steezyaspie's recent activity
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Comment on Baltimore high school athletic director used AI to create fake racist audio of principal: Police in ~tech
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Comment on Botswana threatens to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in ~enviro
steezyaspie Link ParentIs Germany the natural habitat for elephants?Is Germany the natural habitat for elephants?
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Comment on My shooting range, my doctor's practice, my general [translated from German] in ~misc
steezyaspie Link ParentThat is true. I have travelled to a significant percentage of the US over the years for work, and there are definitely some states that culturally felt more foreign to me than other countries I’ve...I’ve lived all over the states, and if there’s one thing that is true, it’s that the US has a lot of variation in local flavor.
That is true. I have travelled to a significant percentage of the US over the years for work, and there are definitely some states that culturally felt more foreign to me than other countries I’ve visited.
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Comment on Botswana threatens to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in ~enviro
steezyaspie Link ParentI guess we’ll just have to disagree on that point. Saying, in effect, “I don’t like this and think you’re a bad person” doesn’t really add anything substantive to a discussion. Particularly when...I guess we’ll just have to disagree on that point. Saying, in effect, “I don’t like this and think you’re a bad person” doesn’t really add anything substantive to a discussion. Particularly when done in a passive-aggressive manner to evade any minor ramifications that might result from actually voicing an opinion.
If instead they had said “I don’t want to get into a debate, but I disagree on X,Y,Z moral grounds”, that would have had the same net message, but it would have actually meaningfully contributed to the conversation.
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Comment on Botswana threatens to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in ~enviro
steezyaspie Link ParentYou drive the Land Rover yourself? Why put in so much effort?You drive the Land Rover yourself? Why put in so much effort?
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Comment on My shooting range, my doctor's practice, my general [translated from German] in ~misc
steezyaspie Link ParentComments like these make me feel like I live in a completely different country from you. I live in a rural area, in a town of only a couple thousand people. It’s an area many would assume skews...This is completely normal, unfortunately. It should be over-the-top, as you’ve said, but it is not, and, frankly, the constant barrage of ugliness, the weight of it, is wearing us all down.
I’ve long since lost track of how many US flags with either Jesus laying hands over a ‘pious champion of the faith and faithful Trump’ or the words ‘We The People’ superimposed over the stars and stripes I have seen over only the last few months — let alone the last few years. Or the black-on-black, purposefully designed to look torn-at-the-edges US flags being flown mounted on lifted pickup trucks that seem to be gaining popularity in my area at the moment, nearly always paired with ‘Trump Is My President’ or ‘God, Guns, and Trump’ stickers.
Comments like these make me feel like I live in a completely different country from you. I live in a rural area, in a town of only a couple thousand people. It’s an area many would assume skews conservative if they only looked at the bullet points. There’s always one or two annoying weirdos like this in a small town - but they are largely ostracized, and it is absolutely not “normal” here, in any sense of the word, to behave in this manner - regardless of your political views.
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Comment on Botswana threatens to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in ~enviro
steezyaspie Link ParentPotentially, if relocation isn’t an option (or in the event that the elephant is known to be dangerous, obviously). I will always object to shooting a penned, tied up, or similarly constrained...Potentially, if relocation isn’t an option (or in the event that the elephant is known to be dangerous, obviously). I will always object to shooting a penned, tied up, or similarly constrained animal and calling it “sporting” or “hunting” rather than what it really is, which is slaughtering. Slaughtering an animal can be okay if done humanely and for good reason, but it’s still reprehensible if it’s being done solely for a trophy and the rest of the animal is being wasted.
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Comment on Botswana threatens to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in ~enviro
steezyaspie Link ParentI’m not sure why they bothered to comment since it’s just noise, but it seems they meant that they are so upset that can’t be civil or respectful. It’s also heavily implied that they think the...- Exemplary
I’m not sure why they bothered to comment since it’s just noise, but it seems they meant that they are so upset that can’t be civil or respectful. It’s also heavily implied that they think the person they’re replying to is [insert morally negative sentiment of choice here], but without actually having to live with the consequences of saying that (because it would violate site rules).
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Comment on Botswana threatens to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in ~enviro
steezyaspie (edited )Link ParentAs somebody who occasionally hunts, I agree that legal and regulated hunting is more ethical than buying factory farmed meat and can be done humanely. That said, I think I’d draw a pretty firm...As somebody who occasionally hunts, I agree that legal and regulated hunting is more ethical than buying factory farmed meat and can be done humanely.
