volkris @volkris@qoto.org
I think the most pressing and fundamental problem of the day is that people lack a practically effective means of sorting out questions of fact in the larger world. We can hardly begin to discuss ways of addressing reality if we can't agree what reality even is, after all.
The institutions that have served this role in the past have dropped the ball, so the next best solution is talking to each other, particularly to those who disagree, to sort out conflicting claims.
Unfortunately, far too many actively oppose this, leaving all opposing claims untested. It's very regressive.
So that's my hobby, striving to understanding the arguments of all sides at least because it's interesting to see how mythologies are formed but also because maybe through that process we can all have our beliefs tested.
But if nothing else, social media platforms like this are chances to vent frustrations that on so many issues both sides are obviously wrong ;)
Joined Dec 2022
volkris
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One of my blog posts got cited in a book and now I have to carefully migrate my URLS every 6 years when my other garbage needs a new home.
volkris
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Elno has introduced a 4000 character limit for paid subscribers and the main reaction has been "Hell, no! Don't feed the trolls!" Most #Misskey and #Calckey instances, like blahaj.zone, have a 3000 character limit as standard, and no trolls. 💁♀️ No more 1/X #Mastodon & #Twitter threads, and posts are conviently collapsed so it doesn't effect the scrolling experience on your timeline ♥️ #fediverse #feditips
Wow
Today the Board of Supervisors approved our ordinance to ban City leaders from requiring appointed commissioners to submit undated resignation lett...
volkris
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Journalists will never stick around this app long term sadly unless it adds quote posting. We desperately need it to communicate effectively, build on each others ideas, and add crucial context to posts. These are things replies simply do not accomplish. Also quote posting or reblogging does not = harassment! Tumblr, for instance, has had the feature since the beginning. We need it here now too 🙏🏻
volkris
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The best thing the Biden administration has done on infrastructure is waive Buy America provisions the president signed into law. Tonight, the president promised to enforce those regulations. https://reason.com/2023/02/07/biden-promises-to-stop-waiving-his-own-terrible-buy-american-mandates/
The topic of #CitizensUnited came up, and since I pulled up this quote, I'll share it here.
There has been SO MUCH misinformation about what CU actually said, so I always encourage people to read it directly, especially since Kennedy writes with a certain artistry.
Here's one quote that I always find to capture the essence of its reasoning, showing that it's all based on individuals associating, not so much corporations:
"[The rich always have access] yet certain disfavored associations of citizens—those that have taken on the corporate [or union] form—are penalized for engaging in the same political speech.
"When Government seeks to use its full power, including the criminal law, to command where a person may get his or her information or what distrusted source he or she may not hear, it uses censorship to control thought. This is unlawful. The First Amendment confirms the freedom to think for ourselves."
https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep558/usrep558310/usrep558310.pdf
volkris
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A deep dive into what happened with the Russiagate story is also an explanation of how major media outlets damaged the public's trust. https://reason.com/2023/02/03/getting-trump-was-more-important-to-some-journalists-than-getting-the-story-right/
Well this is one of the better steamed hams spoofs
Is #SteamedHams a hashtag around here? Well it is now!
Here's a great thread with screenshots and two second overviews of some different #Fediverse projects! (#QT below)
You might have heard that the #fediverse is more than just #mastodon odon. There are cool other projects such as 📺#owncast for livestreaming video ...
volkris
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"Did you know that if you read a Mastodon thread not on your server, you won’t see the same content as someone on a different server? You’ll only see answers known to your own server...."
https://benlog.com/2022/12/28/dont-let-federation-make-the-experience-suck/
Here's @jwz providing a sample comparing reach and engagement with content on #Mastodon / #Fediverse
Sure, a small sample, but it does show surprising levels of engagement vs followers.
( a #QT )
I've seen a few folks saying that despite fewer followers Mastodon has better reach, so I looked up the numbers for my last few posts: twit followe...
With #ChatGPT having such a buzz I've been amused to notice the similarity between that program and some of the dumber political commentators in #USPolitics.
As I understand it, ChatGPT operates by predicting what word would likely follow previous words and prompts, so it has no actual understanding of any of the words, it just parrots words and phrases that seem right.
