plutonic's recent activity
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
plutonic Link ParentI finished 'The Sailor who fell from grace with the Sea'. What a crazy book! I don't know if you have read that one but I highly recommend doing so. So much to say in 180 pages, the book is...I finished 'The Sailor who fell from grace with the Sea'. What a crazy book! I don't know if you have read that one but I highly recommend doing so. So much to say in 180 pages, the book is disconcerting and unsettling. When you think about this book and about Mishima himself it becomes even more unsettling, what was he trying to say here? I'll say more about it when the next 'What are you reading?' thread comes up. Thanks for getting me to read something else by the author.
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Comment on What lesser-known sci-fi reads do you recommend? in ~books
plutonic Link ParentSure! I don't know how much I'll find as I don't remember reading too many 'lesser-known' Sci-Fi books or what I pick will actually be lesser-known in anyway but here it goes: Robert L. Forward —...Sure! I don't know how much I'll find as I don't remember reading too many 'lesser-known' Sci-Fi books or what I pick will actually be lesser-known in anyway but here it goes:
Robert L. Forward — Dragon's Egg
Walter M. Miller Jr. — A Canticle for Leibowitz (not really lesser known, but still read today?)
Christopher Priest — The Inverted World
Roger Zelazny — Jack of Shadows
Roger Zelazny — Lord of Light (already mentioned)Sorry, that's all I can really add, everything else I enjoyed in Sci-Fi qualifies as 'well known'.
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Comment on Is there any interest in building a Tildes successor? in ~tildes
plutonic Link ParentI like the media views idea, maybe not for here but for Reddit it would be a huge improvement.I like the media views idea, maybe not for here but for Reddit it would be a huge improvement.
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Comment on Canadian wildfire that forced 20,000 to flee may signal ‘new normal’ in ~enviro
plutonic Link ParentI've seen the same data, number of fires going down with area burned going up. I wonder how much of that is to a switch we made a few years ago to letting these fires just burn as long as they are...I've seen the same data, number of fires going down with area burned going up. I wonder how much of that is to a switch we made a few years ago to letting these fires just burn as long as they are away from populated area.
B.C. adopted its Wildland Fire Management Strategy in 2010. One of its explicit objectives was to:
“Monitor and manage, rather than suppress, fires that are of minimal risk to communities…”
That represents a change from the older near-total suppression philosophy. Historically, B.C. had been suppressing a very large proportion of fires, which had reduced the amount of land burning naturally. The province's 2010 strategy actually noted that historically approximately 500,000 hectares per year had burned, versus less than 100,000 hectares annually in the preceding years.
Things are definitely getting worse, and will likely continue to do so, not much is going to be getting better in the face of climate change. The smoke is the worst part, really bad health effects on the people living in the interior. Even down here in the Lower Mainland, I don't remember a single smokey day in summer during my childhood but now it is rare to not get a few smokey days during the summer. It's smokey down here today, luckily not the low, heavy smoke of a few years ago. I've seen pictures from Penticton, looks horrendous. Stay safe!
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Comment on Canadian wildfire that forced 20,000 to flee may signal ‘new normal’ in ~enviro
plutonic LinkI've never really liked this idea of 'new normal' when it comes to climate change, the climate is changing and that is undeniable but we have had fires in the BC forests for 100's, likely 1000's...I've never really liked this idea of 'new normal' when it comes to climate change, the climate is changing and that is undeniable but we have had fires in the BC forests for 100's, likely 1000's of years. Some years are worse than others and this year actually hasn't been that bad except for a couple fires have been unfortunately very close to population centers. Last year it was a very good fire season, 10 years ago we had some really bad years. What has changed a lot in the last 100 years in BC is that we have poorly managed our forests, replaced natural forests with mono-cultures resulting in really bad pine beetle infestations killing large mounts of our forests. Yet we continue to build housing right up to and into the forests and mountains of the BC interior, we know this area is terribly fire prone. We need better building codes in fire prone areas and better forest management and fire fighting practices.
Climate change will have negative impacts, and collectively we seem to have declared we are not willing to do anything to slow it down (Canadian government was near over-thrown over a minimal 'carbon tax', if people aren't willing to put up with that they won't put up with anything that would actually have an impact on climate change) so instead we should be planning for our grim future and adjusting how and where we build and manage our forests.
