Juice
@Juice@midwest.social
- Comment on AI-generated poetry is indistinguishable from human-written poetry and is rated more favorably - Scientific Reports 3 days ago:
I don’t always think, but when I do, I prefer not to
- Comment on What are your favorite 1000+ hour games? 3 days ago:
I have around 1700 hs in Destiny 2, and close to the same in Bloodborne. Over 1000 hours in the last 2 monster hunter titles. I’ve replayed resident evil 4 and castlevania sotn dozens of times.
So those are my most played games
- Comment on Feral Science 2 weeks ago:
Crucial supporting NPCs in Monster Hunter
- Comment on pump up the jamz 2 weeks ago:
That would sound amazing
- Comment on pump up the jamz 2 weeks ago:
So What’cha Want by the Beastie Boys
- Comment on She-Ra Lives! 2 weeks ago:
*more than
- Comment on Nostalgia and remake culture 3 weeks ago:
- Comment on ... 3 weeks ago:
This is garbage why the fuck should I care about what some nerd with a sub stack thinks about other academics? Intellectuals suck, Marxist intellectuals are no exception. So in the wake of MacCarthyism, at the dawn of Neoliberalism, intellectuals in universities were being pressured to gravitate away from Marx. No shit. Does this mean they were correct to do so? Well the death of the militant labor movement around the same time would give us some indication.
Why would you care so much to try and ensure that people don’t read very good books that you likely havent read? Seems like someone with an axe to grind. But let me assure anyone who is reading this, Marxist Intellectuals are as big a pain I’m the ass, and kind of necessary, as they are in any other org. The problem isn’t with the intellectuals though, it’s that there’s not enough regular working people who read and understand revolutionary theory to push back against them and their tendencies toward splits and polemics and laziness.
This is the problem with not reading Marxism though, the basis of the argument is “all these smart people stopped studying Marx” and takes it for granted that it is because the source material was somehow incorrect. And maybe some of it was, there’s no shortage of that. But that explanation completely ignores structural and social pressures that would have been a clearer and more direct explanation than, “all at once all these smart nerds left Marxism, so they must have been right to do so.” This is not what causes a mass exodus. What causes someone to leave a field of study for another one is the threat that their livelihood will be taken away.
Its so funny I wonder if this would have worked on someone who was new to Marxism. Homie I’m so far gone, if you think this post might be the reason someone would give up on reading Marx that person would have to be already unfamiliar. Actually engaging with other Marxists will do more to run you out of Marxism than this goofy ass nerd ass substack
- Comment on ... 3 weeks ago:
I did neither of those things, literally
- Comment on ... 3 weeks ago:
Wow 70 years of history is so flat, it just folds right up in your pocket like that, stunning. Its possible you’ve left a few details out
- Comment on ... 3 weeks ago:
So no, no one understands it.
What was the last nail, exactly? I don’t see how swapping out neo-liberal drivel with “scientific Marxist drivel” would be any improvement
- Comment on ... 3 weeks ago:
Does anybody understand what this meme is trying to say? I feel like its pretty obvious
- Comment on ... 3 weeks ago:
Cuz that’s what this meme is trying to abandon - science
- Comment on Announcement 1 month ago:
Chrono Trigger 2
Akira Toriyama is dead
Yeah, nah
- Comment on Anxiety 1 month ago:
I have no self control with weed, I was literally high for about 3 years straight. Was high functioning, and it helped me through some very difficult times. But I had a severe psychotic break last November that took about 6 months to fully recover from. Tried going back but my tolerance isn’t at a place where I can function on it anymore, and if I have it in the house I’m high from when I wake up to when I go to bed. Idk why I have no self control, blame it on the ADD baby. Wish I could smoke a few times per week like my friends but I can’t so, I’m on that sober shit.
