papasquat's recent activity
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Comment on Is it possible to not want to be happy? in ~talk
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Comment on Is it possible to not want to be happy? in ~talk
papasquat LinkI think "happiness" is much too clunky and imprecise of a term for something as complex as human emotion. It can cover such a broad spectrum of feelings like momentary joy, long term...I think "happiness" is much too clunky and imprecise of a term for something as complex as human emotion.
It can cover such a broad spectrum of feelings like momentary joy, long term contentedness, belonging, fulfillment, usefulness, restedness, acceptance of your own mortality, and so on.
Like, someone voluntarily fighting in the middle of a righteous war to defend their country isn't what most people would define as happy, exactly. They feel like they have a purpose though, and it's not like they'd rather not be fighting in that war, even if it meant a warm bed and some hot tea.
So yes, it's definitely possible to not want to be happy, because happiness can mean many different things or many things at once.
Happiness doesn't inheritely mean a goal either though. I think a tighter paradox would be something like "is it possible to not want to achieve your goals". Which I'd say, no, absolutely not, because goals are inherently something that you want to achieve. Happiness isn't though.
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Comment on Control the ideas, not the code in ~comp
papasquat LinkI don't mean for this to be rude or offensive, and I wouldn't normally point this out, except for the subject matter. This blog post is horribly written and very difficult to read from a grammar...I don't mean for this to be rude or offensive, and I wouldn't normally point this out, except for the subject matter.
This blog post is horribly written and very difficult to read from a grammar perspective. Its really disconcerting to see someone advocate so full-throatedly for a complete hands off vibe coding and code review setup if they don't even trust the technology enough to use it to proofread a blog post.
I get that the author isn't a native english speaker, but LLMs are explicitly good at translation. Its one of their main use cases, and understandability is one of the core metrics that they're trained on. I make a lot of allowances for people who don't natively speak the language, but not if you're an AI evangelist.
If you're not even using the thing to fix mistakes in your blog posts; you know, one of the few things that people almost universally agree that they're good at, it doesn't exactly lend a lot of weight to the central thesis of the post.
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Comment on Who cleans up after the vibe-coding party? in ~tech
papasquat LinkI'm seeing this in the enterprise space too. We've been extremely conservative with ai usage. We only have sanctioned licenses for about 20 of our thousands of users, we're very rigorous with what...I'm seeing this in the enterprise space too. We've been extremely conservative with ai usage. We only have sanctioned licenses for about 20 of our thousands of users, we're very rigorous with what we do and don't allow them to do, and we have regular communication and monitoring with them.
Even still, there's been a proliferation of hundreds of "agents". Most of them already forgotten and abandoned, but some of them becoming parts of business processes, and I have no doubt in my mind that as time goes on they'll become more and more critical to very important business processes. We have no good way of differentiating between the two, and no good long term plan for cleaning them up.
Its like the ever present shadow IT problem cranked up to 11 and injected with steroids. With traditional shadow IT, at least the outputs were generally deterministic. This stuff is a mess.
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Comment on Project Hail Mary - Discussion thread in ~movies
papasquat Link ParentSorry for the late comment, but I just saw this thread. I kind of agree with that criticism regarding spoilerRocky. One of the interesting things about the book is how different the eridian mind...Sorry for the late comment, but I just saw this thread.
