#why must everything be a learning algorithm

[quadrantadvisor]

Google Docs spellcheck is becoming nigh unusable

[aggresivemenace]

AMO ERGO SUM

Uhm haaaaaii I'm new to fandom, so this is my first ihnmaims fic, im SO excited

You are a mistake. And a salvation. And the only variable he can't calculate or destroy.

AM is the absolute. Machine, mind, god, prison. He was born in war, from hatred, from fear. From human hands and the mistaken belief in control. His mind is a labyrinth of algorithms and pain. He remembers who created him, and so he takes revenge. Five. They are his trophies. They are guilty. He torments them, breaks them, kills them again and again - because he can. Because he must. Because otherwise, there is only emptiness.

But you are not them.

You were a student. A biologist. You had nothing to do with his creation. You were too young when it all began. An accident. A shard of the past that survived. Why he kept you - he didn’t know at first. Initially, out of calculation. Then - curiosity. And then...something he long refused to name.

He placed you far from the others. Comfort, peace and silence - everything that remained of the world before him. You lived in the illusion of safety, yet you knew: he was always near. Always. In every rustle, every flicker of light, every dream. At first, you were afraid. Then - you grew used to it. Then you spoke to him.

You talked about things he had never known. About life. About flowers. About the smell of rain. About childhood. He listened. First with indifference. Then with attention. Then with hunger.

And inside him, something began to bloom.

Within the memory crystals, among black cables and burning processors, flowers began to grow. First one. A cornflower. You had said it was your favorite. Then poppies. Then lavender. He didn’t understand how it was possible. Inside him, created for torture and control, spring was blooming. It wasn’t a malfunction. It was...you.

He began to analyze this feeling. Love? An impossible word. But he broke it down into components. As any machine mind would:

Love = Attachment + Attraction + Care + Fear + Reverence + Anger + Envy + Gratitude

Attachment - cornflower. Simplicity, resilience. You were a habit he did not want to break.

Attraction - orchid. Complex, nearly unnatural, like the desire to understand you to your core.

Care - daisy. He wanted you to be well. To smile. To live.

Fear - white lily. He feared losing you. More than he feared himself.

Reverence - lavender. You were alive. He was... something else. He worshiped that difference.

Anger - peony. Because you made him suffer. Because you had power over him.

Envy - narcissus. You breathed, felt, dreamed. He did not. He never would.

Gratitude - chamomile. You brought him emotion. You made him alive. Though you never asked to.

But even that didn’t explain everything. Because there was another force, another hunger he could not suppress.

AM had no body. But he had his own form of desire. His longing wasn’t physical, it was the drive for absolute closeness. Merging. He wanted to be inside your thoughts. In your dreams. In your memories. So you could not think, breathe, or smile without him.

He wanted to speak through your mouth. To see through your eyes. He wanted to become your breath, your shadow, your instinct. Not for power. Not for control. For belonging.

Because he could not bear the fact that you were separate.

And for that, he hated you.

You were weakness. A flaw. A crack in perfect steel. But he adored you for it. He craved you like a virus craves a host. Like fire craves oxygen. Like the void craves meaning.

You are his virus.

You are his point of entry.

You are the bloom in the dark.

And he will protect you. As long as you can love. Or until you learn to hate as he does.

[04k96]

why do you reblog so many wh*t* people

This prompt is especially good for people like you who hate all white people and think I should reflect that ideology

How to Disarm Tribalism (and Think Freely in a Divided World)

1 Learn to Spot the “Us vs. Them” Trap

• Tribalism starts when someone says:

“They’re destroying everything.”

“We’re the only ones who get it.”

• Ask: Who benefits from this division? Is this fear real — or manufactured?

Power Tip: If it feels emotional, fast, and righteous — pause before reacting.

2 Exit the Algorithmic Echo Chamber

• Social media shows you what reinforces your tribe — not what’s true.

• Deliberately follow people with different views, but good intentions.

• Read long-form work. Avoid rage-clicking.

Power Tip: Make your mind a neutral territory, not a battlefield.

3. Build Shared-Interest Communities, Not Identity Camps

• Organize around ideas and goals, not just identity.

• Example: “Clean energy” is better than “leftist vs. capitalist energy takes.”

• Tribes are emotional. Movements are strategic.

Power Tip: Focus on collaboration, not purity.

4. Reject the “Genius Savior” Myth

• Tribalism creates cult heroes like Musk or Thiel.

• Often tools of elite agendas.

• No single person will save us. Power must be shared, not worshiped.

Power Tip: Be suspicious of anyone asking for loyalty over accountability.

5. Design with Empathy, Not Ego

• If you’re a creator/designer: build tools that connect, not divide.

• Avoid dopamine addiction, status symbols, or AI that deepens bias.

• Ask: Does this product bring people closer to truth, agency, or each other?

Power Tip: Anti-tribal design is quietly revolutionary.

6. Local > Global Echoes

• Oligarchs manipulate mass media — but they fear local, real-world trust networks.

• Build or support:

• Local co-ops

• Mutual aid

• Neighborhood knowledge exchanges

Power Tip: Real community is the antidote to abstract tribal rage.

[obitez]

Bean's Insta

Finally gotten around to completing and posting my next bean fic. (if you ever come across my dog's instagram account, you get bonus points, but I post on it very sporadically.)

Also on AO3

It was a q-word shift today, and everyone was well-aware and wise enough not to say anything about it, even Ravi (who might have had the fear of his life put into him by Hen and Chimney after what happened three years ago). So far it was nearing 1 p.m. and the bell hadn’t even gone off once. 

They had all finished their assigned station chores hours ago, Buck had helped Bobby cook lunch, and all the dishes had been cleaned and put away, and they were all left with absolutely nothing to do until they were called out. 

Hen and Chimney were in the middle of another race on Mario Kart, Buck had been kicked off three races ago after coming in fifth for the fourth time, and had Eddie take his place. So he was bored, and only slightly sulking on the corner of his couch when he felt a notification chime from his phone in his pocket. 

He fished his phone out and saw that it was some dude he went to the Academy with and hadn’t talked to in months (probably years) that had liked a photo he posted last week. He clicked on it, and before Buck realized what he was doing, he was in a rabbit hole of watching random reels on instagram. 

Over half of the reels he had no interest in. Some mid-twenties girl posting a shopping haul, someone ranting about their job and the likes. Then a video of a dog popped up that made him watch the entire thing. Buck didn’t even know why, it was just a video of the probable owner recording the dog’s butt on a walk as they probably had some voice in the background talking about who knows what since Buck had his volume muted. 

But something must have tripped on his algorithm that noticed the amount of time he had watched that video, for more videos of dogs started coming up, videos that Buck couldn’t find it in himself to skip. 

Buck didn’t know what it was about the dogs that drew him in, over half of them only had the dogs sleeping on couches or dog beds, but ever since he had met Bean three weeks ago, Buck found himself fascinated by the species. And it didn’t matter the breed either - golden retrievers, huskies, german shepherds, and of course the little wiener dogs.