That said, I think I’d draw a pretty firm ethical distinction between “big game hunting”, which more commonly refers to hunting deer, elk, etc., and hunting endangered species like elephants. I take particular issue with “trophy hunting” generally and the method these sort of trips employ, where the animal is essentially corralled for the client who doesn’t do much more than pull a trigger.
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Comment on US Food and Drug Administration issues report claiming marijuana has legitimate medical uses - proposes rescheduling in ~health
steezyaspie LinkIf (when) this eventually happens, it will be interesting to see how existing companies adapt to being licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers subject to FDA inspection, who will now need to have...If (when) this eventually happens, it will be interesting to see how existing companies adapt to being licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers subject to FDA inspection, who will now need to have robust quality systems, process controls, etc.
I’d have to imagine that there are some who are essentially already there, but for others it might require major changes. Seems like a great opportunity for people who are experienced in pharma/med device, but may not have wanted to jump to a company operating in a legal grey area.
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Comment on Why do the English love non-League football? in ~sports.football
steezyaspie Link ParentI would love to see promotion/relegation in American leagues for other sports. I think the most feasible major sports (other than soccer) would be baseball and basketball. Football and Hockey just...I would love to see promotion/relegation in American leagues for other sports. I think the most feasible major sports (other than soccer) would be baseball and basketball. Football and Hockey just have too high a barrier to entry for equipment, and for hockey facilities are not nearly accessible enough to enable the depth of league structure that EFL has.
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Comment on Gen Z and millennials proudly wear ‘lab-grown’ diamonds, oblivious to the fact they’re made from burning coal in China and India in ~enviro
steezyaspie Link ParentI'm not Gen Z, but I hear you - millennials killed the economy with our avocado toast, you know.I'm not Gen Z, but I hear you - millennials killed the economy with our avocado toast, you know.
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Comment on Parkland mass shooting victims send AI robocalls to NRA-supporting US politicians in ~tech
steezyaspie Link ParentThat's a pretty cynical take and I cannot agree, but I understand where you're coming from.That's a pretty cynical take and I cannot agree, but I understand where you're coming from.
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Comment on Parkland mass shooting victims send AI robocalls to NRA-supporting US politicians in ~tech
steezyaspie Link ParentI can't really get behind using AI in this way. Simulation of someone's voice at all after they're dead - but particularly for political points - is pushing ethical boundaries in my opinion. Even...I can't really get behind using AI in this way. Simulation of someone's voice at all after they're dead - but particularly for political points - is pushing ethical boundaries in my opinion. Even if you think that they'd have agreed with what you're making them say, or if their estate/family gives permission, the individual has no way to consent to use of their voice and identity.
The only way this seems okay is if someone expressly gives their consent while alive to use their voice for this specific purpose postmortem.
I understand that we're talking about children who didn't have wills, estates, etc. set up to give consent and that this is an emotionally charged topic - but methods should matter.
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Comment on Ski vacations in the Alps are becoming increasingly elitist in ~travel
steezyaspie Link ParentYeah I guess what I'm saying is there are two sides of skiing. The first is the "elitist" perspective that people broadly seem to have here, which involves travelling across long distances or...Yeah I guess what I'm saying is there are two sides of skiing.
The first is the "elitist" perspective that people broadly seem to have here, which involves travelling across long distances or internationally for a days or week long trip, where you're renting gear, staying at a high end resort, and paying a day rate. That's always been expensive - the same way any major vacation to do any specialized activity would be.
The other side of the sport is a much more affordable story, where normal local people who live in snowy areas that have hills/mountains can participate. This is (was?) a much more significant percentage of skiers/snowboarders, and it sucks to see the passionate local scene dying in favor of wealthy vacationers who couldn't care less about the impact they're having.
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Comment on Gen Z and millennials proudly wear ‘lab-grown’ diamonds, oblivious to the fact they’re made from burning coal in China and India in ~enviro
steezyaspie Link ParentYeah, we bought a lab diamond for two primary reasons: not a blood diamond cost I don't think we were under the illusion that creating diamonds in a lab was some completely green process - if that...Yeah, we bought a lab diamond for two primary reasons:
- not a blood diamond
- cost
I don't think we were under the illusion that creating diamonds in a lab was some completely green process - if that existed, we may have preferred it though.
