roboticide's recent activity
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Comment on Beer peeps, what have you been drinking? in ~food
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Comment on AMA with u/spez going on right now - "Addressing the community about changes to our API" in ~tech
roboticide Link ParentThe idea that this might have been self-inflicted makes the thrashing he's getting all the more satisfying. But I also question how competent higher up reddit staff in general are. There are...The idea that this might have been self-inflicted makes the thrashing he's getting all the more satisfying.
But I also question how competent higher up reddit staff in general are. There are incompetent lawyers and incompetent PR people. Their public relations department clearly thought they could pull off this API policy change, with a userbase that was built around tech-savvy people. I'd argue any competent person in Public Relations should have seen this disaster coming a mile away.
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Comment on How do you feel about the ongoing Reddit migration to Tildes? in ~tildes
roboticide Link ParentThat's maybe a practical outlook, but it's certainly nice to find a more permanent "home" I think, for a few reasons.That's maybe a practical outlook, but it's certainly nice to find a more permanent "home" I think, for a few reasons.
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Comment on How do you feel about the ongoing Reddit migration to Tildes? in ~tildes
roboticide LinkIt's a double-edged sword. I'm looking forward to this site growing, and am looking to start spending more time here. Growth is good, as growth helps drive discussion and content. But too much...It's a double-edged sword.
I'm looking forward to this site growing, and am looking to start spending more time here. Growth is good, as growth helps drive discussion and content.
But too much growth inevitably leads to the same problems that have caused the downfall of Digg, and now Reddit. There don't really seem to be mechanisms to really limit it or dampen explosive growth, which results in sudden changes to a forums culture (you could see this basically whenever a subreddit got popular and went from ~100k users to ~1,000k. Or at least, few websites have seen it prudent to implement such mechanisms. I know SomethingAwful charged a membership... Perhaps keeping Tildes invite-only isn't the worst.
But even if Tildes becomes the new Reddit (which I kind of doubt will happen), it will at least start the cycle over, and I enjoyed a good decade or so on Reddit. I could enjoy a good decade or so on Tildes.
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Comment on Trump/Biden 2020 Presidential Debate #1 Discussion Thread in ~misc
roboticide Link ParentDidn't work for this Midwesterner. We're pretty annoyed with how some of the Big10 schools are handling COVID as is. The announcement they were actually going to have a season, even if only on TV,...Didn't work for this Midwesterner. We're pretty annoyed with how some of the Big10 schools are handling COVID as is. The announcement they were actually going to have a season, even if only on TV, was not warmly received by many.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tv
roboticide Link ParentUugh, honestly I'd almost say wait until the series is over, because at this point I'm so jaded about franchises that start off strong and end pathetically. However, the two authors have reliably...Uugh, honestly I'd almost say wait until the series is over, because at this point I'm so jaded about franchises that start off strong and end pathetically.
However, the two authors have reliably churned out a novel every year or two, and the final one is already expected to drop next year. At the very least we'll have the books finished, and I'm optimistic enough about The Expanse I'd still recommend it.
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Comment on Royal baby: Meghan Markle gives birth to boy, Harry announces in ~news
roboticide Link ParentI mean, in American politics anything is fair game now. I admit I haven't checked, but I don't think the Constitution explicitly forbids a British Royal from holding office. Honestly, don't even...I mean, in American politics anything is fair game now. I admit I haven't checked, but I don't think the Constitution explicitly forbids a British Royal from holding office.
Honestly, don't even need to wait for the baby. Have Meghan herself run in a decade. Americans would eat that up.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tv
roboticide Link ParentI think the big issue is that he just doesn't want to cede control to anyone else, probably especially ghostwriters. He's already said if he dies he doesn't want anyone else finishing it. I'm...I think the big issue is that he just doesn't want to cede control to anyone else, probably especially ghostwriters. He's already said if he dies he doesn't want anyone else finishing it. I'm assuming the only reason we've gotten the stuff out of the show we have is HBO's legal team pointing out he's contractually obligated.
Seems like every fantasy series does this, too, with wheel of time being the undisputed and eternal record-setting king of pointless, book-bloating drivel.
I honestly wasn't even going to respond to this comment because it's been a week but then I read this and just went "Holy fuck I agree so much." I'm like 6 books in and I can't fucking believe how much of a slog it is. I'll probably finish it eventually but I keep taking breaks to read The Expanse novels instead. Which...
If I had a franchise to sell, after seeing this, I sure as hell wouldn't let HBO near it. Come to think of it, I doubt I'd let anyone near it, even Netflix.
The Expanse guys are doing pretty well with Sci-Fi and now presumably Amazon. They did the smart thing, by being part of the show-running team. I don't know if you watch it, but so far results have been great. The authors have even said they've used the show as an opportunity to revisit some characters and scenes and stuff and improve them, and its been pretty fantastic.
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Comment on Movie Monday Free Talk in ~movies
roboticide Link ParentEh, watched that last year and thought it was overall rated pretty accurately. On the Wichowski scale it was no Matrix, but it was leagues better than Jupiter Ascending. Maybe it holds up better...Eh, watched that last year and thought it was overall rated pretty accurately. On the Wichowski scale it was no Matrix, but it was leagues better than Jupiter Ascending.
