qob's recent activity
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Comment on What words do you recommend? in ~talk
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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.
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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 ParentWhat exactly was the fallout? I don't know, but my guess would be that it didn't stop their shares from going up and a few weeks of banter in nerd forums was the worst part of it. I remember that...Remember the fallout from scanning public access points in their street view cars?
What exactly was the fallout? I don't know, but my guess would be that it didn't stop their shares from going up and a few weeks of banter in nerd forums was the worst part of it.
I remember that case because I read IT news daily. But ask 1000 random people on the street, and I'd bet that 0 would know what you're talking about or even understand the issue if you explained it to them.
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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 how would they profit from an open standard? People could just use any service, not just Google. Ideally, they want a proprietary protocol that's complex, riddled with patents and unstable so...But how would they profit from an open standard? People could just use any service, not just Google. Ideally, they want a proprietary protocol that's complex, riddled with patents and unstable so they don't have to spend money on buying the competition.
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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 ParentTo add to what @zestier said, Let's Encrypt didn't design the underlying protocols browsers and web servers use. They are designed in such a way that it is impossible for any party to track your...To add to what @zestier said, Let's Encrypt didn't design the underlying protocols browsers and web servers use. They are designed in such a way that it is impossible for any party to track your behaviour. If Google could design these protocols now, you can bet your ass they would allow themselves to collect user data.
Ideally, it would be the job of governments to appoint committees that design user ID protocols that don't allow anyone to profit from them. Unfortunately, they are clueless, in bed with the likes of Google and very interested in harvesting data for their own purposes.
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Comment on Europe's rich are watching Norway's election debate on wealth taxes – changes to taxation are at the heart of the centre-right's attempts to retake power in ~society
qob Link ParentI agree, but if only inheritances are taxed, it would take quite a while to get rid of the filthy rich. Even with a 100 % tax it would take upwards of 60 years. Just put a cap on wealth and we're...I agree, but if only inheritances are taxed, it would take quite a while to get rid of the filthy rich. Even with a 100 % tax it would take upwards of 60 years.
Just put a cap on wealth and we're done immediately.
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Comment on The biggest animal welfare victory of the 21st century, explained in one chart | Global fur production has collapsed. Here’s how it happened. in ~enviro
qob Link ParentI'd really like to see a source. As far as I know, nobody has any clue what "sentience" or "intelligence" actually is and where it comes from. But it doesn't matter if animals know what "richness...In general animals don't have a concept of richness of life.
I'd really like to see a source. As far as I know, nobody has any clue what "sentience" or "intelligence" actually is and where it comes from.
But it doesn't matter if animals know what "richness of life" is. What matters is that they experience it. Animals (at least the mammals we're talking about) with a dull life get depressed. Just capture a mouse and put it in a bucket with plenty of food and water and see what happens. (Please don't actually do this!)
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Comment on The biggest animal welfare victory of the 21st century, explained in one chart | Global fur production has collapsed. Here’s how it happened. in ~enviro
qob Link ParentI'd argue that a short, rich life in freedom is better than a long, dull life in captivity, but all this is besides the point. It's not your decision to make to put others in prison, no matter how...I'd argue that a short, rich life in freedom is better than a long, dull life in captivity, but all this is besides the point. It's not your decision to make to put others in prison, no matter how wonderful you think it is for them.
Earlier today I had the thought that you are basically arguing for the machines from the movie The Matrix. They wanted to harvest energy from humans, so they enslaved them and put them in an artificial version of what they thought was paradise. In the movie, the machines did that to keep the humans from rebelling. In reality, we do that to keep our conscience from rebelling. That's the only difference I could think of.
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Comment on The biggest animal welfare victory of the 21st century, explained in one chart | Global fur production has collapsed. Here’s how it happened. in ~enviro
qob Link ParentSo while we were hunted really hard by all those predators 24/7, we were hunting them back into extinction? That really does sound like Jurassic Park, and it makes about as much sense. If everyone...So while we were hunted really hard by all those predators 24/7, we were hunting them back into extinction? That really does sound like Jurassic Park, and it makes about as much sense. If everyone was killing everyone else on sight, how come anyone is still alive?
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Comment on What are some great actual comedies made in the last twenty years? in ~movies
qob LinkI can't think of any movie that is just a comedy. They all need a theme they can make fun of where an actual story takes place. Otherwise it would just be a collection of jokes. My favorite...I can't think of any movie that is just a comedy. They all need a theme they can make fun of where an actual story takes place. Otherwise it would just be a collection of jokes.
My favorite (horror) comedies are Tucker and Dale vs. Evil and What We Do in the Shadows.
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?