overview for maol

Stubsack: weekly thread for sneers not worth an entire post, week ending 6th April 2025 in c/techtakes@awful.systems

[–] maol@awful.systems 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Wow, this wrong and unfair but it's also just stupid. Especially this:

The homeless theory of cities:

SF is idealistic and trusting because the homeless are mostly peaceful addicts commiting slow suicide

NYC is ruthless and status-obsessed because the homeless are aggressive and confrontational

How to explain our very good friends to normal humans? in c/sneerclub@awful.systems

[–] maol@awful.systems 9 points 3 months ago

I think starting with Sam Bankman Fried is a solid idea. Relatively informed members of the general public a) know who that guy is, and b) know that he made some really poor decisions. He does not have the silicon valley mystique that attaches itself to some other adherents, I think fewer people will think "well that guy is really smart, why would he be in a cult". Then you can go back and explain EA and LessWrong and Yudkowsky's role in all of this.

Stubsack: weekly thread for sneers not worth an entire post, week ending 6th April 2025 in c/techtakes@awful.systems

[–] maol@awful.systems 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I have no knowledge or insight on the topic, but I used to get recommendations for "intelligence squared" videos on YouTube and I always thought it was a terrible, self-aggrandizing title for a series or event. Smart People Taking About Smart Things.

Stubsack: weekly thread for sneers not worth an entire post, week ending 6th April 2025 in c/techtakes@awful.systems

[–] maol@awful.systems 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I should probably give it a go!

Stubsack: weekly thread for sneers not worth an entire post, week ending 6th April 2025 in c/techtakes@awful.systems

[–] maol@awful.systems 8 points 3 months ago (3 children)

I would also like to complain that I have finally started getting AI summaries in Google, and I may have to switch to a different search engine. Neither wanted nor needed!

Stubsack: weekly thread for sneers not worth an entire post, week ending 6th April 2025 in c/techtakes@awful.systems

[–] maol@awful.systems 14 points 3 months ago (8 children)

My University Keeps Sending Me Stupid Emails About AI, a continuing series:

A poster that reads "This house believes that AI is the future of climate resilient design". There is also a picture of a robot.

From the email:

The debate will be chaired by Michael Pike. Speaking for the motion are Prof. Gregory O'Hare (TCD), Maeve Hynes, Prof. Gary Boyd and Chatgpt assisted by Student Curator Ruan McCabe, all UCD. Speaking against the motion are David Capener (UU), Lucy O'Connell, Peter Cody and Meabh O'Leary, all UCD.

Stubsack: weekly thread for sneers not worth an entire post, week ending 6th April 2025 in c/techtakes@awful.systems

[–] maol@awful.systems 8 points 3 months ago

There's a comment in there about how well it reflects on the British system that Bobby Sands was allowed to stand as an MP for Sinn Féin despite being an IRA member and a prisoner. This ignores that a) Sinn Féin policy was and is not to take seats in the British parliament, so he wouldn't have been voting or sitting on any committees, and b) Bobby Sands died in prison on hunger strike.