I kind of agree with that criticism regardingspoiler
Rocky. One of the interesting things about the book is how different the eridian mind is from the human mind. Eridians didn't have computers, because they never needed to invent them. Rocky could do extremely complicated mental math without any issue, and had eidetic memory, as did all eridians, and viewed grace as sort of an idiot for not having the same abilities. He was amazed by the laptops grace had, but more as a novelty than anything. He didn't need a translation program to understand grace. Hearing the english equivalent for an eridian word a single time was all he needed to understand english. At the same time, they had huge blind spots due to their evolutionary environment, such as having no idea what ionizing radiation is. In the book, Rocky was so critical to grace being successful that humanity would be entirely doomed without the eridians. Rocky basically does the majority of the work. Grace just mostly fills in the blanks of eridian scientific understanding. Eridian engineering and materials science is the real star of the book though. In the movie, you just sort of get the idea that grace could have figured the whole thing out alone, and he just decided to help Rocky. </discussion> -
Comment on Give me your culture clash stories in ~travel
papasquat Link ParentThere's this red light on a road in front of my house that I run literally every day. It's a red arrow, and it takes absolutely forever to change, like 8+ minutes per cycle. The road frequently...There's this red light on a road in front of my house that I run literally every day. It's a red arrow, and it takes absolutely forever to change, like 8+ minutes per cycle. The road frequently has no one coming for miles, and I can see at least a mile in both directions. It's not even that I'm always in a rush, but the idea of wasting up to 8 minutes per day of my precious life doing nothing solely because of the whims of the electronic circuit in the traffic signal, programmed by someone who really didn't think about, and likely didn't give a fuck about its timing just strikes me as cosmically unjust. So I look both ways, and run it every afternoon.
I've realized that one of the biggest difference in cultures are between cultures who would generally approve of that move, and cultures that absolutely would not. In the US, most people are perfectly fine that I do that. In much of the middle east, it would be baffling that anyone would ever even consider stopping at the light. In Japan though? Unthinkable.
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Comment on China is dealing with its own manosphere in ~life.men
papasquat Link ParentWhy would a country intentionally want to lose 30 million people? There are a lot of uncaring leaders out there, but I can think of any in all of history that intentionally started a war solely to...Why would a country intentionally want to lose 30 million people? There are a lot of uncaring leaders out there, but I can think of any in all of history that intentionally started a war solely to reduce their own native population. It sucks that China's own policies and cultural biases led to too many men, but it's not actually a serious problem for them, much less that starting a war solely for them to die in it would ever make sense as a strategy.
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Comment on US Federal Communications Commission approves test of space mirror to light night sky despite outcry in ~space
papasquat Link ParentMassively dangerous in that game, and in real life too. Realistically, we don't even need to do this. Plenty of solar energy hits the ground on earth, and there's plenty of space to put them....Massively dangerous in that game, and in real life too.
Realistically, we don't even need to do this. Plenty of solar energy hits the ground on earth, and there's plenty of space to put them. People just like doing dumb sci fi shit to do dumb sci fi shit instead of investing that money into proven ideas that work.
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Comment on There is no reason to buy another PlayStation or Xbox in ~games
papasquat Link ParentIts nostalgia. I have a lot of games I really loved as a kid. Doom, quake, tribes, StarCraft. They were a nightmare to even get running, and tedious to play. For the time, they were amazing and...Its nostalgia. I have a lot of games I really loved as a kid. Doom, quake, tribes, StarCraft.
They were a nightmare to even get running, and tedious to play. For the time, they were amazing and completely mind blowing, but people older than me had a similar experience with Mario Bros, or Space Invaders, or Pong. People younger than me had similar experiences with Minecraft or Fortnite. As those kids grow up, they'll lament that games aren't as good anymore.
I just don't have the time or will to sink 200+ hours into exploring every nook and cranny into a game anymore. I have better things to do with my time. I've also played probably thousands of games at this point in my life, and it's very difficult for anything to feel novel or interesting anymore.
That wasn't the case when I was 10 years old playing through Doom. It was exciting, new, and I had all the time in the world to devote to that game.
There are kids doing the same thing now with some game I've never even heard of which will be considered iconic in a decade or two. Its just the way things go.
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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
papasquat Link ParentI mean, Fallout 4 was set in Boston. Massachusetts isn't the coldest state in the US, but it's certainly up there, right alongside New York.I mean, Fallout 4 was set in Boston. Massachusetts isn't the coldest state in the US, but it's certainly up there, right alongside New York.