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Comment on Ski vacations in the Alps are becoming increasingly elitist in ~travel
steezyaspie (edited )Link ParentI've been skiing for nearly 30 years, and I go to my local mountain 3-4x per week during the winter. Skiing costs really vary - a single day of skiing for people who don't ski often can be very...I've been skiing for nearly 30 years, and I go to my local mountain 3-4x per week during the winter. Skiing costs really vary - a single day of skiing for people who don't ski often can be very expensive (ski area dependant), and if you have to travel it's obviously a significant commitment, as it always has been.
If you ski frequently at a local mountain though, the math isn't too bad. Buying your equipment and a season pass is a moderately large initial outlay, but the per-day rate drops dramatically - particularly if you pack a lunch.
That said, I do miss the days when it was more affordable for locals to get a day pass, and most ski areas had a more down-to-earth culture (or really just a distinct culture at all). I see the changes every time I ski - people are much less friendly in general (particularly on lifts) now and engage in more antisocial behavior like blasting music from backpacks with built-in speakers with no regard for those around them.
In my opinion, a significant part of the problem here in the US is the explosion of multi-resort passes like Epic and Ikon. They have made skiing accessible to many people, which is great, but it's gotten to the point where overcrowding of the participating ski areas is a massive issue. Day rates have gone through the roof because so many tickets will be claimed by people on a loss-leader Epic/Ikon pass. Some ski areas have even begun charging for parking and "fast lanes" to skip lift lines, which is abhorrent to me.
It sucks to see the changes in the sport, and to know that my kids won't experience it as I did. Broadly increased accessibility is a net positive for the industry, but I wish it wasn't at the detriment of affordability for your average local family who aren't diehard skiers. The mountains were better when everyone was invited.
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Comment on Jury finds Jennifer Crumbley, the Michigan school shooter’s mother, guilty of manslaughter in ~news
steezyaspie Link ParentPrecisely. The problem is not the idea of a parenting class, but the imbalanced power dynamic that is created by a mandatory class. The curriculum would immediately become a hyper-polarized...Precisely. The problem is not the idea of a parenting class, but the imbalanced power dynamic that is created by a mandatory class. The curriculum would immediately become a hyper-polarized political football, and whoever determines the pass/fail criteria of the class would instantly find themselves in an incredibly powerful position with direct control over who can be parents.
Do we really want the people who push abstinence-only sex ed, and are generally opposed to the existence of anyone who isn't a straight WASP, determining what parenting methods are deemed as acceptable for everyone?
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Comment on Jury finds Jennifer Crumbley, the Michigan school shooter’s mother, guilty of manslaughter in ~news
steezyaspie Link ParentYou've jumped in to the middle of a discussion thread that was begun on the premise that there would be punitive measures taken to enforce a mandated parenting class. If you were making a...You've jumped in to the middle of a discussion thread that was begun on the premise that there would be punitive measures taken to enforce a mandated parenting class. If you were making a different argument, you should've been more explicit.
Nobody said anything about "banning procreation", as far as I can see. Advocating for a mandatory parenting class as a requirement to have a child is clearly a restriction on reproduction, however, which is the phrasing I used. Any restriction on who can reproduce, however benign it seems on the surface, should not be taken lightly.
A state enforcing compliance with a mandate inherently necessitates the use of force. That can take the direct form of an actual arrest, or a fine that is backed up by the implicit threat of force. If there are truly no repercussions for noncompliance, it is not a mandate, it is a request at best.
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Comment on Jury finds Jennifer Crumbley, the Michigan school shooter’s mother, guilty of manslaughter in ~news
steezyaspie Link ParentSure, offering classes is fine - most people would benefit from taking a basic class, and society as a whole would likely benefit if more people took said class. I have no objection to that...Sure, offering classes is fine - most people would benefit from taking a basic class, and society as a whole would likely benefit if more people took said class. I have no objection to that whatsoever, even positively incentivizing it to encourage people to go is great.
What I take issue with is the proposal that there would be:
A) A government mandate to take the class
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B) That people would be coerced into compliance with the mandate through force and/or punitive legal consequences
During the NH primaries, an AI generated voice of “Biden” called people telling them not to vote. If I remember correctly, it was luckily pretty poor quality which made it fairly easy for people to identify as fake. It’s already happening though, and I have to assume we’ll see someone more competent release AI generated political slander this fall.