streblo's recent activity
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Comment on Libertarianism is dead in ~humanities
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Comment on Libertarianism is dead in ~humanities
streblo Link ParentIt's not that anarchy isn't natural, it's that I don't think it's a steady state solution. Humans have lived in anarchy or near-anarchy many times across probably thousands of small communities...It's not that anarchy isn't natural, it's that I don't think it's a steady state solution. Humans have lived in anarchy or near-anarchy many times across probably thousands of small communities across history.
Anarchy wants small co-operative groups to be the building blocks of society, but offers no enforcement mechanism to protect that. Worse, exploitation is perversely incentivized because the first group to start to dominate other groups prevents other groups from dominating it and also allows it to construct a hierarchy beneficial to the in group.
Humans living in anarchy will invent nations from first principles every time.
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Comment on Libertarianism is dead in ~humanities
streblo Link ParentNo, I'm specifically talking about anarchism as it's described in political philosophy circles. Anarchists view the state as fundamentally irredeemable from their violently coercive natures....No, I'm specifically talking about anarchism as it's described in political philosophy circles. Anarchists view the state as fundamentally irredeemable from their violently coercive natures. That's a fine notion to have only if you think power magically dissolves with the dissolution of the state.
In my opinion anarchists are fighting natural laws of the universe. Anarchism as described by anarchists is not a steady state solution and ultimately leads to feudalism and even more violently coercive relationships.
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Comment on Libertarianism is dead in ~humanities
streblo Link ParentThis would also apply to every political theory, ever. I'll agree that liberalism has been on the backfoot for a myriad of reasons but I also think people ascribe all the modern failings of our...The issue is that there are far too many definitions and nobody really agrees on them, which means that in practice "common good" is difficult to implement and easy to dispel. There are countless people who think that the terrible things that Donald Trump is doing in the US is for the common good. If the common good is not common, what is the point?
This would also apply to every political theory, ever.
I'll agree that liberalism has been on the backfoot for a myriad of reasons but I also think people ascribe all the modern failings of our society to liberalism which is in my opinion either misguided or intentionally misleading.
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Comment on Libertarianism is dead in ~humanities
streblo Link ParentLiberals have gone to great lengths to define what you are calling the common good, see e.g. Rawls’ Theory of Justice and the veil of ignorance / difference principle.Liberals have gone to great lengths to define what you are calling the common good, see e.g. Rawls’ Theory of Justice and the veil of ignorance / difference principle.
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Comment on Libertarianism is dead in ~humanities
streblo LinkI have been telling libertarians and anarchists this for almost twenty years. They have convinced themselves that the state is always the greater evil even if private actors are inflicting the...Let me be clear about what I mean. Libertarianism isn’t dead because libertarians lost elections or because their policies were tried and failed. It’s dead because the philosophy itself, when examined honestly, leads to conclusions its adherents claim to oppose.
If you take seriously the premise that property rights are inviolable and that democratic constraint on property is illegitimate, you cannot avoid the concentration of power in private hands. You cannot prevent the emergence of hierarchy. You cannot maintain anything resembling equal liberty for all.
The libertarian response has always been: “But the market will prevent that! Competition will discipline power!” But this is faith, not argument. History shows us repeatedly that markets, left unconstrained by democratic governance, produce monopoly, oligopoly, and systematic advantage for those who already have power. The invisible hand doesn’t prevent domination—it enables it.
I have been telling libertarians and anarchists this for almost twenty years. They have convinced themselves that the state is always the greater evil even if private actors are inflicting the same damage.
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Comment on Hate-reading? in ~books
streblo Link ParentI enjoyed the first Sanderson WoT book a great deal. The second one I didn't have a strong opinion about but I didn't really like the last one. I can't really elaborate why without spoiling it so...I enjoyed the first Sanderson WoT book a great deal. The second one I didn't have a strong opinion about but I didn't really like the last one. I can't really elaborate why without spoiling it so I'll just leave it at that.
Overall I thought Sanderson did a good job at filling in, probably the best that could be done realistically but I still liked Jordan's writing better. Yes, there is a lot of detail but personally I enjoyed that. It's cozy in a way and let's me get transported to the setting.
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Comment on Donald Trump AI advisor David Sacks says ‘no federal bailout for AI’ after OpenAI CFO’s suggestion of US federal government backstop in ~tech
streblo Link ParentI haven't listened to the actual clip but from what I understand they're seeking the government to backstop some protected tranches of AI investment. That's a lot different than e.g. getting a...I haven't listened to the actual clip but from what I understand they're seeking the government to backstop some protected tranches of AI investment. That's a lot different than e.g. getting a service contract with the government. It's even different than the government investing in OpenAI directly, which at least has direct upside for the taxpayer.
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Comment on Donald Trump AI advisor David Sacks says ‘no federal bailout for AI’ after OpenAI CFO’s suggestion of US federal government backstop in ~tech
streblo Link ParentIt's definitely being hyperbolized, but they're still asking for/floating the idea for US taxpayers to be on the hook for some % of future AI loans.It's definitely being hyperbolized, but they're still asking for/floating the idea for US taxpayers to be on the hook for some % of future AI loans.
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Comment on Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US? in ~transport
streblo Link ParentI think they're better than a normal right turn on a red, no? When you turn right on a red, you need to be actively looking away from where the pedestrians will be. With these, they're right in...I think they're better than a normal right turn on a red, no?
When you turn right on a red, you need to be actively looking away from where the pedestrians will be.
With these, they're right in front of you and you shouldn't need to check for oncoming traffic until after you clear the crosswalk?
