slade's recent activity

  1. Comment on What’s a point that you think many people missed? in ~talk

    slade
    Link Parent
    Whenever I see something like this happen, I'm reminded of mob mentality, and how during riots people just get targeted. The internet let's us form these mobs that never die down. People who don't...

    I was then met with a torrent of snark because apparently privacy was an excuse and I was a pig with lots to hide. It's been years and I'm angry just remembering it.

    Whenever I see something like this happen, I'm reminded of mob mentality, and how during riots people just get targeted. The internet let's us form these mobs that never die down. People who don't know better just sink right in and stay in mob mentality, eager to attack whoever they can.

    10 votes
  2. Comment on Hacktivist deletes white supremacist websites live onstage at a cybersecurity conference while dressed as the pink Power Ranger in ~tech

    slade
    Link Parent
    You are correct about the origin of my thread.

    You are correct about the origin of my thread.

  3. Comment on What private companies are you happy doing business with? in ~talk

    slade
    Link Parent
    I was going to say this. It's one of the few websites from brands that I bother going to. Their recipes aren't revenue generators so none of the rambling backstory and ads, just classic recipes...

    I was going to say this. It's one of the few websites from brands that I bother going to. Their recipes aren't revenue generators so none of the rambling backstory and ads, just classic recipes that work well. I go there first for anything baking related.

    5 votes
  4. Comment on Draw an iceberg and see how it will float in ~science

    slade
    Link Parent
    I, a sophisticate, drew poop.

    I, a sophisticate, drew poop.

    4 votes
  5. Comment on Texas A&M, under new curriculum limits, warns professor not to teach Plato in ~humanities

    slade
    Link Parent
    That silver lining is pretty sweet. It sucks, but he's doing something good with the situation. Students paying for education deserve better, and so do the faculty trying to provide quality education.

    Dr. Peterson said he would reluctantly alter the course and replace the disputed modules with “lectures on free speech and academic freedom.”

    That silver lining is pretty sweet. It sucks, but he's doing something good with the situation. Students paying for education deserve better, and so do the faculty trying to provide quality education.

    15 votes
  6. Comment on The "why does this movie exist" scene in ~movies

    slade
    Link Parent
    Interesting read! I don't write much but find that when I'm inspired to write, the setting see to come easily, and the plot much harder. Like I'll have an idea for a world where ... and it's...

    The mechanics of how different writers create stories are many and varied. Some create characters and put them in situations and see what they do, some come up with situations and work backwards, some do a bit of each and so on and so on.

    Interesting read! I don't write much but find that when I'm inspired to write, the setting see to come easily, and the plot much harder. Like I'll have an idea for a world where ... and it's really interesting, but I don't have a story to tell. Ultimately I think I'm bad at creating characters and adding them to the setting.

    2 votes
  7. Comment on Deleting topics in ~tildes

    slade
    Link Parent
    I appreciate that perspective, and the other responses given here. I agree that it doesn't matter to the content, so it doesn't matter if you're just reading. It matters to me as a...

    I appreciate that perspective, and the other responses given here. I agree that it doesn't matter to the content, so it doesn't matter if you're just reading. It matters to me as a sometimes-contributor. If the reason isn't obvious to me, I start worrying that there are blacklisted topics or other rules I'm not aware of.

    Having said that, @DefinitelyNotAFae's comment is at the heart of my question and maybe how I should've phrased my post:

    it's rarely a "don't talk about this because it will devolve" thing IME.

    If true, this alleviates my concerns. The topic I'm referring did not seem obviously toxic to me, so I wondered if it was a blacklisted topic of conversation.

    6 votes
  8. Comment on Deleting topics in ~tildes

    slade
    Link Parent
    To be clear, I don't disagree (or agree) with the moderation step that was taken, but find that the lack of communication about it obfuscates the intent of the moderation (was the thread too X?...

    To be clear, I don't disagree (or agree) with the moderation step that was taken, but find that the lack of communication about it obfuscates the intent of the moderation (was the thread too X? not X enough? deimos missed his tea that morning?).

    In this case I don't find the reasoning obvious, and am left wondering what I missed. It was contentious but less so than many topics I see here, so I have to guess at why it was removed. That leads to me wondering if it was removed for being ABOUT X, and if we're not allowed to discuss X.

    4 votes
  9. Deleting topics

    I'm being brief because I'm not trying to stir up trouble. Is it common for threads here to be locked without a reason given? In cases where it's not obvious, can we ask or is that grounds for...

    I'm being brief because I'm not trying to stir up trouble.

    Is it common for threads here to be locked without a reason given? In cases where it's not obvious, can we ask or is that grounds for being moderated?

    For full transparency, I'm not asking about a topic I was part of, but was following and surprised to see locked.

    21 votes
  10. Comment on Have you ever had an oddly specific dream come true? in ~talk

    slade
    Link Parent
    Somewhere, Cupid snapped his bow in half in frustration.

    Somewhere, Cupid snapped his bow in half in frustration.

    10 votes
  11. Comment on Reddit overtakes TikTok in UK thanks to search algorithms and gen Z in ~tech

    slade
    Link Parent
    I recall the API change leading to a lot of protests and forced takeovers of subs. I understand it was an economically good choice for reddit but it doesn't seem like it was good for users of reddit.

