#error code: discourse

[strawberry-graveyard]

idk why some people get so up in arms about trans sysmates who don’t “match” with what the body “should” be. cuz it’s not even a sys exclusionist thing, that’s queer exclusionist as well. you can be afab and transfem. you can be amab and transmasc. whether you’re intersex or perisex, monogender or multigender, multiple transitions in or zero transitions in, who fucking cares!! genders are weird do whatever the fuck you want with them!!

[papercranesong]

Confessions of a Fanfic Writer: How and why I use AI 

So more and more, I’m seeing posts about AI and the place it has in writing. While some posts express justified concerns, the general discourse seems to be degenerating into “don’t use AI” and “if you use AI you’re a horrible person”, which suppresses conversation and doesn’t really explore the nuances of how AI can be used as a tool for writers.

I’m a fanfic writer who uses AI to help me write, especially when I’m in the throes of exhaustion or depression. I don’t always use it, and when I do, I’m aware it can become a crutch. But mostly it’s transformed my writing life, because it means I can write nearly every day now, instead of waiting for those rare moments each month when the sun comes up and I’m in a good place mentally and I’m able to write. 

So I thought I’d get specific and share some ways I use it. A couple of practical points first - 

AI is a broad term, and so when I talk about AI with regard to writing, I’m referring to a subcategory of AI called LLMs - large language models like chatGPT.

I don’t allow chatGPT to train on my fics. (There’s an option to not let it train its models on any data inputted). 

Ways I use AI to help me write 

One - to help me articulate my ideas

You know when you’re so tired and unable to express yourself properly, and you end up spewing a word cloud and gesturing inarticulately in the vague hope that the other person will understand what you’re trying to say? 

So with chatGPT I type that wordcloud in along with my half-baked ideas and unfinished sentences, and then it will make sense of what I’m trying to say and reflect back to me fully-formed ideas, giving me different suggestions for what I might mean. It’s the “make it exist first, you can make it good later” adage - chatGPT helps me to make my ideas exist first. 

Two -  for constructive criticism 

I might feel like a scene is sagging or that something’s not working but I’m unable to put my finger on it. So I’ll ask - “what’s not working?” and I’ve found it to be remarkably perceptive and accurate in identifying what and why something feels off - maybe it’s the beats and pacing, list-like repetition or lack of a character’s internal reaction.

(Could I just ask a beta-reader to do this? I could, but honestly - I’m an introvert and British. It’s just too awkward for me).

Three - as a sounding board 

If I’m stuck on a scene, it offers a fresh perspective by helping me figure out the motivations of the characters or identifying the emotional counterpoint of the scene and suggesting ways to build on it.

I sometimes ask it to rewrite the scene from the perspective of a different character, or to write the scene from a sensory point of view, just to help me experience it through fresh eyes. Other writers use it to make RPGs of their fics, for similar reasons. There’s also an audio option where it narrates what you’ve written -  the voice isn’t great but just hearing the words spoken aloud allows me to listen and visualise it and gives me a fresh perspective. 

Four - as a research tool 

I like doing research and making my fics as accurate as possible, but sometimes there’s no information available for my scenarios, e.g a character bleeding out in zero-G. So I type in the scenario into ChatGPT and receive information specific to my scene - for example, if my character is bleeding out in zero-G, is that even possible? How would it appear to an onlooker? Would the bleeding happen quicker or slower than in normal gravity? Would it still feel the same? (There’s always potential for the LLM to hallucinate though, so I wouldn’t trust it as the sole authority).

Five - for proof-reading and html code 

I can spend hours checking for typos, grammar and formatting errors, and it’s a lot quicker to ask chatGPT to clean it up for me initially and then to check it myself afterwards (or the other way round). It also speeds things up with writing html code for specific formatting. 

Six - as a writing therapist 

I have pretty low self-esteem and imposter syndrome etc. In the past I would either stop writing for a while - or worse, just delete my stories. 

Now when I feel like that, I tell ChatGPT and  then it responds by having a conversation based on therapeutic techniques such as externalisation (separating harmful thoughts from your identity), reframing techniques based on CBT etc. to explore with me what I’m feeling and to help me think differently about it. 

(Could I not just turn to actual humans for this? Yes, and occasionally I do. But I don’t want to pester my online fanfic friends with my writerly angst multiple times a day. It’s not fair on them, and they’re not counsellors. But with chatGPT I can be as honest and neurotic as I like). 

Conclusion

I guess I wanted to write this little essay because: 

it felt disingenuous not to speak up about my own use of AI when people were posting about it on Tumblr and elsewhere.

to maybe challenge the assumption that the use of AI in writing is automatically deviant, shameful or wrong. 

to hopefully be an approachable  person to chat to about the use of AI in fanfic. I’d love to find a friendly space in which to talk about how to use AI well in creating fanworks, and to discuss the angst, pitfalls and ethics that come with it. (Edit: I made a Tumblr community called Writing-with-AI, let me know if you’d like the link).

Anyway, if you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading and for keeping an open mind. I’m always happy to chat more - feel free to DM or leave me an ask.

Finally, you might be wondering whether I used AI to write this. What do you think?

[octosan]

I've seen the take that Veilguard's lore handling is the way that it is because it was largely worked on by a team that isn't familiar with Dragon Age, and I... don't know about that.

