zaphod

joined 1 year ago
[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 months ago

It's all about tone. The original comment was incredibly combative and hyperbolic ("I utterly loathe Mass Effect. I consider it one of the worst pieces of science-fiction ever created.") so much so that it would easily be mistaken for flamebait given the thread was likely to attract fans of the series.

It certainly didn't strike me as the start of an open-minded conversation.

But in hindsight I should've just downvoted and moved on rather than commenting as I did, so that's on me.

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (6 children)

Ahh yes, the old "sticks and stones" defense that completely ignores human nature and basic decency. I use the same logic when I tell other people their babies are ugly. "Look, if you ask me your kid is an eyesore but it's just my opinion so I don't know why you're so mad right now..."

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (8 children)

Funny, I feel the same way about Fallout and The Witcher. Just... don't get the appeal. As always, to each their own. Hence why I generally try to avoid yucking other people's yums.

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 38 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I don't. Played with it a bit but as a capable writer and coder I don't find it fills a need and just shifts the effort from composition (which I enjoy) to editing and review (which I don't).

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 13 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Oh please. The anti-TikTok hysteria has been going on much longer than the Israeli invasion of Gaza, and the narrative has largely been about national security concerns, particularly as they relate to election misinformation.

Agree or not with the anti-China rhetoric about TikTok, but at least argue about the facts and not inane conspiracy theories.

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 10 points 7 months ago

Btw that sexual assault scene is even more fucked up when you learn that Grace Lee Whitney was sexually assaulted by an unnamed executive associated with the series...

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 12 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

But you gotta love the next paragraph:

Two episodes before we shot Hugh’s death [scene], they called me in. They were kind of cagey about it. They said, “Listen, this is Star Trek. Nobody really dies.”

🖖

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Same here (well, different model--26k and 87W--but same strategy). Even just as a backup in case of unexpected travel hiccups, a large (airline approved) PD-capable battery back is very handy to have. I never worry about finding an outlet in an aircraft or airport, and I've spent my fair share of time stranded in transit.

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 14 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

It can happen to anyone:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/05/cyber-dunning-kruger/

Cory Doctorow didn't just fall off the back of a turnip truck. If it can happen to him, odds are it can happen to you.

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

when taxes have increased dramatically since then too

No they haven't:

https://policyalternatives.ca/publications/commentary/have-taxes-changed-all-much-over-past-half-century

In 1961, families paid 33.5% of their income on taxes, but by 1969 they were paying 39% and in 1974 they paid 43.4% of their income. So, if you compare the 2009 effective family tax rate to 1961, you will find a 25% increase, but you will only report a 7% increase since 1969 and an actual decrease since 1974.

(Note this analysis is circa 2010, but things haven't changed substantially since then aside from the post COVID inflation spike that's still subsiding).

But enjoy the alternate reality brought to you by your "friends" at the Fraser Institute™️.

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 10 points 7 months ago (5 children)

But spending cuts in the 1980s and 1990s, along with a move to put more responsibility for economic and social well-being on the shoulders of individuals, caused low-income Canadians to fall further behind, the report says.

So neoliberalism. Neoliberalism happened.

Who could've guessed.

[–] zaphod@lemmy.ca 3 points 8 months ago

Absolutely. I have over a dozen pairs, both from the 2017 eclipse and the annular last fall, and you can bet I'll be reusing some while giving away the rest.

view more: next ›