Its not too bad, I read a bit more and play less video games
- Comment on US couple blocked from suing Uber after crash say daughter agreed to Uber Eats terms 1 month ago:
I used to wonder what happened to kids who would always change the rules in the middle of a game like, “nuh uh nuh uh I have a shield around my whole body that blocks lasers,” so that they never ever lose. I thought they just grew out of it but now I realize they all became corporate lawyers for tech companies
- Comment on How do our brains process reality? I heard our eyes were just low-res cameras and our brains were doing all the heavy lifting in 'rendering' reality. 1 month ago:
Scientific research indicates we see colors pretty damn similarly, with edge cases for colorblindness and also people who are more color sensitive.
One way this can be studied is by studying the metamerism of different colors by different observers. Metamerism is the study of how colors change given different light sources.
There are other objective qualities that give hints that we have similar ways of experiencing colors. You mention that colors are nothing more than our brain assigning “color” to frequency of light – but light is itself just a frequency of electromagnetic radiation, namely the frequencies that make up the bulk of the radiation emitted by the sun.
So to a normal observer without colorblindness, there are more variants of colors of green than any other color. Green is of course situated in the very center of the roygbiv spectrum, it is the “most visible” color. The colors with the least amount of variations are red and violet, which are situated at the edges. Frequencies above violet or below red become invisible making up infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
Where we get tricked up, and I used to have identical suspicions as you did, is that we consider color to be purely subjective, because we aren’t taught to unify subjectivity and objectivity into a united whole. Color isn’t completely imagined, there are certain surfaces that absorb and reflect certain frequencies of EM radiation just as the structures in our brain that process this ocular input are more or less similar. Things that are subjective aren’t usually associated with being “real” the same way that objectively “real” things that exist out in the phenomenal world are. However, color is socially real, we can almost all identify colors that are the same and colors which are different. Since the set of colors which are “red” are fewer than the set of colors which are “green” then there is no way that what I experience as red is the same as what you experience as green. Artists use colors to convey emotion and are able to achieve this with many many different observers. Warm colors are warm, and cool colors are cool. There may be different levels of sensitivity but in my experience this can be somewhat trained into an observer though no doubt there are outliers who have a unique sensitivity to color differences.
So there are objective factors which align with subjective factors let’s say 90% of the time, which strongly supports the idea that we experience color more or less the same way. The trouble is not that subjectivity and objectivity are irreconcilable, in fact it is when we fail to reconcile them that our troubles begin. In my opinion, this is a huge problem that creates all kinds of issues when we try to relate to each other; it may be the most prominent philosophical problem of our age. Luckily it is fairly easily remedied with a slight change in the way we think about subject and object. Its useful to separate them sometimes but we need to be able to reunify them, which just takes practice in my experience.
- Comment on How do our brains process reality? I heard our eyes were just low-res cameras and our brains were doing all the heavy lifting in 'rendering' reality. 1 month ago:
There’s a rare disease that turns peoples faces into demon faces called prosopometamorphopsia that can be partially relieved by observing things under different colored light.
- Comment on I hate how anything without "world" in its name is just about the US 1 month ago:
Jimmy Eat USA
- Comment on PS5 Homescreen Now Replaces Unique Video Game Art With Annoying Ads You Can’t Turn Off 1 month ago:
Whelp looks like the ps4 will be my last Sony console, too bad
- Comment on [Tom Warren] The PS5 Pro still hasn’t sold out in the US or UK. Looks like the $700 price point will mean this console will be readily available this holiday 1 month ago:
That’s too bad, it looks like the ps4 will be my final Sony console
- Comment on Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it 1 month ago:
What do you mean? there are plenty of British recording artists
- Comment on YouTube Premium is getting a huge price hike in over a dozen countries, sparking user backlash. Some countries are experiencing hikes between 30% and 50% 1 month ago:
“You made me be rude after I insulted you and you called me out on it”
Leave me alone. I’ve wasted enough time on you. You clearly have your mind made up and can’t even comprehend why someone would be skeptical of a company that is driving away its users and advertisers, of which I provided many examples. I wrote several paragraphs supporting my argument, and several sources. You responded in seconds with two sentences. Hopefully you wise up before taking a bath on whatever your investments are. I wish you all the best in life, but this is finished.