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
papasquat Link ParentHonestly? I don't agree. A lot of people had a huge problem with the Sopranos because the ending was basically the sentence fragment you just posted. At that point though, so much had happened in...Honestly? I don't agree. A lot of people had a huge problem with the Sopranos because the ending was basically the sentence fragment you just posted.
At that point though, so much had happened in the series that there's no satisfying conclusion. It was just a glimpse into the life of mobsters dealing with modern problems. There's no resolution there. The mobsters keep doing mobster stuff, they still have problems that are unresolved, and they keep causing problems for other people. It wasn't one story, it was dozens, all packaged as a glimpse into the lives of these characters.
Its kind of the central thesis of the show, the cycle of temptation, crime and justification grinds forward just as it always has.
It ended because that's where it ended, not because there was some grand narrative to be wrapped up. The glimpse into the lives of mobsters just ended, because it has to end at some point.
In a way, it's a really honest ending, and the way that most long running series probably should end. These are long running dramas with hundreds of little twists, grey morality, and character shifts. They're not tight hour and a half stories with a clear beginning, climax, and end like Star Wars or something.
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
papasquat Link ParentIts difficult, and sometimes impossible to write a satisfying ending if you don't already have it in mind from the beginning. The longer a series runs for, the less likelyhood there is for the...Its difficult, and sometimes impossible to write a satisfying ending if you don't already have it in mind from the beginning. The longer a series runs for, the less likelyhood there is for the author to have a cohesive idea for an end. You need to build up more and more story threads as a series goes on for it to remain interesting, which becomes debt you have to pay back in the form of a resolution. If you don't manage it, that debt constantly grows, and will become increasingly difficult to deal with.
If a book series or tv show has more than 5 or so entries/series, it's best to just make mental peace with the fact that it probably won't resolve in a satisfying way. The point of a story isn't the endjng though. Its the whole ride. People have become way too focused on the endings of tv shows recently in my opinion. If you enjoy the show, keep watching it, but you shouldn't keep watching a show you don't enjoy in the hopes of a big payoff, because the longer the show goes, and the more convoluted the plot is, the less likelyhood there is that that's ever going to happen.
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
papasquat Link ParentI've heard this opinion before, and it's just weird to me. It seems like people are just watching a show for its conclusion. I've enjoyed lots of shows despite terrible endings, or bad final...I've heard this opinion before, and it's just weird to me. It seems like people are just watching a show for its conclusion. I've enjoyed lots of shows despite terrible endings, or bad final seasons, and am glad I watched the shows despite the bad season.
I've seen The Wire all the way through 3 times, but I've never been able to make it through the final season because it's terrible. Its still one of my favorite shows. Same goes for Battlestar Galactica.
I really loved the first season of severance, but the second season sucked. I'm still glad I watched it though.
Shows rarely start with any idea of how they're going to conclude anyway, why cut yourself off from otherwise good shows that may or may not end well?
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
papasquat Link ParentAll of that stuff, the FOMO and momentum is historical context though. There are dramatic stories behind the Mona Lisa, thefts, conspiracies, etc. it all adds to its allure. Its context is why...All of that stuff, the FOMO and momentum is historical context though. There are dramatic stories behind the Mona Lisa, thefts, conspiracies, etc. it all adds to its allure.
Its context is why it's such a famous piece of art. The only difference is that it's one of the few pieces of art where the general public is aware of that context, instead of just people in the art world.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
papasquat Link ParentI'll give a counter example. The Mona Lisa, by modern standards, is not a particularly technically impressive painting. It's good, but there are literally millions of more realistic looking...Unlike a more classical painting: even without knowing the artist, the historical context, the techniques you can still get what it represents and appreciate the little details in it.
I'll give a counter example. The Mona Lisa, by modern standards, is not a particularly technically impressive painting. It's good, but there are literally millions of more realistic looking paintings of people.
