MimicSquid's recent activity
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Comment on China is dealing with its own manosphere in ~life.men
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Comment on China is dealing with its own manosphere in ~life.men
MimicSquid Link ParentI have no idea. You should ask Gazook89. He's the one who proposed it.I have no idea. You should ask Gazook89. He's the one who proposed it.
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Comment on China is dealing with its own manosphere in ~life.men
MimicSquid Link ParentTo be clear, while I was humoring Gazook89's premise, I don't think China is going to engage in a major land war to kill off their extra men. Some combination of directed hatred of the other, a...To be clear, while I was humoring Gazook89's premise, I don't think China is going to engage in a major land war to kill off their extra men. Some combination of directed hatred of the other, a social safety net sufficient to make them feel that the alternatives would be worse, and regular, isolating entertainment is plenty to keep most people from engaging in the sort of actions that threaten the status quo.
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Comment on China is dealing with its own manosphere in ~life.men
MimicSquid Link ParentCivil wars kill a lot of people, but I daresay the people in charge would like to avoid that option.Civil wars kill a lot of people, but I daresay the people in charge would like to avoid that option.
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Comment on China is dealing with its own manosphere in ~life.men
MimicSquid Link ParentRemember, the theoretical goal here is to lose 30 million men in a war without otherwise destabilizing the status quo. The problem with all of those options is the transportation. If they're doing...Remember, the theoretical goal here is to lose 30 million men in a war without otherwise destabilizing the status quo. The problem with all of those options is the transportation. If they're doing well enough to ship the troops there by the literal tens of millions so that they could be killed, the troops won't be dying by the tens of millions. If they're losing, they'll lose the naval capacity to ship them.
Your suggestions are options China might actually take and be successful at, but that would be a failure in this regard.
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Comment on China is dealing with its own manosphere in ~life.men
MimicSquid Link ParentThat is a classical answer, but it's helpful only in the abstract. Who would China engage in a land war with, that would kill off millions of soldiers? Their geographically contiguous neighbors...That is a classical answer, but it's helpful only in the abstract. Who would China engage in a land war with, that would kill off millions of soldiers? Their geographically contiguous neighbors where you could just march troops in by the millions and have them die are rare. North Korea is a dependent. Russia is a junior partner, and is having trouble just with Ukraine. Mongolia's total population is 3.5M, or just over a tenth of the number of single men in China. Kazakhstan, Ubekistan, and Kyrgyzstan are similarly lightly populated. Along with them, Pakistan shares a land border with China, but not one conducive to land invasion. Tibet is already controlled, Nepal & Bhutan are small and across the Himalayas. India could be a choice if you really needed to lose a lot of troops, but their land border isn't really one to fight over. Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam are perhaps the most optimal place to lose a lot of troops? The terrain is more conducive to marching in, and also losing troops continuously to guerilla warfare. Losing 30M people is a stretch though. The Vietnam war went on for 14 yeas and military deaths only added up to 250k. That's peanuts. You'd have to have full on WWII scale disasters to lose that many troops. Total military casualties for all nations in WWII were only 21-25 million. China only lost 4 million.
Sorry, I got on a little bit of a kick looking up statistics. But basically: losing them all in a war somewhere is a nonstarter.
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Comment on China is dealing with its own manosphere in ~life.men
MimicSquid LinkIn general, if a whole group of people see what a particular cultural institution holds for them and opt out, it's a condemnation of the institution, not the people. No one's tricking millions of...In general, if a whole group of people see what a particular cultural institution holds for them and opt out, it's a condemnation of the institution, not the people. No one's tricking millions of women into deciding that marriage or even dating is not for them.
But for the powers that be, it's easier to blame the people who want to opt out than it is to engage in self reflection and change. Change is scary, and may mean giving up power. Better to just condemn women for being clear that marriage doesn't benefit them in the modern era than to try to change it to be more equitable.
All that aside, I really don't see what path China has with regards to their gender disparity. An extra 30+ million men who will never have a family is a hard thing for a society to work with. Where are the social safety nets that will take care of these men if they never have children to look after them? How do you fulfill their need for companionship and community outside of the families they'll never have? Family was the answer to many social challenges, but it's not anymore. How do you deal with that?
