parsley's recent activity
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Comment on Breaking down my dislike of strategy games | Semi-Ramblomatic in ~games
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Comment on Steam games will now need to fully disclose kernel-level anti-cheat on store pages in ~games
parsley Link ParentHere is an example of what happens when you give root access to big companies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandalTo be honest, I'm a little mystified over why there seems to be so much anger directed at kernel-level anti-cheat specifically.
Here is an example of what happens when you give root access to big companies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal
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Comment on At least 158 people die in devastating flash floods in eastern Spain in ~enviro
parsley Link ParentDry soil does not stay put absorbing water, it gets pulled into the flood and makes things worse. These types of floods are not uncommon in that area but this one has been particularly strong....Dry soil does not stay put absorbing water, it gets pulled into the flood and makes things worse.
These types of floods are not uncommon in that area but this one has been particularly strong. There has also been cuts in emergency services because... well... because.
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Comment on Why I don't play online anymore in ~games
parsley LinkMy main issue with online play is that, with automatic matchmaking, people feel like chaotic AIs that play until they think they can't win anymore and then drop from the match, or just behave like...My main issue with online play is that, with automatic matchmaking, people feel like chaotic AIs that play until they think they can't win anymore and then drop from the match, or just behave like assholes griefing foes (or allies) for the lulz. Without matchmaking, you need to either bring your own friends or find communities that are nice enough and can accommodate to the amount of commitment you want to put into the game.
My wife is in a guild in a mobile gatcha game and there are people her age and she enjoys it a lot. The gameplay is mostly asynchronous and they just work together on guild level goals... sounds great except that the kind of daily commitment to play a gatcha/"energy limited" mobile game sounds appalling to me.
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Comment on Forums are still alive, active, and a treasure trove of information in ~tech
parsley Link ParentAlso forums usually have specific topics they are about, like a hobby or product. It prefilters the audience so even if one browses off-topic subforums, the people talking there still (mostly)...Also forums usually have specific topics they are about, like a hobby or product. It prefilters the audience so even if one browses off-topic subforums, the people talking there still (mostly) share a common interest.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
parsley LinkBaldur's Gate EE: I have only played a couple of crpgs and I'm still not sure I like them, but I wanted to give the infinite engine games a try. I'm a bit torn. I enjoy walking around finding and...Baldur's Gate EE: I have only played a couple of crpgs and I'm still not sure I like them, but I wanted to give the infinite engine games a try. I'm a bit torn. I enjoy walking around finding and solving quests, and the occasional encounter. I don't like that up to chapter four most of my team interactions have been:
Jaheira: Find the mines already or I'll leave!!
Kivan: Find the enemy camp already or I'll leave!!
Neera: I'm not leaving but you are insufferable!The combat has a bit too many variables for me but it's getting more interesting as I get more options and learn to use them. I should really read the manual. If I finish the game I'll probably change my build for the expansions/sequel.
Lego Marvel superheroes: Been playing a couple Lego games with my kid. I don't like collectathons (or marvel) but these lego games are simple enough for her and bearable enough for me. The lego tone fits the MCU fairly well (much better than the jurassic world game we played last) and some of the superpowers are fun. The controls are ok for the most part but flying units and some vehicles are horrible to use.
I really need to find other types of games she would like.TouHou: Artificial Dream in Arcadia: Its a classic Shin Megami Tensei dungeon crawler with mechanics from the later games, and a TouHou coat of paint. I have not played much but so far so good.
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Comment on I quit teaching because of ChatGPT in ~creative
parsley Link ParentSoftware engineering has the big issue that it is much harder to read code than it is to write it. "Touching up" AI generated code requires a much senior profile than the one writing prompts, and...Programming with AI is going to end up as demoralizing as it did for illustrators
Software engineering has the big issue that it is much harder to read code than it is to write it. "Touching up" AI generated code requires a much senior profile than the one writing prompts, and you cannot grow senior profiles if your team is playing "say the right thing to copilot" instead of deciding on architecture or interfaces.
In my mind the coding AI story might go in two directions: One were it falls apart the way outsourcing (mostly) did, where companies that actually need to care about code quality cannot afford AI generated code. And two, where system quality expectations decline so much that an AI can just rewrite the whole codebase as needed every time requirements / prompts are updated. This last one will probably require better AI coders, and possibly an OS/platform designed specifically to make the AI coders look more competent.
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Comment on Travel recommendations for Japan in ~travel
parsley Link ParentMy wife once asked for help trying to buy something in a big chain store (she speaks japanese) and was recommended to go to a more tourist friendly store that obviously did not have the item. We...My wife once asked for help trying to buy something in a big chain store (she speaks japanese) and was recommended to go to a more tourist friendly store that obviously did not have the item.
