rogue_cricket's recent activity
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Comment on I tried to protect my kids from the internet. Here’s what happened. in ~tech
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Comment on Social media probably can’t be fixed in ~tech
rogue_cricket (edited )Link ParentI was also uninterested in the study beyond this point basically. So you're telling me that when you train the Reproduce-Trained-Behaviour machine on data from interactions in existing social...I was also uninterested in the study beyond this point basically. So you're telling me that when you train the Reproduce-Trained-Behaviour machine on data from interactions in existing social media and then put the Reproduced-Trained-Behaviour machine in an environment that is a little different from our existing social media, the Reproduce-Trained-Behaviour machine continues to reproduce the behaviour it was trained on? Wow, you don't say! I mean, what else would it possibly do?
LLMs are not capable of the novelty required to actually get meaningful information out of a study like this. LLMs used as a proxy as humans for a study that really should be psychology is actual madness. It's slop. Why even bother?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
rogue_cricket LinkI've been playing an obscure browser MMORPG, HighSpell. It's basically a clone of Runescape classic but I've found it kind of enjoyable. http://www.highspell.comI've been playing an obscure browser MMORPG, HighSpell. It's basically a clone of Runescape classic but I've found it kind of enjoyable.
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Comment on Disney reportedly planning full reboot of the Indiana Jones franchise in ~movies
rogue_cricket Link ParentI’d like to add my own 4… I had never seen the original Indiana Jones movies until I recently went through all of them at the insistence of a friend as part of a group activity. I had caught parts...I’d like to add my own 4… I had never seen the original Indiana Jones movies until I recently went through all of them at the insistence of a friend as part of a group activity. I had caught parts of them on TV but that was it.
The thing that struck me most about them was how fun and sexy they were in a… messy way that you don’t really see any more. It’s definitely more of an overall aesthetic appreciation than me getting the vapours over young Harrison Ford - I’m a lesbian, for the record, haha - but the overall feel was warmer, softer, and moodier in the older adaptations than the new ones even.
I don’t think any big media companies have an appetite for that aesthetic any more and haven’t for a very long time. I don’t know. There was something extremely charming about it.
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Comment on I need advice, which laptop would you buy now? in ~tech
rogue_cricket Link ParentI'm also a converted MacOS fan. I used to have the impression that it was more restricted compared to Windows in terms of my personal control over the device and I do not believe that is true any...I'm also a converted MacOS fan. I used to have the impression that it was more restricted compared to Windows in terms of my personal control over the device and I do not believe that is true any longer - although it's still arguably true when comparing iOS to Android. Still, their approach to privacy and the sharp decline of the quality of Google and Microsoft by comparison finally brought me over basically entirely. Among those three I think that Apple is just the company that I have the most trust in. It's not exceptional, it's just that the other two are worse.
It also helped that I frequently did development on Macbooks for work and got a free M1 laptop as a consolation prize for being laid off in 2023 (hooray). I just recently replaced my phone with an iPhone 16 because I am currently dead-set on completely de-Googling my life (nearly finished) and I enjoy how the phone and laptop function together even if I miss some features from my Samsung.
I would love to be able to do more with Linux and have experimented and worked on it in the past and it's just... not quite there for me yet. Ideologically I love it and I hope that SteamOS allows me to replace Windows completely very soon for gaming. I am so, so sick of Microsoft.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
rogue_cricket Link ParentFor readers who are fans of Danganronpa I just want to give a STRONG! recommendation for a game called "of the Devil". It takes a lot of inspiration from Danganronpa as well as from Ace Attorney....For readers who are fans of Danganronpa I just want to give a STRONG! recommendation for a game called "of the Devil". It takes a lot of inspiration from Danganronpa as well as from Ace Attorney.
