thereticent's recent activity
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Comment on Reuters reveals Banksy's identity in a long investigation in ~arts
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Comment on Reuters reveals Banksy's identity in a long investigation in ~arts
thereticent Link ParentFor my part, the whimsy is "not knowing" who the real Banksy is. Sure, he's been unmasked before, and people moved on in denial, as you put it. They're not seeking out this information, maybe...For my part, the whimsy is "not knowing" who the real Banksy is. Sure, he's been unmasked before, and people moved on in denial, as you put it. They're not seeking out this information, maybe because it's inspiring to have an anonymous or at least questionably identified artist out taking shots at those in power. Do you not understand or do you disagree? I'm having trouble nailing down your viewpoint. (Not an insult. I respect you).
Edit: My biggest issue is the intentional announcement of revealing this despite his, his management's, and especially his fans' requests not to. But it's "of interest" to the readers, so...take that? Maybe my position is that it feels gross. I'm okay with that.
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Comment on Reuters reveals Banksy's identity in a long investigation in ~arts
thereticent (edited )LinkI get the blasé reaction to this, but I find it (the "exposure") fucked up. Yes, the 2008 exposé was right, I was there too, but the evidence wasn't firm enough to make a splash that stuck. But...I get the blasé reaction to this, but I find it (the "exposure") fucked up. Yes, the 2008 exposé was right, I was there too, but the evidence wasn't firm enough to make a splash that stuck. But here we are doing it to build cache with readers of one of the largest news services in the world. Whatever. I'm not attached to Banksy, but taking some whimsy out of the world just for the cred makes me want to vomit.
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Comment on YouTube lays claim to another crown: the world’s largest media company in ~finance
thereticent LinkWeird writing: I assume the firm is MoffatNathanson, but I doubt the author meant to write it this wayWeird writing:
The firm, which declared YouTube the “new king of all media” last year, is now valued at between $500 billion-$560 billion, far above any traditional media competitors. The closest would be Netflix, which has a market cap of about $409 billion as of writing.
I assume the firm is MoffatNathanson, but I doubt the author meant to write it this way
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Comment on Lenovo’s new ThinkPads score 10/10 for repairability in ~tech
thereticent Link ParentI have one from 2010 or so, and after a screen and battery replacement a few years ago, it's as good as new. Obviously the batter was easy, but the screen was as well. First time replacing a...I have one from 2010 or so, and after a screen and battery replacement a few years ago, it's as good as new. Obviously the batter was easy, but the screen was as well. First time replacing a laptop screen and I was underslept and a little intoxicated at the time.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
thereticent Link ParentI've seen him a few times and met him just as Control came out (still at least nominally a Christian). Super chill guy. Then I found out he had become atheist when he addressed it at a show in...I've seen him a few times and met him just as Control came out (still at least nominally a Christian). Super chill guy. Then I found out he had become atheist when he addressed it at a show in Newport outside of Cincinnati. Half the people looked shaken, half looked fine, and one guy in full punk gear clapped and cheered. David gave him a sarcastic "yeah, thanks." I'm sure he didn't want to make that part of his life a sideshow, but it did seem like he wanted to clear the air with his fans from before. Just a complicated moment burned into memory.
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Comment on Almost a third of Gen Z men agree a wife should obey her husband in ~life.men
thereticent Link ParentYou're totally right. I had forgotten to keep in mind that this was international.You're totally right. I had forgotten to keep in mind that this was international.
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Comment on Almost a third of Gen Z men agree a wife should obey her husband in ~life.men
thereticent Link ParentI think the word "obey" is still a problem. I'd rather ask "Do you think a wife should always demonstrate respect for her husband's opinions?" I word it that way so it's not internal "sure I...I think the word "obey" is still a problem. I'd rather ask "Do you think a wife should always demonstrate respect for her husband's opinions?" I word it that way so it's not internal "sure I respect it, but I don't need to do anything about it," not the same as obeying (which is for commands), and not the same as agreeing (that's ridiculous).
That's not to mention that no one's seriously asking whether husbands should obey their wives. Or just wording it as spouses or partners.
A more interesting question might be "Do you agree that women should be cherished, but only as long as they don't embarrass you/themselves or undermine your masculinity?" I legitimately think people would be happy to be honest about that one, and it would be telling.
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Comment on What is the One Piece? Eiichiro Oda has put an answer to paper and hidden it 651m under the ocean. in ~anime
thereticent (edited )Link ParentHaha, it makes sense. I've watched quite a bit of this insanely long series, and it never occurred to me to check out a fan community or question whether the One Piece is predetermined. So for me,...Haha, it makes sense. I've watched quite a bit of this insanely long series, and it never occurred to me to check out a fan community or question whether the One Piece is predetermined. So for me, this teaser is the first time hearing that!
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Comment on Scary Movie (2026) | Official trailer in ~movies
thereticent Link ParentYou know, I wish I had some optimism about bringing back the Wayans brothers. At this point they are 50ish to 70ish, and it's pretty hard to keep up with major shifts in humor, much less to treat...You know, I wish I had some optimism about bringing back the Wayans brothers. At this point they are 50ish to 70ish, and it's pretty hard to keep up with major shifts in humor, much less to treat them ironically in a way that enhances the humor. Maybe I'm just soured by the they/them joke. It's a very senior faculty joke.
