Hard News: Problems
289 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 … 12 Newer→ Last
-
Let's try an example... The relevance of fantastic fiction.
Before even the first world war, a 'geek' named Herbert George Wells read a paper by Ernest Rutherford. He deduced that energy from nuclear reactions could release tremendous amounts of energy which could be turned to military purposes. He wrote a novel called The World Set Free which depicted the first nuclear war. That novel was read by the Hungarian Jewish physicist Leo Szilard in the 1930s, who was at that tine a refugee from Nazism in London. Nobody listened to him. Later, he contacted his friend Albert Einstein who signed a letter to Franklin Roosevelt warning of the dangers of such a weapon in the hands of the Nazis. Thus was born the Manhattan Project.
Now what effect did that trivial fantasy have then?
(ref: Richard Rhodes, The Making of the Atomic Bomb and various biographies of Wells, Szilard, Oppenheimer et all )
Wells suggested that his epitaph should read 'I told you so. You damned fools.'
So, if I want to enthuse about a TV show that depicts the rise of a species of Artificial Intelligence that declares a right to consideration as independent sentient beings, perhaps superior to their creators, then I think of that example and guess that perhaps petty matters of exchange rates and copyright laws will be resolved in a few years, but AI and whatever else are something that will have an effect over centuries , then yeah, fuck you, I will be 'rude' if someone actually bothers to consider the consequences of that happening.
-
Okaaay, reasoning aside, did you notice that the net practical effect of your complaint was to drive the thread even further off topic?
I feel like this should be some kind of Godwin-esque interweb law of probability or something. The more any person attempts to anoint themselves the On-Topic Police, the less likely it is that anyone in the thread will remain on-topic. (How would that be expressed as a formula, I ask all the people who didn't fail maths in high school?)
Also, do we even *have* 'on-topic' at PAS?
I am, however, intrigued by this:
I find people hijacking conversations to enthuse about... their sex lives to be very rude.
What on earth did I miss? Is it lost in the copyright thread somewhere?
(Lucy, to answer your question, I think it was about 60% overtones of the former, and 30% overtones of the latter. With perhaps a 10% soupcon of 'oh god, not AGAIN' from me.)
-
I am, however, intrigued by this:
I find people hijacking conversations to enthuse about... their sex lives to be very rude.
An offhand, somewhat self-mocking remark by myself, which the inestimable Mr L took too seriously or opportunistically.
-
From Scotty's link,
The New Zealand beer brewery, DB, took exception to an open letter on the site which says the national brew is lacking in hops.
"They can't be serious," a DB spokeswoman said.
"We've got some of the best beer in the world."
But neglects to mention that those beers are not made by DB with the continuous fermentation process which brews up a constant flow of raw "beer" and then has the flavour added at the bottling stage. We do have some good beers in this country, they're just not made by DB, or New Zealand Breweries. And as to the local versions of Heineken and Stella Atois, don't get me started. </ beer rant>
-
Kracklite: I don't think you are sufficiently interesting to be rude, merely long-winded and prone to read an awful lot into what I said; such is your geek = Aspergers assumption and your determination to be offended.
ScottY: my observation was based on experience; such obsessions are harmless, but they are not very helpful.
Emma: yes; next time I will just quit and go.
-
Kracklite: I don't think you are sufficiently interesting to be rude, merely long-winded and prone to read an awful lot into what I said; such is your geek = Aspergers assumption and your determination to be offended.
'The boys throw stones in jest, but the frogs die in earnest."
I've had to deal with that bullshit for years and I'm sick of it. You might think that it's trivial, but it's not.
'Hey, I was just sayin'
Oh puh-leez. give me a break. Try being on the receiving end of it. For a lifetime.
If I read a lot into what you say, it is because you have never bothered to consider in any depth your prejudices. That is the nature of prejudice - it is NEVER considered.
So, I'm long-winded. Fine. View it as symptomatic. At least I get paid for it, so there are compensations.
-
So, I'm long-winded. Fine. View it as symptomatic. At least I get paid for it, so there are compensations.
You get paid to be long-winded?! I want in.
-
What on earth did I miss? Is it lost in the copyright thread somewhere?
If only.
-
I guess you get paid by the word.
And no I was not just saying. Your Geek = Aspergers conflation is not trivial, it is tactical. It is a conclusion that only you are drawing, in a desperate attempt to portray me as the aesthetic equivalent of a racist and you as the victim of my bigotry. I think you try a bit harder and argue a bit more honestly.
-
Paul, this doesn't really seem like you from what I have seen online.
-
"paid to get long-winded"
O, so, so much do I!
But let's have a wee look at things: Paul Litterick is a couth & literate commentator (and I enjoy his blog.)
Some of us have obsessive qualities (dont get me started on food! Or insects/arachnids! Or fishing! Or- nah, just dont-)
I contribute to PAS because sometimes I think I have something to offer. I read every other contributor's posts. in threads I'm interested in, in the same way. I've never contributed to a sports thread - because sports (of any kind) dont interest me.
And so, Paul?
-
I guess you get paid by the word.
Yes, in many cases actually I do.
(My major point of frustration with neurotypical types is that they seem to think in glib one-liners and never bother it explore or explain an idea in depth)
I think you try a bit harder and argue a bit more honestly.
Your grammar is not clear.
I would suggest that you should think a bit harder and argue a bit more honestly. Is that what you meant to say?
-
I'm waiting for Giovanni to enthuse about sex on tv at this point..
-
Not that I'm minimising the impact of conversations like this, as someone on the spectrum myself.
-
Sacha, I'm not offended by you at all. I am offended by people who never for a moment consider that anything they say might be reflective of bigotry, and defensively assume instead that any offense taken at that bigotry must have an ulterior motive.
-
I'm waiting for Giovanni to enthuse about sex on tv at this point..
Actually, it was on television viewing and sexual activities, and I'm preparing a post matching in long-windedness my prowess in both those areas.
Okay, relax, I kid: that lurid threat was in fact an attempt on my part to, er, alleviate the tension. I'm a fan of both posters and I'm pretty sure neither of them means what the other thinks they mean.
-
Sorry, chaps and chapesses: I got riled by being called a bigot merely because I do not like geek culture. From now on, I will ignore Kracklite.
-
Well, thank you, I may I return the compliment.
I often wonder what I think I mean and spend hours cogitating on epistemology as a consequence.
-
To Giovanni, I mean.
-
And yet we would all get on splendidly over a few drinks, where the tone would be easier to figure, the corrections and adjustments would come sooner and the mutual good intent would be more apparent.
-
Probably not, I admit... I'm simply no good at reading body language or facial expressions and constructing an accurate theory of mind thereby. Goes with the territory.
I do take your point thusly expressed, however.
-
An admirable sentiment, Sacha, but I think there is a shortage of mutual good intent.
-
Then how about "John Key is a Cnut"?
Single handedly turning back the tide of....[insert dog whistle of the day here]Steve: Ah, "dog-whistle" -- another lame-arse cliché I'd deconstruct if I thought you'd actually bother listening.
-
"Dog-whistle" is a dog-whistle. And that's not just the Correspondence Theory of Truth. It's also noting that "Dog-whistle" is a reflexive concept. Which has nothing to do with Pavlov.
-
Steve: Ah, "dog-whistle" -- another lame-arse cliché I'd deconstruct if I thought you'd actually bother listening.
And there I was thinking you were trying to play Mr Nice Guy.
Well Craig, which lame-arsed cliché would you prefer I used to depict the actions of John Key and his sycophantic followers, Headline Grabbing populiism?
Post your response…
This topic is closed.