Utopian Incrementalist
@meliorist.bsky.social
Liberal, pragmatist, humanist, democrat, reformist, meliorist, American, cosmopolite. "To be ignorant of the past is to remain forever a child." -- Cicero
Pinned
It is during times like this that I truly realize how limited social media platforms are for understanding politics. There is a lot of noise. but much less insight. Too many people are reacting out of anger and making confident predictions about elections in one year and three years from now.
November 10, 2025 at 2:33 PM
It is during times like this that I truly realize how limited social media platforms are for understanding politics. There is a lot of noise. but much less insight. Too many people are reacting out of anger and making confident predictions about elections in one year and three years from now.
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
Those who produce these guidelines surely understand that they are playing a game of pretend, acting as if the most likely outcome will not be that many students simply take what the LLM gives them and pass it off as their own.
I've been reading more about Ohio State's initiatives and saw this on their teaching and learning website. There are a lot of ways to help students at these early stages of the writing process but I'm not sure what problem is solved by producing "reams of raw content."
November 9, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Those who produce these guidelines surely understand that they are playing a game of pretend, acting as if the most likely outcome will not be that many students simply take what the LLM gives them and pass it off as their own.
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
Last night, the Trump Administration sent a letter suggesting Wisconsin should return our FoodShare payments.
My response ⬇️
My response ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Last night, the Trump Administration sent a letter suggesting Wisconsin should return our FoodShare payments.
My response ⬇️
My response ⬇️
Men are more likely to buy into reactionary frames. And part of that appeal is that men benefit from the legacy of a sexist and patriarchal society. Changing the aesthetics or vibe of the Democratic Party will do little or nothing to change that appeal or to diminish gender polarization.
I’m sorry, but a goofy looking guy who grew up a privileged son of a pediatrician and has a phd in social theory from the university of Goethe and started in tech by investing an inheritance left to him by his grandfather talking about being a “dude” is very, very funny to me.
November 9, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Men are more likely to buy into reactionary frames. And part of that appeal is that men benefit from the legacy of a sexist and patriarchal society. Changing the aesthetics or vibe of the Democratic Party will do little or nothing to change that appeal or to diminish gender polarization.
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
Reagan-appointed federal judge: "justice is supposed to be administered...equally for everyone, without fear or favor. This is the opposite of what is happening now....Day after day, I observed in silence as President Trump, his aides, & his allies dismantled so much of what I dedicated my life to."
“What Nixon did episodically and covertly, knowing it was illegal or improper, Trump now does routinely and overtly.” — recently retired federal judge
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why I Am Leaving the Federal Bench
A judge explains his reasons for resigning.
www.theatlantic.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reagan-appointed federal judge: "justice is supposed to be administered...equally for everyone, without fear or favor. This is the opposite of what is happening now....Day after day, I observed in silence as President Trump, his aides, & his allies dismantled so much of what I dedicated my life to."
I have two concerns. First, the study seems designed for the sorts of subjects that involve understanding a settled body of information and reproducing it or applying it on tests. Not all education is like that: learning a language, developing reading skills, analyzing arguments, being creative.
Are we approaching a Turing Test for Teaching? A deep dive into the evidence on AI tutoring. carlhendrick.substack.com/p/the-algori...
November 8, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I have two concerns. First, the study seems designed for the sorts of subjects that involve understanding a settled body of information and reproducing it or applying it on tests. Not all education is like that: learning a language, developing reading skills, analyzing arguments, being creative.
As far as I can tell, the idea of training students for the age of AI just means letting students use LLMs all of the time. In other words, it seeks to eliminate all of our traditional ways of educating children behind the charade of preparing them for the glorious technological future.
the use and abuse of Abraham Lincoln's memory, AI dystopia edition
Abraham Lincoln set off an education revolution in 1862 with the Land Grant Act. We need the same thing today for AI | Fortune
Imagine a federal initiative that builds a nationwide system of universities and colleges equipped to educate and train every region for the age of AI.
fortune.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:54 PM
As far as I can tell, the idea of training students for the age of AI just means letting students use LLMs all of the time. In other words, it seeks to eliminate all of our traditional ways of educating children behind the charade of preparing them for the glorious technological future.