We found a lot of friendly helpful people, but it is definitely not uncommon to be (very politely) told to go away.
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Comment on Addressing the cause of collapsing fertility: status in ~life
parsley Link ParentHaving kids is very time and money expensive, specially if you want them to keep them in your social stratum. Families that are well off but not old-school wealthy probably work a lot themselves...Having kids is very time and money expensive, specially if you want them to keep them in your social stratum. Families that are well off but not old-school wealthy probably work a lot themselves and might not be ok with the traditional ways of dealing with kids (shipping them to boarding school and / or having service workers deal with them).
Most monied people in my country that have more than a couple kids also belong to some kind of sect, which, religious doctrine expectations aside, also likely provide means to deal with the kids and lets them interact with other families in the same situation.
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Comment on ROMhacking.net moves to news only, database and file archive released to Internet Archive in ~games
parsley Link ParentSome hacking communities have their own forums (like smw central or metroid construction, I think there are some related subreddits too), but I fear newer groups will just create discord servers...Some hacking communities have their own forums (like smw central or metroid construction, I think there are some related subreddits too), but I fear newer groups will just create discord servers where they keep a lower profile.
The net isnt built for that anymore
The net was like this in the past too. usenet and irc were full of assholes and doxxers.
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Comment on “Authentic” is dead. And so is “is dead.” in ~humanities.languages
parsley Link ParentI have so many blacklisted words / sentence patterns for article titles that I have a very hard time convincing myself to read anything. In computer science it's more common to see "considered...You could make another list of such words for social media and newspaper headlines.
I have so many blacklisted words / sentence patterns for article titles that I have a very hard time convincing myself to read anything.
In computer science it's more common to see "considered harmful" than "is dead". Funnily enough there is also a considered harmful is considered harmful
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Comment on Extreme heat poses ‘real risk’ to Spain’s mass tourism industry in ~enviro
parsley Link ParentMany old houses in Spain lack AC because it was considered a luxury a couple generations ago. When I was a kid it was common for people to take some chairs and just hand out on the street with...Many old houses in Spain lack AC because it was considered a luxury a couple generations ago. When I was a kid it was common for people to take some chairs and just hand out on the street with their neighbors as it was too hot to be in the house.
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Comment on Study shock! AI hinders productivity and makes working worse. in ~tech
parsley Link ParentI fear an AI programmer is "good enough" compared to junior developers that you need to replace every year or two because they get better and leave, at least from the 10k foot view of a decision...For the rest, how about hiring an actual junior programmer? Then when I'm spending my time checking work and correcting mistakes, both the company and the programmer are receiving actual value from this in the form of them being a slightly more experienced programmer. Trying to sidestep this process with AI seems short-sighted at best.
I fear an AI programmer is "good enough" compared to junior developers that you need to replace every year or two because they get better and leave, at least from the 10k foot view of a decision maker.
I see AI as a form of outsourcing. Some companies will embrace it no matter what because their economic performance is detached from their engineering output, but for the most part companies won't be able to eat up the costs of lower quality code and lack of senior engineers who understand the code and can fix bugs or evolve the system.
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Comment on How frequently does vscode save dirty files? in ~comp
parsley Link ParentVSCode is "kind of" Open source https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/wiki/Differences-between-the-repository-and-Visual-Studio-Code. There are plenty of "Open source" projects you cannot really...VSCode is "kind of" Open source https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/wiki/Differences-between-the-repository-and-Visual-Studio-Code.
There are plenty of "Open source" projects you cannot really build from the source. Many services only open source the client, or parts of the server, or things like that. Its often called Open Core business model.
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Comment on Protests seen as harming civil rights movement in the '60s—What we can learn from this for climate justice in ~enviro
parsley Link ParentLike billboards with ads or homeless people, once they become part of the scenery people will likely filter them out. I really don't have a good solution to this. These open movements are very...They're unavoidably visible to all
Like billboards with ads or homeless people, once they become part of the scenery people will likely filter them out.
I really don't have a good solution to this. These open movements are very easy to hijack by rioters, media, and even movement organizers with their own agendas. If the logic behind an action is just an appeal to emotion I get extremely skeptical.
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Comment on Protests seen as harming civil rights movement in the '60s—What we can learn from this for climate justice in ~enviro
parsley Link ParentBecause most protests are parades meant to get attention from the media. Cutting traffic does nothing by itself for human rights, climate, etc. Making someone miss / be late for work, their...Because most protests are parades meant to get attention from the media. Cutting traffic does nothing by itself for human rights, climate, etc. Making someone miss / be late for work, their children school, or worse, a hospital visit does not make said person sympathize with you, no matter how noble your cause is (for you).
(IHMO) a productive protest should only hurt the people you are protesting against, but that requires a much higher degree of organization and possibly keeping it secret from social media platforms.
