volkris @volkris@qoto.org
Since I guess everything is political these days, I'll identify as extremely liberal but without a home in US politics.
Mainly, there's so much misinformation out there that people in society have trouble even organizing into coherent political groupings. So I'd rather not talk about politics but instead focus on information and education. Nothing else matters until the bedrock of fact is buttressed.
But... people are always going to be wrong on the internet, as the saying goes.
So: Old man yells at clouds is a famous joke from The Simpsons, and it probably fairly describes what we do when venting on social media.
Just speaking into the void, since I figure it's an exercise in futility to conduct discussions on these platforms.
Joined Dec 2022
volkris
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Just so you know, I'm not, and have never been, particularly concerned about #privacy or about companies harvesting my #data, or about targeted #ads. I know that a lot of people are on the #Fediverse explicitly to get away from those things, but that's not me.
I joined #Mastodon because for a long time -- long before Musk bought it -- I was becoming disillusioned with all the inane technical changes on Twitter since I joined 24 years ago. Changes designed to pander to the masses, while leaving technically-minded people like me behind. Changes like encouraging people to attach images to tweets, changes like algorithms highlighting tweets you should be interested in, changes like Quote Tweets.
I joined Mastodon because I was looking for something similar to the Twitter I fell in love with back in 2009, and I believe I found it. All I've ever wanted was an up-to-the-minute, blink-and-you'll-miss-it, algorithm-free, reverse-chronological timeline of my followees' tweets and retweets, and I found it in Mastodon.
That's why I'm here. Not because I have some sort of philosophical or religious objection to the likes of #Meta or #X or #Threads or #Facebook or anything like that, but simply because in Mastodon, I found the network I've been looking for for the past 24 years (and I'm becoming increasingly disillusioned with all Mastodon's changes which seem to be designed to pander to the masses and leave us technically-minded people in the lurch, but that's another story).
With that in mind, if Meta wants to join Threads to the Fediverse, I say go right ahead. The more the merrier! If #Bluesky wants to do the same, wonderful! If Elon ever wanted X to do the same (fat chance), I say come one, come all! The Fediverse is for everyone.
As long as they behave themselves. Hell, I'd be perfectly fine with Truth Social joining the Fediverse. As long as they behaved themselves. ;-)
It sounds like people might be drawing the wrong takeaway from the report that #Trump was recorded speaking to election canvassers.
On the surface there's nothing really new. He was public at the time criticizing election officials, calling for review, and asking that processes be put on hold while he conducted his challenges. This was no secret.
BUT, one thing that stuck out at me from the report is that he apparently offered to provide the officials with legal representation.
Trump critics might be caught off-guard by this nod that he proposed to follow legal processes.
This report might end up being marginally exculpatory, when so many are reacting as if it's a smoking smoking gun.
It's a case of people being aware just what they're putting on the table.
volkris
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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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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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The world's largest beaver dam is located in Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta. The dam has created a 17-acre lake, with a humble beaver lodge for the lake's industrious inhabitants.
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.
Since I guess everything is political these days, I'll identify as extremely liberal but without a home in US politics.
Mainly, there's so much misinformation out there that people in society have trouble even organizing into coherent political groupings. So I'd rather not talk about politics but instead focus on information and education. Nothing else matters until the bedrock of fact is buttressed.
But... people are always going to be wrong on the internet, as the saying goes.
So: Old man yells at clouds is a famous joke from The Simpsons, and it probably fairly describes what we do when venting on social media.
Just speaking into the void, since I figure it's an exercise in futility to conduct discussions on these platforms.
Joined Dec 2022