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
"This long-running war on knowledge and expertise has sown the ground for the narratives widely used by AI companies and the CEOs adopting it. Human labor, inquiry, creativity, and expertise is spurned in the name of “efficiency.” With AI, there is no need for human expertise"
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"This long-running war on knowledge and expertise has sown the ground for the narratives widely used by AI companies and the CEOs adopting it. Human labor, inquiry, creativity, and expertise is spurned in the name of “efficiency.” With AI, there is no need for human expertise"
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
congrats to everyone for thinking this through before signing very big contracts to put it on every student’s device at the school or university you run
OVER A MILLION USERS
DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT
EVERY *WEEK*
what the fuck are we DOING here
DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT
EVERY *WEEK*
what the fuck are we DOING here
Panera’s moderately caffeinated lemonade was loosely associated with 2 deaths before it was taken off market.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
congrats to everyone for thinking this through before signing very big contracts to put it on every student’s device at the school or university you run
Welp. This was a depressing thing to read. The world in a gooncave. I suspect that the unleashing of pervasive, unrestricted hardcore pornography on society, available to any twelve-year-old with an internet connection, may turn out to have some negative consequences.
harpers.org/archive/2025...
harpers.org/archive/2025...
The Goon Squad, by Daniel Kolitz
Loneliness, porn’s next frontier, and the dream of endless masturbation
harpers.org
November 8, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Welp. This was a depressing thing to read. The world in a gooncave. I suspect that the unleashing of pervasive, unrestricted hardcore pornography on society, available to any twelve-year-old with an internet connection, may turn out to have some negative consequences.
harpers.org/archive/2025...
harpers.org/archive/2025...
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
Did Women Ruin Enkidu?
By Gilgamesh
By Gilgamesh
November 7, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Did Women Ruin Enkidu?
By Gilgamesh
By Gilgamesh
When your politics boils down to hating various kinds of people -- which explains much of the MAGA GOP right now.
it's utterly wild how the Heritage Foundation president talks about other people
if you found a guy talking like this outside, you'd probably call the cops
if you found a guy talking like this outside, you'd probably call the cops
November 3, 2025 at 2:44 AM
When your politics boils down to hating various kinds of people -- which explains much of the MAGA GOP right now.
The Democratic Party would help itself a lot if it set a much higher threshold for participating in primary debates. The 2020 debates were agonizingly bad.
He's gonna get about 0.5% in Iowa, he's gonna be a stable of the undercard debate clips tho.
If you care who becomes president in 2028, make time to read @ashleyrparker.bsky.social 's wild ride profile of Rahm Emanuel, the "pile-driver" candidate in waiting.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
November 3, 2025 at 12:47 AM
The Democratic Party would help itself a lot if it set a much higher threshold for participating in primary debates. The 2020 debates were agonizingly bad.
Ezra Klein figured out the magic button the Democrats can push to start winning more elections.
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
The Democratic Party doesn’t need to move left or right, it needs to get bigger, our columnist Ezra Klein writes. “That is the spirit it needs to embrace. Not moderation. Not progressivism. But, in the older political sense of the term, representation.”
The Democratic Party doesn’t need to move left or right, it needs to get bigger, our columnist Ezra Klein writes. “That is the spirit it needs to embrace. Not moderation. Not progressivism. But, in the older political sense of the term, representation.”
Opinion | This Is the Way You Beat Trump — and Trumpism
Democrats do not just need to win more people. They also need to win more places.
nyti.ms
November 2, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Ezra Klein figured out the magic button the Democrats can push to start winning more elections.
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
Is this 5000 words of “If I was a political party, I would simply find more voters”
November 2, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Is this 5000 words of “If I was a political party, I would simply find more voters”
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
I feel like I am going insane, we have this discourse three times a week, and it consistently comes from people who are purportedly paid to understand politics. If your solution is objectively impossible, it's not a good solution!
In conclusion:
In conclusion:
November 2, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I feel like I am going insane, we have this discourse three times a week, and it consistently comes from people who are purportedly paid to understand politics. If your solution is objectively impossible, it's not a good solution!
