Sorry if I broke one of your worlds today. I suggest not fixing it.

Phil has left a new comment (05/11/2025, 21:43) on the post 'Grokipedia

Last century. A book review. "Even more disturbing are Ms. Murray's failures to grapple with the social consequences of virtual reality and the blurring of lines between fantasy and fact that it nurtures. She is cheerful about ''the consensual hallucination'' shared by people in MUD's and the possibility of one day playing the role, in cyberspace, of a favorite television character's next-door neighbor. As technology develops, she contends, ''we will slowly get used to living in a fantasy environment.''

For Ms. Murray, this is a wonderful thing. For others, it is a form of escapism, escapism that can foster a retreat from the problems and pleasures of the real world."

Some forms of politics are retreats from the problems of the real world. Want a world where the climate never changes, just pick the right "Right" politics.

Want a world where economic problems can be solved by splitting off from a trading block? Just pick the right "Right" Brexit politics.

Want a world where the NY Times is a cheerleader for AI until the NY Times discovers some are "right wing"? Easy, just make up some facts about the NY Times, and don't bother to listen to others or think about the issues. Sorry if I broke one of your worlds today. I suggest not fixing it.

05/11/2025, 21:55

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/18/books/the-art-of-storytelling-transformed-by-hackers.html?unlocked_article_code=1.y08.PT01.ivF_zgSWHgkw&smid=url-share

05/11/2025, 22:23:

Oh, and one more. Chatbots are a form of artificial stupidity enabled by technology.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/05/opinion/technology-has-destroyed-reality.html?unlocked_article_code=1.y08.OXK3.7WLcYsiAD7Uu&smid=url-share

"This is our real, existing digital world: nothing more than hourly waves of feverish and toxic agitation, played out over stale mainstream channels that discourage innovation and experimentation, drown in excruciating advertisements and drain people’s attention and souls.

An unpopular truth cannot survive online in such a world, because traction is privileged over veracity. And to artificially stupid automatons and algorithms, reality is defined as brute quantity, by ranking, ratings and elimination.

The truth doesn’t fit into that mold.

The truth is a piece of work with unruly and messy details that nevertheless require attention and never fully add up. It is usually much too complicated to be entertaining, and it may not be to everyone’s liking at all. It may not make things easier or more efficient — quite the opposite, in fact. If truth is not a marketable item, like clean environments or livable neighborhoods, the platforms that manage digital communication seem to show little interest in maintaining it, letting broken news propagate.

As a result, fake reports, digital rumors and conspiracy theories have moved from fringe to mainstream. They have also created a new reality. As I write this, a mob is marching through the East German town of Chemnitz, yelling anti-migrant slogans and chasing nonwhite people. They are not brandishing pitchforks; they are more likely to wield cellphones."

Welcome to Spam Club. And since you're new, a reminder that the first rule of Spam Club is that discussions about it take place here.

You seem to have degenerated into a mix of insults and spam.

This is so, so sad

Peter H said...

I have read Stoat for far, far too long. In the early days William was a decent, liberal, 'Green'. Stoat was a good read with science and data explained for his readers - it was almost a UK Rabbit Run. Now he is (and this is so, so sad) an apologist for mass killers and a victim blamer. He never criticises Israels actions, he simply blames Palestinians. I fear he may become a climate change denier. How I wish Eli still posted, there was a man after my own heart.

Welcome to Spam Club. And since you're new, a reminder that the first rule of Spam Club is that discussions about it take place here.

Your comment crosses the line from reasonable critical commentary to personal insult; I insist on better from commentators.

It seems that you're saying it's ok to keep killing civilians

Fri 4 Jul, 02:13: Nathan has left a new comment on the post 'Reflections on recent events in the Middle East':

"I think you're still desperate to find excuses for not considering surrender."

It seems that you're saying it's ok to keep killing civilians, until Hamas surrenders. 

Fri 4 Jul, 10:48: Granite has left a new comment on the post 'Reflections on recent events in the Middle East':

Hamas will never surrender bc Israel needs hamas. I mean Israel DID allow oct 7th to happen on purpose. Further, how is it Israel can pinpoint Iran’s leaders with such accuracy, but hamas remains elusive?

OP sounds like a believer or partisan.

