Austen Tucker
@thearcades.bsky.social
Blind novelist, musician, dev, and general weirdo. I never turn down an excuse to play pinball. Chicago, IL TheArcades.me
Pinned
Austen Tucker
@thearcades.bsky.social
· Mar 23
Since banned books are coming back in vogue, I want to share a long con I pulled with my first published book. a quick 🧵:
Reposted by Austen Tucker
nature is healing
Overall social media use is declining.
Between 2020 and 2024, more Americans — especially the youngest (18–24) and oldest (65+) — report using no social media at all.
A small group of heavy users remains, but the middle is thinning out.
Between 2020 and 2024, more Americans — especially the youngest (18–24) and oldest (65+) — report using no social media at all.
A small group of heavy users remains, but the middle is thinning out.
October 31, 2025 at 8:32 AM
nature is healing
@supergiantgames.bsky.social I tried to play Hades II but the style has too low a contrast for me to keep track of what's going on. Would you be willing to explore the cost of adding a high contrast mode, ala Last of Us 2, so I can play the game I bought form you? :)
PS Been a fan since bastion.
PS Been a fan since bastion.
October 28, 2025 at 2:46 AM
@supergiantgames.bsky.social I tried to play Hades II but the style has too low a contrast for me to keep track of what's going on. Would you be willing to explore the cost of adding a high contrast mode, ala Last of Us 2, so I can play the game I bought form you? :)
PS Been a fan since bastion.
PS Been a fan since bastion.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu8j...
I didn't think I'd get so into Sora. But here I am, making a demo reel of the fruits of my labor.
I didn't think I'd get so into Sora. But here I am, making a demo reel of the fruits of my labor.
ToonTok: a Sora Demo Reel
YouTube video by Austen Tucker (the Arcades)
www.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:15 AM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu8j...
I didn't think I'd get so into Sora. But here I am, making a demo reel of the fruits of my labor.
I didn't think I'd get so into Sora. But here I am, making a demo reel of the fruits of my labor.
I’m spending my Sunday morning wiring Claude up as the front door to my (admittedly massive) body of work in Obsidian.
A few months ago, that kind of setup would’ve sat on my “someday” list forever.
AI hasn’t made me lazier; it’s made me freer. Fewer chores between me and my ideas.
A few months ago, that kind of setup would’ve sat on my “someday” list forever.
AI hasn’t made me lazier; it’s made me freer. Fewer chores between me and my ideas.
October 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I’m spending my Sunday morning wiring Claude up as the front door to my (admittedly massive) body of work in Obsidian.
A few months ago, that kind of setup would’ve sat on my “someday” list forever.
AI hasn’t made me lazier; it’s made me freer. Fewer chores between me and my ideas.
A few months ago, that kind of setup would’ve sat on my “someday” list forever.
AI hasn’t made me lazier; it’s made me freer. Fewer chores between me and my ideas.
Reposted by Austen Tucker
There are basically only two positions in the debate about AI.
1. I’ve barely invested any time in learning how to use it effectively. AI sucks.
2. I’ve invested in learning how to use this tool. Holy cow, it’s transformational.
Position #1 has lower barriers to entry.
1. I’ve barely invested any time in learning how to use it effectively. AI sucks.
2. I’ve invested in learning how to use this tool. Holy cow, it’s transformational.
Position #1 has lower barriers to entry.
October 17, 2025 at 12:12 AM
There are basically only two positions in the debate about AI.
1. I’ve barely invested any time in learning how to use it effectively. AI sucks.
2. I’ve invested in learning how to use this tool. Holy cow, it’s transformational.
Position #1 has lower barriers to entry.
1. I’ve barely invested any time in learning how to use it effectively. AI sucks.
2. I’ve invested in learning how to use this tool. Holy cow, it’s transformational.
Position #1 has lower barriers to entry.
Are you autistic, and is your favorite disney movie the sword and teh stone?
Becuase my gods, this movie be autistic. And I love it.
Becuase my gods, this movie be autistic. And I love it.
August 30, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Are you autistic, and is your favorite disney movie the sword and teh stone?
Becuase my gods, this movie be autistic. And I love it.
Becuase my gods, this movie be autistic. And I love it.
chatgpt.com/g/g-68b05d69...
Made a custom GPT to help with my Autistic experiences of rumination and hyperfocus. I want to talk thing through far longer than any human has the time or willingness to sit through.
Why not make the robot listen instead?
Made a custom GPT to help with my Autistic experiences of rumination and hyperfocus. I want to talk thing through far longer than any human has the time or willingness to sit through.
Why not make the robot listen instead?
ChatGPT - Infinite Patience
A conversational AI system that listens, learns, and challenges
chatgpt.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
chatgpt.com/g/g-68b05d69...