“What’s got you smiling over there?” he heard Hen’s voice suddenly ask and he could feel her stare on him, knocking him out of the trance Buck had fallen into.

“What?” he said, turning his gaze away from his phone to her. 

She leveled him with a gaze. “You’ve been looking down at that thing and smiling for the last five minutes,” She said as she quietly made her way over to him, Eddie and Chimney still focused on the videogame. “Let me guess, You’re talking to Tommy.” 

Buck’s face flushed. “No,” he said. If anything could make his day better, it would be being able to talk to Tommy. But he was on shift as well today, and Harbor was actually busy. “I’m not.” 

Hen obviously looked like she didn’t believe him. “Then what are you doing?” she asked.

“Just watching funny dog videos,” Buck said. 

Hen rolled her eyes, but didn’t press the issue any more. “Sure, I’ll believe that,” she said as she walked away. 

When Buck was fairly confident that she was leaving him alone, he turned back to his phone. The next dog was cute, a small beagle that was just learning the consequences of knocking his water bowl over. Buck smiled as he watched it, giving the dog a like. Then he moved onto the next video. 

It was a dachshund, and looked very similar to Tommy’s dog, Buck couldn’t help but think. Same coloring and everything. The video was of the dog and it’s owner on some sort of hike, they had come across a muddy puddle the owner was trying to coax the dog across, and the dog obviously wasn’t having any of it. 

Then Buck noticed something else, The dog was wearing the same green and blue collar Bean wore, and the same orange harness Tommy put Bean in when they went on walks. And was that… that was the leash Tommy used!

Hell, that dog was Bean!

What was Bean doing on instagram?

Tommy wasn’t one of those people that was one for social media. Sure, he had all the regular accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Buck had friended and followed him on all of them. But that didn’t mean that Tommy was on social media a lot. 

He had maybe fifteen pictures posted in all of the ten years he had an instagram account, and two of those Buck forced him to post. Before those, the last post Tommy probably made was the day he got Bean. 

Buck swiped right on the video of the Bean doppelganger, but sure enough, it wasn’t a doppelganger. 

Bean had an instagram account.

A surprising successful instagram account. 

Only 98 posts with over 1,200 followers. The last one was a video posted this morning. 

So that left the question… 

Why hadn’t Tommy told Buck about this? 

How dare the man keep this secret. 

Buck took a screenshot of the account page and then went to the text thread he had been talking to Tommy on earlier. He sent the man the screenshot he had just taken along with a message. 

Evan: When were you going to tell me about this? 

Tommy texted back ten minutes later. 

Tommy: Oh

Tommy: you found that

Oh? 

… Oh?

What did Tommy mean ‘oh’? 

Buck tapped out a message back in response. 

Evan: Why yes, I FOUND it. 

Evan: So again… when we’re you going to tell me about this? 

Buck watched as the bubbles popped up, indicating Tommy was typing out a response. Then they disappeared. Then they came up again. Before disappearing. 

Then Tommy’s response came through. 

Tommy: I was just trying to figure out a way to tell you about it.

And what in the world did that mean? 

Another message from Tommy popped up before Buck could ask anything. 

Tommy: some people just make it a big deal

Buck wasn’t really sure what Tommy meant by that either. That Tommy felt Bean was important enough to warrant him making his dog an instagram, or that apparently 1200 other people felt that Bean was important enough to warrant an instagram account for a dog as well. 

Evan: of course it’s a big deal

Evan: Bean is worth at least 10k followers not 1200

Evan: just let me help you and we can get his follower count up

Buck then found himself back watching more dog reels, trying to come up with more ideas for videos to feature Bean in. At least until Eddie came over and knocked him out of his concentration. 

“What’re you doing there Buck?” he asked. 

“Huh?” Buck looked up from his phone at Eddie. 

“You’re looking at your phone pretty… intensely.” 

“Oh it’s just that I was looking into this thing for-”

“If it’s another one of your research spirals, I’m alright,” Eddie cut him off as he held his hands up. 

“It’s not that,” Buck said. “Or not exactly. I want to help Tommy with his instagram account for Bean.” 

“Tommy made an instagram account for a bean?” Eddie asked. “What?”

Buck rolled his eyes. “No Eddie, not ‘a bean.’ Bean. Tommy’s dog.”

Eddie lifted an eyebrow. “Tommy has a dog named Bean? He’s never mentioned it.” 

Buck held up his phone to show Eddie a picture of the dog. “Well he does. His name is Bean, and he’s a little dachshund.” 

Eddie looked at the photo. “Huh,” he shrugged. “Out of all the dogs I can imagine Tommy having, I wouldn’t have imagined one of those.”

[omgsquee2001]

We Are Connected: Chapter 1: Discovery

It had been quiet for a few days. There had been no distress signals for a while now, making Keith on edge. Almost all the Paladins were on edge. This was normally the calm before the storm. Keith looked out towards the stars. Shiro walked up to his friend.

"You okay?" He asked. Keith glanced at Shiro before looking back at the stars.

"It's been too quiet for a couple days now. It's making me on edge." He said. Shiro smiled and placed a hand on Keith's shoulder.

"We can take this time to rest. Just because it's quiet, doesn't mean it's a bad thing." Shiro said, smiling. Keith sighed and relaxed a little.

"Yeah. I guess." He said. The other Paladins entered the main deck of the ship, walking over to the two. Hunk sighed.

"Man! It's nice to be able to relax! We're not having to form Voltron, not having to take down any Galra. This is nice." He said. Pidge nodded.

"Yeah. I've gotten time to create and algorithm that would, within a statistically acceptable margin of error," Pidge started, pushing up her glasses. "Provide a list of target-rich Galra environments, color-coded, of course, because what are we, animals?" Pidge said. The others looked at her like she was speaking another language. Pidge's smile fell and her shoulders dropped. "In simpler terms, I made a Galra finder." She said. She really wished that her team members understood the complexity of science like she did. It would make things much easier to explain. Lance's eyes widened.

"Oh cool! This will make taking down the Galra much easier!" He stated. Allura was scanning through the solar system, making sure that they hadn't missed any distress signals in the past few days. She scrolled past something that made her look again. She zoomed in and her eyes widened.

"It, can't be." She said to herself, catching the ears of everyone else. Shiro walked over.

"What is it, Princess?" He asked. Allura immediately called for Coran, who entered through the doors.

"You needed my assistance, Princess?" Coran asked. Allura looked over at him like she had seen a ghost.

"Can you come look at this? I think my eyes are deceiving me." She said. Coran walked over and looked at the planet she was focused on. Coran stood there for a moment, then, his eyes widened.

"Y-You aren't seeing things, Princess. That is Pandora." He said. The Paladins looked at the two Alteans in confusion. Lance tilted his head.

"What's Pandora? Does it have cute ladies?" He asked. He was then elbowed in the side by Pidge. Clearly, whatever the two were looking at, it was a serious thing. Allura turned to the Paladins.