You play as a woman named Morgan who serves as a public defense attorney in a cyberpunk world defined by intense surveillance. Private security collaborates with the government so there is a massive unified network of cameras filming just about every street corner for the state. Personal phones have always-on cameras that not only track their users, but will automatically upload footage they passively gathered if the user was within a certain radius of a crime scene. The internet is, of course, tightly monitored and controlled. Rather than the setting being cartoonishly evil and authoritarian it's more... uncomfortable. And given the nature of things, there are now very few crimes that the state isn't able to score a conviction on.
Morgan has a penchant for gambling and so a lot of the mechanics are themed around poker. It's got the familiar information-gathering phase (where you gather "chips" that serve double duty as your life meter) and then a kind of "show down" phase which doesn't necessarily take place in court but during which you argue your point and try to put the information you gathered together. The poker theme is cute: like if someone comes to you with a challenge that you suspect is a lie, you can either "call" their bluff, or "fold" and move on... sometimes your goal isn't so much to win as it is to lose as little as possible. On the other hand, you can also "raise" on certain challenges that you are confident about, betting more of your chips. (You get little cosmetic rewards with them at the ends of the chapters, so there's an bit of an incentive to having more of them.)
I find the writing really good. It's more grounded and serious than both Danganronpa and Ace Attorney, but it definitely has its moments of humour, too. Morgan in particular is a really interesting character to me.
The prologue is free on Steam! So if this sounds intriguing to you you should pick it up and then DON'T LOOK ANYTHING ELSE UP ABOUT IT until you've beaten it. It's one of those games where spoilers can really affect the experience of playing it, I think.
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Comment on Cloudflare is down causing multiple services to break in ~tech
rogue_cricket Link ParentI actually thought it was me, because I just started a new job as a website reliability engineer...I actually thought it was me, because I just started a new job as a website reliability engineer...
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Comment on Post something from your notes app in ~talk
rogue_cricket LinkSmall selection:Small selection:
The moon is an egg?
What if it was "Benjamin and Jeremy" ice cream
I've got a tattoo of a heart with your name on it, and maybe that's last part of me left that still loves you
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Comment on What is your strangely specific phobia? in ~talk
rogue_cricket (edited )Link ParentI had a similar fear about autonomous computer things when I was quite young! Mine started from The Sims. When I had my first Sim die in a confusing way due to a glitch, I fully believed my PC was...I had a similar fear about autonomous computer things when I was quite young! Mine started from The Sims.
When I had my first Sim die in a confusing way due to a glitch, I fully believed my PC was haunted. I had nightmares about waking up to a messenger ping to find the dead sim trying to contact me over AIM.
I anthropomorphized inanimate things quite a lot as a kid, like believing that if I picked the same cup over and over again the others would get "sad", so I don't think it is really that surprising that I'd see these little digital people as having real feelings.
EDIT: I've talked about this here before, just took me a minute to find the link:
https://tildes.net/~talk/qwh/whats_something_that_creeps_you_out_more_than_it_should
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
rogue_cricket Link ParentOop, late on this! But apparently there was a ban wave right as I started a few months ago, so I only experienced like, a day or two of bots. I think they've been kept in check since then. Double...Oop, late on this! But apparently there was a ban wave right as I started a few months ago, so I only experienced like, a day or two of bots. I think they've been kept in check since then.
Double Cross is my BFF's favourite map too! She likes to play Demoknight and collect Sniper heads there. I've only got about 20 hours of actual playtime, so I don't have a ton of opinions yet.
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Comment on What are some traditional internet forums that you still use? in ~tech
rogue_cricket Link ParentI am also a big fan of MetaFilter. I think Ask MetaFilter is one of the best things on the entire internet. Some random notes - the jokey "he needs mouse bites to live" House joke script is, I...I am also a big fan of MetaFilter. I think Ask MetaFilter is one of the best things on the entire internet.
