I was going to study computer science. Instead I got a general AA and got a helpdesk job. Then A+ and a better job and a Net+ and an even better job and I’m not well off by any means but my family has a roof over our heads and food on the table and what’s more I am still employed and don’t have student loans so it’s looking more and more like that’s the right call and the best way to get into tech.

Real researchers make up studies to cite in their reports? Real lawyers and judges cite fake cases as precedents in legal preceding? Real doctors base treatment plans on white papers they completely fabricated in their heads? Yeah I don’t think so, buddy.

Wtf did you just say about my view?!

Russia did not lose the cold war, they just played to the West’s ego while they learned how to manipulate information and slowly destabilize the rest of the world.

In this essay I will…

AI also just makes things up. Like how RFKJr’s “Make America Healthy Again” report cites studies that don’t exist and never have, or literally a million other examples. You’re not wrong about Fox news and how corporate and Russian backed media distorts the truth and pushes false narratives, and you’re not wrong that AI isn’t the problem, but it is certainly a problem and a big one at that.

Billionaires: invests heavily in water.

Billionaires: “In the future there’s going to be water wars. You need to invest NOW! Quick before it’s too late. I swear I’m not just trying to pump the stock.”

Billionaires: “Water isn’t accruing value fast enough. Let’s invent a product that uses a shit ton of it!”

Billionaires: “No one likes or is using the product. Force them to. Include it in literally all software and every website. Make it so they’re using the product even when they don’t know they’re using it. Include it in every web search. I want that water gone by the end of this quarter!”

So much for the death toll being Hamas propaganda.

If they are enjoying it, it’s not a waste.

Canonically he does it to honor his master.

Damn I really need to replace my truck, too. When are you available to help me out? :)

They also have amazing vocal capabilities, being able to mimic other birds songs and human speech. Studies have found they have some of the highest intelligence and problem solving skills found in birds. And murmurations! Their ability to cooperate in large groups in order to scare off predators is unprecedented. Starlings are endlessly fascinating birds.

Where is that line exactly, do you know? Because I have seen things on Instagram and Tiktok that would make pornstars blush.

I wish there was $5k anything

To quote Dan Harmon out of context: "If you ask a toaster, “What’s the most important thing in the world?” it’s going to tell you, “Bread.” And if you ask a toaster its opinion of bread, it’s going to tell you, “It’s not toasted enough.”

We paid for it, it should be nationalized. But they only ever socialize their losses, the profits are private.

Because now you can just steal an old funny tweet, Tumblr post, or reddit showerthought and turn it into an addictive short form video^^^TM by taking a video selfie and putting the content of the tweet in the frame with you. However, there are a few rules to this game:
Rules 1 and 2 are the same as with everything (with the exception of fight club).
Rule 3 is that you must never EVER credit the original poster. It is your funny now! You made this. You’ve never even been on twitter, what is that?
Rule 4 is that you must always be in a car. I don’t know why, but there are severe penalties for breaking this one, with a few exceptions including cooking, washing dishes, or if you have boobs and you show either a portion of them or their outline then you can be wherever you want.

No, I Understand it’s a fantasy. The problem is it’s both inconsistent and counterproductive; preserving industry while kneecapping the sciences that generate mitigation tools won’t cut emissions, it just blinds us to them.

Yes, we are having two different conversations. I’m talking data-driven ways to cut emissions; you’re pushing a downshift fantasy and lashing out at anyone who mentions trade-offs. I’m debating climate policy; you’re role-playing a civilization downgrade and calling names. I brought numbers; you brought insults, but policy runs on evidence, not ire.

Corporations and greedy whales are using up all our resources and you want to go after scientific exploration. The whole idea is completely insane, and you’ve proven to be its match. So, yeah, I’ll bow out and you can celebrate your little victory while I go focus on changes that move the carbon math. And hey, if you catch someone glaring at you, don’t worry, it’s probably just your reflection.

Damn dude. Bad faith arguments and ad hominem arguments are not conducive to productive discussion and will only serve to turn people off of your ideas.

You don’t think we need a space program. Fine. I was just trying to express how it has and continues to benefit society. You meanwhile haven’t really made any arguments to support your side, you just seem to be increasingly angry with me and space programs. I’m just left wondering why? Why die on this hill? Why do you think environmentalism supercedes science and awareness? You say it’s a low tech dream, but earlier on you mentioned everyone still having a desktop and internet access, but where do you think those technologies come from?

There are far more harmful things humans do that you could rail against as angrily as you’re coming at me about space, that would actually be productive to be rid of. Animal agriculture is by far the largest contributor to greenhouse gasses and it’s not even close, but I haven’t seen you mention it once in your pipe dream plan.

Animal AG vs space, climate-wise: animal agriculture dwarfs space programs by miles, with roughly 30% of all greenhouse gas emissions (≈16 Gt CO₂e/yr), thanks to methane, nitrous oxide, and deforestation/ land-use. Rocket launches are tiny in comparison, with less than 1% of greenhouse gas emissions, which are by the way many orders of magnitude below aviation.

Most in the field of environmental science (which I have an undergraduate degree in and many contact, but do not work in, just for transparency) agree that the priorities for reversing climate change in this century would be to first curb ruminant methane, stop deforestation, and cut food waste; all of which are achieved by placing limits on animal AG. Meanwhile, setting targeted rules to limit rocket soot/choose cleaner propellants are the most pressing issues in space travel, but again the impact isn’t even close.

Anyway if you want to call me a stupid fuckhead and rant some more keep it to yourself. If you want to have an open conversation about how we can daydream a better society I’m all for it. I am however extremely tired of being told that the single greatest achievement of mankind (so far) is a pointless, harmful waste of money, especially by those who still support factory farming.

You brought up consumerism, I just named it. That said, you claim you want to counter climate change, but you want us to scrap the tools that allow us to monitor and track climate change and catch major polluters? Those tools along with those that allow us to catch weather phenomena in time to evacuate areas and save lives are extremely important no matter how you feel about it.

The industrial revolution didn’t get us into this mess, just exacerbated it. Going Amish isn’t going to reverse climate change, just stall it slightly. And, most importantly, it’s a pipe dream. We have to be willing to meld both philosophies together. Science can’t save us alone and neither can international agreements to go back to the stone age.