#false data

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health said on April 6 that it had “incomplete data” for 11,371 of the 33,091 Palestinian fatalities it claims to have documented. In a statistical report, the ministry notes that it considers an individual record to be incomplete if it is missing any of the following key data points: identity number, full name, date of birth, or date of death. The health ministry also released a report on April 3 that acknowledged the presence of incomplete data but did not define what it meant by “incomplete.” In that earlier report, the ministry acknowledged the incompleteness of 12,263 records. It is unclear why, after just three more days, the number fell to 11,371 — a decrease of more than 900 records.

Prior to its admissions of incomplete data, the health ministry asserted that the information in more than 15,000 fatality records had stemmed from “reliable media sources.” However, the ministry never identified the sources in question and Gaza has no independent media.

Expert Analysis

“The sudden shifts in the ministry’s reporting methods suggest it is scrambling to prevent exposure of its shoddy work. For months, U.S. media have taken for granted that the ministry’s top-line figure for casualties was reliable enough to include in daily updates on the war. Even President Biden has cited its numbers. Now we’re seeing that a third or more of the ministry’s data may be incomplete at best — and fictional at worst.” — David Adesnik, Senior Fellow and Director of Research

“It is important to recognize that Hamas is deeply invested in shaping the narrative that emerges from Gaza, particularly regarding the number of casualties in the war. Moreover, this control of data extends beyond the statistics provided by the Hamas-controlled health ministry, as there is also a deliberate effort to downplay the number of terrorists who have been killed by Israel in the war, potentially numbering more than 10,000.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

[military-time-travel-earth]

Corrupt military or organization members elsewhere lying about events here or attesting to false data or even data that they simulated or generated themselves

[tenth-sentence]

Just to be sure that Fate did not muddle through to a victory, he arranged to have false data inserted in the Purgatory computer.

"Incarnations of Immortality: For Love of Evil" - Piers Anthony

[sophiebaybey]

Not to preach to the choir but I wonder if people generally realize that AI models like ChatGPT aren't, like, sifting through documented information when you ask it particular questions. If you ask it a question, it's not sifting through relevant documentation to find your answer, it is using an intensely inefficient method of guesswork that has just gone through so many repeated cycles that it usually, sometimes, can say the right thing when prompted. It is effectively a program that simulates monkeys on a typewriter at a mass scale until it finds sets of words that the user says "yes, that's right" to enough times. I feel like if it was explained in this less flattering way to investors it wouldn't be nearly as funded as it is lmao. It is objectively an extremely impressive technology given what it has managed to accomplish with such a roundabout and brain-dead method of getting there, but it's also a roundabout, brain-dead method of getting there. It is inefficient, pure and simple.

[stagefoureddiediaz]

Ok Buck and his two watch theory - I’m still percolating but here’s what I have so far!!

The second ‘watch’ is a fitness band - it’s a whoop band - top of the market biometrics tracking band that monitors your heath and fitness and offers you custom suggestions on how to improve things - sleep, fitness, weight etc etc.

This is not the first time we’ve seen buck go on a health kick - he’s done it periodically - the interest g tho g is when he’s gone on these health kicks! The first time we get health kick buck is in 201 - which is obviously when Eddie arrives on the scene at the 118. Now obviously we could tie it in to Eddie and buck feeling threatened by this hot new guy with a silver star - except that’s not what it is because he is already on his health kick (dhx scan!) before he knows of Eddie’s existence. Abby left Buck at the end of season 1 and this health kick is in gear in the immediate aftermath of that - almost as if he thinks that improving his body fat percentage and getting fitter, stronger, leaner etc will bring Abby back to him - that that is why she hadn’t returned - that he’s not good enough.

The second time we see a health kick is after Ali leaves him at the end of season 2 - we get buck determined to get back to work at the beginning of season 3 and therefore pushing himself harder than he should - which leads to his blood clots occurring. Buck has placed his worth in his job and therefore needs to be fitter stronger - healed - as fast as possible so he still has the one thing he has left - his job - because both of his relationships have been connected to his work so if he’s better able to do his job he’ll be more attractive to someone and then they’ll stay!

The third time is once again connected to the end of a relationship but it’s not so much about his physical health as it is his mental health - but buck did the breaking up this time instead of being broken up with. He splits with Taylor at the end of season 5 - he is the one to end the relationship. At the start of season six instead of placing his worth in his job and being fitter and stronger etc we get Buck deciding to take a different tack and he starts a year of yes, after reading a book, which does end up becoming about his physical health when he says yes to becoming a sperm donor - abstinence and alfalfa smoothie anyone?!