Maybe it holds up better on the re-watch when things make more sense, but I felt the narrative was just a bit too convoluted on the first pass.
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Comment on Movie Monday Free Talk in ~movies
roboticide Link ParentI've been meaning to watch this. Maybe I'll bump it to the top of the list and watch it with the fiance this weekend. I think we could both use a decent female character story after the hamfisted...I've been meaning to watch this. Maybe I'll bump it to the top of the list and watch it with the fiance this weekend. I think we could both use a decent female character story after the hamfisted bits in End Game.
Any jump scares though? I can handle suspense and thrillers but am such a little bitch about jump scares, lol.
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Comment on Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 4 discussion thread in ~tv
roboticide Link ParentI assume missed it. If the post team caught it, I assume they would have just edited it out.I assume missed it. If the post team caught it, I assume they would have just edited it out.
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Comment on Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 4 discussion thread in ~tv
roboticide Link ParentI agree the ballistas are terrible. The added stupidity of the fact that Dany has encountered them before, and knows they exist and are a threat. The fact that D&D explained the ambush in the...I agree the ballistas are terrible. The added stupidity of the fact that Dany has encountered them before, and knows they exist and are a threat. The fact that D&D explained the ambush in the after the show clip with "Dany forgot about the Ironborne fleet right after the scene with them talking about the Ironborne fleet is arguably the dumbest "word of god" moment in film/TV history.
However, I think a valid explanation for earlier dragons in Valyrian/Targaryan history is that they were simply bigger. Balerion the Black Dread was supposed to be fucking enormous, and presumably you get to a point where you simply can't build a ballista big enough to threaten a sufficiently large dragon. Dany's dragons aren't even 10 years old after all. With ballistas largely ineffectual, and catapults/trebuchets being better anti-personnel and siege weapons, the idea of ballistas just being kind of a forgotten technology makes a little bit of sense.
With regards to the other castles and factions like Storm's End and Dorne, I assume those forces have largely been depleted by the ongoing wars? I mean, if the Lannister forces alone were at maximum strength, they wouldn't need the Golden Company, but they've been as badly battered as anyone else.
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Comment on Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 4 discussion thread in ~tv
roboticide Link ParentI mean, some of these are legit, but I think some of these aren't as unresolved as you make it seem, or honestly even that unsatisfactory. I mean, he's kind of had a huge impact. The whole Azor...I mean, some of these are legit, but I think some of these aren't as unresolved as you make it seem, or honestly even that unsatisfactory.
Jon coming back to life? Doesn't matter, no impact.
I mean, he's kind of had a huge impact. The whole Azor Ahai thing is definitely unresolved, but arguably his purpose as an agent of the Lord of Light was to unite the living and defeat the White Walkers, which he did. That matters. That's an impact.
Arya's whole thing with the Faceless Men? Nothing but granting her an overpowered fighting ability.
I mean... Character development? It's not like this was something D&D came up with, Martin wrote that route first. Like the issue above, the books would probably explore this more elegantly and more in depth, but Arya has clearly grown tremendously beyond just her fighting skill and the House of Black and White had a lot to do with that.
Jaime finally redeeming himself? He takes a trip to Winterfell (across the whole continent!!), fights one battle, then decides to go all the way back to King's Landing.
Yes, to kill Cersei. Jaime's journey isn't about geography (and lets face it, this show has stopped caring about geographical distances since Season 1), it's about his redemption, and fighting for the living was a good start, and killing Cersei is a good end.
Jon quitting the Night's Watch? Ehh, doesn't matter.
I mean, it doesn't? I don't get the beef here. They killed him, he said "Fuck y'all" and left. That seems fair. He was Lord Commander, tried to do the right thing, and the Watch isn't even an organization anymore, and wouldn't have been even if he stayed.
Was the whole point of Sam's time in the Citadel just to confirm Jon's parentage and heal Jorah?
Sam's whole point was to go and learn useful skills to be a Maester for the Watch. There's no more Watch and he arguably learned other valuable information, so mission accomplished. Were you looking for something more grand?
I mean, a lot of it is disappointing and we're not going to get the resolution to a lot of questions we have, especially regarding the mythology, but some of these points seem rather resolved. Not everything needs a big grand answer.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tv
roboticide Link ParentYour cavalry and unsullied points were good, but that's still only half of it. WHO THE FUCK decided it'd be a good idea to put the siege engines up at the front?!? "This baby will lob a ball of...Your cavalry and unsullied points were good, but that's still only half of it.
WHO THE FUCK decided it'd be a good idea to put the siege engines up at the front?!?
"This baby will lob a ball of exploding firey pitch 100 yards, and continue to do so as long as it's manned. We could potentially kill thousands of undead over the course of a long battle."
"Put it on the front line, where we'll fire off five rounds, then immediately abandon it."