Some random notes - the jokey "he needs mouse bites to live" House joke script is, I believe, a MeFi original. There was a thread about emotional labour that made the rounds years ago as well that got the site some attention. I also occasionally use the MeFi terms "eponysterical" (when a person's username matches up with something they have posted) and "crouton-petting" (when you humanize inanimate objects) and forget they aren't common outside the site...
John Scalzi and Adam Savage have also made occasional appearances! I'm sure there are other notable members as well.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
rogue_cricket LinkWeirdly enough, I've been playing Team Fortress 2. I say weirdly because I am generally not the type to enjoy FPS games, although TF2 is much more casual and silly than the way some people play...Weirdly enough, I've been playing Team Fortress 2. I say weirdly because I am generally not the type to enjoy FPS games, although TF2 is much more casual and silly than the way some people play other FPS games so I'm vibing with it a bit.
I started because my friends play it regularly. I am pretty bad at it, but I do like playing Medic and Scout and Heavy. I'm neutral on Soldier, Pyro, and Sniper and terrible with Spy, Demoman, and Engineer. I'm interested in Engineer but I don't really know any of the maps well, so I'm never sure where to put my things.
Honestly, I don't really care about being good at it, it's just something to do with my computer friends on a regular basis. I really look forward to it.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (February 2025) in ~health.mental
rogue_cricket (edited )Link ParentI'm feeling the same. I'm not a US American, I'm Canadian, but I've worked with many US Americans, visited many times, and I've had universally good experiences there. With the tariffs and the...I'm feeling the same. I'm not a US American, I'm Canadian, but I've worked with many US Americans, visited many times, and I've had universally good experiences there. With the tariffs and the social upheaval, I don't think it is unrealistic or alarmist to prepare for a humanitarian and economic crisis on both sides of the border.
I'm coping at the moment by trying to bring myself to a place of better economic stability so that I will be able to be of better use when shit really hits the fan. (I worked in tech and was, of course, hit by a massive layoff like many of my cohort.) I am taking stock of my skills, working on my physical health, reading about how other people have survived similar circumstances as the ones I am expecting, trying to be the best I can be for this. Don't get me wrong, I'll help no matter how ready I am, but I'd rather be prepared.
A lot of this is really hurting a lot right now because my very best friend is a US American trans woman. I love her and I am so afraid for her. I will do everything in my power to help.
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Comment on My hair is thinning. Tips and tricks, please! in ~life.style
rogue_cricket Link ParentI'm a woman. Last year my mother pointed out that my hair looked like it was thinning and showed me a photograph she'd taken of me from above and I went into a full panic. My hair had always been...I'm a woman. Last year my mother pointed out that my hair looked like it was thinning and showed me a photograph she'd taken of me from above and I went into a full panic. My hair had always been one of my favourite physical features about myself and unfortunately I was so upset that I didn't approach things scientifically in the same way I would normally for any kind of product introduction, so I was applying topical minoxidil, microneedling, doing red-light therapy, using dilute peppermint and rosemary oil.. dear Lord, reading that back, what a mess I was.
Anyway, something did something for sure because I did in fact end up growing the ghost of a little moustache! Among the myriad things I tried I really think it was the topical minoxidil that would have caused it but because of my terrible approach I can't be entirely sure. I have blonde hair, and less body hair than average, so I just kind of left it - it didn't stand out and wasn't really visible unless you were close enough to make my wife jealous. In fact, at the time I was glad to have some clear evidence that my body was producing more hair anywhere.
The thinning is reversing some now that I'm becoming generally healthier from what turned out to be a pretty serious health complication. I don't use the minoxidil any more but I did end up keeping the red light and the rosemary oil as an occasional part of my self-care routine. Even if research is not great as you said, those are at least enjoyable and not likely to be harmful.
