Thursday, 6 November 2025

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.

Tuesday, 21 October 2025

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.

Saturday, 5 July 2025

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.

Saturday, 21 June 2025

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?

Nathan said...

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