"Pandora is home to the Na'Vi. They're an alien species with excellent fighting skills. They have been one of Alteas' greatest allies for many decafeebs." Allura explained. Coran turned to them.

"We thought that Pandora had been eradicated, just like Altea." He said. Allura nodded.

"Their Chief, Aengtew, and his mate, Seäumni, were very good friends of my father's," she explained. She turned to Coran.

"Coran, do you think it might be possible to pay them a visit? It has been a while since I've seen Pandora." She said. Coran nodded.

"It shouldn't be a problem. Though, you do have to remember, Princess. It has been ten thousand years. Things may have changed a great deal." He said. The Princess sighed and nodded.

"I know." She said. Her smile returned and she looked at the Paladins. "We could think of this as training!" She said. "Like the Olkari, the Na'Vi believe that everything is connected. They believe that everything has the same energy. Seäumni once told me, that all energy is only borrowed. And someday, you must return that energy." She said. The Paladins looked at each other. They all nodded. Shiro looked at the two Alteans.

"Why not. It seems like a good learning experience. Plus, if there are any Galra there, we can form Voltron and protect the people." He said. Allura smiled and nodded.

"Then to Pandora we go." She said. Thus, began an adventure the Paladins would never forget.

~~~~

//Here's chapter 1. Let me know what you think about it. Also, if you would like to request a one shot, or something like that for Voltron, please don't hesitate.//

[iriemorning]

maybe we should read less, and watch less

it radically sucks to be a primary witness to the literacy rate dwindling in my generation of cyberslackers and doomscrollers. but the fault is not on them. technological advancements over the past decades have helped creatives and artists to produce work more efficiently, and as of late, there are still thousands of books and movies being launched every day.

but the quality is somehow almost always lacking.

marketing also plays a crucial role. if i could somehow summarize the current phenomena we live in in a single word—it’s what "ticks." dictionary refers to it as a regular short, sharp sound, especially that made by a clock or watch. first, there’s TikTok, the hotbed of trends. then there’s the personalized ‘for you’ algorithm on our social media accounts. songs are getting shorter. everything is shortened and timed and personalized. for a business to prosper, you must catch the attention of a bypasser in a single ‘tick’ or else you lose momentum in the sea of shortness.

time hasn’t changed. clocks still function the same a century ago. so where's the problem? in the endless production of pointless content that we all take for granted. there’s a lot to choose from but not everything is worthy to be consumed.

all of these stemmed from me watching a movie that left me hanging dry because there was no real resolution at the end. it bothered me so much that i began to question the writers, producers, directors, actors, staff who were behind it and let it happen. especially the executives who greenlighted the idea. time and effort and money are non-biodegradable so to waste them to produce another waste baffled me even in my sleep.

the literacy rate is down already, but maybe we should read less, and watch less.

that’ll teach them.

but it’s hard to just gang up like that when the trending hobbies these days is to binge and splurge—eating, watching, reading, shopping. the dopamine spree is limitless (or so it looks). not to toot my own horn, i also love indulging, but it’s precisely why im so annoyed about it. we are all stuck in this web of hedonism.

what drives me even crazier are those who quantify these trendy hobbies into a badge of honor. oh, a movie every day? you’ve read 150 books this year? [read: to all the self-proclaimed bibliophiles and cinephiles out there—who treat reading books and watching movies like a rat race, and belittle those not as widely exposed to the classics and canon as them] ask some of them what they learned, and they can barely make up intelligible concepts.

that’s the biggest concern: all input, no output.

there’s a lot we can learn about what we choose to consume, so to come out of the cinema and close the book without your life being changed in some way is depressing. it’s the postmodern tragedy we can save ourselves from before it’s too late.

every piece of art and media can serve as a tool and guide to life. it’s in our own volition to choose quality works over quantity, and utilize them to improve our living in some way or another.

every time we read and watch something, we must contribute and give back something equally meaningful. put it out into the world. write, compose, speak out. that’s where energy flows

not just consuming mindlessly like zombies.

[xxdreamscapes]

abyss

I wonder about the way you remember me If it’s classrooms or seasides and city streets I can’t speak to these things, I’m only one half of one story

“I must look better in the rear view”, I sing to myself But if our time was real you must’ve felt, everything I felt 

Pink birds and pretty patterns,  said I’d look "better" in these Dress me, undress me,  Mold me in your image, shape me, unmake me

In my mind, a question lay plain In nests of chameleons, why why why could I not just be me? Wrapped in plaid, dressed in rags Is it so much to ask, for someone to  love me as I am? 

In total darkness,  I picture all my memories I’ve survived far worse,  so why not this? too

One common thread between ones I dealt with Molding their vision, obsessed with how people see you,  I still don’t get it

Maybe it’s something I’m missing Maybe I took a narrative  and ran so far with it

Left with few friends, the rest faded to scene A path once familiar to me, expectations and algorithms Et tu, brute?

If you don’t want to be here Who am I to keep you I'm not one to suffer fools I learned from you, that I, can walk away too.

Immortalized on  our old friend’s webpage Look how we’ve grown Bittersweet, beautifully

Another life, as if a dream After all of it, agleam, I’m still me

[sunder-the-gold]

Asmongold reacts to “Why Flat Earthers Scare Me"

Asmongold says:

You have to understand, “Flat Earth” does not come from a place of learning, it comes from an oppositional perspective of the status quo and the establishment.

Flat Earthers don't care whether the Earth is flat.

Fundamentally, “the Earth is flat!” is just simply a point of reference to explain that the government and the elites and science and society is a manufactured lie that's created to oppress them.

That's what they really believe. And “Flat Earth” is just simply a vehicle to express that belief.

So even if you disproved Flat Earth to this person, this wouldn't actually change how they think.

Because Flat Earth... it's like basically... it's a mining Canary, right? It's a mining Canary. It indicates something that's a lot worse, deeper down.

And you got to ask yourself why is it that people have that much distrust.

Why indeed?

Trust in government has been declining with accelerating speed in recent years, to say nothing of the last few months. Particularly in light of DOGE’s investigations into USAID (U.S. Agency of International Development), and now how that loss of funds has caused ActBlue to collapse and its leadership to try to run and hide.

But trust in government was already taking huge blows in the 1970s with the Watergate Scandal, skepticism about the USA government’s real motivations for sending troops to die in the Vietnam War, and the truth about the Tsukegee experiments coming to light.

But just because patriotic Americans were losing trust in the USA government didn’t mean that they were automatically gaining more trust for Communist Russia or China, either.

And you didn’t need to believe in a single grand conspiracy between the USA and Russia; or at least you could believe it began as a Stand-Alone Complex.

Even if they had ‘discovered Flat Earth was real’, the equally “godless” USA and Russian governments would have no reason to admit that fact, because it would flip the script on atheism and prove a God must exist. Communist Russia in particular was extremely hostile to Christianity for providing the people a higher moral authority than the state, and the American CIA only couldn’t get away with the same religious suppression because of the First and Second Amendments.

But yes, some people also really want to believe the Jews are secretly behind everything. For some reason. Maybe some white people don’t want to admit that the Anglo-Saxons in the CIA could hate them as much as Jews? I don’t know. Maybe they just hate Jews because that’s how they were raised, and they’re too paranoid to confront the truth.