Like it's kind of funny in retrospect, but

For all the mistakes the Vows and Vengeance podcast made, that show felt more to me like an example of a story trying to incorporate relevant Dragon Age lore, but being written by people who weren't well-versed in it.

They had Tevinter class divide and bureaucratic apathy as a major plot point that affected the main character's life. They had Solas employing middlemen and tricking characters to get some of his work done instead of doing everything himself. They had multiple references to the faiths of the setting, including Davrin referencing worship practices in Dalish culture (they even used the term The Beyond, the Dalish term for the Fade that even Inquisition kind of forgot was a thing even if it was not the Dalish character using it.) They had a cult other than the Venatori as an antagonist at one point. They had an instance of racially charged conflict between Bellara, an elven Veil Jumper, and a Tevinter templar, that originates from the templars looting elven artifacts (something that is implied to happen often.) They at least tried to depict an example of regular Qunari culture in the village in Par Vollen that the protagonists wind up in briefly. They had Lucanis, a Crow, actually carry out an assassination of a non-combatant character. They had multiple demons playing mind games with the characters trying to get their bodies as hosts, in addition to a demon that just rampaged, and even referenced despair demons being ice-coded. They depicted the Fade as a chaotic and emotionally-driven realm, with spirits and demons everywhere--and fittingly Arlathan, a forest with a lot of influence from the Fade, was itself a dangerously chaotic and shifting place. Bellara explains what Veil Jumping entails and actually veil-jumps (and it's accordingly treated like a big deal for the characters). They reference Genitivi and Varric as prominent authors in the world-building. They had grenades. They even brought back the idea of being "Fade touched" with Drayden. They had asfkdksadfgkb HAD A MABARI.

Also the podcast wasn't constantly reassuring you, patting you on the back, and repeating information to you every second so that's nice.

I thought most of the companions came off better here too, with the idea that this is just supposed to be a snapshot of them. I remember enjoying their inclusion the most and trying to speculate what traits and flaws were on display that might get expanded on in the game (for example Emmrich's attitude of trying to "parent" a demon failing spectacularly, or Davrin being depicted as actually taking his clan's faiths seriously despite not being among them anymore.) Taash not realizing they're nonbinary until long after meeting Drayden, who had their own personal issues with their family about their identity, feels like some kind of missed opportunity though (I mean realistically the podcast was just supposed to advertise the game so I know why this is, but still.)

idk if this is a hot take. like imo the podcast wasn't "good" good and again there were clear mistakes in the lore, a lot of the stuff set in Antiva for example, like it was messy. But I had more of a sense that these were people new to the setting but trying than I did with Veilguard.

Idk to me the problem was less that the writers in Veilguard didn't know anything about Dragon Age and more that it was an extremely sanitized and simplified version of the lore, one that couldn't even take into account the world-changing decisions you made in previous games. With a helping of things being shoved under the rug to avoid Discourse. Like it felt more intentional to me, for the most part. And then you have all the visual errors that come from just reusing assets which is an RPG staple at this point (someone pointed out that the Chantry symbols in Minrathous are wrong, for example.)

[gengar-pixel-2]

(sorry i need someone to yap with abt tfa HAHA) I may not like the majority of ships with tfa Bee because they're kinda ass and borderline or straight up abusive, but I do not understand people who are ready to fight you with foam at the mouth claiming Bumblebee is a minor/minor-coded and should not be shipped with anyone 😭

Firstly, the mf is old enough to enroll for military school? I know the age and specifics of this are different in each country but on average you need to be 16+ to enroll and 18+ to be eligible for draft or be assigned on a possibly dangerous job (and work on space bridges is kinda IS). Not to mention we're talking about whole ass alien robots. Secondly, Bee is acting no differently than guys i saw back in university. Literally every third dude in there was pulling shit similar to him or even worse lmaoo 😭

NO YOU'RE GOOD!! TFA is my favorite ever so I am more than willing to yap about it on my blog.

okay heads up. If you guys are gonna start discourse, don't. I don't allow that on my blog. You can, and will be blocked. Good? Good. okay anyway.

So transformers is the first fandom I actively ship for. I'm not usually a shipper but this fandom seems to be the exception. Hell, I've even made two ship names of my own. ("Breakout" as an alternate for kobd, and "Neurocide" for froid x sunder.) here's my take on this.

No, bumblebee is NOT a teenager/a child. Young, yes, but not a child. He's an immature young adult, around the same age as bulkhead clearly. Being immature and silly and kinda childish and irresponsible in someways doesn't equal kid character. No one seems to get this.

The cast never treats him like a child or refer to him being one. They call out his childish behavior for someone his age, but never treat him/refer to him as an actual child. Ratchet calls him "kid," but ratchet is the oldest in the group and kid is a nickname that can be used on anyone and he refers to them all as young bots, so don't bring that up. As for his "Human form" in human error...

The human forms of each character is how soundwave, a character who doesn't know them well, perceives them. Not to mention bulkheads shock upon how bumblebee got turned into a kid should be the biggest thing. (This is also why prowl's form is just his projection. regardless of how I feel on these designs, I'm at least aware of why they look the way they do.) Also, OP with the military school point. They said it better than I could.

I don't take issue personally whenever in someones own headcanon that he is a teen. As usually it's a nonshipping context. I don't think he is, and he isn't, but like? that's someone own headcanon, it's harmless and I don't care. Do what you want forever, so long as it's not hurting anyone. Also, here comes the shipping part!

