themeatbridge
@themeatbridge@lemmy.world
- Comment on Having a "crush" on a celebrity is just a lowkey parasocial relationship. 19 hours ago:
Isn’t that just the definition of a parasocial relationship?
- Comment on Why is Jordan Peterson both a Christian and not a Christian? 1 day ago:
I’m not reducing anyone to anything. Conservativism is always exactly the same, which is why it’s called “conservativism.” If a conservative isn’t conservative, then they are something else.
It’s not a generalization, it’s the name for the phenomenon.
- Comment on If you're having difficulty figuring out how to pronounce "data," say database. 1 day ago:
- Comment on Why is Jordan Peterson both a Christian and not a Christian? 1 day ago:
He’s a conservative. Conservatives cannot be held to any sort of philosophical or ideological consistency, because their positions on any issue are entirely negotiable. There are no fundamentally conservative values beyond “is this good for me?” That’s why it’s so appealing to conservatives to have a personal savior who fully accepts your apology and offers divine forgiveness for any transgressions.
- Comment on Oh really? 2 days ago:
As silly as it looks, there’s a good reason for this. You can’t just have a blank page because the user is going to wonder if something is missing. You have to say that the page is blank on purpose, at which point it’s no longer blank. They could say “The only thing on this page is this sentence explaining that there is nothing else on this page” but that seems somehow more ridiculous.
- Comment on Devices (fanmade, obviously) 2 days ago:
I think it’s just the font, but XKCD would have recreated the table and added a subtle, obscure reference to acknowledge in the alt text.
- Comment on [deleted] 3 days ago:
I think I still have one of those in a drawer, in case I ever need it.
- Comment on Om nom 3 days ago:
And that would be hilarious.
- Comment on [deleted] 4 days ago:
First, you don’t owe anyone anything.
But consider that you are in a position of relative privilege. Most trans individuals don’t have the resources or support you had during your transition. Most don’t even have access to the medical care you received. The people seeking that same care you received as a child are being demonized and targeted by bigots, fascists, and Nazis.
We all live in our society together, and “activism” is usually just someone standing forward and saying “this is wrong.” Do you advocate for trans rights at all? Or are you worried that speaking out will clue the bigots in on your situation, and you will be targeted for harassment or worse? That’s a legitimate concern, and being outed would undeniably affect the course of your life. I’m not saying any of this to criticize your decisions. But you should recognize that the bigots are winning, and your fear is critical to their strategy.
You have a family to consider. I know I put my family above any other priorities, and you can ignore anyone trying to convince you do do different.
But what if your kids were trans? What if they grow up in a world where it’s encouraged that they hate trans people? What if they need the same care you received? Would you counsel them to hide? Would you encourage them to be proud of their whole, authentic self? Who would be their role model for living life on their terms, undeterred by small-minded dipshits or violent tyrants?
I’m not trans, so I have no frame of reference for what you’re dealing with. But as a parent, I always try to make moral decisions based not only on how it will affect my kids, but also on being the person I would want them to be.
Be safe. Trust in compassion. Have faith that the bad people are vastly outnumbered.
- Comment on I want a chav boyfriend. Where can I find adult chavs? (If you don't know what that is, they're called bogans in Australia and rednecks in the US) 1 week ago:
no
- Comment on Kremlin calls Trump 'emotional' after US president says Putin is 'crazy' 1 week ago:
Don’t worry, Putin will tighten the genital cuff and Trump will stop banging on his pots.
- Comment on Egyptian archaeologists discover three tombs in Luxor 1 week ago:
I thought they meant The Luxor in Las Vegas, and was really surprised.
- Comment on Catchiest video game song? 1 week ago:
Those first 6 notes of 1-2 tho…
- Comment on Mom sues porn sites (Including Chaturbate, Jerkmate, Superporn and Hentaicity) for noncompliance with Kansas age assurance law; Teen can no longer enjoy life after mom caught him visiting Chaturbate 1 week ago:
Disfigurement? Kid’s doing something wrong.
- Comment on The chocolate cake featured in the 1996 film *Matilda* is the canonical chocolate cake for all 90's kids. 2 weeks ago:
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory had several extremely memorable moments. The greasy lipped german dude eating the microphone. Wonka taking a crunchy bite out of an obviously wax buttercup. Cabbage and laundry soup (maybe I just combined those in my developing brain). Scooping whipped cream and jelly with your hands from giant mushrooms. Biting a giant gummy worm in the middle. Charlie scarfing down a scrumdiddlyumptious bar fast enough to choke. Burping up fizzy lifting drink. Few movies had as many memorable food moments.
- Comment on The chocolate cake featured in the 1996 film *Matilda* is the canonical chocolate cake for all 90's kids. 2 weeks ago:
When I was a kid, so many parodies and comedies had ladies jumping out of giant cakes, I really though that was going to be a thing when I grew up. It was like the opposite of quicksand.
- Comment on YSK how to unclog a toilet 2 weeks ago:
I’m picturing a person panicking and swatting the whole tank off the toilet, breaking the water line and spraying water everywhere.
- Comment on YSK how to unclog a toilet 2 weeks ago:
Turning off the water will stop the tank from refilling. Closing the flapper stops the water in the tank from going into the bowl.