The sort of anomaly is his break up with Tommy - firstly because it happens in the middle of a season rather than at the end (it’s not even a mid season finale break up either) and secondly because he starts baking instead of going on a health kick. Baking is still about improving oneself - but it’s much more about learning a new skill rather than getting fitter etc. in someways it’s a continuation of the previous breakup coping tactic - in that it’s about mental improvement rather than physical and we haven’t seen it become about physical health. And before anyone tries to point out that the new fitness band is it becoming about physical heath - after they hook up in 811, reply with - the start of the fitness band wearing stems back to Eddie telling buck he’s moving back to El Paso - that he’s leaving him.

The Eddie leaving to go back to El Paso did happen at the mid season finale and we’ve returned to buck wearing a fitness band. They haven’t outright stated or even clearly shown why he’s wearing the fitness band, but this upcoming episode has it on full display so I’m hoping we’ll get to find out the reason for its existence (give me the exposition). My feeling is that it’s Buck once more trying to improve himself through his fitness and health, but unlike all of the other attempts this one has something much more permanently tangible - that band is always on him.

So whereas before all his breakups were connected to fad health and fitness regimes or as a way of improving himself through things that had a fixed date attached to them or something that is generally connected to poor health (baking as it’s cakes and breads are not really healthy) - a dhx scan is a one off thing not something you do all the time, the same for getting fit from you injury so you can get back to work and the year of yes and alfalfa smoothies have fixed time periods attached to them as well. These all speak of bucks abandonment issues being central to why he’s cycling through this behaviour pattern - in the same way getting injured as a child got his parents attention - temporarily and in an unhealthy way, these attempts to fix himself in the hope people won’t abandon him.

This time though there is no fixed time period attached to this potential health kick - the band is always on you and will feed back suggestions on improvements Buck can make on a regular basis.

The implication is that this self improvement kick is a genuinely healthy more sustained one and that it will therefore bring Eddie back to buck because he’s finally growing in a sustained way rather than a faddy way as a coping mechanism for being left or having to leave.

This is all purely speculation around a possible explanation for why the whoop band has appeared - there are all plenty of possibilities for it’s appearance on bucks wrist, including that they’re going to use the biometrics tracker as a way to have buck taking a sick day next episode when there’s nothing wrong with him - false data being provided by the tracker - which would also fit into the lying and fake theme we seem to be getting this season, especially because it’s collecting biometric data when we are seemingly going to get a biohazard incident of some kind in 814. Or it’s possible that it’s connected to the reverse - that the data buck is collecting on his biometrics helps provide information that helps put an end to the biohazard - although this seems very unlikely. It could also be an even longer game - and that it’s in some way connected to bobby and his impending death and resurrection - because a fitness tracker will only collect data if someone wearing it is alive - it can’t collect heart rate etc when there isn’t one. So if buck gets bobby involved in wearing a tracker for some reason it could either prove bobby is alive because it’s still getting data, or it could lead them to where bobby is located!

Only time will tell why we’ve now got buck wearing a fitness tracker and if I’m correct in any of my theories and speculation!!

[raintailed]

refs for a code creature named Boolean (it/its)! It is based on glitch slimes and digitarr from Slime Rancher :]

Boolean's whole thing is that normally it is a silly goober but, if stressed or agitated enough, it'll turn into its digitarr form (which is the second image). It's quite mean in that form lol

[indigorain54]

Ok so I haven't seen anyone post about this new issue yet but it needs to be talked about.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you have seen posts like this one DON'T CLICK THE LINK!!!! It's a phishing attack and is considered spam. They will steal your data and this is not a real job ad. Please report them when you see them and block them. If you see a post with a suspicious link don't click it.

Their blog page will usually look like this, with multiple posts of the same false ad. With the wrong tags to it.

Be safe online everyone!

Don't fall for phishing and scams!

[hauntedvulcan]

Woke up alone in my house so it's time to see how high I can sing

[omegaphilosophia]

The Social Consequences of Marketing

Marketing, while essential for businesses and economies, has also been criticized for causing harm to society in various ways. Here are some significant ways in which marketing has negatively impacted society:

1. Promotion of Consumerism

Excessive consumption: Marketing often encourages the idea that happiness and success are linked to material goods, promoting a culture of consumerism. This has led to excessive consumption, debt, and environmental damage, as people are driven to buy more than they need.

Planned obsolescence: Companies sometimes design products with limited lifespans, encouraging consumers to buy new versions frequently. This practice contributes to waste, depletion of resources, and increased consumer spending.

2. Exploitation of Insecurities

Body image and self-esteem: Advertising in industries like fashion, beauty, and fitness often exploits people's insecurities by promoting unrealistic beauty standards. This can lead to mental health issues such as low self-esteem, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and even eating disorders.

Fear-based marketing: Some marketing strategies use fear to sell products, such as insurance, security systems, or health products, by making consumers feel unsafe or inadequate without them.