As for most bumblebee ships (which as I said above, most I've seen do NOT headcanon him as a teen) I don't personally ship him with anyone. I just don't. And I do agree, some content I have seen has made me raise an eyebrow because of what OP said above. However, most bumblebee shippers are harmless imo and that content I raise a brow at is in the minority of what I've seen. I think most are just doing their own thing. I don't have strong feelings on this, unless their bee is stated to be a teen. Then, we gotta talk.. But most bumblebee x blank stuff I've seen is just.. normal shipping stuff. Not my thing really but yeah, go for it. Once again, as long as it isn't problematic or hurting anyone, why not? I may not see it, but it brings you joy and that's cool.

With the bumblebee ship rant over, I will now drop my personal ships in a list to finish this off since If I don't, I'll forget, and shipping is hardly discussed on my blog.

Swinlock (Swindle X Lockdown) Optlita, (Optimus X Elita) KOBD or as I call them "Breakout" (Breakdown X Knockout) Ratchcee (Ratchet TFA x Arcee TFA) Wave-wave (Soundwave X Shockwave) Skyfire (Skyfire X Starscream) Megamags (TFA Ultra magnus X TFA megatron. Bitter exes.) In certain contexts/fan works, Sunder X Froid, or as I call them "Neurocide." And Strika X Lugnut! (TFA. also they don't have a name it seems? Frunder is also an ass name, I'm sorry..) And much like with "KOBD" or Optlita, most canon ships I really enjoy!

[foggieststars]

actually pls go on i want to hear more

(like i used to write this academic thing once (not for uni just an independent thing) and i felt so bad and embarrassed that i didn’t submit. which im glad abt. honestly i told myself i was never gonna use it esp for this kind of stuff but it’s become the norm and i almost feel guilty if i don’t use like i’m ‘wasting this resource’ or missing out etc. but i have since put a complete ban on ai for myself even with all that 🙏. it’s just really annoying how omnipresent it is.)

please don't feel guilty for having used it! it's being pushed so widely now, i've been asked to use it for things to do with work and when i'm at work i have used it to check my code (i do not work in code very much so what do i care really if i'm specifically being told to do this)

i think it can be a tool for some things, maybe using code as an example. it is able to pretty easily identify flaws in code that take me, someone who rarely has to code and struggles with it, a long time to pick out. i still think i learn less by using chatgpt to locate my errors though, so when i don't have to have something done within minutes i generally don't. taking more time with it helps teach me personally where i'm going wrong lol

but i think an overreliance on it to help you engage with concepts and theories is just never a good idea... AI models are inherently flawed due to the biases in their datasets they scrape from, and also like. yeah okay it can summarise the main points of an argument for me but how do i know if i'm not reading it properly that that's an accurate reflection of the text? is condensing everything down into bite-sized, easily digestible chunks not just a continuing dumbification of meaningful discourse?? am i not reducing my own ability to engage with, understand, and criticise texts? i think so!

it absolutely has its uses as a tool, but all i'll say is that i didn't have AI when i was in university, and i'm glad that i didn't! some articles you come away thinking 'wow i can't believe i wasted 2 hours of my life on that', and you might think wow great i can just run this though whatever and it'll spit out what i need to know, but in those 2 hours you spend actually reading the text it generates ideas and insights, counterarguments and criticisms, that engaging with it in surface level chunks of summarised info can never replicate imo

[nondivisable]

Intro - last edited January 2025

[Text in bio reads: "here, queer, confused and in pain. (Image descriptions for PFP and banner in pinned post)"]

[Header image ID: archive of our own's homepage displaying a 503 (service unavailable) error code with blocky white text overlayed that reads "I survived the great ao3 shutdown of 2023"]

[Profile picture image ID: a cartoonish picrew character with tan skin and curly brown hair with a pink streak in it. He has a light beard stubble and winged eyeliner. He's wearing glasses, a black tank top, a red lumberjack shirt, and several chains around his neck. He has headphones around his neck and little dragon wings on top of his shoulders, one pin with "he/him" written on it, and another of a cat holding a knife in it's mouth. The background is the transgender flag.]

Hello! My name is Div, I'm 18, and I use he/him pronouns. I'm a trans guy and though I generally call myself bisexual I am mostly just gay (achillean) lol. I'm from Argentina although I am currently in college in the US (don't come @ me if I complain about yanquis, I'm running away from my fuckass country into another, and you do not know my story).

I mostly post a lot about disability, I've found a really cool community here. I use forearm crutches in my day to day life due to an undiagnosed disorder that brings me a lot of pain. I have an informal fibromyalgia diagnosis but it isn't enough for me to access disability services, so please if you ever see me complaining about inaccessibility don't tell it can be solved through them, I know, it makes me so mad.

I am also very obviously neurodivergent, probably autistic, formally diagnosed with OCD, depression-anxiety, and a tic disorder. I have a tentative "personality disorder" diagnosis but it's a sensitive topic for me, so if you see me posting about it just let it be.

Main fandoms I follow on here are Doctor Who and Torchwood, Stardew Valley; and I follow the Spiderverse, Good Omens, Criminal Minds, Arcane and a few more tags, though I don't engage with them as much.

I am always open to asks and questions but I'm pretty bad about checking my inbox so you'll probably have to wait a little bit heh. I reserve the right to my privacy and therefore to not answer anything I don't want to. I will not engage in discourse that goes nowhere, everyone with an open mind is welcome to a conversation, arguing for the sake of arguing will probably just be ignored. Feel free to correct me on site etiquette and misuse of functions and stuff, just generally be nice!