I would imagine most people aren’t fast enough on the draw to think about doing this first step.
- Comment on YSK how to unclog a toilet 2 weeks ago:
If the toilet is actively flushing, water will continue to drain from the tank to the bowl. Closing the flapper stops any additional water from going into the bowl.
Personally, I prefer to make sure the tank only fills enough to fill the bowl, so as long as you don’t double flush, you don’t need to panic and throw the lid off the tank.
- Comment on [deleted] 2 weeks ago:
Eh, those things are flexible. If you’re willing to play the game, you can be inside the circle. See: Log Cabin Republicans, Raphael Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Ben Carson, you can be “one of the good ones” as long as you’re willing to toe the line.
- Comment on Why can I get a credit card for $2,000 at best buy for dumb shit but can't get a care plus card for dental work? 2 weeks ago:
You can always get credit, the only question is how much will it cost.
If you’re asking why does Best Buy offers credit cards and your dentist doesn’t, it’s because Best Buy might not get your sale. They want you to see the product and buy the product and if you don’t have the money they want you to borrow the money without leaving the store. It’s all about reducing friction between your wallet and their register.
Your dentist doesn’t need to reduce those obstacles to purchasing. You need dental work, and they bill you. If you can’t pay, that’s a you problem.
- Comment on [deleted] 2 weeks ago:
Conservativism is, and always has been, a misdirect. It isn’t an ideology. It’s something you say so that it sounds like you have principles, but there are no inherently conservative principles.
Check your history books, it’s always been this way.
Conservatives establish their priorities by first drawing a circle on the ground around themselves, and the deciding who is with them inside the circle. Everyone inside the circle is a member of their group, the Self. The Self is good because they are inside the circle, and the circle was drawn to define who is good.
And that’s it. Everything else is a flexible derivation of that decision. Policies that are good for the Self are good because the Self is good. Policies that are bad for the Self are bad. You get the picture. Everything a Conservative does or says is in service of defending and advancing the Self’s interests.
Importantly, anyone outside the circle is the Other. The Other can be bad, or they can be irrelevant. The Other cannot be good, because they aren’t the Self. If the Other tries to oppose the Self, the Other is bad. If the Other does not oppose the Self or even assists the Self, they are irrelevant.
If the Self lies or cheats or murders, then those were necessary acts in service of the Self, and therefore good. If the Other acts heroically or honorably or respectfully, it is irrelevant.
The good news is that you can be inside the circle, as long as you agree to go along with the game. Support everything the Self does, oppose anything the Other does to stop you, and refuse to acknowledge the inherent ridiculousness of your lack of fundamental beliefs.
- Comment on YSK how to unclog a toilet 2 weeks ago:
Top of the tank, as in the lid, so you can close the flapper and prevent the bowl from overflowing.
- Comment on 20-Year Treasury Auction Goes Badly, Yields Spike as Bonds Sell Off 2 weeks ago:
Paywalled.
- Comment on The candid naivety of geeks 2 weeks ago:
I mean, if we’re being pedantic, geek was a term for a specific circus performer who would eat gross things and hammer nails into their faces. Anything to gross out the audience. The term expanded to mean “weirdo” over time, and became associated with the term “nerd.” It has further evolved with the popularity of the phrase “geek out” to mean someone with strong enthusiasm for a specific topic. That’s the most recent popular definition of the word.
Either way, any legitimate “geek” would already know that they shouldn’t expect Alexa to respect their data privacy.
- Comment on Why does Spotify sometimes play few ads but other times barely any? 2 weeks ago:
That’s the beauty of the algorithm. It’s not just time of day, but what you’re doing and where you are. Look for other common threads, like anytime you’re near a gym, or if you’re browsing an online store. Assume they know literally everything about you in the moment.
Of course, there are other plausible explanations. Maybe you are sometimes connected to wifi with a pihole that blocks the ads? Maybe your cellular connection is spotty and the app is compensating with music already on your device? Maybe there’s a quota that they are supposed to hit, and any blocked ads are queued up for later until you connect again? Like I said, I don’t know what’s causing it.
- Comment on The candid naivety of geeks 2 weeks ago:
Calling Alexa users “geeks” is like calling McDonald’s diners “foodies.” Like, it might be true, but all current evidence to the contrary.
- Comment on Why does Spotify sometimes play few ads but other times barely any? 2 weeks ago:
I don’t know, but if I had to guess, I would say they probably have an algorithm that tells them what time of day people are most likely to buy premium. Like, they want you hooked so they play fewer ads while you’re going to sleep or riding the bus, and you get comfortable with how convenient it all is. But then, you want to play a song for a friend or queue up a playlist for a party, and the AI recognizes that behavior and puts an ad between every song. It’s frustrating and embarrassing and gets you thinking about why don’t you just give them some money already.
I don’t know that they do this. I know that they can do this, and I know that they would do this.
- Comment on [deleted] 2 weeks ago:
Fuh fuh fuh, hmmmm yes. Jolly good.
- Comment on How are Americans so outgoing and extroverted and how can I become the same? 2 weeks ago:
Where would you meet a shy or socially awkward American? Are you exploring the basements of random homes?
