qob's recent activity
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Comment on We’re seniors. It’s not our responsibility to fix the housing supply. in ~society
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Comment on We’re seniors. It’s not our responsibility to fix the housing supply. in ~society
qob Link ParentI guess it makes sense to not build homes if housing is a business. With too much supply, profits will drop. But there will always be areas where demand is so high that supply will never be able...I guess it makes sense to not build homes if housing is a business. With too much supply, profits will drop.
But there will always be areas where demand is so high that supply will never be able to catch up. You'd have to cover everything in skyscrapers to fit all the people who want to live in the trendiest districts, and then nobody wants to live there anymore.
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Comment on Glide is a keyboard-focused Firefox fork that is infinitely extensible with TypeScript in ~comp
qob Link ParentThe hint mode is something every Vimperator-like extension had from the very beginning. I personally use Vimium which is much less powerful than Tridactyl (and glide, of course), but it does...The hint mode is something every Vimperator-like extension had from the very beginning. I personally use Vimium which is much less powerful than Tridactyl (and glide, of course), but it does everything I need and you don't have to learn complex APIs to configure it.
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Comment on The neo-Victorian neo-nazi lesbian BDSM cult that made video games in ~humanities.history
qob Link ParentI'm fully behind you on this. I can't even say "n-word" without cringing. Every language is rich enough to navigate around words and everyone does it all the time for all kinds of reasons. But I...I'm fully behind you on this. I can't even say "n-word" without cringing. Every language is rich enough to navigate around words and everyone does it all the time for all kinds of reasons.
But I have to accept that English is probably one of the most democratically evolved languages humanity ever had, and no other human language ever had more speakers. If its users shape it in favor of the advertising industry, it's sad and infuriating, but it's also what has been decided in the only way that matters.
And it's important to keep in mind that it doesn't really matter. Language lovers of the past would probably explode from embarrassment if they could read this comment, and I have no idea what their deal is. This is one of the least important issues we are facing.
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Comment on I tried to protect my kids from the internet. Here’s what happened. in ~tech
qob Link ParentNo system is perfect. Even if every website had age verification, some kids would still be able to find ways around it. Many parents aren't very creative with their passwords, for example. I think...No system is perfect. Even if every website had age verification, some kids would still be able to find ways around it. Many parents aren't very creative with their passwords, for example. I think white lists are a better technical solution than age verification.
But I mostly agree that the best protection for kids is a family and community that cares about them. If they have that, they probably don't need technical solutions to protect them from the funky parts of the internet. But not every kid is so lucky. If you are a single parent working two jobs, a technical solution could at least make it harder for your kid to join the incel community.
And even if you found the perfect parenting system you wouldn't get a 100 % success rate for every kid out there. You are lucky because you got good kids and your kids are lucky because they got good parents. Some kids are raised well and still end up in prison or worse while other kids are raised in hell and somehow turn out to be good people with lovely families of their own.
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Comment on I tried to protect my kids from the internet. Here’s what happened. in ~tech
qob Link ParentWhy not put the white list on your home router or a RaspberryPi-like device? Then you only have to force each device to only connect via your internet at home. If the home WiFi is out of reach,...Why not put the white list on your home router or a RaspberryPi-like device? Then you only have to force each device to only connect via your internet at home. If the home WiFi is out of reach, use a VPN.
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Comment on I tried to protect my kids from the internet. Here’s what happened. in ~tech
qob Link ParentBut it shouldn't be very hard to implement a user friendly white list in home routers. If governments can force websites to implement age verification systems, they can force router manufacturers...But it shouldn't be very hard to implement a user friendly white list in home routers. If governments can force websites to implement age verification systems, they can force router manufacturers to implemented white lists that you can manage from your phone.
Both solutions will always be flawed, so having both would probably be best.
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Comment on I tried to protect my kids from the internet. Here’s what happened. in ~tech
qob LinkI don't have any kids, but if I had, I'd probably set up white lists for them. Every domain (and IP) is blocked until they come to me and ask permission to use it. Additionally, they could use the...I don't have any kids, but if I had, I'd probably set up white lists for them. Every domain (and IP) is blocked until they come to me and ask permission to use it. Additionally, they could use the unfiltered web while I'm around, for example I'm cooking and they're at the kitchen table watching YouTube.
Are there any parents around that can explain why this wouldn't work?
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Comment on What words do you recommend? in ~talk
qob Link ParentIs that really what it means? I'm not a native English speaker, but from what I picked up, that should be at least 75%. If you likely win a bet, only dare devils will bet against you. I use it...Likely - it’s beyond a 50% chance the outcome has or will happen
Is that really what it means? I'm not a native English speaker, but from what I picked up, that should be at least 75%. If you likely win a bet, only dare devils will bet against you. I use it synonymously with "probably". Is that wrong?