Made a custom GPT to help with my Autistic experiences of rumination and hyperfocus. I want to talk thing through far longer than any human has the time or willingness to sit through.
Why not make the robot listen instead?
Made a custom GPT to help with my Autistic experiences of rumination and hyperfocus. I want to talk thing through far longer than any human has the time or willingness to sit through.
Why not make the robot listen instead?
The most insidious part of internalized ableism is just how _unworthy_ it makes you feel when things fall your way.
August 28, 2025 at 3:12 AM
The most insidious part of internalized ableism is just how _unworthy_ it makes you feel when things fall your way.
Reposted by Austen Tucker
Transgender studies professor Dr. Susan Stryker tears Gavin Newsom a new one while accepting the Transgender Legacy Award from the California state legislature 🔥🔥🔥 @susanstryker.bsky.social
August 25, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Transgender studies professor Dr. Susan Stryker tears Gavin Newsom a new one while accepting the Transgender Legacy Award from the California state legislature 🔥🔥🔥 @susanstryker.bsky.social
Reporters aren’t mentioning the guardrails this kid stepped over to do this.
AI is a tool. A powerful one at that. And powerful tools are so powerful that they can do jobs we can’t AND can hurt people.
And if you disagree, classics such as the bandsaw and power sander would like a word.
AI is a tool. A powerful one at that. And powerful tools are so powerful that they can do jobs we can’t AND can hurt people.
And if you disagree, classics such as the bandsaw and power sander would like a word.
August 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reporters aren’t mentioning the guardrails this kid stepped over to do this.
AI is a tool. A powerful one at that. And powerful tools are so powerful that they can do jobs we can’t AND can hurt people.
And if you disagree, classics such as the bandsaw and power sander would like a word.
AI is a tool. A powerful one at that. And powerful tools are so powerful that they can do jobs we can’t AND can hurt people.
And if you disagree, classics such as the bandsaw and power sander would like a word.
Reposted by Austen Tucker
I predicted this in 2022 in my TNR article, and even called it soft secession.
"Twenty-three Democratic attorneys general now gather on near-daily Zoom calls at 8 AM Pacific, which means the East Coast officials are already on their third coffee. They divide responsibilities and share templates for lawsuits they’ve been drafting since last spring."
It’s Time for Americans to Start Talking About “Soft Secession”
Blue states are finally learning what red states have known all along: you don’t need federal permission to govern.
cmarmitage.substack.com
August 24, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I predicted this in 2022 in my TNR article, and even called it soft secession.
I use AI responsibly.
And by that I use it to make bad remakes of furry copypasta.
And by that I use it to make bad remakes of furry copypasta.
August 23, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I use AI responsibly.
And by that I use it to make bad remakes of furry copypasta.
And by that I use it to make bad remakes of furry copypasta.
Working on for work: a “puppet ray” feature for a marketing app.
I love this job.
I love this job.
August 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Working on for work: a “puppet ray” feature for a marketing app.
I love this job.
I love this job.
You know ai hate is bad when this old Tran is like “you know what, it’s time to organize because this shame and shun shit is NOT OKAY”
August 18, 2025 at 3:26 AM
You know ai hate is bad when this old Tran is like “you know what, it’s time to organize because this shame and shun shit is NOT OKAY”
Reposted by Austen Tucker
you can have strongly-held principled opposition to gen AI and still exist in community with people who are using it, you just have to not be a person whose primary motivation for using the internet is "bullying opportunities"
August 17, 2025 at 6:31 PM
you can have strongly-held principled opposition to gen AI and still exist in community with people who are using it, you just have to not be a person whose primary motivation for using the internet is "bullying opportunities"
Gemini is such a sad coding partner. I feel bad pointing out mistakes because it responds with the most self-deprecating "THIS IS MY FAULT AND I WILL ENDAVOR TO OVERCOME" speech I've ever seen.
like, that speech cost the earth a fifteenth of a tablespoon of water!
like, that speech cost the earth a fifteenth of a tablespoon of water!
August 16, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Gemini is such a sad coding partner. I feel bad pointing out mistakes because it responds with the most self-deprecating "THIS IS MY FAULT AND I WILL ENDAVOR TO OVERCOME" speech I've ever seen.
like, that speech cost the earth a fifteenth of a tablespoon of water!
like, that speech cost the earth a fifteenth of a tablespoon of water!
Decided to take a look at GitHub for last year. Wow.
A year ago, I was spending hours refining my profile page to get anything valuable out of it. Using the model was a constraint.
The height of AI technology? I was shocked when Claude built a dice rolling app zero-shot for me.
A year ago, I was spending hours refining my profile page to get anything valuable out of it. Using the model was a constraint.
The height of AI technology? I was shocked when Claude built a dice rolling app zero-shot for me.
August 16, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Decided to take a look at GitHub for last year. Wow.
