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
Two YouTube channels that put out good content got together to address the status of the Houthis shipping interruptions.
I wouldn't say it's the best content from either channel, but it's probably worth sharing since some people have criticized me for not actually posting more.
https://youtu.be/llBxmDIUnm4?si=e3qCpc68kRqOhBL2
#shipping <-- I'm surprised to see that this is an active hashtag
Keep in mind that winning an election is a separate process from actually assuming office.
Maybe folks do want to vote for someone (or something!) that can't actually assume office as an expression of protest against the way government is conducting itself.
Folks insisting that #Trump should be barred from ballots *merely* on account of him being ineligible for office are missing that distinction, and so that argument doesn't hold water.
volkris
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The discourse in the last few days regarding #Meta and #Threads gives the impression that the entire Fediverse is already blocking Threads. I wanted to take a look at the numbers and they speak a different language. The data source for my calculation is https://fedipact.veganism.social/?v=2.
Measured by user count, 76 % of all users are federated with Threads. Remaining instances with 24 % of users either block Threads or are limited (e.g. infosec.exchange).
volkris
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Jan 6th happened. Fake electors happened. Voter fraud lies happened. The coup attempt happened.
To deny this can only mean you condone it, which highlights that you are a fascist.
Concern trolling won’t do anything except really underscore how little you choose to understand what you’re talking about.
volkris
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Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
I've been appreciating the idea that based on polling the next presidential election might be won by the first political party willing to kick either #Trump or #Biden off their ballots.
The US in general doesn't want either of these candidates.
So people celebrating the idea of Trump being kicked off ballots, well, be careful what you're celebrating. That might be giving the #GOP the win.
Interesting times we live in.
I'm forever amazed at the number of TV and streaming stick remotes that I come across that have a ton of buttons but not a play/pause button.
If there's any sign that we are living in ridiculous times, that's it.
PS: I don't even know how to hashtag this post. Is there a good hashtag for making fun of reality?
volkris
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DNA Lounge Update, Wherein DNA Lounge needs your financial support to survive.
https://www.dnalounge.com/backstage/log/2023/12/15.html
volkris
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I co-sign this…BUT
To be clear, since I’ve described the #Fediverse as if #Usenet and a methadone clinic got married, and had a love child, I don’t trust a heroin dealer.
Keep your head on a swivel.
volkris
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Remember, Threads/Meta is large enough to be under enormous regulatory scrutiny around the world. The last thing they're gonna want to do is let a bunch of uncontrolled posts feed into their network from piles of #Mastodon sites some of which are even widely blocked here due to their content and behavior, and all of which are by and large not currently regulated. They're not stupid at Meta. They don't want to be buried in CSAM and other crap. Think about it.
I've long suspected that conservatives were resting their accusations against Joe #Biden on evidence that was completely manufactured since, as far as I could tell, over these years far too few had taken it seriously enough to look into it and actually see if it wasn't completely counterfeit.
Today #HunterBiden didn't do himself any favors in my eyes by addressing the press with a statement that confirmed that evidence that his attackers had been throwing around were indeed legitimate.
All of these are numbskulls who we shouldn't let anywhere near power.
The #Texas #abortion case has been badly misreported, with reporters once again saying the exact opposite of what was in a ruling.
Texas's law does not prevent abortion in the case as it's been described, so it was always strange to hear that it was being blocked.
Well, the court spelled this out in its ruling, over and over in fact, trying to say it nine different ways so that there is no mistaking it. But the press misframed it nonetheless.
For example:
> "A pregnant woman does not need a court order to have a lifesaving abortion in Texas. Our ruling today does not block a life saving abortion in this very case if a physician determines that one is needed under the appropriate legal standard, using reasonable medical judgment."
volkris
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volkris
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Shrimpfluencer.
9,990 orders of shrimp paste:
The woman was having a meal with friends at a hotpot restaurant in Kunming, a city in southwest China. When everyone's selections arrived at the table, she posted a photo of the spread on the Chinese...
https://jwz.org/b/ykG9
I thought this report was a refreshingly balanced and realistic description of the #engineering challenges behind #Tesla 's development of the cybertruck.
With all the sensationalism and drama out there it's nice to see reporting that presents actual experts describing how R&D is done.
volkris
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volkris
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Governments need to get off Twitter and at first glance this seems easy: set up a gov-centric Mastodon instance and convince governments to move.
Except it's far more complicated than that.
In evaluating if this was an endeavor I wanted to pursue (spoiler: no) I wrote up a list of things to consider for this to be done well. Hopefully it helps someone else in solving this problem.
volkris
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@Cătă No problem. Mastodon doesn't know what to do with the title, so it ignores it. I put titles on almost all my posts, Mastodon removes them, and that's it.
volkris
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scodd pilgrim comics/film/series comparison summary (thematic spoilers only)
comic: loser starts dating manic pixie dream girl with historic relationship problems, fights her exes, realises he's a loser, goes through character development to become slightly less of a loser, they date happily ever after (?)
film: loser starts dating mpdg with historic relationship problems, fights her exes, they date happily ever after
series: after a new relationship immediately hits a crisis, mpdg addresses all her failed past relationships and comes out of it with character development, resolves to stop running away from the losers she dates
it's kind of interesting how the series is mostly ramona & her exes having character development and scott having zero or debateably negative character development lmao
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
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