    I recall the API change leading to a lot of protests and forced takeovers of subs. I understand it was an economically good choice for reddit but it doesn't seem like it was good for users of reddit.

    40 votes
  12. Comment on Tablet suggestions? in ~tech

    slade
    Link Parent
    Disappointing but thank you so much for saving me the disappointment. Off to buy an iPad.

    Disappointing but thank you so much for saving me the disappointment. Off to buy an iPad.

    1 vote
  13. Comment on Tablet suggestions? in ~tech

    slade
    Link
    I'm in the market for a tablet and am similarly out of the loop. Nobody mentioned Starlabs, which I've only recently discovered myself. I wonder if there are any opinions on this?...

    I'm in the market for a tablet and am similarly out of the loop. Nobody mentioned Starlabs, which I've only recently discovered myself. I wonder if there are any opinions on this?

    https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starlite?shpxid=2507f0c3-d38a-4e14-8e58-6d4fa6ffe63d

    3 votes
  14. Comment on The pathetic life of an internet "alpha male" in ~life.men

    slade
    Link Parent
    I'd only add that we also now have major media corporations (YouTube et al) that are complicit in pushing these dangerous ideals because it makes them money to do so.

    I'd only add that we also now have major media corporations (YouTube et al) that are complicit in pushing these dangerous ideals because it makes them money to do so.

    19 votes
  15. Comment on Avengers: Doomsday | Thor teaser in ~movies

    slade
    Link Parent
    No, that's a very valid take. My comment above is critical, but I neglected to mention that I shamelessly would enjoy seeing all of the OGs back. I'm not one for torch passing in film. I do hope...

    No, that's a very valid take. My comment above is critical, but I neglected to mention that I shamelessly would enjoy seeing all of the OGs back. I'm not one for torch passing in film. I do hope that the execution is something I'll want to watch.

    3 votes
  16. Comment on Avengers: Doomsday | Thor teaser in ~movies

    slade
    Link Parent
    I can't imagine it going well, but I'm basing that more on the tone than the overall concept. I think if they wanted to go back to the old formula, they'd need to be very self aware and lampshade...

    I can't imagine it going well, but I'm basing that more on the tone than the overall concept.

    I think if they wanted to go back to the old formula, they'd need to be very self aware and lampshade it a bit. The promo would need to answer the question "why are these people back after very clearly saying farewell to the camera?" and not try to answer it in a way that takes itself too seriously.

    This teaser, the captain America one, or even going back to the awkward reveal Robert Downey Junior did when he announced his role. It's almost pretentious, like just telling me that these characters are returning is supposed to impress me.

    The other thing is that the whole vibe is very dramatic, which worked at the end of a major arc of movies. But now? Teary dramatic monologues without any plot hints are a miss for me. It's not charming me.

    9 votes
  17. Comment on Her daughter was unraveling, and she didn’t know why. Then she found the AI chat logs. in ~tech

    slade
    Link Parent
    Identifying it as a middle initial is not a journalistic standard with which I'm familiar, unless I'm misunderstanding your explanation.

    Identifying it as a middle initial is not a journalistic standard with which I'm familiar, unless I'm misunderstanding your explanation.

    2 votes
  18. Comment on Her daughter was unraveling, and she didn’t know why. Then she found the AI chat logs. in ~tech

    slade
    Link
    I realize this is still pretty anonymous, but why mention middle initials at all? Anyhow.. I misread that as "relationships with digital companies" and actually think that's how this ought to be...

    (The Washington Post is identifying them by their middle initials because of the sensitive nature of their account, and because R is a minor)

    I realize this is still pretty anonymous, but why mention middle initials at all? Anyhow..

    But like many parents, they weren’t familiar with AI platforms where users can create intimate, evolving and individualized relationships with digital companions — and they had no idea their child was conversing with AI entities.

    I misread that as "relationships with digital companies" and actually think that's how this ought to be framed. If a creepy old pervert was messaging these things to a child, the law would come down on them pretty hard. When a business does it, it's another step on the journey of progress. I know the law will catch up, it's just a bummer that there will always be someone testing the limits of what's legal, and running off rich when the law does finally change.

    3 votes
  19. Comment on A, B, C or D – grades might not say all that much about what students are actually learning in ~humanities

    slade
    Link Parent
    I today get it! My own son is learning to read and I use a lot of example sentences for new words. Over time we both started laughing about the fact that all my examples involve going to the...

    I today get it! My own son is learning to read and I use a lot of example sentences for new words. Over time we both started laughing about the fact that all my examples involve going to the store. So now it's an in-joke to twist every new word into an example involving going to the store.

    2 votes
  20. Comment on A, B, C or D – grades might not say all that much about what students are actually learning in ~humanities

    slade
    Link Parent
    No troubles! Thank you for responding. There's good wisdom in there. Definitely not one I would've thought of.

    No troubles! Thank you for responding. There's good wisdom in there.

    I make recurring jokes about using Cooler Ranch Doritos as a reinforcer for learning.

    Definitely not one I would've thought of.

    1 vote