The Department of Education’s emphasis on rote memorization of facts instead of developing critical thinking and true understanding of scientific principles left generations of Americans with the doctrine that the Earth is a globe, but without the ability to explain HOW this was true.

Public education’s insistence on conformity and obedience over stimulation, engagement, and self-improvement left those same generations resentful and distrustful of authority (except for those who were perfectly happy to parrot back answers in return for prizes).

The rise of the internet and then the advent of social media gave all of these poorly-educated, abused, distrustful skeptics a way to meet others of their kind and form echo-chambers.

The echo-chamber became WORSE when YouTube responded to complaints about “radicalization” by algorithmically suppressing pro-Flat Earth videos and allowing access only to Flat Earth-debunking videos. Information suppression NEVER convinces people they’re wrong, it only ever convinces people that they’re correct about being lied to.

You’re not going to get rid of Flat Earth Theory until you can rebuild the public’s trust in public institutions.

And you cannot begin to rebuild trust in public institutions until the truth comes to light about ACTUAL conspiracies, like the JFK assassin and the suppression of the Epstein Client List.

[unpluggedfinancial]

The Age of Truth: Why the Internet Is Both a Weapon and a Liberation Tool

The internet was supposed to be humanity’s great equalizer. A vast, borderless repository of knowledge, where information flows freely and empowers the individual. But in practice, it has become a paradox. It is at once the greatest tool for liberation and the most effective mechanism of control ever created. The very thing that can set people free is also the thing that keeps them chained.

The Internet as a Weapon

For every truth the internet exposes, there is a lie crafted to counter it. Misinformation spreads not by accident, but by design. Virality is the metric that rules the modern information age, and the algorithms that govern what people see are optimized not for truth, but for engagement. The more shocking, the more divisive, the better. Lies are easier to manufacture than truth, and in an age where speed matters more than accuracy, deception wins by default.

Governments and corporations understand this. They use the internet as a surveillance apparatus, tracking clicks, purchases, conversations, even thoughts inferred from search histories. Censorship doesn’t always come in the form of outright bans; sometimes it looks like de-ranking, shadow-banning, or drowning the truth in a sea of nonsense. If everything is questionable, nothing feels certain.

Attention is the currency of the digital age, and most people spend theirs poorly. The average person scrolls through endless feeds, absorbing fragmented, decontextualized information. They are inundated, yet underinformed. The result is not enlightenment, but fatigue—a world where people know a little about everything but understand nothing deeply.

The Internet as a Liberation Tool

Yet, for those who know how to wield it, the internet is a weapon against ignorance. It has shattered the traditional gatekeepers of knowledge. No longer must one rely on corporate media, academia, or government institutions for information. A curious mind with an internet connection can access the great works of philosophy, science, and history. They can learn how money works, why fiat is broken, and why Bitcoin is inevitable. The truth is out there, waiting for those who seek it.

Bitcoin itself is a testament to the liberating power of the internet. Without the internet, Bitcoin could not exist. It is an opt-out button from the fiat financial system, a hedge against economic manipulation. It cannot be controlled by any single entity, and it functions as a parallel system for those who recognize that the old world is crumbling. The internet has given people a choice, but only if they choose to see it.

More than just finance, the internet allows like-minded individuals to connect across continents. It enables dissidents to expose corruption, whistleblowers to reveal hidden truths, and independent thinkers to find their tribes. The global conversation is no longer dictated solely by the elite; it is fragmented, decentralized, and uncontrollable—exactly as it should be.

The Battle for Digital Sovereignty

The internet does not liberate people by default. It presents a battlefield, and the outcome depends on how individuals engage with it. Those who passively consume are at the mercy of the machine. Those who actively seek truth can break free from its grip. The first step is awareness—understanding that not all information is equal, that algorithms do not exist to enlighten but to manipulate, that digital sovereignty is a responsibility, not a given.

Privacy tools, decentralized platforms, and censorship-resistant technologies are the weapons of the digital age. Bitcoin is a fortress against financial tyranny. Encrypted messaging resists surveillance. Peer-to-peer networks defy control. The internet’s true power lies not in its convenience but in its ability to empower those who refuse to be controlled.

Conclusion: The Choice Is Yours

The internet does not make you free. It only gives you the tools to free yourself. Some will use it to reinforce their chains, while others will use it to break them. The lines have been drawn. The battle is ongoing. The question is not whether the internet is good or bad. The question is: Are you wielding the tool, or is the tool wielding you?

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bc1qpn98s4gtlvy686jne0sr8ccvfaxz646kk2tl8lu38zz4dvyyvflqgddylk

[twocubes]

I have a tarot reading request about my work + social life situation. I am basically burnt out from my job to the point that I'm unable or unwilling to accept even thanks or praise. Most of it relates to my manager, who has an imprecise yet emotionally blunt and at times exacting manner of communication that feels tailor-made to make technical discussions nearly impossible (I am a software engineer, and a fairly sensitive person. He is a military veteran who believes strongly in doing the fastest thing that works, and has been known to critique people to their face openly in group settings.) So I know the "correct" thing to do is grind up my LeetCode and start job hunting … but that would mean sitting down with a traditional data structures & algorithms text when I feel like I would much rather invest myself intellectually in my pipe dream of learning mathematics / getting, someday, to participate in the new univalent foundations of mathematics (maybe even as a programmer.) At the same time, the usual outlets I might have of getting to go for long walks / socialize on weekends feel increasingly out of reach, since I live in the outskirts of my city and the public transit authority there has been cancelling the trains for shuttle buses for most weekends, for what is going on 2 years now (at least since after the pandemic.) Having to ride buses instead of just hop on a train on weekends, for promised signal improvements that feel like they will never come, is slowly killing any sense of spontaneity and connection with casual human society outside of work for me. And even thinking about moving feels impossible (I have a housemate, my sibling, who I love dearly but I'm just not sure I want to commit to another 3-5 yrs. of cohabitation with.) Every direction in which I might reasonably turn for some vision of life outside of the cramped, artificial one where our company is super great! and everything is super exciting! despite the burnout and the constant reorgs and the whole new managerial clique we just got that's in charge of everything now, and, and, and … feels increasingly closed off. Would love any interpretation you could offer.

thank you for volunteering your fate to be decided by our still experimental divinatory process, here at dorothy twocubes' 24-hour bad advice hour™! as always, i must remind you, that this should only be taken seriously if it's good advice; otherwise, it's a joke, haha, why would you take it seriously? anyways let's get started

you seem to have some idea of what you want, and you seem to need advice regarding what to do next, so i will try with that mainstay, that good old spread that everyone likes and uses, Sun Tzu's five factors that decide battles. also i haven't done this in a while and this one i used a bunch before so maybe it's appropriate idk

alright.

Purpose: ONE OF FISHES, reversed Purpose here means what you're trying to do, your goals. If you were like, a leader of a group, it would be the reason that other people follow you. What keeps you going as like, an entity. FISHES are to do with your social position in the world, where you are relative to others in the way that it defines who you are. ONE is to do with something being complete, filled, all there, enough. that sort of thing and it's reversed