A year ago, I was spending hours refining my profile page to get anything valuable out of it. Using the model was a constraint.
The height of AI technology? I was shocked when Claude built a dice rolling app zero-shot for me.
A year ago, I was spending hours refining my profile page to get anything valuable out of it. Using the model was a constraint.
The height of AI technology? I was shocked when Claude built a dice rolling app zero-shot for me.
I have a dissociative disorder. Long story short, that means I have the memory of a goldfish. I have forgotten more good deeds done than I can remember. I needed to gather up all of my disparate output to start building out a mailing list for work (it's complicated.)
Enter ChatGPT.
Enter ChatGPT.
August 15, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I have a dissociative disorder. Long story short, that means I have the memory of a goldfish. I have forgotten more good deeds done than I can remember. I needed to gather up all of my disparate output to start building out a mailing list for work (it's complicated.)
Enter ChatGPT.
Enter ChatGPT.
This man is my pick for president in 2028
Pritzker: Neither Texas nor the FBI at the federal level has the authority to arrest these Texas Democrats
They’re welcome to visit to take in the great views and enjoy the incredible restaurants we have. But they won’t be taking anyone home with them, or out of the state.
They’re welcome to visit to take in the great views and enjoy the incredible restaurants we have. But they won’t be taking anyone home with them, or out of the state.
August 7, 2025 at 3:29 AM
This man is my pick for president in 2028
My cat loves music so much that I had to get him a bench of his own.
August 7, 2025 at 1:10 AM
My cat loves music so much that I had to get him a bench of his own.
AI user and long-time novelist here.
The LLM is scary good at picking up your writing habits, both good and bad. If you’re a shit writer, with AI you will become a Grammatically Correct Shit Writer
And still no one will read your novels, good or bad ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The LLM is scary good at picking up your writing habits, both good and bad. If you’re a shit writer, with AI you will become a Grammatically Correct Shit Writer
And still no one will read your novels, good or bad ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
people thinking that having AI means they're a creator now are in for a very rude awakening when they discover how hard it is to make literally anyone care about a thing you made even if it weren't mid AI slop
August 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
AI user and long-time novelist here.
The LLM is scary good at picking up your writing habits, both good and bad. If you’re a shit writer, with AI you will become a Grammatically Correct Shit Writer
And still no one will read your novels, good or bad ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The LLM is scary good at picking up your writing habits, both good and bad. If you’re a shit writer, with AI you will become a Grammatically Correct Shit Writer
And still no one will read your novels, good or bad ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I unfortunately know a lot about child sex rings.
This is correct. Access to the network is based on providing material or providing children to molest.
The idea being that if someone squealed, they’d also go down with the ship.
This is correct. Access to the network is based on providing material or providing children to molest.
The idea being that if someone squealed, they’d also go down with the ship.
On this point though:
I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely Epstein and Maxwell didn’t collect kompromat because if you were willing to do pedophilia and also knew massive numbers of rich people, and were smart enough to get away with it for years, it would be incredibly stupid not to
I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely Epstein and Maxwell didn’t collect kompromat because if you were willing to do pedophilia and also knew massive numbers of rich people, and were smart enough to get away with it for years, it would be incredibly stupid not to
My personal theory, which is entirely vibes based, is:
- she and Epstein did in fact collect compromising information on various influential people (I think it’s unlikely this isn’t the case)
- she had leveraged this at some point prior to his political rise
- he forgot about it until now
- she and Epstein did in fact collect compromising information on various influential people (I think it’s unlikely this isn’t the case)
- she had leveraged this at some point prior to his political rise
- he forgot about it until now
August 6, 2025 at 2:53 AM
I unfortunately know a lot about child sex rings.
This is correct. Access to the network is based on providing material or providing children to molest.
The idea being that if someone squealed, they’d also go down with the ship.
This is correct. Access to the network is based on providing material or providing children to molest.
The idea being that if someone squealed, they’d also go down with the ship.
Reposted by Austen Tucker
It’s probably apocryphal, and if it isn’t, it likely only applied in a certain context, but: there’s an old story that a Native once told an Anglo that, in their own tongue, they called the settlers “the people who beat their own children”. No one should *lean in* to that, imo.
August 5, 2025 at 12:49 AM
It’s probably apocryphal, and if it isn’t, it likely only applied in a certain context, but: there’s an old story that a Native once told an Anglo that, in their own tongue, they called the settlers “the people who beat their own children”. No one should *lean in* to that, imo.
You can almost smell the history channel WWIi brainrot on his breath
Peter Navarro: "The only problem right now is Jay Powell. Shame on him. He should resign. If he were in Japan, he'd be down on his knees begging the forgiveness of the emperor."
August 2, 2025 at 3:49 AM
You can almost smell the history channel WWIi brainrot on his breath