Cataphract
@Cataphract@lemmy.ml
- Comment on Why can't we go back to small phones? 16 hours ago:
Here’s my dilemma:
- Been without cell service since the pandemic (eventually stopped using the smart phone altogether)
- All my digital needs are satisfied, devices and functionality in every room for every purpose I need
- Have multiple forms of solid and satisfactory communication channels (don’t need a cell number)
I’ve thought about buying a model I could jailbreak, but again it’s just to use a system that’s abusive. “Download our app!”, “Use our digital coupons!”, “Link your phone number!”, “Scan our code!”, “Let us track your location for your convenience!”.
I’m really a niche subgroup though, I already need other devices while at work that a phone wouldn’t suffice for. I kinda see more people going this route though. If your transportation has a computer, then what’s the endpoint in carrying a phone? If your job requires digital devices, the phone is basically reduced to a large brick of a communication device. I see more and more equipment being specialized and having added communication aspects for more complicated machinery, cell phones are not going to keep up with it in a general sense.
tldr: cell phones are just a fad with an abusive system that will die out one day and be remembered like rotary phones. They’re generally subpar for any specific task and are only a place holder till we figure out better systems.
- Comment on Amazon is changing what is written in books 1 week ago:
Have you, as a foreigner, been caught up by the American political-polarization bug^tm^!? Here are a few warning signs that you may be affected.
- Do you find yourself often injecting “left-wing” or “right-wing” into titles?
- Do you have a perceived notion that anything negative being said must involve a certain political party?
- Do you feel the need to bring Trump up in a post that has nothing to do with him?
- Do you find yourself in the comments blaming “sides” without having read the article or watched the video?
- Have you found yourself demanding answers or change that’s addressed in the post? (he literally brings up Dahl as his first example)
If you suspect that you or a loved one suffer from this syndrome, please turn off the devices and go outside.
- Comment on Bad UX is keeping the majority of people away from Lemmy 2 weeks ago:
@JuxtaposedJaguar@lemmy.ml commented above with a good experience of why it’s a crappy idea (I was thinking a randomzier would be good too.
I just clicked the first option it showed, which (for me) was a non-English instance. The second option was that LGBT-focused instance that defederated with lemmy.world a few months ago. Of course I didn’t know anything about either community so I just picked randomly.
I could see that happening a lot. I’ve messed with other randomizing systems and sometimes you forget how many niche or non matching picks can pop up when you really look at it. Even a 10% match with language barriers wouldn’t be good for a reliable system of placement.
I also don’t like the “what harry potter house” do you belong to quiz stuff or anything that asks to crawl or input your data (no thank you). Definitely more complicated than I thought.
- Comment on Apple Maps now shows the Gulf of America 2 weeks ago:
You know, I had the shitty thought that at least back before chat communication, a robber baron (or it’s equal kind) had to actually hire thugs and henchmen to cause local chaos. Now it’s just some tech oligarch with some bots or a paid anonymous service causing disruption.
We really got fucked over on this one. I’m really not sure how America pulls itself out of this one with the state of education and political polarization. The federal part of our government definitely isn’t offering up any solutions.
- Comment on ‘If 1.5m Germans have them there must be something in it’: how balcony solar is taking off 2 weeks ago:
I live in an area where there is a monopoly of power supply by one of the worse polluters in American history, in a small area within a county there’s an existing co-op power company that was basically grandfathered in because it’s been in existence for so long while no other competitors are allowed in the area.
That co-op when I lived in the area was about half the cost of the monopoly company, a relative gets actually paid to be a member because they received their fathers account when he passed away and extra funds are distributed among all the members based on how long they’ve been with them (a little weird, but at least better than shareholders getting the profit).
You are absolutely right that the electric companies as a whole have failed, they’ve been allowed to amass too much influence and coverage while squashing any kind of competition. Why electrical needs aren’t considered a national resource is mind baffling to me. Our country and citizens way of life would literally grind to a halt without it.