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Comment on Ukrainian forces strike twenty-one Russian tankers, four tugboats, two cargo ships in ~society
MimicSquid Link ParentLooking at the USA defense budget for the next 15 years, it looks clear that they're wanting to fight WWII again rather than actually learning from current conflicts. It's possible it'll change...Looking at the USA defense budget for the next 15 years, it looks clear that they're wanting to fight WWII again rather than actually learning from current conflicts. It's possible it'll change after this idiotic boondoggle in Iran? But a lot of the people who have the proper experience and perspective are being pushed out, so who knows.
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Comment on Ukrainian forces strike twenty-one Russian tankers, four tugboats, two cargo ships in ~society
MimicSquid (edited )Link ParentRight? There's been multiple fantastic recent examples of how nations without a huge industrial base can interdict a strait. War has changed.Right? There's been multiple fantastic recent examples of how nations without a huge industrial base can interdict a strait. War has changed.
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Comment on US Federal Communications Commission approves test of space mirror to light night sky despite outcry in ~space
MimicSquid Link ParentWide scale disruption of any biome with life forms that react to sunlight? Plants and animals evolved to live within a certain range of day/night cycles, and changing that for a given area will...Wide scale disruption of any biome with life forms that react to sunlight? Plants and animals evolved to live within a certain range of day/night cycles, and changing that for a given area will have broad and unknown consequences.
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Comment on Gift ideas for niece who’s into sewing? in ~life.women
MimicSquid Link ParentSeconding this. It's definitely a thing to invest in once it looks like an interest that's going to persist. but an adjustable dress form is one of those things that is difficult to replace with...Seconding this. It's definitely a thing to invest in once it looks like an interest that's going to persist. but an adjustable dress form is one of those things that is difficult to replace with anything else. Trying to make adjustments to something you're wearing with any sort of drape while keeping it looking like it will while you're wearing it normally is a special sort of hell.
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Comment on Gift ideas for niece who’s into sewing? in ~life.women
MimicSquid LinkAdvice from my wife, who has a degree in fashion design:Advice from my wife, who has a degree in fashion design:
When you're starting out, the main thing you need is good quality basic tools. Good quality fabric shears, a sturdy seam ripper, a pair of thread snips. If she's making things from scratch a cutting mat and rotary cutter are life-changing, but if she's mostly thrifting and upcycling they're pointless.
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Comment on Obsidian Entertainment reportedly lays off a quarter of staff, cancels multiple projects, and begins work on new Fallout game in ~games
MimicSquid Link ParentAh, yeah. I misremembered. It was a different branch of the tree.Ah, yeah. I misremembered. It was a different branch of the tree.
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Comment on Obsidian Entertainment reportedly lays off a quarter of staff, cancels multiple projects, and begins work on new Fallout game in ~games
MimicSquid Link ParentLike Wasteland? The not quite Fallout trilogy of CRPGs made by Obsidian?Like Wasteland? The not quite Fallout trilogy of CRPGs made by Obsidian?
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Comment on Obsidian Entertainment reportedly lays off a quarter of staff, cancels multiple projects, and begins work on new Fallout game in ~games
MimicSquid Link ParentI'd say that it's low. They're getting another crack at an IP they've done very well with in the past and are beloved for. I'm sure they've got some ideas they've squirreled away for this chance.I'd say that it's low. They're getting another crack at an IP they've done very well with in the past and are beloved for. I'm sure they've got some ideas they've squirreled away for this chance.
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Comment on Obsidian Entertainment reportedly lays off a quarter of staff, cancels multiple projects, and begins work on new Fallout game in ~games
MimicSquid LinkNo word whether it'll be mainline, mainline-adjacent like FO:NV, or off the wall like Fallout: Tactics. Is FO:76's engine appropriate for a single player Fallout? Fallout 4 is fairly ancient at...No word whether it'll be mainline, mainline-adjacent like FO:NV, or off the wall like Fallout: Tactics. Is FO:76's engine appropriate for a single player Fallout? Fallout 4 is fairly ancient at this point.
I suppose it's not worth even asking these questions yet. Under taskmasters like Microsoft, there's no reason to expect anything will happen before they're on the chopping block again.