Profile picture is a picrew by @nellseto

[thatscarletflycatcher]

The following categories are not exhaustive; they are written only to give you an idea:

*Basically computer literate: I understand the difference between what is in my computer and what is in the cloud, can operate the basic functions of Word/Excel/Power Point (or their non-Mycrosoft equivalents), can type with more than two fingers, know at least two keyboard shortcuts, know how to organize folders, and manage right click options, can learn my way around a program by trial and error.

**Computer fluent: I can operate most/all the elements of an office package. I have taken more than one college-level computer science related course. I can do basic HTML coding. I can find creative solutions to problems by using more than one program in combination. I know what a command line is and know a handful of basic commands.

***Computer proficient: I am a professional in the IT field or could be. I can "do code", and know several programming languages, and can make a program if I want. I am knowledgeable about how the innards both software and hardware work.

[bacchanal-if]

There's a coding error -- the singular and plural verb options are reversed.

It seems to work fine for me? I know there was discourse about the proper use of pluralizing verbs, but I don't mean it in the subject-verb sense. Here is an ask where I explain it. I'm truly not meaning to be stubborn about this, it's just that I've had the demo up for a year and only recently have I had 1-2 people say it was wrong, so I think most people understand. I also give an example (They smile/She smiles/He smiles)

[haruniki]

Character Coding and Why it's Important

Hello! I know I haven't posted in a while, I have been really busy with work and school. I'm making this post due to a lot of discourse involving character coding (if you're on hsrtwt you'll know what I'm talking about). If you are uninterested in this kind of post then that's okay, I plan on making some new post that are more in tune with my normal post. This will not cover everything and is mostly just an informationally piece and there is an opinion segment at the very end but i will state that it's an opinion part. There will be errors or wording issues, but I just got back from a 7 hour trip.

Firstly, what is character coding?

Character coding is used to implied that a character is apart of a specific group of people or to have specific characteristics that either can't be explicitly said or doesn't have to be explicitly said. An example of this can be an alien race in fiction that has specific characteristics or traits to a real culture/ethnicity. Sexuality is also another form of coding that is most popularly used in countries with very strict censorship laws.

For this example, I will be using the character who inspired me to make this post, Robin (Honkai Star Rail). While I will not be explicitly saying that she is a lesbian, I will be explaining why it's likely that she is one. One key part of her design is the three jewels under Robin's eye, and while they aren't all the colors of the lesbian flag, they are the main colors you would use to showcase that flag. Though there has been argument that the colors are just taken from Xipe (Aeon of Harmony) and while yes those are three of the colors Xipe has on their halo, there's many other colors that Xipe has that weren't chosen. Hoyoverse is usually very particular about character design, so I don't think it's much of a coincidence that her gems are that specific colors.

Another coding to her character is that she has references to Emily Dickinson, who is strongly considered a lesbian due to her poems and even some of the letters she has sent. While Robin's song is a reference to a poem to one of her poems and isn't strictly referencing Emily Dickinson's lesbianism, it's still a interesting choice to reference Emily Dickinson. Hoyoverse typically does a lot of research for a character, especially if the character is possibly queer. Why doesn't Hoyovesre just confirm a character being queer?

There's many reasons as to why they haven't or can't. One in particular is censorship. Due to Hoyoverse being a Chinese company, they have to follow the censorship laws in their country. Hoyoverse has shown queer characters before even showing a kiss between two women and having canon lesbian/sapphic couples. Bronya and Seele have been a canon couple since GGZ and even share a kiss in a comic. The kiss Bronseele share however has been censored in the Chinese version of the comic and doesn't appear, though it does appear in the English version (hyperlink to the twitter post showing this). Hoyo has also explixitly said that a character is lesbian before, in a comic for HI3. This hyperlink will take to a twitter post of the official comic that has been translated from chinese.

Before I write my opinion piece on this topic, I would like to bring up one argument that I saw a lot and that was that hoyoverse only shows women with queer coding or having queer relationships and only panders to the cishet men who sexualize sapphic relationship. Hoyoverse has never pandered to the sexualization or fetishization of sapphic relationships. Hoyoverse has always presented sapphic relationship in the medias that they make. Bronseele is the earliest example that I remember from my time playing GGZ and HI3. They have also been together in every single game and have been implied/shown to be in a relationship and while it hasn't been exactly explicit in HSR, it has been shown in other games like HI3 or GGZ (I believe there was also a visual novel game but I may be getting it confused with the cutscenes as I have not played GGZ or HI3 in forever). Opinion piece: My overall opinion on character coding is that it is important to at least acknowledge a character's coding no matter what kind of coding it is. If you are confused on coding and why a lot of people are stating that a character is something specific, then you should always do research on it. Media literacy comes into play in a lot of pieces of fictions, especially when the media is made or from a country with strict censorship laws. If you yourself can't acknowledge the coding in the media, then you have no place to argue especially when you are being shown proof from the media that helps prove that coding. Also, if your whole point to proving a character is straight is that the complimented the opposite sex then I need you to reevaluate things. A lesbian can state that a man is handsome without being attractive to him, the same way that a gay man can state that a woman is beautiful without being attracted to her. Again, this is mostly an informational piece based with proofs that I've found on the internet, as well as my own knowledge from being in fandom spaces since I was 9 (my earliest fandom debate being the queerness in homestuck though I can't remember the exact details of it as it was a decade ago). And while this is correctly type out or has missing information, I express that I am not a professional on this kind of stuff and that only bring up the importance of coding as someone people feel seen with specific coding or character implications. I will not be arguing in the replies to this post and will most likely delete anyone trying to argue or start an argument, I am not a professional in this topic nor do I want to be, i just wanted to share what I have researched along with my own opinion on the matter.