- Comment on no words, much feelings 2 weeks ago:
@Sludgeyy@lemmy.world, You need to legitimately check yourself. So many half-ass comments get put up without taking a second of researching before you spout off “knowledge”… I’m guessing you’re considering this “Common Sense”? So you don’t have to actually look into it and test your inner resolve to accept new information.
Make Public Drinking Water Fountains Great Again
A gallon of tap water from typical municipal water systems costs about half a cent, making drinking fountains the cheapest hydration source available in public spaces…
it remains far cheaper than the cost of bottled water, which typically ranges from $1 to $5 per gallon, or about** 200 to 1,000 times more than tap water**. (High-end bottled waters can be even far more costly.) These costs do not include the environmental costs of the bottled water industry.
A great side benefit: having to test and maintain public water sources for pollutants that residents might not know to report!
comprehensive testing of drinking fountains, implementation of standard protocols for fountain maintenance, and a nationwide effort to replace old water infrastructure, which can be the source of lead and other contaminants.
This is a ROI (return on investment) done right on a community level. Encourage the kids to have a reusable water bottle or give that junky plastic bottle a 2nd use. You do know that kids in a park will go through a water bottle right? Are you buying packages of plastic water bottles for 1,000x the price the fountain could give you!?!?!
I guarantee you, your neighbor, your friend, and your countrymen, that your community and children are saving money and the environment while taking a positive stance to educate and properly use our countries resources for it’s citizens. Please stop spreading misinformation like the** 20$!!!**(made up number in your head) and realize this is what taxes are actually for, things that actually help it’s citizens and reduces the cost of living.
- Comment on Those YouTube ads everyone hates made $10.4 billion in just three months 3 weeks ago:
Eh, I would argue you’re only using the servers to access the content creators data. Youtube is the interface, algorithm, advertisement, comments, etc. If it’s just the creators data being accessed with no additional contribution from youtube then I would just treat it as any ol’ host server.
- Comment on As Sony exits, Verbatim doubles down on optical media — stable supply of discs is a "top priority" despite shrinking market 3 weeks ago:
lol I don’t think you’re the target demographic if you can’t imagine any scenario of this having a good purpose to exist. It’s apparently rated by the Department of Defense, definitely has some applications people are interested in. Hell, you could recoup costs on harddrive failures alone over your child’s lifetime, just need a reader. Would be a pretty neat present to give someone as well filled like a photo album with personal media/ favorite games/ music/ whatever you want backed up for your kids. People spend a lot of money on multiple backup options so this is just another ace in your deck along with other safeguards.
- Comment on Le Reddit Army is Here 2 months ago:
that’s easily dissuaded by no re-posts or reddits algorithm burying those. The problem was more likely because they were popular and highly engaged so they had to step in. Fucking “spez” is in there and you still feel the need to play devil’s advocate?
- Comment on A love story 2 months ago:
I don’t think it’s even that, if you’re just passionate and serious about a movement it will slowly improve your charisma if you’re even 10% intelligent about it. Actually getting involved and going to meetings etc will 100% increase your chances of finding a partner. Now if you want one of those undercover bunker-buddies, you’re gonna need to start doing some heavy planning but probably not actually do anything illegal.
- Comment on M4 Mac Mini Power Button Has New Bottom Location 3 months ago:
))<···>((
- Comment on M4 Mac Mini Power Button Has New Bottom Location 3 months ago:
it’s a shitty design? From a company worth over 3 trillion, that gives them extra shitty points.
- Comment on Please be patient. 4 months ago:
This gives me real Egg vibes.
- Comment on Relationship goals 4 months ago:
lol Alabama representative trying to throw off the scent.
- Comment on Please Don’t Make Me Download Another App | Our phones are being overrun 4 months ago:
- Comment on Reddit is making sitewide protests basically impossible 5 months ago:
But that complacency isn’t happening to everyone. A lot are just festering, slowly digesting more incredulous and radical propaganda/influencers. Every ones base reality of the events that are happening over the country is getting completely skewed by the new types of outlets like tiktok that they flock to because of the lack of accountability by our elected officials and journalists/news organizations.