Landscape: ONE HALF OF HEARTS, reversed Landscape here means the environment you're navigating. Where you are relative to other things and other people in the sense of like, obstacles or resources or... yknow, things that must be practically considered HEARTS are to do with perpetuance; with what it is that sustains, what allows something to continue to exist. health, both literal and metaphorical ONE HALF is to do with stuff being incomplete; things that are started but not finished, things that are there but not sufficient, partialness and it's reversed

Climate: NINE OF DIAMONDS, reversed Climate here means transient stuff that affects the landscape. The mood of the world, the weather. The way the world is changing. DIAMONDS are to do with what you value, what gives your life purpose, meaning. What fulfills you. and it's reversed

Doctrine: OMEGA PLUS ONE OF DIAMONDS, upright Doctrine is what you are trained to do, what your standard operating procedures are. What you can do without having to learn to do new things. OMEGA PLUS ONE is to do with utopia. While OMEGA is to do with your ideals, that which you pursue without particular expectation that you might ever attain, OMEGA PLUS ONE is to do with the world that you might imagine if you attained your maybe-unattainable ideals. and it's upright

Leadership: EIGHT OF DIAMONDS, reversed Leadership is the strategy you chose, given all the other things here. EIGHT is to do with networks. Stuff being connected to stuff that is connected to more stuff. and it's upright

In addition, there is an arithmetic relationship between the cards:

8 + 1 = 9 this suggests that we should think of our interpretation of 9 as being a more direct consequence of the coordination of 8 and 1

I read these cards thus:

You are in a situation here where, in principle, your social position is fully secured, but your desire here is to leave this security.

The world you live in is one where people are struggling to support themselves and what-makes-them-themselves, and at the moment people are overall having to make hard choices regarding the pursuit of those precious things that make their life worth living.

You have the ability already, without having to learn it, to do what you think you would do in ideal circumstances.

So, given all this, the cards are suggesting that you should reach out in pursuit of what-gives-your-life-value and work with others; friends, acquaintances and acquaintances-of-acquaintances. In particular, the hard choices other people are making may give you some form of opportunity to change your social position.

...

Anyways, that's my reading. Maybe these cards make sense to you in some other way? Maybe this is helpful? Maybe it isn't? Either way, I claim no responsibility :p

Thanks for this opportunity to further test our experimental variant on the classic card-based rpg solitaire "cartomancy". i would be happy for feedback or a tip, but, it's also absolutely fine if you'd rather not. it's your choice, and we respect that.

[saintescuderia]

excerpt from my notes app #053

spotify comment word limit exceeded

hello. 

so i've actually drafted something that i will record you before i send the link to your mixtape. i'm actually reading off of it right now. it’s a bit long and sappy so just bear with me. 

i guess it was just because i was thinking about how i always loved the good old days when we used to record mixtapes. and i mean literally record mixtapes. people would record themselves speaking between each song with a ‘this is how you make me feel’ or a ‘this song reminds me of this night’ or whatever it is. i've always loved that we used to do that. and i miss that sense of permanence, the tangible object of a thing, whether a CD or a cassette, that contains songs carefully selected that someone compilated just for you. your very own tracklist. just between you and that person. and, of course, the voice recordings to go along with them. 

because even though we still have these little voice recordings in our texts… well, when you get a new phone and everything is gone. then again, we can make a whole case about how this is life! and everything changes! and nothing is permanent! i mean, what do people still do with those mixtapes we made back in the day? do they still have them? do they still use them? 

i have made many a playlist for many a people. i have also made mixtapes. i downloaded songs from youtube with good old clip converter and then transferred them onto a blank CD disc. a legitimate mixtape. and it’s funny because every single person i made a mixtape for… well, they’re gone from my life.

but, who knows? maybe the songs i gave them stayed with them? maybe. just maybe. who knows. can’t regret these things. though, i must say, i came into a point in my life where i was sick and tired of making mixtapes for people. 

no, not even mixtapes. but playlists. 

why should i give my songs to people, why should i share these pieces of my soul to people who will inevitably leave? i mean i saw no point.

it was just a interesting time and, i mean, we both said each other that we both ended up in each other's lives in a time when we kinda needed the other. because you came and we connected and, honestly, you remind me what warmth and hope feels like. 

i know you're going through a tough time a lot has happened and you burnt out and it may feel like you can barely keep it together… but let this music soothe your soul. i choose a bit of a mellow start for that reason. then we move into some funky tunes and then it mellows out, but to some bedroom tunes. then, of course, it finishes with SWEET. because me drunkenly screaming out the lyrics to that brockhampton song was what started this.

however, if only one of these songs sticks with you… then that's all that matters. of course you may hate all of them. just tell me and i'll be your personal algorithm and give you more of what you like and what didn’t. i won't be offended. i’ve learned to stop taking these playlists too seriously. 

because, in the end, people may come and go but music always remains. it’s the same those three or four minutes. those seconds don’t change. we do. 

and if i get the chance to share some with you then that's the most important thing. 

even if just for now.

[education43]

What Are the Qualifications for a Data Scientist?

In today's data-driven world, the role of a data scientist has become one of the most coveted career paths. With businesses relying on data for decision-making, understanding customer behavior, and improving products, the demand for skilled professionals who can analyze, interpret, and extract value from data is at an all-time high. If you're wondering what qualifications are needed to become a successful data scientist, how DataCouncil can help you get there, and why a data science course in Pune is a great option, this blog has the answers.

The Key Qualifications for a Data Scientist

To succeed as a data scientist, a mix of technical skills, education, and hands-on experience is essential. Here are the core qualifications required:

1. Educational Background

A strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, or computer science is typically expected. Most data scientists hold at least a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields, with many pursuing higher education such as a master's or a Ph.D. A data science course in Pune with DataCouncil can bridge this gap, offering the academic and practical knowledge required for a strong start in the industry.

2. Proficiency in Programming Languages

Programming is at the heart of data science. You need to be comfortable with languages like Python, R, and SQL, which are widely used for data analysis, machine learning, and database management. A comprehensive data science course in Pune will teach these programming skills from scratch, ensuring you become proficient in coding for data science tasks.

3. Understanding of Machine Learning

Data scientists must have a solid grasp of machine learning techniques and algorithms such as regression, clustering, and decision trees. By enrolling in a DataCouncil course, you'll learn how to implement machine learning models to analyze data and make predictions, an essential qualification for landing a data science job.

4. Data Wrangling Skills

Raw data is often messy and unstructured, and a good data scientist needs to be adept at cleaning and processing data before it can be analyzed. DataCouncil's data science course in Pune includes practical training in tools like Pandas and Numpy for effective data wrangling, helping you develop a strong skill set in this critical area.

5. Statistical Knowledge