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Comment on Kiki Rockwell - Cup Runneth Over (2023) in ~music
rogue_cricket LinkThis is from Kiki Rockwell (she/they), an alt artist I've recently stumbled upon. She has this sort of... semi-fantastic-historical aesthetic and worldbuilding in some of her recent videos that I...This is from Kiki Rockwell (she/they), an alt artist I've recently stumbled upon. She has this sort of... semi-fantastic-historical aesthetic and worldbuilding in some of her recent videos that I have enjoyed a lot. I picked this one in particular to share because it's standalone, but my favourite is probably actually "Burn Your Village" - technically the second part of a two-parter.
Same Old Energy (Part I)
Burn Your Village (Part II)I really like her dark, almost creepy sound. I think she makes some fun production choices.
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Kiki Rockwell - Cup Runneth Over (2023)
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Comment on Semaglutide for weight loss in ~health
rogue_cricket (edited )Link ParentI take Wellbutrin for depression, and for seasonal affective disorder. Is that a shortcut to happiness? I'm sure I could devote my energy to other interventions but willpower is a resource. The...- Exemplary
I take Wellbutrin for depression, and for seasonal affective disorder. Is that a shortcut to happiness?
I'm sure I could devote my energy to other interventions but willpower is a resource. The reality of my brain and its stupid little chemicals makes many basic aspects of navigating through my own life eat up energy and willpower out of proportion to someone who might have more typical chemistry. If I devoted my energy to a complete lifestyle change WHILE my own neurology was working raw against me - something that anyone who has experienced depression will understand is nearly ridiculous unassisted anyway, but humour me - I'd have no energy left over for my JOB.
There have been a lot of strides made in the public acceptance of mental illnesses like depression and the attitude towards their medication in the last several years. People are dealt different cards and there's no shame in using treatments to give you a boost given we can't exactly restructure society to accommodate everyone's diverse experiences better overnight. The modern environment we exist in is complex besides, a recent development against millions of years of evolved biologies, and our environments affect our behaviours as well.
That is how I think about ozempic, food, weight loss. If a drug can change how people feel about food, how they experience cravings and hunger and satiation, does it not stand to reason that perhaps their experiences were atypical to begin with? That they don't lack willpower, but rather, they need to use more of it due to the increased real and physical intensity of their experiences of these things? And then, that suggesting a solution which involves spontaneously redirecting or manifesting the resource of willpower is not going to be universally applicable given the diversity of our experiences?
The prevailing attitude is still that it's a failure of character to be fat, and one must flog themselves back into shape to atone for it. It's really a shame. Honestly, I think a lot of people are on the drugs and keeping it a secret for that reason.
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Comment on Semaglutide for weight loss in ~health
rogue_cricket (edited )LinkI am a relatively recently diagnosed diabetic. I use it for controlling my blood sugar and it's been seriously effective for that purpose. I think the slowed digestion causes those random surprise...- Exemplary
I am a relatively recently diagnosed diabetic. I use it for controlling my blood sugar and it's been seriously effective for that purpose. I think the slowed digestion causes those random surprise foods that might spike me to level out more over time.
I am also obese, and although since my mid-20s I had always been a bit overweight in a way I didn't necessarily mind, during the pandemic I really did gain a truly shocking amount of weight due to an equally shocking amount of stress. I suspect this is also when I developed diabetes without any major initial symptoms which allowed me the time to begin accumulating some very unfun nerve damage. This has begun to heal thanks in part to the semaglutide.
I have been on it for seven or eight weeks now. My highest weight was 240 in 2022, I slooowly lost 30lbs "on my own" (honestly only remotely possible because some environmental/stress level/mental health changes). Since being on ozempic I have lost another 25lbs, most of it in the first few weeks. It is very noticeable and my entire wardrobe will need replacing soon.
Early days were rough. I had nausea, fatigue, and bathroom issues for the first few weeks at 0.25 and I nearly quit it was so bad. I never vomited, but if I didn't work from home and have easy access to a private bathroom all the time it would have been, uh, challenging. My gag reflex also became so strong that I would have days of consuming only liquid meal replacements (and even then only at the insistence of my sweet and long suffering wife) because any solid food I put in my mouth would be make me heave and felt nearly impossible to swallow.