During just this last hurricane Helene I’ve heard more anger and outrage about the government than anything to actually do about what’s been hit or what the people and rescue workers are actually doing. This is how we get mass shooters and assassinations becoming more prolific, people aren’t just complaining and going about their day. They’re nodding and grinding their teeth while smiling.
- Comment on Is the RNC and DNC monopolies? 5 months ago:
In the link comment I provided I did state it was a far off miracle. But, my focus was less on 3rd parties or electoral reform, it was directly related to the “National Committees” that exists. I’m all for state parties, reminds me of when Bell was split into it’s different areas. But on a national level I wonder if it can be argued that it’s so far removed from focusing on “political ideologies of it’s group” to becoming a service provider for selected candidates. You could look at the committee’s structures, are they even following their own political ideologies, what type of controlling power they have, etc etc.
- Comment on Is the RNC and DNC monopolies? 5 months ago:
This question was less about electoral practices are more about a single entity controlling the national level of it’s party. I feel the function of these at a national level, can be argued as an organization/company which controls the market for their party. What “political party” protections are there and what distinguishes them from any other organization that could be regulated by the anti-competitive laws. I feel they are political in name only, and can truly be academically and legally viewed as a business (which supports mainly political clients).
- Comment on Is the RNC and DNC monopolies? 5 months ago:
Looking at an entire political spectrum and there being only a Duopoly is heart breaking. But I meant more like each one is a true “business monopoly” for it’s own perspective market/party. Controlling exposure, funding, data, candidate selection, being generally a lobbying middleman group, at what point does this become less a “political ideological group” and more a business organization that focuses heavily on political candidates? (like a sign manufacturer is technically making political content, but they’re still just a business, they’re both providing a service or product to individuals).
This is not so much a focus on political parties or ideologies, but more the NC (national committee) portion of it. I understand state political parties. But when expanded to the national committee’s of those parties, how are those organizations not considered a monopoly for their parties centralizing and controlling the state level and have completely overtaken national decisions which can effect the state level as well.
- Submitted 5 months ago to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world | 14 comments
- Comment on We lost Keanu 5 months ago:
NNOO!!! Matrix was a documentary though!! /s But seriously though, if I were Keanu I would steer really wide and far from anything like this because of the semi-cult following he got from the movies. There was borderline problems with people conflicting the metaphors of the movie to actually say it’s reality and we are trapped. Like it’s a cool hypothesis and explains some things easily like religion, but takes all the fun out of actually researching or discovering something universe shattering like that.
- Comment on We lost Keanu 5 months ago:
The AI went back in time and changed what was posted. Saw it happen to a guy in NC last week.
- Comment on We lost Keanu 5 months ago:
Well of course you’re not going to see anything negative on a show recorded and produced by the person you’re talking about. Historical sites aren’t just about the infrastructure/items, it’s about honoring the memories and past lives/accomplishments of our ancestors. In regards to the “snake” banning, that site already was embarrassed by a previous recording of ancient aliens, and historical sites have learned not to let organizations and promoters take over and misrepresent the cause and importance of those sites. From my understand they don’t even let in people like NPR, they are there as an educational resource and not to be hijacked as proof for a theory they don’t represent.
Now if it was an actual scientist working on a scientific research paper? Sure, be outraged. A guy trying to film a show looking for evidence to prove a hypothesis? (not how the scientific method works) Completely delusional to get upset about it.
- Comment on US can’t ban TikTok for security reasons while ignoring Temu, other apps, TikTok argues 5 months ago:
ohhh data collection taxation, I like it. You would think it would be a no-brainer but look at marijuana taxation and the continued resistance to rake in all that public funding. Would make most of the controversy around AI disappear if they tax it’s collection.