[rararazaquato]

just realized i accidentally put the same text post in two of my rain code collections (the one where yomi gets into bluey discourse with martina). one of them was supposed to be replaced with this one. i prommy i will never make such an egregious error ever again.

[thrilling-oneway]

The queer thread didn't really get critiqued for shipping purposes though, it was mostly critiqued for the abundance of harmful western stereotypes slapped onto an asian cast and media (Tsukasa is emotional therefore feminine (misogyny!) therefore queer) and borderline if not outright racist inclusions (such as VBS gets partying, drugs, sex related content) which is a strange thing to say about the group based on street music which originated from black culture.

I don't think it's fair to write it off as just that when this is the type of rhetoric that sends discussion of queerness back several years by boxing queer behavior in via homophobic stereotypes. It's really truly incredibly regressive.

ftr i did not read past like the first few tweets of that thread when i posted that ask. i went back and read the full thing later and yeah it was very...how to put this, Not Good and some of their characterisations were incorrect too, airi's section stuck out to me in particular

there were several things wrong with that thread for a start, which you've already pointed out and yeah after reading the thread i totally agree that the OP was rightfully called out. historically when the topic of queercoding has popped up in this fandom (in any way actually, not just applying to like Rui or An) it tends to get jumped on pretty quickly by people arguing about shipping. that's why i mentioned it and it's what the anon was talking about (i don't even know if they were talking about the same thread but i'm assuming they were)

i get what the OP was going for. they wanted to make a thread about queercoding that people couldn't start ship discourse over, which, fair enough. they just executed it absolutely terribly. also like the thing is that most of the queercoding is done through relationships, as with, most queer characters lol. you have to talk about shipping if you want to talk about how the prsk characters are queercoded. talking about visual codes and non-relationship related stuff can only cover mizuki, and shiho/rui/debatably akito to some degree for each. LIKE THEY LITERALLY SKIPPED MINORI BECAUSE ALL HER QUEERCODING RELIES ON HER ATTRACTION TO OTHER CHARACTERS.

i've been talking about their errors and doing actual research into the topics all day on my twitter actually! like full wikipedia deep dive on the japanese version of the site and i've been reading articles and blogs for like the past half hour. it kinda bummed me out that people were calling out the thread for its eurocentrism and stereotyping but wouldn't provide any corrections (i don't blame anyone for not making a second thread lol i just think it would've been cool) so i decided to do the research myself and then post it on my private twitter with 4 followers. but i've had a lot of fun with it! i'll put some of my tweets under the cut

don't take all of this 100% seriously, it's mostly just me making little commentaries on my research (i'm still going actuallyoh hey when did it gets to midnight)

i also posted a powerpoint with some examples of queercoding (including shipping stuff) in the game here (this was pre-6 hour google deepdive though, but most of it still applies)

[xxxjarchiexxx]

here's a rundown of the sites that have popped up for people to move to if they wanna leave tumblr for ur own comparison (you know what twitter and reddit are already so they are NOT included)

cohost: this one is the most popular one suggested, it's my personal favorite but it's very much not made for you to garner or interact with a large audience and there is 0 way of finding people outside of tag browsing and the broken 'global cohost feed'. the site culture is very friendly but very anti-judgement or dni type lists, so if you have any group you don't want interacting with you that isn't against the site's rules, it's probably not the site for you. it's a little buggy too by virtue of being so small. it also does not have a messaging system, which is by design as it's meant to be used with other websites

bluesky: factually just twitter 2, it's by the same guys and is built the same way and is literally just twitter

pillowfort: this is almost a 1:1 tumblr clone, though with less discourse on the site overall. there's a focus on fanworks and fan creations with the site culture making it the norm to follow and interact with people who don't share your fandoms because of the small userbase. it has limited customization but what is there is really useful. you can find people to follow through "communities" that you can join or browse, and there's a group dedicated to introducing yourself and finding people via browsing their tags. it's easy enough to use, but has a VERY limited userbase. it does have the best image upload system in my experience, so for artists this is probably the best option other than bluesky for visibility

dreamwidth: it is just a livejournal clone, mainly good for posting fan creations and joining fan challenges and not much else

mastodon/fediverse: site culture here ranges wildly from instance to instance, it's basically an open source code that provides a skeleton for a twitter-like where anyone can host their own 'instance' which is like a unique social media site with unique rules and url, but anyone on ANY of these instances can follow and interact with each other. you can discover people within your instance and people your instance interacts with fairly easily, but branching out or finding active tags is a little harder. finding an instance that works for you can also be some trial and error.

spacehey: a sort of myspace revival clone that's good if customization and css is a big draw for you to tumblr, it's mostly a really young userbase though there are some 20-somethings floating around too. there are forums and groups but the community culture seems to be based mostly on blog posts and comments, where forums and groups are basically a comment once to answer/ask a question and that's it situation rather than thriving subcommunities

neocities: you probably know what this is, but neocities is a website builder with a community tab for updates from people whose sites you follow, it's probably my favorite option overall but is also the hardest to use because it requires you to have an entire website to create. i maintained one for 6ish months until i had to wipe my harddrive and didn't back up my site files, but it's a good community if you like coding (though there are a lot of free to use templates/themes you can use if making a site from scratch is too hard/not in your wheelhouse)

[jcmarchi]

AI and National Security: The New Battlefield

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/ai-and-national-security-the-new-battlefield/

AI and National Security: The New Battlefield

Artificial intelligence is changing how nations protect themselves. It has become essential for cybersecurity, weapon development, border control, and even public discourse. While it offers significant strategic benefits, it also introduces many risks. This article examines how AI is reshaping security, the current outcomes, and the challenging questions these new technologies raise.