Now I'm up to 0.5, and the worst side effects have abated. My appetite is completely gone and I do not really experience hunger except towards the end of my dose or if I've messed up and forgotten to eat for an extremely extended period of time, because I'm also lucky enough to have ADHD (which I experience as extreme forgetfulness and occasional loss of body awareness when over/understimulated = forget to eat disorder). I am also on some other medications that could be contributing to this complete erasure of hunger, but I only experienced its full absence after the ozempic. It is extremely strange and while it's inconvenient in some ways I'm definitely no longer seeking food as a comfort in ways that I used to. I find eating boring now to the point of being mildly unpleasant.
Anyway. What I've gleaned online is that people respond to it very differently - I am a "super responder", lucky me, and I am therefore on a much slower ramp-up to a normal dose than usual. Some people don't really respond that much at all, and some people end up vomiting a lot. I think the important thing is to keep in contact with your doctor and monitor yourself.
It has really solidified my perspective on a lot of things wrt weight loss and weight gain.
My workplace has such an incredible drug plan I do not pay a cent for it but I would potentially pay a lot for it if I had to. I am very fortunate to access this treatment and not ashamed to be using it.
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Comment on Love songs about established, long term relationships in ~music
rogue_cricket LinkI really like Glasses by Jonathan Colton for this, which is about accepting the aging of yourself and your partner. The chorus gets to me. I like the affirmation:...I really like Glasses by Jonathan Colton for this, which is about accepting the aging of yourself and your partner. The chorus gets to me. I like the affirmation:
Forget the grey, let it fall apart
It's okay
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Comment on What do you like about your job? in ~talk
rogue_cricket (edited )LinkAdding my voice here to the throng of programmers. My current job is great; I get to work in clean energy and do math all day (3d modelling software using Lidar). The flexibility of remote work is...Adding my voice here to the throng of programmers. My current job is great; I get to work in clean energy and do math all day (3d modelling software using Lidar). The flexibility of remote work is great (although my work has a stipend for office rental which I take advantage of), and the pay is extremely good especially for how low my COL is.
One thing I really enjoy is that every week, the team I'm on has an hour-long hangout online where we just shoot the shit about whatever. It's been really, really helpful for keeping me engaged and wanting to contribute instead of falling into my usual job cynicism.
As for pens, I'm a Zebra Sarasa Quick Dry gal. Ride or die.
This is something I wish there was a good solution for. I am involved with a queer community that involves adult content, including sexual content, and as a result of a schism involving transphobia I ended up briefly moderating a discord server that was basically the equivalent of a lesbian bar. People would flirt there, discuss sexual topics frankly, and some folks even lived close enough to each other to meet in person.
We had an age verification system but there was at least one incident where someone who was under eighteen successfully lied about their age to get in, and I heard stories from other folks talking about how when they were kids, they’d do the same thing. They’d admit to lying about their age online as young as thirteen or fourteen, pretending to be eighteen, engaging in adult oriented spaces with adults. This is so scary!
I think children don’t understand how awful it is to do this. They’re curious, and defiant, and they believe that if these systems are for their protection then they should have the freedom to opt out of being protected. But in my situation, I understood that adults needed to be protected too. Especially at a time where queer people are already demonized unfairly and accused of harmful deviancy, and where surveillance is getting more extreme, having a minor in an adult queer space is an awful look and a huge potential risk for every adult there. Of course the child is also at risk, but it really is a terrible and uncomfortable situation for literally anyone who isn’t a creep.
Of course any age verification system that isn’t privacy focused is also a huge risk, and no government or company in the world right now would pass up the opportunity to collect a huge amount of private data because we exist under surveillance capitalism. Between the two options I think it’s better for society to fight against any system that has such a massive potential for the abuse of freedoms. But I wish there was something.