koopa's recent activity
-
Comment on Reddit is hosting a hackathon for indie developers - Nov 20th to Dec 17th in ~games
-
Comment on Underrated ways to change the world in ~life
koopa LinkThis was a great essay and this from the comments also makes a great point I’ve seen these “Ruiners” get louder and louder over my lifetime, especially online. A good reminder that simply refusing...This was a great essay and this from the comments also makes a great point
Very inspiring. I would like to add perhaps the most important role I’ve discovered as an adult: if you want to do good in the world, don’t try to be the best person or even a good person, just don’t be that guy who ruins it for the people doing good, and don’t support Ruiners. There are all kinds of Ruiners—those that shut down promising and important ideas over technicalities, corrupt crooks who won’t let good things succeed unless they get a cut, and of course Nay Sayers. Whenever anyone asks me how to do good in the world, I tell them, there are already people working on it, and unless you’re careful, you might accidentally ruin it for them one day. So start doing your research, identify your ruining habits (pessimism, jealousy, cynicism, zero-sum thinking, greed, a need for fame or moral superiority) and get rid of those before you go off trying to change the world, lest you ruin what you’re trying to accomplish.
I’ve seen these “Ruiners” get louder and louder over my lifetime, especially online. A good reminder that simply refusing to join them helps make space to improve the world.
-
Comment on Should I stop using Kagi because they do business with Yandex? in ~tech
koopa LinkThis is their response on Discord As an American company I’m kind of surprised Kagi is able to do business with Yandex. Though with the new administration I have doubts about how long Russian...This is their response on Discord
We are interested in building the best possible search. We do not discriminate based on current geopolitical issues. For more, check this : https://help.kagi.com/kagi/search-details/search-quality.html#search-neutrality-and-information-access
As an American company I’m kind of surprised Kagi is able to do business with Yandex. Though with the new administration I have doubts about how long Russian sanctions will last.
-
Comment on Maybe Bluesky has "won" in ~tech
koopa Link ParentI think a big part of the problem is unless you’re living in a dense city or place like a college campus the internet just has more of the people you want to talk to. And if we’re talking about...I think a big part of the problem is unless you’re living in a dense city or place like a college campus the internet just has more of the people you want to talk to.
And if we’re talking about the US, the sky high real estate prices in the few dense cities make many potential third places impossible financially.
-
Comment on Joe Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US long-range missiles in ~society
koopa Link ParentIf you think appeasing dictators stops world wars, I have some bad news about WW2.If you think appeasing dictators stops world wars, I have some bad news about WW2.
-
Comment on John Thune elected as US Senate Republican leader to succeed Mitch McConnell in ~society
koopa Link ParentIt is still important to bring awareness of his crimes if for no other reason than to hope future generations can learn from where we failed. And secondly, any amount of resources or time that can...It is still important to bring awareness of his crimes if for no other reason than to hope future generations can learn from where we failed.
And secondly, any amount of resources or time that can be drained away fighting impeachment is time and resources not put towards harming the country.
-
Comment on John Thune elected as US Senate Republican leader to succeed Mitch McConnell in ~society
koopa Link ParentThune is definitely the least bad choice of the many bad options.Thune is definitely the least bad choice of the many bad options.
-
Comment on If our worst fears about Donald Trump play out, how will we know when it's time to leave? in ~society
koopa LinkMy wife is a LPR, my line would be if the authority of the courts to protect legal immigrants breaks down. Which to clear, I do not expect at all. Trump is going to start out with an attempt to...My wife is a LPR, my line would be if the authority of the courts to protect legal immigrants breaks down. Which to clear, I do not expect at all.
Trump is going to start out with an attempt to “shock and awe” his authority which is meant to spark fear but the important thing is the restrain and resist him at every level. Elect democrats. Litigate everything. Run out the clock. Saving the country is a far better option than fleeing it. The world without a USA as a force for freedom and democracy, is a world that has authoritarians creeping in from all directions no matter where you flee to.
-
Comment on Taylor Swift fans are leaving X for Bluesky after Donald Trump’s US election in ~society
koopa Link ParentStarter packs have done a great job of making the jump super easy. I originally got into the Bluesky beta but kinda bounced off because I didn’t really have anyone to follow. But now there’s...Starter packs have done a great job of making the jump super easy. I originally got into the Bluesky beta but kinda bounced off because I didn’t really have anyone to follow.
But now there’s enough people over there that I was able to follow with one click via starter packs that I’ve completely replaced my Twitter usage.
And moderation lists means that any MAGA bots/rage baiters are just automatically blocked without me having to do anything which makes everything 100x better than Twitter.
-
Comment on American election mental health thread in ~health.mental
koopa Link ParentYeah this isn’t 2016, where Trump won solely based on the shifting uneducated white male vote in the electoral college. He did better across every demographic group than last time. NYT projects...Yeah this isn’t 2016, where Trump won solely based on the shifting uneducated white male vote in the electoral college. He did better across every demographic group than last time. NYT projects he’ll win the popular vote by about 1%.
This is simply a country wide failure.
-
Comment on American election mental health thread in ~health.mental
koopa Link ParentTrump wouldn’t even have to send anything to Putin. Just take off the sanctions and let China have free rein to give whatever they want to Russia without their current guise of “dual use” weapons...Trump wouldn’t even have to send anything to Putin. Just take off the sanctions and let China have free rein to give whatever they want to Russia without their current guise of “dual use” weapons and tech.