Trench > Unsullied > Siege Weapons, with Dothraki in reserve. I get the plan was to lure the Night King in, but you could have left the defenses on the godswood weaker, and also he has Viserion.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tv
roboticide Link ParentI assume this had something to do with covering for the vast amount of CGI needed. So, a possible answer to this, at least for the wights, is that much of the army seems to be directly controlled...What the fuck was up with the lighting? You couldn't see shit for entire lengths of that episode.
I assume this had something to do with covering for the vast amount of CGI needed.
And what the fuck was that ending? Arya teleports into the middle of the godswood, through a circle of wights and white walkers, completely unseen,
So, a possible answer to this, at least for the wights, is that much of the army seems to be directly controlled by the Night King at times. The army entirely stopped at the trench, and then at his explicit command created the bridges. He has some sort of limit to his attention/abilities, and with his focus on Bran, the wights were essentially "idle". As for the other Walkers, bit less explainable, but presumably also taken with the moment.
What the fuck was Melisandre around for? She revived Jon three years ago and then nothing. She lit the dothraki arakh's so they could create a fun visual effect and serve absolutely no purpose. Then she lit the trenches which did absolutely nothing. Was her entire purpose to give Arya a little nudge in the right direction? That's it?
I mean, she was still important. Jon's survival, marshalling the North and bringing Dany and the dragons there was arguably still important, tactically. Without their leadership and the army there, presumably Arya never would have gotten the chance she did. Arya clearly was more in "flight" than "fight", and Melisandre did kind of motivate her.
What the hell was the point of Rhaegars kidnapping of Lyanna if Jon was going to play no part in killing the Night King? Rhaegar literally kicked off the entirety of this series because he needed to birth a third child to ward of the existential threat of the Others. Jon's birth and the destruction that occurred because of it was predicated on the coming of the Others. He is the literal song of Ice and Fire. What did he die for? What was he resurrected for.
As stated above, his resurrection was still instrumental, even though he didn't do the actual stabbing.
Overall you're right though. The explanations that can be given are rather unsatisfactory, even if they do help explain the narrative choices. It should have all been more apparent, and not needed such obscure off-screen justification anyway.
Presumably GRRM's notes were not super clear, and D&D were floundering a bit. I dunno.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tv
roboticide Link ParentNew meta-headcannon is D&D intentionally wrote a narratively unsatisfying ending so that GRRM now has a much lower bar for expectations and will actually finish the books.And who knows, maybe with a lot of the pressure off GRRM will be better able to write.
New meta-headcannon is D&D intentionally wrote a narratively unsatisfying ending so that GRRM now has a much lower bar for expectations and will actually finish the books.
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Comment on Activision Blizzard laying off hundreds of employees in ~games
roboticide Link ParentIt's a combination of factors. Destiny/Bungie bailed on their contract 2 years early, unexpectedly, and this has hurt Activision-Blizzard. Combined with poor performance in HotS, poor reception of...It's a combination of factors. Destiny/Bungie bailed on their contract 2 years early, unexpectedly, and this has hurt Activision-Blizzard. Combined with poor performance in HotS, poor reception of Diablo Immortal and WoW's latest expansion, they've had some departments not performing as well as they'd like.
There's also some redundancy in their customer service/community relations departments, so those specifically were targeted as well. NA Publishing for Blizzard was apparently entirely gutted, is what we were told.
As for WoW specifically, the recent rumors of less than only 2 millions subscribers was a demonstrably false claim by an addon developer to drum up some attention. The game is probably still in some decline, but people have also been saying that since 2008. You can probably expect at least two more expansions before they give up on it.
Money and development power are going into some teams like WoW, Overwatch, and Diablo, but that doesn't really change the fact that cutting your entire community relations team when the community is already largely unhappy has left a really bad taste in many fan's mouths.
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Comment on All 230 new emojis coming in 2019 in ~tech
roboticide Link ParentI guess I should have clarified, I meant a smiley with a facepalm, similar to the "thinking face" 🤔. I rarely use anything beyond the traditional smileys anyways.I guess I should have clarified, I meant a smiley with a facepalm, similar to the "thinking face" 🤔.
I rarely use anything beyond the traditional smileys anyways.
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Comment on How do you unwind? in ~talk
roboticide LinkIn addition to video games, lately I've spent a lot of time doing 3D modelling. Sci-fi ships, houses, MtG deck boxes... all sorts of things. That on my big screen with Netflix or something on a...In addition to video games, lately I've spent a lot of time doing 3D modelling. Sci-fi ships, houses, MtG deck boxes... all sorts of things. That on my big screen with Netflix or something on a second monitor is perfect.
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Comment on How do you unwind? in ~talk
roboticide Link ParentSame. Except something more laid back like a base-building or city-simulator. Or even World of Warcraft, when not doing raids or dungeons and just completing old achievements or doing old content.Same. Except something more laid back like a base-building or city-simulator. Or even World of Warcraft, when not doing raids or dungeons and just completing old achievements or doing old content.
I've been drinking non-alcoholic beers from Athletic Brewing lately. For one, they taste great. Like actual craft beer. For another, I've come to appreciate that while I appreciate the taste of a good refreshing beer on a weeknight, I don't actually need the alcohol. I'm not drinking enough to get drunk, and if I'm not trying to get drunk I might as well cut out the calories and alcohol.