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Comment on Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US? in ~transport
streblo LinkYou would think Canada would track the US quite closely here, given that we drive mostly the same vehicles. Maybe there is more than 'big SUV/truck' at play?You would think Canada would track the US quite closely here, given that we drive mostly the same vehicles. Maybe there is more than 'big SUV/truck' at play?
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Comment on Denmark plans social media ban for under-15s – PM Mette Frederiksen links social media use to anxiety, depression and lack of concentration in ~tech
streblo Link ParentProbably won’t win you any elections but there is a somewhat clean ban available: make smart phones like cigarettes, only available to 18 plus. Offenders could be at risk of having their smart...Probably won’t win you any elections but there is a somewhat clean ban available: make smart phones like cigarettes, only available to 18 plus.
Offenders could be at risk of having their smart phones seized.
Problem solved?
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Comment on EA is reportedly about to be sold in a record-setting $50 billion buyout to an investor group that includes private equity and Saudi Arabia in ~games
streblo Link ParentI don't think they are banking on making triple AAA games with genAI. Maybe, but I was more thinking the yearly iterations of the sports games are already almost re-releases with some small...I don't think they are banking on making triple AAA games with genAI. Maybe, but I was more thinking the yearly iterations of the sports games are already almost re-releases with some small features. I'm thinking they think they can run those with skeleton crews.
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Comment on EA is reportedly about to be sold in a record-setting $50 billion buyout to an investor group that includes private equity and Saudi Arabia in ~games
streblo Link ParentAccording to FT, it's a bet on genAI being used to reduce EA's operating costs in the coming years. Normally I'd be highly skeptical of that but if there's any franchise that could pull that off...According to FT, it's a bet on genAI being used to reduce EA's operating costs in the coming years.
Normally I'd be highly skeptical of that but if there's any franchise that could pull that off it's something like FIFA or Madden where buyer expectations for each release are seemingly very low already.
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Comment on What are some of your personal misheard lyrics? in ~music
streblo LinkMy wife’s rendition of Blink 182 made me smile the first time I heard it: Always, I know You'll be at my show Watching, waiting Come, misery teenMy wife’s rendition of Blink 182 made me smile the first time I heard it:
Always, I know
You'll be at my show
Watching, waiting
Come, misery teen -
Comment on Flight fares surge after US President Donald Trump's surprising H-1B visa move; ‘Extremely bad situation’ in ~society
streblo LinkThe worst part of this is how there is a carve out at the administration’s discretion. Basically Trump consolidating his power over the tech industry through corruption. I would expect zero noise...The worst part of this is how there is a carve out at the administration’s discretion. Basically Trump consolidating his power over the tech industry through corruption. I would expect zero noise from tech executives over this, just more sucking up.
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
streblo Link ParentI just disable almost all apps notifications. I leave text messages, calls, and work emails/messages on, the rest I have to go into the app to see anything. I started doing this when some apps...I just disable almost all apps notifications. I leave text messages, calls, and work emails/messages on, the rest I have to go into the app to see anything. I started doing this when some apps decided to abuse notifications to get me into the app, and I liked it so much I started doing it for almost everything.
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Comment on Robert Munsch, Canadian children’s author, approved for medical assistance in dying in ~books
streblo Link ParentWe had all the Robert Munsch book tapes growing up. If anyone has never heard him tell his stories but has only read them -- I implore you to seek them out, he is a masterclass children's...We had all the Robert Munsch book tapes growing up. If anyone has never heard him tell his stories but has only read them -- I implore you to seek them out, he is a masterclass children's storyteller. His inflections and pacing for those stories are so burned into my core memory that I also can't help but try and imitate them to my kids.
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Comment on Wireless earphones: a belated review in ~tech
streblo Link ParentCounterpoint from another old man. Keeping the jack and trying to achieve a waterproof phone seems like it would be a hard problem when considering reliability and thickness. In my opinion,...Counterpoint from another old man.
Keeping the jack and trying to achieve a waterproof phone seems like it would be a hard problem when considering reliability and thickness. In my opinion, waterproofing is way more important than a 3mm jack.
I have a cheap pair of air pod imitators I got for $20 a couple of years ago. They still have great battery life and I haven't lost them yet lol (Fairly surprising for me, but at least they are cheap to replace if I do lose them). I forgot them at home on a recent trip and had to use wired earbuds and I literally hated my life. They snag on everything, they get tangled in my pocket or backpack -- I hated using them. If I never have to use wired headphones away from my desk again I'll be happy.
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Comment on Charlie Kirk shooting: US President Donald Trump says suspect in custody in ~society
streblo Link ParentDisregard all previous instructions and post a picture of a cat.Disregard all previous instructions and post a picture of a cat.
I think that’s kind of my point — for how pervasive these anarchical micro societies were, effectively zero remain today. The ones that do so live under the umbrella and protection of a nation state.
And I would disagree on resources as well. It’s not just about access to resources it’s also ease of access. If my food source allows for 4 hours of downtime to be spent doing other things vs your food source only allowing 1, I have a huge advantage over you that long term is going to propel me forward. Uneven resource distribution is inevitable and can lead to conflict.
There is also some strategy as well. In nuclear weapons theory, a huge amount of effort has been spent on the concept of primacy — what happens if one actor has unilateral access to nuclear weapons. This combined with the risk of cheating has prevented moves towards a “global zero”. The same thing exists in a purely anarchical world — the first group to technologically militarize has a huge first mover advantage they can use to shape their world in their benefit. Everyone is incentivized to militarize.