neutral mood outside of hangouts. What I'm struggling with is initiative with regards to fun. What can I do to have fun? I live in a cramped-up studio which I plan on moving out of in spring, but for now I don't have space for a TV let's say. I don't have a gaming pc, because up until now I couldn't afford one. I have a ps4 with a couple of old games, though sometimes I struggle to play them because of a lingering feeling of guilt from using it as a medium of procrastination in my teens. People mention lifestyle creep that follows an income boost, but I think my financial situation in the past has some lingering effect on me that's inhibiting even a small healthy dose of that. It's hard for me to justify upgrading some of my stuff, because they still work. Or buying some items I've wanted, because I'm doing fine without them. The isolation in a studio and the now gone uncertainty that was during the pandemic before I signed a full-time offer also played a role here I think.
So, having read through all that, I welcome any ideas or suggestions on how to spice my weekly life a bit more. I want to shake off the fight-or-flight phase that I was in. What are some things that you do that you think I could adopt to have a bit more fun by myself?
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Comment on Prince Andrew loses military titles and use of HRH in ~news
highsomatic Link ParentI heard in some news that it's due to the upcoming celebration of elizabeth's 70 year reign (platinum jubilee). Since the royal family's source of power has shifted from politicking to public...I heard in some news that it's due to the upcoming celebration of elizabeth's 70 year reign (platinum jubilee). Since the royal family's source of power has shifted from politicking to public media, the tacit consent of the British public to hold them in higher regard is more vulnerable to these controversies. I imagine they wouldn't want any news from his case to overshadow the celebration.
My friend recently found out that a girl he was hanging out with has a small crush on me. This is good and weird at the same time. Weird because: a couple of months ago after the only time I met her, she told him that I scared her which I took very seriously. My last ex through several discussions made me really aware how girls and women can sometimes live in a parallel world to men where a lot of harmless behaviour that we take for granted can have unintended consequences for them, and can sometimes be abrasive. So I took it to heart that despite my best efforts, I come across as scary. My self-esteem took a hit.
Well, talk about a turn around. It turned out every time he saw her after that she’d ask him about me until he got her to confess that she’s interested in a date. The whole scary bit was just a front/tease. So that’s good.