- Comment on Man Arrested for Creating Fake Bands With AI, Then Making $10 Million by Listening to Their Songs With Bots 5 months ago:
I believe in a well-regulated market he wouldn’t have found success like he did. Running for 8 years off of parents and VC/stock influx of millions of dollars screams anti-competitive to me. At the very least if we had decent privacy protection laws then the early data harvesting and business application probably would’ve been looked into at the start and shutdown, or else the company broken up from a monopoly once it started strangling whole sectors.
- Comment on Is it me or is everyone in hexbear insane? 5 months ago:
… what are you doing in this post? Should I feel sad and pity you?
- Comment on Can anyone suggest some good co-op games for two people? 6 months ago:
The overcooked series is definitely fun and always comes up cheap on sales for like 3 bucks. It’s definitely one to add to any co-op rotation because it’s easy to learn but hard to execute so you’ll always be going back to get those extra stars you missed.
- Comment on Lemmy votes ARE public, should they be anonymous? 6 months ago:
That’s just not the same at all. How many times do you get to vote on the referenda? I’m really interested to know where this mindset comes from that a social media upvote/downvote is anything like a real political “vote”. It’s completely different except the name, is that where the confusion is coming from? Is this an age/demographic thing?
You can vote no or yes on a referendum. The Upvote is for comments that contribute, the downvote is for off-topic not that you disagree with the policy! By continuing this logic you’re exposing you want to continue “Voting” on whether you agree with a topic in “privacy”. That’s not how public discourse works, which this is. You guys are acting like everyone is a guest speaker and you’re the X-factor judge deciding if they should continue or get off the stage.
Anyone looking at the actual voting system on here would not say it’s democratic or fair/balanced. There are no protections or even logic to construct a system like that because we’re not voting on policies! This is a town square, not your local council. You’re want to walk into the square and vote on the flowers or people walking by, that’s not how public interaction should work!
In every single thread the downvote is abused as a “I disagree” or as a reactionary “I don’t like this person”. It does absolutely nothing for the conversation, it’s solely for others to feel better if the numbers match their own personality or to dissuade the person who’s being downvoted from voicing their opinion.
This whole event is rather sad and disheartening like a depressing xkcd
- Comment on Lemmy votes ARE public, should they be anonymous? 6 months ago:
Everyone’s fleshed out a lot of the discussions so I’ll just bullet point my opinion to try to better explain the discourse I’m seeing on here
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I view “Lemmy” like it’s a Community Center with group discussions, Community gatherings, and/or lectures with public comments. If you’re in the crowd “Booing” (downvoting) without standing up and making your position clear, you’re not adding anything to the discussion.
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Downvote/Upvote is not like “Booth Voting” at all. You have ONE vote in a democracy, that’s the core principle. You don’t vote Yes for a candidate then vote No for another. You don’t see a ticker above the booth tallying everyone’s vote that was before you (voter manipulation, why hidden scores became a thing).
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I think this would go over a lot better if mods had the choice of how to present the votes. Opt in or out of showing voters, opt in or out of showing scores or eliminating downvotes or even upvotes if you want. Give the power to the community and create useful tools for mods to try out.
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- Comment on Lemmy devs are considering making all votes public - have your say 6 months ago:
You keep getting heated and bringing up other things that aren’t equated trying to make some type of metaphor and it’s not connecting for me so I apologize if you’re getting frustrated. I don’t see the social-score and “you have nothing to hide” being a valid argument that pertains to this discussion and just fear mongering distracting from a simple forum mechanic and a system of interacting with it.
I think the upvote/downvote system is abused by the general user by default when it comes to anonymity and many more are tempted as time progresses. When you’re in a crowd you don’t boo or cheer anonymously, it’s an open public space where people see your actions. More accountability to the people interacting with a system seems like a positive to me.
In regards to the security/protection thing, others have already chimed in and hopefully you understand the data is already tracked and available to those who have a desire for it. My relevant parts where I talked about it before
You are not private or anonymous on here, if your actions on this platform put you in danger than do not continue to interact thinking it’s completely safe! These things can already be seen, this discussion is about making it show up in every UI by default instead.