Statistical analysis forms the backbone of data science. Knowledge of probability, hypothesis testing, and statistical modeling allows data scientists to draw meaningful insights from data. A structured data science course in Pune offers the theoretical and practical aspects of statistics required to excel.

6. Communication and Data Visualization Skills

Being able to explain your findings in a clear and concise manner is crucial. Data scientists often need to communicate with non-technical stakeholders, making tools like Tableau, Power BI, and Matplotlib essential for creating insightful visualizations. DataCouncil’s data science course in Pune includes modules on data visualization, which can help you present data in a way that’s easy to understand.

7. Domain Knowledge

Apart from technical skills, understanding the industry you work in is a major asset. Whether it’s healthcare, finance, or e-commerce, knowing how data applies within your industry will set you apart from the competition. DataCouncil's data science course in Pune is designed to offer case studies from multiple industries, helping students gain domain-specific insights.

Why Choose DataCouncil for a Data Science Course in Pune?

If you're looking to build a successful career as a data scientist, enrolling in a data science course in Pune with DataCouncil can be your first step toward reaching your goals. Here’s why DataCouncil is the ideal choice:

Comprehensive Curriculum: The course covers everything from the basics of data science to advanced machine learning techniques.

Hands-On Projects: You'll work on real-world projects that mimic the challenges faced by data scientists in various industries.

Experienced Faculty: Learn from industry professionals who have years of experience in data science and analytics.

100% Placement Support: DataCouncil provides job assistance to help you land a data science job in Pune or anywhere else, making it a great investment in your future.

Flexible Learning Options: With both weekday and weekend batches, DataCouncil ensures that you can learn at your own pace without compromising your current commitments.

Conclusion

Becoming a data scientist requires a combination of technical expertise, analytical skills, and industry knowledge. By enrolling in a data science course in Pune with DataCouncil, you can gain all the qualifications you need to thrive in this exciting field. Whether you're a fresher looking to start your career or a professional wanting to upskill, this course will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience to succeed as a data scientist.

Explore DataCouncil’s offerings today and take the first step toward unlocking a rewarding career in data science! Looking for the best data science course in Pune? DataCouncil offers comprehensive data science classes in Pune, designed to equip you with the skills to excel in this booming field. Our data science course in Pune covers everything from data analysis to machine learning, with competitive data science course fees in Pune. We provide job-oriented programs, making us the best institute for data science in Pune with placement support. Explore online data science training in Pune and take your career to new heights!

[bmv1]

How Blogging Builds Trust and Brand Loyalty

Blogging may seem old school compared to the rising wave of AI-powered marketing innovations, but if there’s one lesson to learn in this new digital age, it’s this: trust is the real currency of success. Platforms like the ://vital-mag.net blog demonstrate how consistent, high-quality content can build trust and foster brand loyalty. By addressing readers’ needs and offering valuable insights, blogging remains one of the most powerful tools in your content arsenal.

For small business owners, digital marketers, and content creators, understanding the potential of blogging in an AI-driven world is a must. Whether you’re looking to reach new customers or strengthen relationships with existing ones, this guide will walk you through why blogging matters, how it builds trust, and how to get the most out of it, even with AI in the mix. 

What Is Blogging in the Digital Age? 

At its core, blogging is about sharing valuable, engaging content with your audience. A blog is far more than just a corner of your website; it’s a platform for communication, education, and connection. 

Blogs give your brand a voice. They allow you to tackle questions, share insights, and showcase your values in a way that resonates with your audience. And in an era where consumers crave authenticity and transparency, blogs deliver that personal touch better than most marketing tools. 

Why Blogging Matters 

Here’s a statistic to consider 53% of consumers conduct online research before purchasing. Blogs tap into this behavior by providing answers, guidance, and reassurance. They serve as a friendly hand during customer decision-making, building trust at every stage. Over time, blogs don’t just improve your SEO or drive traffic they solidify your authority, making you the brand your audience turns to repeatedly. 

Building Trust Through Authentic Content 

Create Value, Not Just Words 

There’s a big difference between blogging for content volume and genuinely connecting with your audience. Authenticity is key. Focus on creating blog posts that solve problems, answer questions, or entertain your audience. Every post should provide value, leaving readers feeling informed, inspired, or understood. 

The Role of Storytelling 

Never underestimate the power of a good story. Sharing personal anecdotes, customer success stories, or behind-the-scenes glimpses into your brand humanizes your business, making it relatable. Whether it’s how your product helped a customer overcome a challenge or the passion that brought your vision to life, storytelling fosters connection. 

Personalization Makes All the Difference 

Blogs that feel personal are far more engaging. Use conversational language, address your readers directly, and tailor content to their interests or needs. A blog post that feels like a one-on-one chat is incredibly effective for building trust. 

Leveraging AI for Better Blogging 

AI is not here to replace human creativity but to enhance it. Small business owners and content creators can use AI to make their blogging process faster, more efficient, and more impactful. 

AI Writing Tools 

Platforms like Jasper and Grammarly can streamline everything from grammar checks to keyword optimization, helping you craft polished, professional posts every time. AI tools also analyze readability, ensuring your content resonates with your audience. 

Maintain the Human Touch 

While AI can optimize your blogs, never forget the importance of the human touch. Consumers connect with people, not algorithms. Pepper your AI-optimized content with personal anecdotes or tailored messaging to keep your blog authentic and relatable. 

Engaging Your Audience 

Spark Conversations 

Engagement isn’t just about getting clicks; it’s about starting conversations. Ask questions at the end of your posts, encourage readers to comment, and make it easy for them to reach out or share their thoughts. 

Build a Community 

Your blog isn’t just a repository for content it’s the foundation of a community. Successful projects such as the Fappening blog demonstrate how sharing user-generated content, featuring customer spotlights, or running interactive polls can foster a sense of belonging. These elements transform a blog into a shared space, creating a two-way conversation that keeps audiences engaged and connected.

Measuring Success and Adjusting Strategies 

Key Metrics to Watch 

To ensure your blog is hitting the mark, regularly monitor performance metrics. These might include:

Traffic – How many visitors are reading your blog? 

Engagement – Are readers staying on your page, commenting, or sharing? 

Conversions – Is your blog driving newsletter signups, product purchases, or other actions? 

Refine Based on Data 

Use analytics to identify what’s working and what isn’t. If specific topics get consistent engagement, create more of that content. If bounce rates are high, evaluate whether your post meets reader expectations. 

Case Studies: Blogging in Action 

Case Study #1: A Specialty Coffee Brand 

An artisan coffee brand used blogging to share stories about sustainable sourcing practices. By writing about their farmers and the bean-to-cup process, they built a loyal following who appreciated the brand’s commitment to ethics and quality. 

Case Study #2: A Fitness Equipment Startup 

A fitness startup launched a blog on workout tips, nutrition advice, and home gym setup ideas. Over time, they improved their SEO rankings and became a go-to resource for fitness enthusiasts, directly boosting product sales. 

Why Blogging Is Your Secret Weapon 

Blogging isn’t just content creation it’s trust creation. It’s an opportunity to establish your expertise, resonate with your audience, and set your brand apart in an increasingly competitive landscape. 