Cybersecurity: A Fight of AI against AI

Most present‑day attacks start in cyberspace. Criminals no longer write every phishing email by hand. They use language models to draft messages that sound friendly and natural. In 2024, a gang used a deep-fake video of a chief financial officer stealing 25 million dollars from his own firm. The video looked so real that an employee followed the fake order without a doubt. Attackers now feed large language models with leaked resumes or LinkedIn data to craft personal bait. Some groups are even using generative AI to create software bugs or write malware snippets.

Defenders are also using AI to shield against these attacks. Security teams feed network logs, user clicks, and global threat reports into AI tools. The software learns “normal” activity and warns when something suspicious happens. When an intrusion is detected, AI systems disconnect a suspected computer to limit damage that would spread if humans reacted slower.

Autonomous Weapons

AI also steps onto physical battlefields. In Ukraine, drones use onboard vision to find fuel trucks or radar sites before they explode. The U.S. has used AI to help identify targets for airstrikes in places like Syria. Israel’s army recently used an AI target‑selection platform to sort thousands of aerial images to mark potential militant hideouts. China, Russia, Turkey, and the U.K. have tested “loitering munitions” that circle an area until AI spots a target.  These technologies can make military operations more precise and reduce risks for soldiers. But they also bring serious concerns. Who is responsible when an algorithm chooses the wrong target? Some experts fear “flash wars” where machines react too quickly for diplomats to stop them. Many experts are calling for international rules to control autonomous weapons, but states fear falling behind if they pause.

Surveillance and Intelligence

Intelligence services once relied on teams of analysts to read reports or watch video feeds. Today they rely on AI to sift millions of images and messages each hour. In some countries, like China, AI tracks citizens’ behavior, from small things like jaywalking to what they do online. Similarly, on the U.S.–Mexico border, solar towers with cameras and thermal sensors scan empty desert. The AI spots a moving figure, labels it human or animal, then alerts patrol agents. This “virtual wall” covers wide ground that humans could never watch alone.

While these tools extend coverage, they also magnify errors. Face‑recognition systems have been shown to misidentify women and people with darker skin at higher rates than white men. A single false match may cause an innocent person to face extra checks or detention. Policymakers ask for audited algorithms, clear appeal paths, and human review before any strong action.

Information Warfare

Modern conflicts are fought not only with missiles and code but also with narratives. In March 2024 a fake video showed Ukraine’s president ordering soldiers to surrender; it spread online before fact‑checkers debunked it. During the 2023 Israel–Hamas fighting, AI‑generated fakes favoring one side’s policies flooded social streams, in order to tilt opinion.

False information spreads faster than governments can correct it. This is especially problematic during elections, where AI-generated content is often used to sway voters. Voters find it difficult to distinguish between real and AI-generated images or videos. While governments and tech firms are working on counter‑AI projects to scan the digital fingerprints of AI but the race is tight; creators improve their fakes just as fast as defenders improve their filters.

Decision Support

Armies and agencies collect vast amounts of data including hours of drone video, maintenance logs, satellite imagery, and open‑source reports. AI helps by sorting and highlighting relevant information. NATO recently adopted a system inspired by the U.S. Project Maven. It links databases from 30 member states, providing planners with a unified view. The system suggests likely enemy movements and identifies potential supply shortages. The U.S. Special Operations Command uses AI to help draft parts of its annual budget by scanning invoices and recommending reallocations. Similar AI platforms predict engine failures, schedule repairs in advance, and customize flight simulations for individual pilots’ needs.

Law Enforcement and Border Control

Police forces and immigration officers are using AI for tasks that require constant attention. At busy airports, biometric kiosks confirm identities of travelers to make the process more efficient. Pattern-analysis software picks out travel records that hint at human trafficking or drug smuggling. In 2024, one European partnership used such tools to uncover a ring moving migrants through cargo ships. These tools can make borders safer and help catch criminals. But there are concerns too. Facial recognition sometimes fails for certain classes of people with low representation, which could lead to mistakes. Privacy is another issue. The key question is whether AI should be used to monitor everyone so closely.

The Bottom Line

AI is changing national security in many ways, offering both opportunities and risks. It can protect countries from cyber threats, make military operations more precise, and improve decision-making. But it can also spread lies, invade privacy, or make deadly errors. As AI becomes more common in security, we need to find a balance between using its power for good and controlling its dangers. This means countries must work together and set clear rules for how AI can be used. In the end, AI is a tool, and how we use it will redefine the future of security. We must be careful to use it wisely, so it helps us more than it harms us.

