Benjamin Johns
@baj.bsky.social
Just PR'd on my journey to become World's Oldest Man and deserve congratulations. Formerly @theoreticalb (and still theoreticalb@mastodon.social)
This is true, but it works because those actors know there's an appetite for posts validating people's ideological priors even if they aren't true (or reject nuance).
There's probably no policy solution-- government or corporate-- that can address the problem if that appetite remains so high.
There's probably no policy solution-- government or corporate-- that can address the problem if that appetite remains so high.
November 12, 2025 at 12:45 AM
This is true, but it works because those actors know there's an appetite for posts validating people's ideological priors even if they aren't true (or reject nuance).
There's probably no policy solution-- government or corporate-- that can address the problem if that appetite remains so high.
There's probably no policy solution-- government or corporate-- that can address the problem if that appetite remains so high.
Also the classic Bond villain Stavro Blofeld is played by Jared Leto, wearing a moustache. And the femme fatale is played by Academy Award Winner Jared Leto, wearing TWO moustaches.
November 11, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Also the classic Bond villain Stavro Blofeld is played by Jared Leto, wearing a moustache. And the femme fatale is played by Academy Award Winner Jared Leto, wearing TWO moustaches.
The only reason Palantir software is hard to abuse is that much of it is horseshit "AI features" that don't work at all, and most of the rest of it are basic database search features that also don't work at all.
November 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The only reason Palantir software is hard to abuse is that much of it is horseshit "AI features" that don't work at all, and most of the rest of it are basic database search features that also don't work at all.
Real "The Stand" dynamic in this one.
November 11, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Real "The Stand" dynamic in this one.
You can argue that Democrats losing this battle puts Republicans in a much weaker electoral position, because them celebrating people's skyrocketing healthcare bills as a "win" is ghoulish.
But Democrats can't celebrate it even if they want to, because, again, celebrating this would be ghoulish.
But Democrats can't celebrate it even if they want to, because, again, celebrating this would be ghoulish.
November 11, 2025 at 4:12 AM
You can argue that Democrats losing this battle puts Republicans in a much weaker electoral position, because them celebrating people's skyrocketing healthcare bills as a "win" is ghoulish.
But Democrats can't celebrate it even if they want to, because, again, celebrating this would be ghoulish.
But Democrats can't celebrate it even if they want to, because, again, celebrating this would be ghoulish.
Criminal President flawlessly executing plan to make crime impossible to punish.
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Criminal President flawlessly executing plan to make crime impossible to punish.
Literally the only drama here is who besides Collins gets permission to vote Yes so JD Vance gets to come down to the Senate and humiliate the entire Dem caucus in person.
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Literally the only drama here is who besides Collins gets permission to vote Yes so JD Vance gets to come down to the Senate and humiliate the entire Dem caucus in person.
I remember when the Paris agreement happened and there was drama between the parties who wanted the 2°C target and the 1.5°C target, and like, darlings, you're arguing about whether to get a dragon or a unicorn, you'll be lucky if any of these countries make any meaningful changes at all.
November 10, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I remember when the Paris agreement happened and there was drama between the parties who wanted the 2°C target and the 1.5°C target, and like, darlings, you're arguing about whether to get a dragon or a unicorn, you'll be lucky if any of these countries make any meaningful changes at all.
Given all this we should figure out who the Secretary of Transportation is and fire him immediately.
November 9, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Given all this we should figure out who the Secretary of Transportation is and fire him immediately.
This country really does need a lot more public bathrooms.
November 8, 2025 at 7:55 PM
This country really does need a lot more public bathrooms.
I think that's true. Political junkies have been angry about Democrats, especially Schumer, caving all year and have no appetite for it. This is a good and generous compromise in the eyes of anyone else; that said, coming on a Friday before a holiday, I doubt anyone else will ever hear about it.
November 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I think that's true. Political junkies have been angry about Democrats, especially Schumer, caving all year and have no appetite for it. This is a good and generous compromise in the eyes of anyone else; that said, coming on a Friday before a holiday, I doubt anyone else will ever hear about it.
It's that he's negotiating against himself. Next time to "seem reasonable" he'll have to ask for a six month extension. Then a two month "partial extension."
None of this makes people's lives better, and it feels like it's done to appeal to some "pro-negotiation constituency" that does not exist.
None of this makes people's lives better, and it feels like it's done to appeal to some "pro-negotiation constituency" that does not exist.
November 8, 2025 at 12:08 AM
It's that he's negotiating against himself. Next time to "seem reasonable" he'll have to ask for a six month extension. Then a two month "partial extension."
None of this makes people's lives better, and it feels like it's done to appeal to some "pro-negotiation constituency" that does not exist.
None of this makes people's lives better, and it feels like it's done to appeal to some "pro-negotiation constituency" that does not exist.
Break out that Animal Crossing between votes, Senator Hawley.
November 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Break out that Animal Crossing between votes, Senator Hawley.
Most of my high school history was framed around the idea that "the greatest danger to democracy is attack by an outside authoritative communist state," and the quarter century since then has just been one democracy after another being destroyed by its own voters electing aspiring fascists.
November 7, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Most of my high school history was framed around the idea that "the greatest danger to democracy is attack by an outside authoritative communist state," and the quarter century since then has just been one democracy after another being destroyed by its own voters electing aspiring fascists.
I guess if your idea of "winning a debate" is gish galloping over someone with a dozen lies that they won't have sufficient time to refute, then you live in terror that a machine capable of generating thousands of lies a second will order you to eat your own children.
November 6, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I guess if your idea of "winning a debate" is gish galloping over someone with a dozen lies that they won't have sufficient time to refute, then you live in terror that a machine capable of generating thousands of lies a second will order you to eat your own children.
I'm pretty sure I could be wearing plate armor and still feel a sandwich hit me, but you wouldn't hear me complain about it, because I'm not a four year old child desperate to be treated like a precious little victim.
November 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I'm pretty sure I could be wearing plate armor and still feel a sandwich hit me, but you wouldn't hear me complain about it, because I'm not a four year old child desperate to be treated like a precious little victim.
I can guess which one Bezos' Washington Post will be promoting as "Personifying the Democratic Party" over the next year and weirdly it won't be the one whose constituents actually live in Washington where the Post is headquartered, weird, strange.
November 5, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I can guess which one Bezos' Washington Post will be promoting as "Personifying the Democratic Party" over the next year and weirdly it won't be the one whose constituents actually live in Washington where the Post is headquartered, weird, strange.
If I was an American taking time out of my life and away from my job to serve on a jury I would be extremely angry that the government felt this was worth three days of my time.
November 5, 2025 at 4:09 PM
If I was an American taking time out of my life and away from my job to serve on a jury I would be extremely angry that the government felt this was worth three days of my time.
Mike Johnson expresses his frustration by lying to the press.
Voters express their frustration by taking it out on the party full of assholes lying to the press.
Voters express their frustration by taking it out on the party full of assholes lying to the press.
November 5, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Mike Johnson expresses his frustration by lying to the press.
Voters express their frustration by taking it out on the party full of assholes lying to the press.
Voters express their frustration by taking it out on the party full of assholes lying to the press.