Fri 4 Jul, 23:41: Nathan has left a new comment on the post 'Reflections on recent events in the Middle East':

https://mondoweiss.net/2025/07/poll-overwhelming-majority-of-jewish-israelis-share-genocidal-belief-there-are-no-innocent-people-in-gaza/

As usual, you may feel free to discuss moderation decisions over here.

Racist people are often unaware

Nathan said...

Racist people are often unaware. And if you want to avoid being called racist, don't use racist terminology. It's not wild or illogical to call out racism, when racist terms are used. It is by definition racist.
Don't pretend you understand my emotions, you have never met me.

Can I ask, what proof you would need of genocide, and how do you know it isn't happening.
At what point does it become genocide?

At what point do you think enough has been done?

21/06/2025, 07:43 

Nathan said...

Why doesn't this logic: "it would be reasonable to not be prepared to leave it as a risk."
Extend to genocide?

21/06/2025, 07:45

You seem to share the view as with other right wing idealogues...

Nathan has left a new comment on the post 'Polling Pales':

 "Unfortunately their opinions - at least as expressed by this poll - do not point towards anything peaceful"

Perhaps you have a very narrow point of view. I am sure they would love to live in peace, like anyone else.
You should also consider the demographics of the area. I would think the polling is not very representative of the majority, given more than 40% are under 18.

Also, given the specific nature of the question (regarding the relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia) you are extrapolating a long way to hatred and 'not anything peaceful'

But given your appreciation of the complexity of this conflict and your reference to jerks like Richard Hanania it's not surprising.

How you can consider what Israel is doing as contributing to peace I cannot understand. You seem to share the view (as with other right wing idealogues) that as soon as someone is labelled terrorist you can murder your way to success. It's just messed up.

WMC: You'll need to think a bit about why this got spammed before posting more. If you have questions, you should ask them here.

And another:

Nathan has left a new comment on the post 'Polling Pales':

"It does seem that these people are motivated by hatred"
This is racism. You need to work on this.
Stop promoting racist ideas

You're a lazy racist who indulges in victim blaming

 Nathan has left a new comment on the post 'The parable of the Antheap and the Anteater':

Your appeasement of genocide is ugly.
You're a lazy racist who indulges in victim blaming.
How dare you blame children for Hamas.

How can you say people deserve to die because they won't repudiate terrorism.
What sort of logic is this??

Who are you, that you can blame people for the faults of others and say they deserve to be starved to death.

Nathan has left a new comment on the post 'The parable of the Antheap and the Anteater':

So how many were there?

These are the numbers

"At least 112 people died and 760 were injured on Thursday when desperate crowds gathered to collect flour."

You live in some sort of fucked up fantasy land, where quibbling about exact numbers makes for rational discussion.

As we say in Australia: You're a dickhead, pull your head in

Any point of view that accepts starving people to death deliberately as a fair outcome is pretty fucked up

Nathan has left a new comment on the post 'The parable of the Antheap and the Anteater':

"The people who do need such courage are the Palestinians, and sadly they appear to either lack it, or worse lack the desire to repudiate Hamas, or the dead hand of their history."

I am amazed by your lack of campassioon, unwillingness to acknowledge history and your blatant racism when discussing this issue.

Your racism needs to be called out, especially as you use it to justify the actions of the Israelis.

Here's some classic examples:

Arabs hate Jews... Racist and not-provable

Arabs can't form stable Governemnts... Racist and obviously wrong

Muslim Faith leaders cannot comment on morality.... Racist and not-provable

Egypt should accommodate Palestinian Refugees (with an emphasis on blaming them for not volunteering... Basically racist and ignores the obvious

Palestinians are responsible for the actions of Hamas... Racist and supporting war crimes.

I probably get that you don't understand the racism, but it pretty obvious.
Especially, when you tone police your blog, while at the same time promote racist writers.

lastly this: This is not true; as so often, the desire to speak words and be noticed isn't matched by a commitment to reality.

Is total denial of reality - there were almost 1000 casualties, there was clearly thousands of people attempting to get food, and the Israelis clearly fired at them.

Just to keep the spirit of your valetes

Anonymous said...

Re Victor Venema, just to keep the spirit of your valetes to dead climate "scientists", good riddance to the thin-skinned, xenophobic, ridiculously politically correct tosser! He won't be missed by many people

01/01/2023, 15:28