Derick Florian (he/him) @derickflorian@qoto.org

Hi All,

Time for a re-#introduction!

I've worked in tech for around 25 years, and am now a tech burnout. I've worked in healthcare, #opensource, financial, consulted, etc. I started with Netware and Linux in the 90's!

I'm living the dream of living in the woods. So far, its not perfect but I'm much happier.

I'm interested in #opensource, #automotive, and #mechanic stuff. Would love to meet locals in #michigan who share these interests!

I have 11 #chickens and 3 #cats!

@derickflorian @rysiek Was it mine?

@derickflorian @rysiek Meowstodon

@joyographic @derickflorian

In addition to the usual problems with utilitarianism, I am particularly concerned by its epistemic naïveity (esp. in longtermism), use as corporate whitewash, and emptiness in addressing meaningful structural change. [Amia Srinivasan's review](https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v37/n18/amia-srinivasan/stop-the-robot-apocalypse) of _Doing Good Better_ captures this well:

"[E]ffective altruism, so far at least, has been a conservative movement, calling us back to where we already are: the world as it is, our institutions as they are. MacAskill does not address the deep sources of global misery – international trade and finance, debt, nationalism, imperialism, racial and gender-based subordination, war, environmental degradation, corruption, exploitation of labour – or the forces that ensure its reproduction. Effective altruism doesn’t try to understand how power works, except to better align itself with it. In this sense it leaves everything just as it is. This is no doubt comforting to those who enjoy the status quo – and may in part account for the movement’s success."

The entire review is well worth a read if you are interested in EA and ethics.

#effectivealtruism, #longtermism, #ethics, #ftx, #power

Tree ferns from my favourite garden in Cornwall. May 2019. #Trengwainton #FernFriday

Also if you're new to Mastodon, please check out Tootle or MetaText instead of the official app. Both are much better

Good morning everyone, just a quick update from the DATACENTER to let you know how things are going.

Our efforts last Friday to distribute the instance across a number of machines is certainly working well, as we've been able to handle all the new folks coming in.

With all the new activity, it has also shown light on some areas where we can improve and we're working on that right now.

Thank you for being here!

I don't care what anyone says, this is funny.

Today is #LGBTQSTEMDay ! A day to celebrate all the LGBTQ+ people who work in or study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I’m proud to be a part of a worldwide community of amazing people doing amazing things!

Don’t say, “I didn’t do it” to the person. Who knows how to get into the logs.