In conclusion:
In conclusion:
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
This is from Autocracy, Inc, about how modern autocratic propaganda works.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
November 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM
This is from Autocracy, Inc, about how modern autocratic propaganda works.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
Baker & Taylor, one of the largest distributors for print library books in America, is closing down.
Libraries are reeling after a major distributor shutdown.
This Thursday brings bad news for book lovers. Baker & Taylor, one of the largest distributors for print library books in America, is closing down—and throwing the distribution pipeline into (a…
buff.ly
November 2, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Baker & Taylor, one of the largest distributors for print library books in America, is closing down.
Perceptions about whether, Democrats moved too far to the left, to the extent that this even motivates a significant number of voters, are a can of worms. Such perceptions are deliberately created by the opposition and thus can diverge quite drastically from the reality.
“Dems moved too far left” means BLM and trans equality—and for some, taking COVID seriously—and many Dem politicians really do support those things.
There’s tons of noise and euphemism, but that’s the core argument.
And it is a misguided one, since Dems won the election after that move, in 2020.
There’s tons of noise and euphemism, but that’s the core argument.
And it is a misguided one, since Dems won the election after that move, in 2020.
November 2, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Perceptions about whether, Democrats moved too far to the left, to the extent that this even motivates a significant number of voters, are a can of worms. Such perceptions are deliberately created by the opposition and thus can diverge quite drastically from the reality.
Essentially, the Supreme Court has to decide whether the president (a) must follow the law and respect the limits imposed by the Constitution, or (b) can do whatever he wants for whatever reason. It is that absurd, and yet here we are with the outcome in serious doubt.
SCOTUS to hear arguments this week on whether a TV commercial that makes you mad is a national economic “emergency”. 🤡
@apnews.com #IEEFA
apnews.com/article/trum...
@apnews.com #IEEFA
apnews.com/article/trum...
November 2, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Essentially, the Supreme Court has to decide whether the president (a) must follow the law and respect the limits imposed by the Constitution, or (b) can do whatever he wants for whatever reason. It is that absurd, and yet here we are with the outcome in serious doubt.
Another example of the "better messaging" fallacy. Despite all evidence, people continue to believe that electoral outcomes are primarily determined by the quality of messaging. Too much of the shouting on social media is wasted on this pointless activity.
They literally screamed this at the top of their lungs, arguably making it the centerpiece of the 24 campaign, and it DID NOT WORK
What should be a flashing red light to the party is how they utterly failed to show voters the actual problem: Trump and the Republicans are evil, and they should have been identified as such. Not just "unfit" -- but the enemy, threats to America. Like the shit they said about Obama, except true
November 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Another example of the "better messaging" fallacy. Despite all evidence, people continue to believe that electoral outcomes are primarily determined by the quality of messaging. Too much of the shouting on social media is wasted on this pointless activity.
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
Here's a good recent example of what I mean, where a Democrat pushes back instead of accepting a Trump-friendly distortion as the premise.
Thanks @hankhoffmanct.bsky.social for alerting me to it, @corybooker.com for sharing/praising it, and especially @neguse.house.gov for doing it.
More like this
Thanks @hankhoffmanct.bsky.social for alerting me to it, @corybooker.com for sharing/praising it, and especially @neguse.house.gov for doing it.
More like this
November 1, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Here's a good recent example of what I mean, where a Democrat pushes back instead of accepting a Trump-friendly distortion as the premise.
Thanks @hankhoffmanct.bsky.social for alerting me to it, @corybooker.com for sharing/praising it, and especially @neguse.house.gov for doing it.
More like this
Thanks @hankhoffmanct.bsky.social for alerting me to it, @corybooker.com for sharing/praising it, and especially @neguse.house.gov for doing it.
More like this
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
That's a lot of military hardware to position and not go to war. A lot.
Eight warships, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, a floating base for Special Operations and an aircraft carrier on the way
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
These are the U.S. ships and aircraft massing off Venezuela
The large-scale buildup of U.S. military forces and assets in the Caribbean suggests that the Trump administration is preparing to expand operations.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:59 PM
That's a lot of military hardware to position and not go to war. A lot.
Reposted by Utopian Incrementalist