[globalimmigrationhelps]

What are the Job Responsibilities of Becoming a Member of APEGS in Canada

There are requirements and functions for joining the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) in Saskatchewan. APEGS is a regulatory organization with the authority to regulate engineering and geology practice in the province of Saskatchewan and ensure that its members maintain high standards of professionalism and ethics. Thus, the future discourse will consider job responsibilities that constitute being an APEGS member in Canada.

APEGS Membership Requirements

Persons wishing to become members of APEGS must fulfill education and experience requirements. A degree must be obtained in an engineering or geoscience program that is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board or its equivalent. According to other rules, the candidate needs to have worked in the profession for at least four years. The candidate must also take the Professional Practice Exam given by APEGS, which confirms the knowledge of professional ethics and standards of practice.

What are the Job Responsibilities of APEGS Members?

Once individuals become APEGS members, they will carry certain job responsibilities and obligations. These responsibilities are:

Compliance with Code of Ethics: Members must act forthrightly and adhere to the Code of Ethics of their association, maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct, said with integrity, honesty, and objectivity in all professional matters.   Continuing Professional Development: Members must remain active in their professional development area to stay abreast of ever-evolving fields. This involves attending seminars, workshops, conferences, and taking continuing education classes.   APEGS Report Writing: One of the key duties of an APEGS Engineering or Geoscience Member is to write their engineering or geoscience reports with great detail and accuracy. The reports are used mainly to communicate the findings to their clients, colleagues, or regulatory bodies, along with their recommendations and conclusions.   Professional Liability Insurance: One of the purposes for being a member of APEGS is for making sure one is covered with Professional Liability Insurance—guaranteeing that members are protected from claims of error, deviation from standards of practice, omission, or professional negligence by other professionals and clients. This will allow the members to perform their professional duties without any fear.   Benefits of Membership with APEGS

There are many advantages to becoming a member of APEGS:

Professional Credibility: Being a member of APEGS Canada ensures employers, clients, and the public that the person has met the requirements regarding high standards of the profession and has acted equally with high standards of ethics in professional service.   Networking Opportunities: The Institute facilitates opportunities for professional networking among its members, thereby providing them a platform to share knowledge and best practices and stay abreast of recent developments in the field.   Career Advancement: Career opportunities rise with the membership as it opens up the doors to newer jobs and project opportunities within the ambit of professional growth.   Conclusion

In conclusion, the range of job duties for the membership of APEGS is varied and important. APEGS members support the highest standards of engineering and geosciences practice in the Province of Saskatchewan by adhering to the Association's Code of Ethics, participating in IPE, and publishing reports. So, if you think about becoming a member of APEGS Canada, do consider that the advantages outweigh the responsibilities, and you will be joining a highly regarded and esteemed professional community.

[onedatasoftwaresolutions]

The Role of AI and Machine Learning in Modern Software Development

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have transcended the realm of science fiction to become integral components of modern software development. From intelligent code generation to predictive maintenance, AI and ML are not just embellishments, they are redefining the way software is conceptualised, built, deployed, and maintained.

In this elegant discourse, we shall delve into the transformative impact of AI and machine learning on contemporary software engineering, exploring how these cutting-edge technologies are shaping the future of development cycles, optimising processes, enhancing user experiences, and opening the floodgates to innovation.

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A Brief Prelude: The Shift to Intelligent Development

Traditional software development often linear, labour-intensive, and susceptible to human error is being systematically overhauled by intelligent automation. As businesses race toward digital transformation, the integration of AI and ML into software development pipelines is no longer a luxury but a strategic imperative.

By analysing vast datasets, recognising patterns, learning from experience, and making autonomous decisions, AI and ML technologies are accelerating productivity, refining quality assurance, and enabling data-driven development practices.

AI vs. ML: A Gentle Distinction

Let us first clarify the subtle difference between AI and ML:

Artificial Intelligence (AI): The broader concept of machines simulating human intelligence — learning, reasoning, problem-solving.

Machine Learning (ML): A subset of AI focused on algorithms that enable systems to learn and improve from data without being explicitly programmed.

Together, they form the dynamic duo reshaping software engineering.

Real-World Applications of AI in Software Development

Let us explore some real-world, pragmatic use cases where AI and ML are actively influencing development cycles.

1.Automated Code Generation

AI-powered tools such as GitHub Copilot, Tabnine, and Amazon CodeWhisperer are revolutionising the way developers write code. These intelligent assistants suggest syntax, complete lines of code, and even write entire functions based on natural language prompts or previous code blocks.

Benefits:

Increased coding speed

Reduced syntax errors

Greater developer efficiency

2.Smart Bug Detection and Error Prevention

ML algorithms are trained to identify common coding patterns that often lead to bugs. Tools like DeepCode, Snyk, and CodeGuru scan repositories, analyse commits, and highlight security vulnerabilities or logical errors.

Impact:

Enhanced software quality

Lower defect rates

Proactive debugging

3.Intelligent Software Testing

Traditional testing can be a bottleneck. AI-based testing frameworks like Testim.io, Functionize, and Applitools can autonomously generate, execute, and optimise test cases using pattern recognition and historical data.

Advantages:

Faster test cycles

Reduced manual effort

Smarter regression and load testing

4.Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Requirement Analysis

NLP models can interpret business requirements, translate them into development tickets, and suggest technical implementations. This is particularly useful in Agile and DevOps environments where speed and clarity are paramount.

Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD) with AI

Modern CI/CD pipelines are becoming increasingly autonomous. AI augments these pipelines by:

Predicting failure points before deployment

Recommending rollbacks when anomalies occur

Optimising deployment timings for minimal disruption

Analysing deployment data to suggest future improvements

This AI-enhanced DevOps approach, often referred to as AIOps, is essential for maintaining stability in high-frequency deployment environments.

Predictive Analytics in Software Engineering

Machine learning models can crunch colossal volumes of data to deliver predictive insights. In software development, this translates into:

Release forecasting: Predicting when features will be ready

Risk detection: Flagging features that may cause regressions

Team performance metrics: Gauging productivity patterns

Such insights empower project managers to make informed, proactive decisions.

AI in UX/UI Design: Tailoring Experiences

AI is a game-changer in user experience design:

Analysing user behaviour through heatmaps and session recordings

Recommending interface adjustments based on usability studies

Generating adaptive UIs that personalise themselves for each user

Machine learning-driven A/B testing ensures designs are data-backed and outcome-oriented.

ML Models in Backend Architecture

Developers are embedding ML algorithms directly into software products for:

Recommendation engines (like those on Netflix or Spotify)

Fraud detection systems in fintech apps

Chatbots and virtual assistants in customer service platforms

Smart diagnostics in healthcare and IoMT applications

By leveraging cloud-based ML platforms (AWS SageMaker, Google AI Platform, Azure ML), developers can deploy scalable, high-performing models with ease.

AI-Powered Documentation and Learning

Platforms like Kite and Codex not only help write code but also explain it — transforming codebases into living documentation. Meanwhile, intelligent learning systems guide new developers through onboarding via contextual tutorials and dynamic code walkthroughs.

AI in Cybersecurity and Software Protection

As threats become more sophisticated, so too must defences. AI is being integrated into:

Intrusion detection systems

Static application security testing (SAST)

Dynamic application security testing (DAST)

AI engines can detect abnormal patterns, predict zero-day attacks, and offer immediate remedial actions — strengthening trust and compliance.

Ethical Considerations and Challenges

With great power comes great responsibility. The implementation of AI/ML in software development raises ethical and practical concerns:

Bias in AI algorithms: Skewed training data can lead to unethical outcomes.

Explainability: Developers must ensure ML models are interpretable.

Security: AI tools themselves can be vulnerable to adversarial attacks.

Job displacement: Automation must be balanced with upskilling opportunities.

Responsible AI adoption requires robust governance frameworks and transparency.

The Future of Software Development: A Cognitive Paradigm

Looking forward, AI and ML will continue to usher in a new era of cognitive software development, marked by:

No-code and low-code platforms enabling non-developers to build applications

AI-driven software architects proposing optimal design patterns

Autonomous software maintenance systems correcting issues in real-time

Hyper-personalised applications that evolve with user behaviour

The dream of self-writing, self-healing, and self-optimising software is no longer far-fetched — it’s unfolding right before us.

Key Takeaways

AI and ML are not replacements, but force multipliers for developers.

They enhance speed, accuracy, scalability, and personalisation across all development stages.

Ethical and responsible AI practices are imperative for sustainable innovation.

Developers must continuously evolve, learning to collaborate with machines rather than compete with them.

Final Thoughts

We stand at a digital inflection point. The synergy between human creativity and machine intelligence is producing a renaissance in software development. To remain relevant and competitive, organisations must not only adopt AI and machine learning, but they must also embed them deeply into their DNA.

Whether you’re crafting enterprise applications, launching the next unicorn startup, or engineering platforms for billions, AI is your co-pilot. Embrace it with intention, integrity, and innovation.

[themoneyguru1]

The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Trends to Watch

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s an integral part of modern life. From voice assistants and recommendation systems to automated vehicles and medical diagnostics, AI technologies are making waves across nearly every industry. The backbone of today’s AI includes machine learning (ML), deep learning, and natural language processing (NLP), which allow systems to learn from data, make predictions, and understand human language more effectively than ever.

The Role of Generative AI

Generative AI, including tools like ChatGPT and image generators, is one of the fastest-growing areas in tech. These models can produce human-like text, create artworks, write code, and even simulate voices. The underlying models, such as large language models (LLMs), are trained on massive datasets and are capable of astounding levels of creativity and utility. This branch of AI has already begun revolutionizing content creation, customer service, education, and entertainment.

AI in Healthcare, Education, and Transportation

AI’s influence is particularly transformative in critical sectors. In healthcare, AI assists in diagnostics, helps predict patient outcomes, and supports personalized medicine. In education, AI-powered tutoring systems offer personalized learning experiences. In transportation, AI enables autonomous vehicles, optimizes traffic flow, and predicts maintenance needs. These applications promise to increase efficiency and reduce human error, potentially saving lives and resources.

Ethical Considerations and Regulation

With great power comes great responsibility. As AI systems become more integrated into decision-making, concerns over fairness, bias, privacy, and transparency have come to the forefront. AI can perpetuate or even amplify biases present in training data, leading to discriminatory outcomes. There’s also a growing concern about surveillance and data misuse. Regulators and researchers are pushing for frameworks that ensure AI is developed and used responsibly.

What the Next Decade Holds for AI

Looking forward, AI is expected to become even more embedded in our daily lives. Advancements in general intelligence, explainable AI, and AI safety are key priorities for researchers. Governments and corporations alike are investing heavily in the development of ethical, trustworthy AI systems. As AI grows smarter, questions around human-AI collaboration, job displacement, and legal accountability will continue to shape public discourse and policy.