Europe alone cannot compete with China’s manufacturing capability.
-
Comment on AI is killing remote work in ~tech
koopa Link ParentYeah, in my experience even just using AI to generate little helper functions like take a timestamp string in this format and give it to me in number of seconds has failed at least 30-40% of the...Yeah, in my experience even just using AI to generate little helper functions like take a timestamp string in this format and give it to me in number of seconds has failed at least 30-40% of the time.
It’s nice when it works and incredible that it works slightly more often than not but when it’s wrong it’s usually in subtle ways that are easily missed if you aren’t being careful.
It might “feel” like you’re going faster but you’re probably fooling yourself.
This stuff gives me big “open offices promote amazing collaboration and speed up productivity” vibes. And we all know the results of that.
-
Comment on Recruiting help for election day posters in ~creative
koopa LinkIf you’re looking to actually persuade someone you need to think about what is the most persuasive issue and framing for them, not for you. Abortion and healthcare are Democrat’s best issues. I...If you’re looking to actually persuade someone you need to think about what is the most persuasive issue and framing for them, not for you.
Abortion and healthcare are Democrat’s best issues. I would also heavily lean into the freedom from government control messaging that has been effective in passing pro-choice referendums in red states.
Something like “keep the government out of your doctor’s office, vote for freedom, vote for Harris.”
If you are in a place with many elderly voters, emphasizing that “Trump’s plans will bankrupt Social Security to give billionaires a tax break. Vote for Harris, save Social Security.” would also be an effective message.
These might be a bit too long for a sign but they’re imo the best messages for persuadable voters.
-
Comment on The Electoral College is bad in ~society
koopa Link ParentCompared to now where they only care about populous areas in swing statesCompared to now where they only care about populous areas in swing states
-
Comment on The Electoral College is bad in ~society
koopa Link ParentExpanding the number of seats in the House of Representatives to a number that actually makes sense for our large population is probably the easiest (aka doesn’t require a constitutional...Expanding the number of seats in the House of Representatives to a number that actually makes sense for our large population is probably the easiest (aka doesn’t require a constitutional amendment) path to a better EC and competitive elections generally.
Since EC votes per state are determined by the number of representatives + senators, adding more representatives automatically also improves the representation of the electoral college.
-
Comment on The Electoral College is bad in ~society
koopa LinkThe electoral college will exist until the day Texas turns blue and suddenly the “EC stops big states from dominating small states” talking point will disappear. I’d be happy if we could at least...The electoral college will exist until the day Texas turns blue and suddenly the “EC stops big states from dominating small states” talking point will disappear.
I’d be happy if we could at least turn the EC into a proportional allocation of votes for each state instead of winner take all. It makes improvement in any state matter. Rather than 7 winner take all swing states that should just have their votes split 50/50 to represent the actual opinion of their populations.
-
Comment on The massive US port strike has begun: 'We are prepared to fight as long as necessary' in ~transport
koopa Link ParentThis is my issue with the demands. Workers should absolutely share in the wealth that automation brings via much higher wages for their increased productivity. But demanding a ban on that...This is my issue with the demands. Workers should absolutely share in the wealth that automation brings via much higher wages for their increased productivity. But demanding a ban on that increased productivity from automation is bad for everyone.
-
Comment on You're running for office on a somewhat petty, yet univerally-understood single issue. What is it? in ~talk
koopa Link ParentDreams don’t have to be a vacation on the beach, it could be a paid opportunity try starting the business you’ve never been in the financial position to start. If you’re already doing the exact...Dreams don’t have to be a vacation on the beach, it could be a paid opportunity try starting the business you’ve never been in the financial position to start.
If you’re already doing the exact thing you want to be doing and have no other desires or dreams I’m not going to force you to take a year off, bank the year and have the option to retire a year earlier if you want.
-
Comment on DirecTV and Dish to merge, creating US pay-TV giant, as AT&T completes exit from entertainment in ~tv
koopa Link ParentThe Biden administration has filled “the highest number of enforcement actions since the US began requiring pre-merger antitrust review in 1976.”...The Biden administration has filled “the highest number of enforcement actions since the US began requiring pre-merger antitrust review in 1976.”
The government can’t just decide to block all mergers. The FTC did attempt to block the Microsoft-Activision merger but they lost in court because it was a weak case.
https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/11/23779039/microsoft-activision-blizzard-ftc-trial-win
-
Comment on You're running for office on a somewhat petty, yet univerally-understood single issue. What is it? in ~talk
koopa LinkUniversal sabbaticals, a social security like system where instead of waiting for full retirement age you get a paid year off every decade. A lot of people put off their big dreams until a future...Universal sabbaticals, a social security like system where instead of waiting for full retirement age you get a paid year off every decade.
A lot of people put off their big dreams until a future retirement when they’re often too old to really enjoy them.
This is more than fair. Just following along when spez tried to libel the developer Apollo that had to be disproven with the audio recordings of their phone call told me everything I need to know about the guy. Not someone I would do business with, especially as a 3rd party dev at his whim.
I guess it all worked out for him, but I still feel sad that we lost something special by driving out all the talented people who built community instead of a business.