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Comment on Mutiny to unveil open source Kei Truck kit in ~transport
MimicSquid LinkMeh. The mere existence of hub motors in the project make me dubious about overall power, simplicity or efficiency. They're cheap, to be sure, but come with a lot of drawbacks. Besides, without an...Meh. The mere existence of hub motors in the project make me dubious about overall power, simplicity or efficiency. They're cheap, to be sure, but come with a lot of drawbacks. Besides, without an actual vehicle this is just another company drafting on the Slate's positive press.
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Comment on Microsoft’s Xbox to cut 3,200 jobs, divest five studios in major overhaul (gifted link) in ~games
MimicSquid LinkXbox will sell the studios Ninja Theory (Hellblade) and Undead Labs (State of Decay) to undisclosed buyers. Both studios will continue working on their current game projects, Senua and State of Decay 3, with Xbox.
Two other studios, Double Fine (Psychonauts) and Compulsion Games (South of Midnight), will be spun out and return to private ownership under their founders. Sharma wrote that these two studios will receive runway funding and full ownership of the intellectual property they have developed, including their catalogs of previous games.
Xbox will also begin a consultation process with Arkane Studios (Blade), based in Lyon, France, to “review potential strategic options” in the coming months in hopes of selling or spinning out the studio. Unlike the other four studios, this process has not yet started and will take longer than the others due to stringent French labor laws.
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Comment on Anyone had experience with Element and making friends on there? in ~tech
MimicSquid (edited )Link ParentI don't want you to feel like the search for companionship is pointless. My point was that if you have a clear idea of what you need you can go about that search in ways that are more likely to...I don't want you to feel like the search for companionship is pointless. My point was that if you have a clear idea of what you need you can go about that search in ways that are more likely to fulfill that need. But general company from a friend and immediate assistance for someone who's having a mental health episode are not the same thing, and you can't assume that the same people will be able to provide both.
I'm not going to say it's an absolute impossibility, but friends who have the emotional reserves and free time to be available on any random night to help a friend through a mental health episode are rarer than hen's teeth. I don't want to say they don't exist, but if that's what you're looking for, you may have better chances separating out the need for immediate assistance when you're having a mental health episode from your need for friendship and seeking a mental health provider who can assist in those circumstances. Especially given that you need this now, a therapist, help line, or some other venue is more likely to be able to help you when you need help. It sounds like one of your current friends made clear that she wasn't available for that purpose, and no friend you might hypothetically make in the next week who has healthy emotional boundaries will be able to provide that to a near-stranger.
I don't know where you are in the world, so can't point you to particular resources, but many places have a help line for people in crisis. I strongly suggest you find one who can help you and call when you need it. You have friends, which is a wonderful starting place. But life will be easier if you ask for help from the people best equipped to help.
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Comment on Anyone had experience with Element and making friends on there? in ~tech
MimicSquid LinkYou say you want a friend who is more available. The first thing I'd ask is: Available for what? "Friend" covers a huge number of different expected emotional, social, and physical expectations,...- Exemplary
You say you want a friend who is more available. The first thing I'd ask is: Available for what? "Friend" covers a huge number of different expected emotional, social, and physical expectations, and different contexts and locations will make certain needs more or less easy to fulfill. Is what you need from a friend something that talking with someone on Element will actually provide?
You say that you're lonely and need comfort. I'm not going to say that it's impossible to make good friends online, but I would ask if companionship and comfort is something that will be fulfilled through an online platform. I like many people I've interacted with online, and have gotten good advice from several of them. But the only people I met online who have have shared companionship and comfort with me have been people with whom the relationship moved offline and into spending notable amounts of real life time together.
Broadly, I suggest that your premise regarding where you'll find what you say you need should be examined carefully. When thinking about how to meet a need, people are prone to getting attached to a strategy for meeting that need (no matter how poorly the strategy works) rather than attached to meeting the need itself. Will talking with people online provide comfort and companionship? Perhaps, but don't get too attached to it as the major strategy. Since you have friends close by, connecting with them or expanding your in-person group of people will, in my experience, do more to ensure that your emotional needs will be met than any amount of talking with people online.
Sure, but 30 million? How do you get there? In attacking Ukraine Russia has seen about 1 million casualties (that is, dead and wounded) in 4 years. I agree that there would be a terrible loss of life, but I don't see how your suggestions actually clear the bar.