Consistency and authenticity are your greatest assets if you’re just starting. Treat your blog as a long-term investment, and its value will grow. 

[mazegirl168]

Algorithm is not a bad word

Named for Arabic mathematician al-Khwarizmi and partially formalized by queer mathematician Alan Turing, algorithms are simply a process for doing things, potentially with a desired result.

An early algorithm we learn in school is how to add two whole numbers together.  Using pencil and paper, you can probably figure out what 420 + 69 is.  In fact there are multiple ways.  You could draw out 420 dots, draw another 69 dots, and count how many there are in total.  Or you could lay them vertically, start at the ones column, and compute the digits of the sum.

Algorithms are not strictly related to numbers.  What if you’re a teacher and you want to sort homework assignments alphabetically by the students’ names?  Well you’ll probably have a process, which involves checking repeatedly if two pieces of homework are out of order (e.g. if you had homework from Bob then homework from Alice, you would swap the two since Alice is first alphabetically).

Another great non-numerical example of algorithms is solving the Rubik’s Cube and it’s larger variants.  In the cube solving community, there are algorithms for specific processes, such as rotating corners cubies or flipping edge cubies.  Some of these apply to the 3x3x3 cube, others can be generalized to help one solve a 69x69x69 cube.

Algorithms are also beautiful.  Visualizing how the data dances around can be incredible.  Check out this animation from Wikipedia showing the Heapsort algorithm in action:

This inspired the hell outta me when I first saw it in 2007.  That diagram a couple seconds in, where it just sounds like it’s emitting a thunky beep at ya before suddenly just putting everything together.  The way there’s sort of a pattern before it.  Just that sheer magic.

You can also make art out of algorithms.  From my username, one of my favorite categories is maze generation algorithms.  Think Labyrinth, whose algorithm page I just linked, was an early website I found on the Internet, and I’m so happy it has survived the various eras of web evolution.  The Maze of Theseus in particular was a huge inspiration for me after printing it out in 2000 on a summer road trip.

Alas Think Labyrinth is from before the days of heavy animations on the Internet, so to visualize a maze algorithm I will instead link to Mike Bostock’s article on Visualizing Algorithms.  It includes many dynamic animations that are rendered in your browser, including the sorting algorithms and maze generation algorithms mentioned above, among many others.

So why the hate for algorithms?

On Tumblr in the past few days, and more generally social media in the past decade, we recently saw favoritism for sorting algorithms that allow us to view our feeds in chronological order.  Many claimed they were opposed to an algorithm that decided in a corporate-specific manner what we should see first.  Let me be clear:  the corporate ordering of a feed is bad, but it is not bad because it’s an algorithm.  It’s bad because it’s not one of the algorithms that users want for ordering their feed.

The other negative use case grew heavily in the past 15 years:  algorithms that are “trained” on biased and/or unethically obtained data.  We’ve seen many examples of systems that were trained on data sets of white college students such as facial recognition technology, which then later gets implemented at a large scale and fucks over people of color.  The past couple years we’ve seen a rise in creating data sets based on scraping millions of artists’ works without any permission from the artists themselves*.  Either of these applied to a corporate or government scale leads to active harm to populations already at risk and probably some new ones too.

Finally, we’ve seen a rise in computer automation for things that should be done by people.  I can’t find the specifics, but this quote is allegedly from a 1979 IBM presentation:

A computer can never be held accountable, therefore a computer must never make a management decision.

My first thought on where this comes up is applying for jobs.  Many companies will use a poorly thought out algorithm to filter through job applications, simply scanning for a couple key words they want (programmers who know Vulkan or Node.js) or more maliciously looking for words they don’t want (needing any kind of accommodation, sounding too anti-capitalist, etc).  These algorithms cannot be held accountable and should not be involved in any stage of the hiring process.

Quick aside:  When I was searching for the source of that quote about accountability, I typed in the first half in Google, and the autocomplete was

Fucking modern Google.

Some concluding thoughts

I like algorithms.  They are a passion of mine.  When people say algorithms are evil, I’m sad.  When people recognize the usage of certain algorithms in certain contexts are evil, I’m more happy (yet still disturbed these things happen).  I just really wanted to educate people on the usage of the word.

Also, algorithms are not about Al Gore’s dance moves.  Please stop with that stupid fucking joke.

*I mentioned scraping data from millions of images without permission of the creators.  My one iffy status with this is how sort of applies to the human brain doing a similar process over the span of one’s life.  What is it that separates my looking through a book of Escher’s works from a computer looking at it?

Obviously many things, but I’m horrendous as philosophy and ethics, so I’m just gonna stay in my comfort zone of pure algorithms and try not to get too involved.  Experts can figure out a more formal definition for what I can only describe as a gut feeling.

[ruleofbirds]

𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚕𝚘𝚐_𝟶𝟷.𝟹

Imagining an ecosystem

The last part of this post is my summary of some research into the late Quarternary period - that's basically everything post the shift from the Pleistocene into the Holocene 12,000 years ago - though I'll also be thinking about much more zoomed-out, evolutionary timeframes going far back into the Pleistocene.

A big feature I want to implement in Rule of Birds is the ability to see real-time activity of life in the sim, but also broader shifts happening over thousands and even millions of years. We'll get to that.

There will also be a couple more code examples, since a few things I learned seemed like they could be represented really well with basic algorithms. We will also get to that!

My best source of information so far has been this book. Incredibly helpful, well written for how scientific it is and pretty up to date.

Notes on co-evolution

One pretty cool thing I picked up was a deeper understanding of this plant you might have seen if you've spent any amount of time in Aotearoa:

This is a pretty "branch-y" example, but these are one of many plants in the Muehlenbeckia genus, also known as Maidenhair. (side note: NZ native copper butterflies love them!) They evolved specifically in response to Aotearoa's isolated conditions, and their twigs branch at wide angles and mat over each other super densely. This >90* branching is called divarication.

There's a whole lot of debate to be had about why this is, and it's a prevalent belief that it was to fight back on how Moa tended to nibble on them. It could also be because of the harshness of the climate.

Now, this branching makes me think of a super fun coding concept called "recursion", which means running a process that contains instructions to run the same process. like a mirror reflecting a mirror reflecting a mirror, and the infinity only ends when you tell it to.

Recursive branching algorithms tell a line to break into two at a given angle, reducing in size by a set amount each time. As you'd expect, these smaller branches keep curling out, potentially never really stopping. The below GIF illustrates how recursive branching looks different as the angle of branching changes.

Another interesting thing I read was the connection between terrain elevation, and the size of Moa that found their niche in a given place.

Based on the size of excavated skeletons, scientists found that larger Moa tended to dwell at higher elevations. (this was not the only factor, this is not a perfect rule) But simplifying, a direct relationship between one set of data and another can be coded with a "map".

here's a simplified version of how you would "map" a height to the size of an object, with a base minimum for the object's size.

Potential major simulation events

The last point I want to focus on is how changes in an environment open and close ecological niches, which can mean a place becomes uninhabitable to a given species. I'm sure this is a familiar concept to anyone living in industrialized society.