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Comment on What lesser-known sci-fi reads do you recommend? in ~books
plutonic LinkI would really need to dig through my lists of what sci-fi I've read to get a really good answer but right off the top of my head lets go with Roger Zelazny - Lord of LightI would really need to dig through my lists of what sci-fi I've read to get a really good answer but right off the top of my head lets go with Roger Zelazny - Lord of Light
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
plutonic Link ParentThink of the original debates around gay marriage, I don't think we finally got that win because experts informed our governments and they changed the laws based on empirical facts, it was that...Do we though? Are we a committee charged to establish baseline rules on a competitive sport?
Think of the original debates around gay marriage, I don't think we finally got that win because experts informed our governments and they changed the laws based on empirical facts, it was that the public's opinion on gay marriage changed over time, and a lot of that was probably due to being directly exposed to healthy gay relationships and discussion among the populous. I know I personally watched many people's opinions change on that topic due to lively debate and now that policy has wide support.
One of my proudest moments as a Canadian was Canada being first when it came to legalizing gay marriage.
Were we legislators we’d have that responsibility, and we’d be obligated to bring in experts with the relevant information and listen to testimonials from those affected and decide on what the trade-offs ought to be.
I wish so much that this were true. Our government representatives are some of the worst offenders.
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
plutonic Link ParentFair point, but what is the alternative, we just never discuss these issues? I totally agree with you that these online 'discussions' are just the same points being repeated ad nauseam, but I...Fair point, but what is the alternative, we just never discuss these issues?
I totally agree with you that these online 'discussions' are just the same points being repeated ad nauseam, but I often find myself revisiting them anyway because every so often someone will bring up a new point or new piece of information I never considered before. Over time these points can and have added up to me changing my opinion.
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
plutonic Link ParentThank you, I'm going to read that for sure.Thank you, I'm going to read that for sure.
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
plutonic Link ParentI definitely belong to a majority demographic, I'm not hiding that. My partner considers herself lgbt and her son is currently in a long term relationship with a non-binary individual. I am a...I definitely belong to a majority demographic, I'm not hiding that. My partner considers herself lgbt and her son is currently in a long term relationship with a non-binary individual. I am a supporter of everyone's right to live their lives as they see fit. I don't want to be painted as someone who doesn't stand for that.
I fully support any group that wishes to make themselves a 'safe-space' where they can truly relax and not have to worry about outsiders coming in to challenge them. I should revise my previous comment, saying I do not understand why people would seek out 'safe-spaces' is ignorant. I can totally understand lgbt people just wanting to talk among themselves and not having to worry about the constant barrage of 'questions' and whatever other bullshit, it would get extremely exhausting. Maybe those communities should be private and invite only, like some subreddits are, I don't think we can do that here, but at least the entire site is invite only.
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
plutonic Link ParentThat is what I was really getting at in my original comment, it seems some people on this site are just looking for echo chambers/safe spaces, and that is something I'll never understand or seek...That is what I was really getting at in my original comment, it seems some people on this site are just looking for echo chambers/safe spaces, and that is something I'll never understand or seek out. I'm not saying those people can't have that, it's just not what I am looking for when I joined Tildes, I was looking for mature respectful debate, no flames wars, no trolls.
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
plutonic Link ParentThat is what I think is a problem, those are the kind of topics we NEED to debate in a respectful manner. The answer is not black and white in my opinion. (I'm also not interested in debating that...That is what I think is a problem, those are the kind of topics we NEED to debate in a respectful manner. The answer is not black and white in my opinion. (I'm also not interested in debating that topic at all right now, especially here). Once we stop debating and talking to each other we stop learning and growing.
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
plutonic Link ParentIt really depends on what the debate is, I'll pick one of the VERY contentious topics on this website that I really never wade into. Should Trans people be allowed to be exist in our society and...It really depends on what the debate is, I'll pick one of the VERY contentious topics on this website that I really never wade into.
Should Trans people be allowed to be exist in our society and live their lives as they see fit? Not a valid area of debate.
Should Trans women be allowed to compete in professional sports as a women? Open to debate.