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Comment on Your phone already has social credit. We just lie about it. in ~finance
qob Link ParentBut it makes sense to monopolize these things for the same reason everyone uses WhatsApp. It's easier to use and easier to profit from. Besides, having two options that are just good enough to be...If someone has bad social credit with Amazon, they can use Walmart
But it makes sense to monopolize these things for the same reason everyone uses WhatsApp. It's easier to use and easier to profit from. Besides, having two options that are just good enough to be marketable doesn't mean there is always an option that doesn't suck for you. And you don't always have an option either. If the landlord of the only apartment you can afford uses Amazon, you can't switch to Walmart.
things haven't ended up going that bad.
And let's hope they won't in the future! But I don't think companies like Amazon and Walmart can hurt their profit margins for the greater good. They are artifical money-making machines, not charities. It's not their job to consider what's best for different societies all over the globe. If they can increase profits by 3 % by making the lives of 10 % of their customers 100 % worse, they are supposed to do exactly that. And it's the jobs of regulators to forsee their move and turn those 3 % gain into a 30 % loss.
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Comment on Your phone already has social credit. We just lie about it. in ~finance
qob Link ParentYou are assuming that computers never make a mistake. If someone has bad social credit, that's because they're a bad person. Which could be the case. But it could also be the case that making a...You are assuming that computers never make a mistake. If someone has bad social credit, that's because they're a bad person. Which could be the case. But it could also be the case that making a 100 % perfect social credit system that also maximizes profits for the company that runs it is not feasible, and a significant number of people fall through the cracks and won't be able to find an Uber, a mate, a job or an apartment. And they won't be able to rectify their score because the credit system is a black box. They are not the customer, they are the product.
People will still use the system if it's correct most of the time. If billions of people benefit from it, a few millions who suffer from it will not be able to effect change. It can take literally hundreds of years to get the worst discimination out of a society if it only affects a minority.
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Comment on My guess and opinion on the common blockers to Linux adoption in ~tech
qob LinkI could write something similar about Tildes. It's too bland. The UI needs to be more flashy. Not enough user engagement. Simply the fact that you need to get invited means Tildes will never...I could write something similar about Tildes. It's too bland. The UI needs to be more flashy. Not enough user engagement. Simply the fact that you need to get invited means Tildes will never compete with Reddit and the like. I could go on, but you probably get what I'm trying to say. And most Tildereenos will rightfully respond with something like: "But that's the point! We like it like it like that!" Linux (or the FLOSS community on a broader scale) is not trying to compete with Windows. It's doing it's own thing and you can be a part of it or not. Your choice.
In the Linux ecosystem, you are either part of the community or you live on their scraps. If you don't like an app, you can write your own or contribute to an existing app by writing a patch or a feature request. Complaining about your bad customer experience is missing the point because you are not a customer, you are a beneficiary and you contribute nothing.
Let's say you have a hobby, like woodworking or knitting, and let's assume we live in a universe where you can allow other people to make a physical copy of the chairs or sweaters you make. Some guy really hates your arm rests or your necklines. But you made them like that for a reason. Are you going to triple your efforts to accommodate some random guy? Maybe. If they asked nicely and had some interesting ideas. But if they just said "this is why your chairs will never be a match for the products of Super Chair Inc. [...]", you'll probably ignore them. This is your hobby, after all.
I get what you're saying. I'm probably suffering from similar issues as you and millions of others. The issue is not that developers are not aware of your woes. It's way, way more complicated, and someone could write a lot more about that than would be appropriate for a comment.
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Comment on Bear is now source-available in ~tech
qob Link ParentBut this code doesn't run on your computer, it runs on someone else's computer. It's a web service. What is often misunderstood in discussions about software licensing is that "open source" can...I should be allowed to freely modify the behaviour of code running on my computer, because it's MY computer.
But this code doesn't run on your computer, it runs on someone else's computer. It's a web service.
What is often misunderstood in discussions about software licensing is that "open source" can mean a lot of different things, and it's up to the creator to define what it means for their specific project. Unless you pay for it, you are not entitled to their work. They can change the license every day if they want, and there is nothing wrong about that. You are not going to demand a cup of coffee every day from your neighbor just because they offered you one once. Stop demanding things from free software developers.
The only criticism I have is that they shouldn't have picked MIT in the first place. It is the license to choose if you want others to profit from your work without giving anything back.