3. Targeting Vulnerable Populations

Children: Marketing often targets children, who are particularly susceptible to persuasive messages. This leads to the commercialization of childhood, with kids exposed to unhealthy food, consumerist values, and a materialistic mindset from an early age.

Low-income groups: Companies sometimes market harmful products, such as payday loans or unhealthy foods, more aggressively to low-income populations, exacerbating financial hardship or health problems.

4. Perpetuation of Stereotypes and Social Divides

Gender roles: Marketing often reinforces gender stereotypes, portraying women as caregivers or men as breadwinners, thereby perpetuating outdated norms that limit gender equality and diversity.

Cultural appropriation and tokenism: Some brands use cultural symbols or minority groups in marketing campaigns without understanding their significance, which can lead to cultural appropriation and tokenism, alienating and misrepresenting marginalized communities.

5. Environmental Damage

Overemphasis on fast fashion and disposable goods: Marketing has contributed to the rise of fast fashion and a throwaway culture, promoting short-term use of cheap, disposable products. This has serious environmental consequences, including pollution, resource depletion, and the generation of vast amounts of waste.

Greenwashing: Some companies falsely market products as "environmentally friendly" or "sustainable" in an attempt to capitalize on consumers' eco-consciousness, misleading the public and delaying genuine action on environmental issues.

6. Manipulation and Misinformation

False advertising: Companies sometimes make exaggerated or false claims about their products, misleading consumers and creating false expectations. This can be particularly harmful when it comes to health products, pharmaceuticals, or weight-loss treatments.

Addictive design: Marketing techniques are increasingly used to promote addictive behaviors, particularly in the context of social media, video games, or gambling. Companies manipulate users through behavioral nudges and psychological triggers that keep them hooked.

7. Invasion of Privacy

Data mining and surveillance: With the rise of digital marketing, companies have gained unprecedented access to consumers’ personal data. Many firms engage in data mining and targeted advertising based on individuals' online behavior, often without full transparency or consent, leading to concerns about privacy and data security.

Personalization and manipulation: Highly personalized marketing can lead to manipulation, as companies can target individuals with ads tailored to their specific vulnerabilities, making it harder for consumers to make objective decisions.

8. Promotion of Unhealthy Lifestyles

Junk food advertising: Aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods, particularly to children, has been linked to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases.

Alcohol and tobacco marketing: Despite restrictions in some countries, marketing of alcohol, tobacco, and vaping products continues to glamorize these potentially harmful substances, leading to addiction and public health crises.

9. Contributing to Financial Instability

Credit and debt marketing: Marketing of credit cards, loans, and other financial products often promotes spending beyond one's means, contributing to personal debt and financial instability. Predatory lending practices, such as payday loans, are frequently marketed to those already in financial difficulty.

10. Reduction of Authenticity and Creativity

Commercialization of art and culture: Marketing can sometimes reduce art, culture, and creativity to mere products to be sold, stripping them of their authenticity. This can lead to the commodification of creative expression and a focus on profit over substance.

Trend exploitation: By constantly pushing new trends, marketing fosters a culture of superficiality and short-term thinking, where value is placed on what is fashionable or trending rather than what is meaningful or lasting.

While marketing plays a critical role in the economy by connecting consumers with products, it also has significant social, psychological, and environmental consequences. From promoting overconsumption and exploiting insecurities to targeting vulnerable groups and contributing to environmental degradation, marketing practices have often prioritized profit over societal well-being. Reforming marketing to be more ethical and socially responsible is essential for creating a healthier, more sustainable society.

[kagaintheskywithdiamonds]

I can't stop thinking about the post I saw last night that said "fics with em dashes are probably AI generated cuz humans rarely use those" and like. I defended em dashes vehemently in the tags of that post. but em dashes aside, "anything with X is probably AI generated cuz humans rarely use/say that" is a terrible rubric. cuz AI is literally predictive text. it's basically just a really advanced version of that thing your phone does where it suggests what word you should use next. and it's trained on human-written content. and tries to mimic human-written text. so anything that humans rarely use or say is something that, by extension, AI would rarely use or say because if it wasn't common in its training data then it wouldn't be using it

[fashion-foxy]

The tech bro inside me that makes fun of people who don't know how Ai works and the 2000s teen movie popular girl in me who passive aggressively makes fun of everyone balance out perfectly into someone who cannot watch most movies

[first-blight]

WAAHHH

[red-dyed-sarumane]

spending money on gacha games is bad for a lot of reasons but all of that aside ur either on a very deep level of denial or around the wrong social group if ur going "well i spent money on a gacha game but not for the gacha part so it doesnt count" brother u spent the money the company doesnt care which aspect ur spending it on its still a gacha game and u just said u spent the money That Counts As Spending Money On A Gacha Game

[presdestigatto]

Which journalists are saying this ??

i wish i were making this up 🙏

to give credit where it’s due, even sainz himself isnt saying this lol