The duller pundits do exactly the same thing, often misusing particular words and idiomatic phrases. Heck, ChatGPT probably does a better job! But it highlights how thoughtless those speakers are, and that they work by pandering to their audiences.
My favorite example of this is Sean Hannity appearing to have no idea what the term bellwether actually means as he parrots the term "bellwether state" to mean any state with a close or important election coming up. Well the phrase seems like it should follow whatever else he was going on about, so he uses it in his rambling chain of thought.
Plenty has been said about how ChatGPT is or is not a threat to different occupations, but I'm pretty sure it could replace a whole lot of these morons offering opinions on current events.
(And to be fair, I don't like to use such derisive language, but these people really deserve it: they really are just that ignorant and idiotic in their pronouncements, and their lack of understanding of their own words is both amusing and depressing.)
volkris
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As I thought, quote-tooting is being implemented by apps because so many people want it, it's so obvious UX wise, and so straightforward technologically, that it was inevitable (it's really just a link preview that recognises the link is to a Mastodon post and opens in-app).
Mastodon needs to build in consent-based QTs fast, or it will be irrelevant pretty soon, and we'll just have a QT system that doesn't ask or notify you.
volkris
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If you’re planning on hosting your own instance on the fediverse, you might wanna take the time to think about not using #Mastodon.
It’s a really heavy, and resource-consuming, piece of software. Plus your server’s drive will get filled really fast (even though you can clear the cache on a regular basis).
If you’re, even slightly, into #SustainableDesign, please consider using Pleroma / Akkoma. A single-user instance can run on a RasPi!
If you want a slick interface (which you don’t have on Mastodon anyway :blob-grin: ) we’re always improving #Mangane. :blob-lurk:
Or you can use one of the many existing clients since #Pleroma & #Akkoma are compatible with Mastodon’s API.
volkris
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If you don’t have classified documents at your home, are you really living?
volkris
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The new issue of Reason is available online now for subscribers: https://reason.com/issue/march-2023/
volkris
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“I don’t mind the decision because I hate serifs, but I don’t love Calibri.”
. . . is pretty much my reaction. Sans-serif? Great! Calibri? Ehhhhh
#fonts
#uspolitics
#histodons
@histodons
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/18/state-department-times-new-roman-calibri/
volkris
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#DebtCeiling UST can still use funds from Treasury General Account #TGA, the federal Govt’s operational account at #Fed, and it can implement “extraordinary measures” to continue to meet its obligations, chart @JPMorganAM
Another practical way to think about the #debtceiling is as providing a halftime checkup of how budgetary estimates are actually working out, and one that gets triggered sooner the farther the Treasury is falling from those estimates.
If the government is running out of money faster than expected, you WANT that alarm to go off sooner so the situation can be addressed.
Remember, after spending is authorized the Treasury spends it throughout the year even as tax revenues continually come in. The Treasury's balance changes from day to day based on both flows out and in.
Congress authorizes spending based on estimates of both flows, what projects will cost AND how much will come in over time. That makes federal budgets doubly uncertain.
Should receipts fall far short of estimates, Congress would need to reevaluate as its planning was faulty. The #debtlimit would be triggered more quickly as a warning that couldn't be legally swept under the rug until it's too late.
It's vital that people understand the different roles of the different branches here. People are acting as if it all happens in Congress, but in reality, that's the other branch of government.
I think the most pressing and fundamental problem of the day is that people lack a practically effective means of sorting out questions of fact in the larger world. We can hardly begin to discuss ways of addressing reality if we can't agree what reality even is, after all.
The institutions that have served this role in the past have dropped the ball, so the next best solution is talking to each other, particularly to those who disagree, to sort out conflicting claims.
Unfortunately, far too many actively oppose this, leaving all opposing claims untested. It's very regressive.
So that's my hobby, striving to understanding the arguments of all sides at least because it's interesting to see how mythologies are formed but also because maybe through that process we can all have our beliefs tested.
But if nothing else, social media platforms like this are chances to vent frustrations that on so many issues both sides are obviously wrong ;)
Joined Dec 2022