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Comment on The spectacular failure of the Star Wars hotel in ~movies
parsley Link ParentCompanies/branches inside a corporation have no common goal and fight for resources with each other. The hotels would need to pay for that Disney +, and if that helps streaming more than it helps...Companies/branches inside a corporation have no common goal and fight for resources with each other. The hotels would need to pay for that Disney +, and if that helps streaming more than it helps the hotels, it would make them look bad when comparing performances.
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Comment on Revisiting the GBA Castlevania Games (Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, and Aria of Sorrow) in ~games
parsley Link ParentI would play Symphony before DoS. I would have played them in chronological order (and maybe include Dracula X before Symphony). For the most part these games build on top of the previous ones and...I'm actually wondering whether I should leave it for last, as I planned, or play it after I finish Dawn of Sorrow so I can end on a high note (Order of Ecclesia).
I would play Symphony before DoS. I would have played them in chronological order (and maybe include Dracula X before Symphony). For the most part these games build on top of the previous ones and going back in time is going to feel rough, specially if you don't have a lot of nostalgia for Symphony.
The Sorrow game and Order of Ecclesia are the better ones for me. I need to give Bloodstained a shoot someday.
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Comment on My not so nice thoughts on Battlestar Galactica in ~tv
parsley LinkI really liked the miniseries and the first season or so but by the end of the show I was very unhappy with it too. I did not mind it was cheap (if you think BSG is cheap do not watch the sci fi...I really liked the miniseries and the first season or so but by the end of the show I was very unhappy with it too. I did not mind it was cheap (if you think BSG is cheap do not watch the sci fi dune mini series) but they set up expectations for a big plot that never happens. They also sort of run out of ideas and eventually write themselves into a corner.
My spoilery list of complaints. Keep in mind I have not touched the franchise in a very long time, so I might be completely wrong in some of these:
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There is no plan. They spend a couple minutes every episodes telling you the cylons have a plan. There is a movie called "the plan". There is no plan. The cylons are just winging it throughout the series
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The cylons are what exactly? In the first couple of episodes they set up the cylons as some sort of robotic collective that rebelled against the humans, waged war against them, lost (i think), and then reappeared years later with better robots and strong enough to destroy 99% of humanity in one go. By the second season they are a bunch of clones of 3-4 people and the metal robots have basically dissapeared. By the last season the clones do not matter anymore and there are only one of each. And one of them is very angry/sad.
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Balthar is too many things. There are like 3-4 characters that have any sort of arc and change through the series. Balthar has at least one arc every season. Goes from petty egotistical scientist who enabled the attack from the cylons, to immigrant from an impoverished colony, to crappy politician, to messiah, etc. The actor does fine but it looks like they were trying too hard to keep him relevant.
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Problems get solved forever. There is an episode where they discuss running out of food, one for medicines, etc. Once they get solved they are never a problem, ever. Clothes are always in pristine conditions, there is lots of clean paper to write stuff on, etc.
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The show tries very hard to make Adama and the tough but kind sort of leader of humanity but at the same time have a miniature version of civilian politics and it does not really work, specially when they focus on the politics.
I don't watch series anymore but from what I hear there are better space shows. If someone want to check of BSG I would recommend the 33' miniseries and maybe the first season.
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Comment on [help] Tips on resolving git conflicts, for the faint hearted in ~comp
parsley Link ParentIt is indeed perfectly fine, but once you learn about a couple commands you really don't need to do that. Some basics here https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Basics-Undoing-Things do note that...It is indeed perfectly fine, but once you learn about a couple commands you really don't need to do that.
Some basics here https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Basics-Undoing-Things do note that restore is a modern command and is not available in older versions of git.
I have not played FE games since the GBA days, but from what I recall, FE games are built around knowing what enemies you are going to encounter several turns in advance and how you can use the preset environment to deal with them. You get face to face with groups of enemies so you need to balance positioning with how many units to use, etc. You also need to plan a route through the map in advance to get to the boss, treasures, etc. Fog of war maps do not really change any of this, instead they make you work a bit harder to maintain battlefield visibility. You still know the layout, and if you lose, you know you will face the same enemies in the same places next time.
XCom games are not like this at all. The environment is procedurally generated and you encounter less enemies, usually one at a time. You need to explore to find your objectives, being careful not to put your units in danger. The game is about dealing with unknowns and being ready for them.
I enjoy both FE and XCOM series but I kind of agree with Yahtzee in that XCOM is much more enjoyable. In an FE map there might be 3-4 encounters that are actually dangerous and need thought, with 10-15 less dangerous cannon fodder units. They can still mess you up, or leave you too weak to fight the dangerous encounters, but they are less rewarding. In XCOM you are always in "dangerous encounter" mode, even with no enemies on sight.