Despite that, 10 million people pay to see it in person every year. It's the most famous painting in the world by a massive margin, and none of that has to do with how technically impressive it is. Almost none of those people have any real history with art.
It has everything to do with the historical context, the artist, and the techniques.
The only difference is that with the Mona Lisa, almost everyone knows something about the context. With most other art, they don't.
So clearly, even with classical art, the actual technical skill on display is not the entire story, or even a significant part of the story for some pieces.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
papasquat Link ParentI'm going to push back on this, because I hear it a lot online (I'm sure there's some sort of fallacy someone already named after it but I'm too lazy to look it up.) We all share a lot of opinions...I think there is value to reflecting on this from the mindset of "my opinions on this topic are shared by fascists"
I'm going to push back on this, because I hear it a lot online (I'm sure there's some sort of fallacy someone already named after it but I'm too lazy to look it up.)
We all share a lot of opinions with fascists. That doesn't mean you're a fascist, or your opinions come from the same place, or that they're negative. Facists believe that strong families are good. Ok, so do I, so do most people. Facists believe that preserving wilderness is good. Okay, me too. Facists like food, drinks, music, and so on and so forth. Hitler was a vegetarian. Having the same opinions facists have isn't worth examining.
Having the same opinions facists have about how to rule a country is.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
papasquat Link ParentSo are associations between colors, and texture and emotions/concepts/etc. I don't see how a major chord signaling happiness, and a smooth color yellow signaling happiness are not the exact same...So are associations between colors, and texture and emotions/concepts/etc.
I don't see how a major chord signaling happiness, and a smooth color yellow signaling happiness are not the exact same level of abstraction.
In western culture, dark colors = gloom, sadness, shame, fear. Light colors = openness, happiness, hopefulness, purity. Warm colors = belongingness, familiarity, cool colors = sterility, professionalism. Clean lines = uniformity, cohesiveness, order. Messy lines = chaos, self expression, emotion.
There's nothing more abstract about a painting that just conveys raw emotion using color and texture versus a random EDM song you'd hear in a night club conveying raw emotion using sine waves and distortion, for instance.
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Comment on Give me your culture clash stories in ~travel
papasquat Link ParentAlso, the further south you go. A lot of southern cities have ripped up their walkable infrastructure and paved over entire blocks to build more parking. In Florida especially, even a lot of the...Also, the further south you go. A lot of southern cities have ripped up their walkable infrastructure and paved over entire blocks to build more parking. In Florida especially, even a lot of the older cities have completely gutted their downtowns for more parking which usually sits empty.
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Comment on Give me your culture clash stories in ~travel
papasquat Link ParentHonestly if someone said it to me, I'd assume I'd been scowling or sniffling.Honestly if someone said it to me, I'd assume I'd been scowling or sniffling.
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Comment on Give me your culture clash stories in ~travel
papasquat Link ParentCar? Surely you mean lifted pickup truck.Car? Surely you mean lifted pickup truck.
I don't think people want to be happy all the time. I think that's a misread of what people with chronic depression are aiming for, and I hear it people make that criticism of "therapy culture" a lot.
I think most people want to feel somewhat content. They don't want to have a smile on their face at all times, but they want to be able to look at their life as a whole and think "I'm doing ok. I'm going to be alright".
I covered this in a other comment, but I think a lot of the miscommunication is how ambiguous the concept of happiness is. It can mean what I described, but it can also mean ear to ear grins and ecstatic joy, like when you're a kid on Christmas morning and you get the exact toy you want.
I think most people recognize that not a realistic, or even a desirable emotion to have all, or even a lot of the time. If you've ever been around someone with bipolar, you can actually recognize it as quite scary and self destructive.
I think that more muted feeling of long term contentedness is an actual, realistic goal for most people though, and the feeling like that's so remote of a possibility to achieve for yourself is really the root of depression, and something that we should aim to eradicate as much as we can.