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Comment on What follows GitHub? in ~tech
qob Link ParentEven projects that are technically done get reimplemented in rust, for example. But comparing something like cp with GitHub doesn't really work. One is maintained by the community for the...Many unix utilities have been fundamentally unchanged for decades because They Just Work™ which keeps users happy.
Even projects that are technically done get reimplemented in rust, for example.
But comparing something like
cpwith GitHub doesn't really work. One is maintained by the community for the community and the other is maintained by a business worth hundreds of billions for profit. I don't have anything to back this up, but I feel like large corporations can never stop iterating and adding/removing features. -
Comment on A ‘third way’ between buying or renting? Swiss co-ops say they’ve found it. in ~finance
qob Link ParentCooperative ownership (not sure what the correct term is, I mean different parties owning flats in the same house) has been a thing for a long time. The only difference here is that you can only...Cooperative ownership (not sure what the correct term is, I mean different parties owning flats in the same house) has been a thing for a long time. The only difference here is that you can only own the flat you live in, so your incentive to take care of it should be very much increased compared to an owner to whom it's only an investment.
And yes, I can tell you from experience that it sucks, but it's still way better to fuck yourself than getting fucked by some faceless corporation who doesn't even have a concept of fucking people because its only purpose is to increase profits.
Democracy always sucks, but until we can create an all-powerful AI or find an alien species who want to take care of humanity as pets, we have to figure this shit out for ourselves.
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Comment on A ‘third way’ between buying or renting? Swiss co-ops say they’ve found it. in ~finance
qob Link ParentThat's a general problem with buying real estate. There is no guarantee that you get your money back when you have to sell. I couldn't read the article because of the paywall, but in general, that...That's a general problem with buying real estate. There is no guarantee that you get your money back when you have to sell.
I couldn't read the article because of the paywall, but in general, that problem shouldn't be too hard to solve. Everyone just pays a little more rent and the additional money is invested. The point is: The residents can decide how much money they want to put aside and they can get it back. If you rent normally, all the profits you invested over the years stay with the landlord.
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Comment on A ‘third way’ between buying or renting? Swiss co-ops say they’ve found it. in ~finance
qob LinkIn Germany, we have the Mietshäusersyndikat. It's structured a bit differently from a legal perspective, but in practice, it's the same idea: You own the house that you live in. The general idea...In Germany, we have the Mietshäusersyndikat. It's structured a bit differently from a legal perspective, but in practice, it's the same idea: You own the house that you live in. The general idea is actually over 100 years old. I don't understand why it is still perfectly normal to profit from housing.
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Comment on How Tea’s founder convinced millions of women to spill their secrets, then exposed them to the world in ~tech
qob Link ParentBut is it really an open standard if Google, Apple and Microsoft design and adopt it?But is it really an open standard if Google, Apple and Microsoft design and adopt it?
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Comment on Does anyone have a digg invite code I can get ? in ~tech
qob Link ParentPeople don't always make good decisions. The fact that most users cling to Reddit and Twitter doesn't mean their services are better. People consume too much junk food and alcohol even though it's...People don't always make good decisions. The fact that most users cling to Reddit and Twitter doesn't mean their services are better. People consume too much junk food and alcohol even though it's unhealthy.
For-profit media are really good at exploiting our emotions and it takes constant conscious effort to see through that.
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Comment on How Tea’s founder convinced millions of women to spill their secrets, then exposed them to the world in ~tech
qob Link ParentIt's the first. Well, kinda. They want an "open standard" like HTML5 for the web or OOXML for documents. (OOXML is Microsoft, but it's the same difference.) Something that is open on the surface...It's the first. Well, kinda. They want an "open standard" like HTML5 for the web or OOXML for documents. (OOXML is Microsoft, but it's the same difference.) Something that is open on the surface but more or less under their control so they can shape it the way they like it.
Of course Google wants people to use the web a lot. But I don't understand why they need an open standard for that. Users don't have any issues with proprietary protocols, formats and software. 99 % don't even know what that means.
If you can build desirable cities from scratch, why is nobody doing it? It's not like investors don't have the resources. Imagine you could get New York rent profits, but your only costs would be land and construction. Investors would be all over it.
Cities are complex systems. A small variable can lead to extreme effects. You can't design this, it has to grow organically, and it can fail at any time, because your city doesn't just have to be nice to live in, it has to generate enough profits to stay alive.
I don't know about other countries, but in Germany we have the same problem: Trendy cities are too expensive and nobody wants to live in rural ghost towns are dying. And I've heard similar things about cities like London or Paris.