The first question would absolutely be attacking someone's 'core component of their identity', the second one not whatsoever.
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
plutonic Link ParentThere are certain topics I also just avoid here due to the same issues, it's unfortunate because I like the back and forth with people, I'm also a passionate person who likes to argue, sometimes...There are certain topics I also just avoid here due to the same issues, it's unfortunate because I like the back and forth with people, I'm also a passionate person who likes to argue, sometimes playing devil's advocate because it makes me think, but always willing to shake hands and walk away agreeing to disagree no matter how heated things become. As long as respect is maintained I'll debate anything, sometimes passionately.
I remember a class back in highschool where the teacher picked a somewhat (for highschool) polarizing topic and each student had to pick a 'side' and debate it. Once we had picked our sides the teacher announced the teams we were on would now hold the opposite position they signed up for and would have to debate from that opposite point of view. I learned a lot in that debate.
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
plutonic Link ParentThe aversion of some users here to see anything that disagrees with their world view or be challenged on anything they believe is very strange to me. I'm seeking the opposite, I want my views...The aversion of some users here to see anything that disagrees with their world view or be challenged on anything they believe is very strange to me. I'm seeking the opposite, I want my views challenged, they NEED to be challenged for me to continue to become a better person with a more mature world view. I just want that done in a respectable manner, which is usually what I see on this site and something you don't see as much on Reddit, where things devolve into a gross nightmare quickly.
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Comment on How often are you eating plant based meals? in ~food
plutonic LinkI usually cook 5-6 homemade dinners every week for my partner and me, the only meat she will consume is chicken or fish, I don't really eat sea food because I was never raised eating it and can't...I usually cook 5-6 homemade dinners every week for my partner and me, the only meat she will consume is chicken or fish, I don't really eat sea food because I was never raised eating it and can't get over the mental block (I've tried) so we just go with chicken, mostly boneless, skinless thighs. We try and do 2-3 meals a week vegetarian, but paneer will often be the protein in at least 1 of those meals. I cook a lot of Indian food so that makes vegetarian meals rather easy, paneer and chickpeas are great no-compromise replacements for meat in a curry. I have no interest in Veganism as I will not be giving up dairy and cheese, ever.
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Comment on The tantalizing possibility of locating consciousness in the brain in ~science
plutonic Link ParentOh, don't worry I am no believer in 'hard determinism' I'm a 'compatibilist' which says that yes, we do live in a deterministic universe AND we still have free will. Godel's Incompleteness...Oh, don't worry I am no believer in 'hard determinism' I'm a 'compatibilist' which says that yes, we do live in a deterministic universe AND we still have free will. Godel's Incompleteness theorems have shown us that even in deterministic systems all outcomes cannot be known or predicted. We know that the Heisenberg uncertainty principle tells us that is not possible to know both the position and speed of even a single particle in the universe which would be required to make the predictions and that is fundamental to our knowledge of physics, not a problem that we can ever 'solve'.
Then there is what you argue that even if there was no true free-will our experience of life would be exactly the same, so what does it matter and maybe the entire argument is silly. I think I can get behind this as well, but I would much prefer we have 'real' free-will of some kind.
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Comment on The tantalizing possibility of locating consciousness in the brain in ~science
plutonic Link ParentI feel that if we truly have no free will then you have never made any decision in your life, no one has, and every thought and action anyone has ever performed was already determined at the...I feel that if we truly have no free will then you have never made any decision in your life, no one has, and every thought and action anyone has ever performed was already determined at the moment of the big bang. It means we are all just billiard balls, nothing but the result of physical actions that came before.
This would be 'hard determinism' and I reject it.
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Comment on The tantalizing possibility of locating consciousness in the brain in ~science
plutonic Link ParentDamn, what a bummer. Sorry you had to find out this way. :( I think it is called 'narrative transportation'. I listed it because it's one of those deeply personal subjective experiences that is...Damn, what a bummer. Sorry you had to find out this way. :(
I think it is called 'narrative transportation'. I listed it because it's one of those deeply personal subjective experiences that is hard to describe.
You would like this one for sure, it speaks to the lost glory of the pre-war Japanese, masculinity, expectations, westernization and nihilism. Somehow it encompasses all this in 180 pages.