- Comment on YouTube Premium is getting a huge price hike in over a dozen countries, sparking user backlash. Some countries are experiencing hikes between 30% and 50% 1 month ago:
You can’t take perpetual growth out of the equation. That’s capitalism. Also I don’t see the point of being rude. You have been consistently rude to me for no reason.
I gave you a long supporting argument and you respond with two sentences and no supporting sources despite demanding them from me. Its actually quite sad and intellectually dishonest. Its no wonder that you seem to stan Google so hard, they are a garbage company so it makes sense for you to identify with them.
If you decide to respond, put a little meat on the bone, i challenge you to do give an actual supporting argument rather than “nuh uh.” Otherwise just don’t respond, its that simple. I was posting off the cuff and you challenged me to do better. I met your challenge. Do better, unless you can’t.
- Comment on YouTube Premium is getting a huge price hike in over a dozen countries, sparking user backlash. Some countries are experiencing hikes between 30% and 50% 1 month ago:
I don’t get the idea of “hopium”, yes I hope they collapse. It doesn’t bring me any kind of like euphoria to do so, and I’d prefer if you didn’t make comments on my psychology, unless you are some kind of psychologist or have an advanced degree in psychology, it seems problematic and ableist and also you don’t fucking know me; but sure I can take a whack at supporting evidence, as an exercise:
A quick google search returned this article, geared toward investors, that outlines many issues with Google’s current monetization strategy.
the-cfo.io/…/the-hidden-red-flags-in-googles-most…
- Google’s Copilot feature is a stinker
The company’s CFO, Ruth Porat, hinted at the financial implications of this shift, stating, “As we invest to support our highest growth opportunities, we remain committed to creating investment capacity with our ongoing work to durably re-engineer our cost base.”
This statement suggests that Google is bracing for a period of higher costs and potentially lower margins as it transitions to more AI-intensive search capabilities. The challenge lies in maintaining profitability while delivering the advanced features necessary to fend off emerging competitors.
Moreover, the monetization model for AI-powered search remains unclear. Traditional search relies heavily on sponsored links and ads, but integrating these seamlessly into AI-generated responses presents a significant challenge. Google may need to explore alternative revenue models, such as subscriptions or premium features, which could face resistance from users accustomed to free search services.
Problems with google’s implementation of AI are documented here:
arstechnica.com/…/googles-ai-overviews-misunderst…
wired.com/…/google-ai-overview-search-issues/
theverge.com/…/ai-chatgpt-google-gemini-microsoft…
The CEO also said they cant do anything about ai hallucinations.
futurism.com/…/ceo-google-ai-hallucinations
So the feature that is affecting their overall profitability, that is forcing them to make dramatic quality of life changes doesnt even work and can’t be fixed, according to Google.
- lagging profits from youtube, a historically high performer
YouTube, historically a strong performer in Alphabet’s portfolio, showed signs of vulnerability in Q2 2024. While YouTube ad revenues grew by 13% year-over-year to $8.7 billion, this growth rate lagged behind that of Google Search, indicating potential challenges in the video platform’s monetization strategy.
Brand advertising, typically a strong driver for YouTube, showed weakness. Schindler noted that YouTube’s growth was “driven by growth in brand, as well as direct response,” but the emphasis on direct response advertising suggests that big-budget brand campaigns may be pulling back.
This shift could be indicative of broader changes in the advertising landscape. As consumers increasingly use platforms like TikTok and Instagram for product discovery, advertisers may be reallocating their budgets away from traditional YouTube ads.
Furthermore, YouTube faces challenges in its content strategy. The company’s investment in YouTube Shorts, its short-form video offering, has yet to fully pay off. Pichai mentioned that “views of YouTube Shorts on connected TVs more than doubled last year,” but failed to provide concrete monetization figures for this format.
Youtube is more aggressively pushing ads to users, and the price of their subscription based services continues to squeeze consumers.
theverge.com/…/youtube-premium-price-increase-eur…
howtogeek.com/youtube-is-adding-even-more-ads/
Far from the only game in town now, competitors like tik tok and insta reels have forced Google to make changes to the platform in order to stay competitive. These changes have yet to pay off for google within this competitive environment, and the company can no longer afford to develop loss leading tech like in previous stages of the business.