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Comment on Wondery App and Wondery+ Service being shut down by Amazon in ~tech
thereticent Link ParentI also didn't realize Wondery was Amazon. I was a Great Courses listener for a while before it was subsumed into Wondery, and I didn't mind that the new content didn't interest me. Something about...I also didn't realize Wondery was Amazon. I was a Great Courses listener for a while before it was subsumed into Wondery, and I didn't mind that the new content didn't interest me. Something about the platform itself, though, made it less appealing to go looking for Great Courses I hadn't listened to. It really probably was the FOMO-centric setup. Oh well--I hope the Great Courses make it onto Audible and are reasonably priced.
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Comment on Discussion for Malazan Book of the Fallen (Spoilers for the entire series) in ~books
thereticent Link ParentI'm so curious about that. Do we know whether it will continue? I figured her son would be a good storyline, but I'd rather see her as well. Yeah, that happened for me too. But I really like the...I'm so curious about that. Do we know whether it will continue? I figured her son would be a good storyline, but I'd rather see her as well.
Yeah, that happened for me too. But I really like the zero prior exposition style, so as pieces started to fall into place, it was really rewarding revising my thoughts about what might be going on. But I was a big Kierkegaard guy in college, so it feels similar that way.
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Comment on Wondery App and Wondery+ Service being shut down by Amazon in ~tech
thereticent LinkIMO there was nothing good on Wondery except The Great Courses. And those are hot or miss. Did anyone have a different experience?IMO there was nothing good on Wondery except The Great Courses. And those are hot or miss. Did anyone have a different experience?
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Comment on Discussion for Malazan Book of the Fallen (Spoilers for the entire series) in ~books
thereticent Link ParentHa, me neither. I did think Nimander's party was boring and Clip was irritating. Definitely not the strongest thread in the series.Ha, me neither. I did think Nimander's party was boring and Clip was irritating. Definitely not the strongest thread in the series.
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Comment on Discussion for Malazan Book of the Fallen (Spoilers for the entire series) in ~books
thereticent Link ParentTrue! Similarly, I thought the Crippled God and the Dying God were the same thing for an entire book.True! Similarly, I thought the Crippled God and the Dying God were the same thing for an entire book.
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Comment on Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount’s offer is deemed superior in ~movies
thereticent LinkWell damn. They're just buying the media, glob by glob.Well damn. They're just buying the media, glob by glob.
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Comment on Discussion for Malazan Book of the Fallen (Spoilers for the entire series) in ~books
thereticent LinkWow, these took a lot more thought than I expected! Toc the Younger, Seren Pedac, Heboric, Stormy & Gesler (& Roach & Bent), Picker & Blend Itkovian giving his all as Shield Anvil Tavore becoming...Wow, these took a lot more thought than I expected!
What were some of your favorite characters?
Toc the Younger, Seren Pedac, Heboric, Stormy & Gesler (& Roach & Bent), Picker & Blend
Favorite moments?
Itkovian giving his all as Shield Anvil
What did you not see coming?
Tavore becoming the linchpin of the main story
How did you feel about the perspective shift on the Crippled God as the series progressed?
I caught on slowly, and when it hit me, I could barely believe it. It was so moving and satisfying.
Have you reread the series, and did you enjoy it more during an additional read?
I've read all of these, plus Novels, plus Path to Ascendancy, plus Kharkanas, plus the two Witness books three times. I've enjoyed it more and more each time. You catch what obscure or throwaway lines mean, get less confused about characters and back stories. I personally most enjoyed getting to know the geography and peoples much better. They are so well thought out, Erikson being an archaeologist.
Anything else fun you'd like to talk about for these books?
Perhaps not fun, but uplifting: I was at a dead stall on my dissertation, with two babies at home, when I took a chance on Gardens of the Moon. I was hooked and moved on to Deadhouse Gates. It was the relentless Chain of Dogs story that got me to push through the dissertation, on a whole new topic, in just a couple of months. It was a reminder to me that you just aren't going to know how things will turn out, but if it's what you have to do, you do it, no matter how hard.
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Comment on What's an obscure book/series that you've read that you would like to recommend? in ~books
thereticent Link ParentWe're the first in, last out of these threads.We're the first in, last out of these threads.
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Comment on Drinking two-three cups of coffee a day tied to lower dementia risk in ~health.mental
thereticent Link ParentWell, no. There's no "they" who would have a monied interest in coffee sales. Harvard/Mass Gen Brigham certainly wouldn't.Well, no. There's no "they" who would have a monied interest in coffee sales. Harvard/Mass Gen Brigham certainly wouldn't.
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Comment on In a blind test, audiophiles couldn't tell the difference between audio signals sent through copper wire, a banana, or wet mud in ~tech
thereticent Link ParentI admire your dedication! I really just meant that I have plenty of poorly mastered/compressed (often popular) music that I wouldn't want to start disliking. If a declipper were in my skill set,...I admire your dedication! I really just meant that I have plenty of poorly mastered/compressed (often popular) music that I wouldn't want to start disliking. If a declipper were in my skill set, who knows?
I get it now! What's funny is that for me, there was really no whimsy left. I just hoped there was for others, but I really have no reason to think so.
More importantly:
Bullshit! You'll never convince me.