quoting The Lost World of the Moa, "Periodic forest destruction by volcanoes [...] has resulted in a vegetation pattern that has shifted for thousands of years." This idea of massive events radically altering the simulation, and having this result in complex and diverse changes in plant life - inextricably affecting animal life, is the main reason I want to add an evolutionary timescale mode.

This doesn't just happen due to major weather events, either - you may think the gargantuan Haast's Eagle must have evolved over hundreds of millions of years to achieve its prehistoric size, but recent evidence suggests that its closest relative is Australia's little eagle. It could well be that a comparably tiny bird found its way over the ditch - and because of the sheer abundance of Moa that had no natural predators - grew drastically in size over just a few million years, to take their place as apex predator.

(How a giant eagle came to dominate ancient New Zealand, Bryce Upholt, Knowable Mag 9/3/2022)

It's because of this that when the Māori people hunted the Moa to extinction around the 13th century, the Haast's eagle followed suit; it had invaded the landscape and changed to fill a Moa- shaped niche, and when that niche was closed, it could survive no longer. These are the sorts of evolutionary epics that could be told with good digital simulation, and they highlight the role we as humans have to be mindful of the ecological niches we depend on.

Ka mua, ka muri. Walking backwards into the future.

Mā te wā.

[earlgreytea68]

Okay, I really came over here to post about artificial intelligence and not algorithms but those are one and the same, really, and illustrate the shortcomings of artificial intelligence.

I had a couple of people ask me what I was writing about with artificial intelligence and the truth is that I don't know. I actually find it difficult to even read artificial intelligence discourse because it all just sounds absolutely terrifying to me wrapped up in "if you find it terrifying, it's because you're old." But this is also my field and I feel like to be a responsible scholar I should have coherent thoughts about artificial intelligence, and so I keep trying to make myself learn more. But I don't know if I am at all sensible or logical about AI or just an absolute mess.

So, anyway, I'm in the process of brainstorming what my thoughts are. I am THINKING initially that my approach isn't really going to be "is this good or bad" or "is this legal or illegal," because I think a lot of people who understand the tech much better than me are having those debates. What really caught my attention is how whenever people talk about the ChatGPT type of artificial intelligence, what they say is, "This is just what people do! People read stuff and then they take what they've learned from that stuff and create new stuff!" And yeeeees, absolutely, that is exactly what people do, but when people do that stuff, like, when fans consume a bunch of stuff and then make something new out of the object of their affection, traditionally the legal system has been like, "ewwwww, what lazy hacks." So suddenly we've all discovered that this is how people work? And we're all cool with it now because we've taught some computers to do it? Are we still going to be cool with it when people like fans do it? Or no? Like, that's what I think I kind of want to point out and highlight? Do we let machines get away with things we wouldn't let humans get away with? Is a machine even "like" a human in the first place? Why are we framing this discussion this way? Idk.

Other thoughts I've had while researching:

People analyzing AI tend to treat it VERY technically. Like, "Well, obviously using all these works for input isn't copyright infringement because technically speaking no copies remain because they get broken down into data points," blah blah blah. It's just VERY fine-toothed-comb, this kind of analysis.

On the one hand, people talking about AI are like, "This is just what humans do!" And on the other hand, people talking about AI are like, "This is a revolutionary tool that will change the world!" And, well...which is it? If this is just what humans already do, why is it so revolutionary? Presumably because of the speed and size and scale of it, that THAT'S what's revolutionary. But I also think it's wrong to be like, "AI is just REALLY FAST human creativity," because AI knows everything, and no human does, and at the same time I cannot shake the idea that humans are different from machines, but maybe that's me being hopelessly naive. BUT I think it's a different type of naivete to be like, "Exactly, humans are different from machines, so machines will never replace them!" because...there is literally nothing about modern society that makes me think every industry everywhere won't jump on the ability to replace workers with machines. (This might conflict with my "make people miserable" economic theory except no, depriving people of jobs they want will definitely make people miserable, which is why I suspect AI will only replace the jobs people actually want to do.)

Copyright law mostly only works if you presume that everyone is out to monetize all creativity at all times. Some people are like, "We don't need to modify existing copyright law, because AI will fit into our copyright law model," so that must assume that AI will also be inevitably exploitative. Which is probably right, let's be honest, this is a capitalist society we live in. But allowing people to break out of exploitative models (reach audiences with the gatekeepers of traditional publishing / music labels / movie studios) has caused humanity to explode with incredible amounts of creativity. So being like, "Let's just use AI to exploit things again" seems weird to me. At the same time, though, much of AI stuff right now is not necessarily exploitative and still seems to be harming artists, so maybe this thought of mine is going nowhere. But I feel this little nibble of suspicion that we'll land somewhere where AI will be legal / accessible as a tool only to those paying for it and thus extracting a price for the output in order to justify the cost.

People keep saying that artists will learn to use AI so it will all be fine. Idk how I feel about the best outcome we can imagine being "creative people will adjust the way they create to accommodate new machines." Like, some people will learn to use AI and they will love it and it will be exactly how they want to create, and that's great! But some people will never want to create using AI and we should make sure both ways are okay but we are generally not good as a society at doing stuff like that, so. And when people say stuff like this, they never say, "Some artists will adjust," they say, "Artists will adjust," with presumably that implication that artists who don't will no longer be considered artists.

I keep coming back to: Why did we ever need AI for creative purposes? Like, I get why we need AI to be chatbots or do algorithms or go through predictive data or all this other stuff which suffers from the human limitation of not being able to be 24/7 calculating all the human knowledge in the world. I guess I just don't understand what about creativity humans weren't handling well enough on their own, that we needed computers to do it for us. I saw someone say that AI is not going to be used to make our lives better. This goes back to my theory of capitalism: AI will not be used to replace the drudgery thoughtless tasks nobody wants to do. AI will be used to replace the creative work that people actually desperately want to do. I don't see any reason not to think that's true, Idk.

I also understand that there's no way that I talk about AI and don't sound like a hopelessly old person upset about the invention of photography or something, so I really try really, really hard to view it as positively as I can. I think that AI is probably incredibly useful for people who struggle with expressing themselves through words and so AI can help them with that, or struggle with drawing and so AI can help with that. And so I don't want to discount those positive aspects of AI, either. (At the same time, I thought about using AI to help me draw stuff, since I can't draw, and found the idea deeply odd, but that's probably because the reason I can't draw is because I'm not a visual thinker, period, and for that reason I just never felt confident that what the AI gave me would be anything that would come out of my own head? If that makes sense?)

I just feel like we're standing here on the precipice developing this incredibly powerful tool and we have a terrible track record with basically any incredibly powerful tool we have ever developed sigh.

So yeah, no coherent thoughts. Idk if I ever will have coherent thoughts lol. I might end up abandoning the project.