As Google continues to limit access to its platform to users who use adblocking or other services such as NewPipe or Invidious to view content, it would be a stretch to say that these dedicated and tech savvy users will just view ads to continue to use the platform. On the contrary, one can just not watch youtube, and it will be an overall improvement to one’s own wellbeing. As ads and subscriptions increase, an inevitability for a platform that must remain profitable quarter on quarter, year on year, I think it’s safe to say that users will just go elsewhere for content, driving away advertisers.
- Further problems with AI
Furthermore, Google’s AI strategy appears somewhat scattered. The company is pursuing multiple AI initiatives across various product lines, from search to cloud to workspace applications. This broad approach, while potentially covering all bases, may also dilute focus and resources, potentially allowing more specialized competitors to gain advantages in specific areas.
Google, in an effort to preempt the market is spreading itself too thin across too many market segments too cautiously. You said that Google “Has billions and isnt going anywhere” but actually this might be a huge disadvantage, as smaller competitors able to be more dynamic and interruptive can take big chunks out of the profitability of Google, who has to remain conservative while staying on top of the latest tech. A tech, which by all accounts, doesnt even work very well.
- What else is there?
Cloud services are too competitive. Features like Google Maps, which Google hasnt figured out how to make profitable, and can’t make subscription based while good free versions also exist, the same of which being true for other google services such as workspaces and the features contianed within, will continue to get worse as these will be the first areas to receive cuts in staff and investment as profitability is continually squeezed.
- Conclusion
At its peak, Yahoo had a value of around $200B adjusted. in 2016 it sold to Verizon for 4.8 billion, and is likely worth even less now though exact numbers are hard to find. Google is no longer in their growth phase, and they have failed to monopolize the tech industry in most segments, other than (arguably) search. They will continue to struggle to make profits, leaving them with three distinct options: sell sections of the business, serve more ads, cut expenses such as developers. each of these options are merely survival strategies, and not a way for a tech company to continually grow. It’s my prediction that Alphabet will become little more than an aggressive patent troll, and Google will start to shrink until it becomes small enough to be acquired by a competitor. Alphabet’s current valuation is about $2 Trillion, which aint nothing. this isnt going to happen overnight. but fewer users means less advertisers, less advertisers means less investment, and less investment means death. Maybe the timeline is more or less long, idk if it will take 5 years, or 10 or 20. but it is an inivitability due to the limitations of our economic system and the constrictions that a very large companies with a large amount of non-finance capital are forced to face. Any number of things could happen to severely damage google’s ability to continue to do business, but what they might do to innovate is unclear if not an impossible task altogether.
- Comment on YouTube Premium is getting a huge price hike in over a dozen countries, sparking user backlash. Some countries are experiencing hikes between 30% and 50% 1 month ago:
I have been saying this for years
- Comment on YouTube Premium is getting a huge price hike in over a dozen countries, sparking user backlash. Some countries are experiencing hikes between 30% and 50% 1 month ago:
Google is having problems, they can’t make profits anymore. Its different because reddit was never profitable, but googles been profitable for years.
- Comment on YouTube Premium is getting a huge price hike in over a dozen countries, sparking user backlash. Some countries are experiencing hikes between 30% and 50% 1 month ago:
I can’t wait for google to crash and burn. Bring back GeoCities and Netscape navigator.
- Comment on THICC 1 month ago:
I think I understand better now, thanks for clarifying. The otherkin discord server comment was so out of pocket I thought you were fucking with me. It actually wasn’t a very helpful example, but I think I understand your other comment better now. Sorry for getting aggravated, its hard not to be made to be cynical by the internet. Thanks for the clarification, good luck on your journey.
- Comment on THICC 1 month ago:
You don’t understand my philosophy, don’t pretend to. I extended you the courtesy of a well thought out detailed and i think pretty intelligent response, and you talk to me about otherkin and dragons. Enjoy your discord server.
