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Cake day: March 8th, 2025

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  • It’s an interesting video in the sense that it seems like an honest attempt at just understanding the problem without really proposing a solution or call to action, which I appreciate. It briefly touches on two points that I thought were interesting:

    • Algorithms help us solve a “short term” problem that is really a symptom of a larger problem. And unfortunately, the best “short term” solution gets us farther away from addressing the larger issue. Specifically, engagement algorithms help us “solve” the problems of being bored and wanting connection. But while it helps us pass time (and feel some level of connection to the creators of whatever content we consume), in the end we feel less fulfilled and more lonely. And the quick satisfaction of the algorithm ends up making it even harder to put the work in to accomplishing things that are actually meaningful and going out into the real world to form real connections.

    • Engagement algorithms go beyond echo chambers into actually changing people. The issue of engagement algorithms only exposing you to amplified versions of things you already believe is something I remember reading about years ago. But this video points out that you can actually end up adopting entirely new interests and ideologies just because people who are similar to you engage with those things. So in a way, these algorithms can end up creating entirely new “communities” of people who are identified, not by what they really care about or believe, but by what common topics are most engaging to the community. Which is crazy because that effectively amounts to a group of addicts bonding over the substance that they are addicted to, but thinking of it as an identity rather than a problem.

    A surprisingly thought-provoking video from one of my favorite motorcycle channels.


  • Howard refused but accepted another position with the mayor instead, insisting that he did not feel victimized by the incident. On the contrary, Howard felt that he had learned from the situation. “I used to think it would be great if we could all be colorblind; that’s naïve, especially for a white person, because a white person [can] afford to be colorblind. They don’t have to think about race every day. An African American does.”

    Wow; I was surprised to get to the first controversy and discover such a thoughtful and empathetic take on the topic.


  • jonathan7luke@lemmy.mltomemes@lemmy.worldRespect your elders
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    2 months ago

    I 100% agree with the idea that rap is certainly not the only genre to glorify violence, drugs, etc. But the specific song choice is not really a great example in my opinion considering the last verse is

    C’mon you gotta listen unto me

    lay off that whiskey, and let that cocaine be.

    This song always struck me as a cautionary tale. Nothing about the song really seems to glorify the behavior.



  • I do have enough time, but I don’t have the self control. If I could hold myself to an hour a day, that would be fantastic, but I inevitably get myself too addicted and end up spending closer to 4 hours a day. At that point, all my other chores aren’t getting done. As a result, I haven’t played video games in several years.