Kenny B
@playertotheleft.bsky.social
I love ethics, teach math, read (mostly) sci-fi and fantasy, and yearn for justice.
If I choose to write "Witgenstein," and you think, "why, he's misspelled that, hasn't he," then you have fundamentally understood my message. So have I misspelled Wittgenstine? Have I really?
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
If I choose to write "Witgenstein," and you think, "why, he's misspelled that, hasn't he," then you have fundamentally understood my message. So have I misspelled Wittgenstine? Have I really?
Causation is hard! Like, is social media bad for our emotional health, or are people more susceptible to social media's blandishments when their emotional health is struggling? In "The Anxious Generation," Jonathan Haidt does a good job arguing social media causes anxiety.
November 8, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Causation is hard! Like, is social media bad for our emotional health, or are people more susceptible to social media's blandishments when their emotional health is struggling? In "The Anxious Generation," Jonathan Haidt does a good job arguing social media causes anxiety.
Properly speaking, there is no such thing as "Conservative Feminism." If feminism is the radical idea that women should be considered as equally worthy of agency as men and conservatism is the idea that we should retain traditional values, the words are mutually exclusive.
November 6, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Properly speaking, there is no such thing as "Conservative Feminism." If feminism is the radical idea that women should be considered as equally worthy of agency as men and conservatism is the idea that we should retain traditional values, the words are mutually exclusive.
"The branches of knowledge where weak personalities are useful, are cultivated best (mathematics etc.)" [1]
Thanks, Nietzsche.
Thanks, Nietzsche.
October 25, 2025 at 10:54 PM
"The branches of knowledge where weak personalities are useful, are cultivated best (mathematics etc.)" [1]
Thanks, Nietzsche.
Thanks, Nietzsche.
It is such a joy to be able to read widely in philosophy. Nietzsche is made so much richer by identifying the subtle strains of Kant and the joyous leitmotif of Epicurus/Lucretius. How I treasure living in a world with mass-printed books!
August 19, 2025 at 2:15 AM
It is such a joy to be able to read widely in philosophy. Nietzsche is made so much richer by identifying the subtle strains of Kant and the joyous leitmotif of Epicurus/Lucretius. How I treasure living in a world with mass-printed books!
One might even argue that, by asserting that Jewish citizens in Ireland (the people they claim to want to protect) are uniformly culpable for acts perpetrated by Jewish settlers in Palestine (the people the boycott is aimed at), the ADL is acting in an anti-Semitic essentialist manner.
July 16, 2025 at 8:39 PM
One might even argue that, by asserting that Jewish citizens in Ireland (the people they claim to want to protect) are uniformly culpable for acts perpetrated by Jewish settlers in Palestine (the people the boycott is aimed at), the ADL is acting in an anti-Semitic essentialist manner.
What is best in life is when someone else has made the joke in the comments already, thus alleviating all my motivation to be a random person commenting on some strangers thing (post, webcomic, family vacation photo album... you know, whatever).
July 15, 2025 at 2:59 AM
What is best in life is when someone else has made the joke in the comments already, thus alleviating all my motivation to be a random person commenting on some strangers thing (post, webcomic, family vacation photo album... you know, whatever).
I have recently decided that I want to die believing I did my best to learn as much as I could then shared what I knew with those who wanted it. As a "meaning of life," it seems reasonable, we'll see how long it holds up.
July 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I have recently decided that I want to die believing I did my best to learn as much as I could then shared what I knew with those who wanted it. As a "meaning of life," it seems reasonable, we'll see how long it holds up.
Yes and no. I probably would not have been hired for the position I am in without a couple of them but, other than that, I have never really found the degrees useful. The knowledge I obtained in their pursuit is still very helpful though!
Serious question: If you got one, do you use your college degree?
July 8, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Yes and no. I probably would not have been hired for the position I am in without a couple of them but, other than that, I have never really found the degrees useful. The knowledge I obtained in their pursuit is still very helpful though!
Playing D&D and discussing the "Is-Ought" divide. Remember today, for today is a good day.
July 6, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Playing D&D and discussing the "Is-Ought" divide. Remember today, for today is a good day.
Isn't there a mathematical association specifically for keeping people out of mathematics... I mean keeping math "rigorous"? (I'm not naming them because why give them advertisement.)
I think it's very telling that some mathematicians wanted to put in writing explicitly that equity, diversity, and inclusion are not goals of theirs or needs of the mathematical community.
Why are you afraid to say that equity and inclusion are outcomes you seek?
Why are you afraid to say that equity and inclusion are outcomes you seek?
June 19, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Isn't there a mathematical association specifically for keeping people out of mathematics... I mean keeping math "rigorous"? (I'm not naming them because why give them advertisement.)
All the most effective organizations have reasonable goals to motivate them ("SMART" metrics). It is best practice for administration. After all, if you do not have metrics, how are you going to let other people know how very effective you are?
May 15, 2025 at 7:33 PM
All the most effective organizations have reasonable goals to motivate them ("SMART" metrics). It is best practice for administration. After all, if you do not have metrics, how are you going to let other people know how very effective you are?
It's like using the entire US economy as a way to funnel wealth to the super-rich from... well, everyone else everywhere, is a bad idea or something. Heck, even the super rich want the rest of us to be able to afford to buy their products. (They just want someone else to pay us.)
April 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
It's like using the entire US economy as a way to funnel wealth to the super-rich from... well, everyone else everywhere, is a bad idea or something. Heck, even the super rich want the rest of us to be able to afford to buy their products. (They just want someone else to pay us.)
Given 1: "I'll come in early tomorrow for my research meeting."
Given 2: "I'll come in early tomorrow to upload scores to the POS LMS."
Conclusion 1: "I am in trouble!"
Given 2: "I'll come in early tomorrow to upload scores to the POS LMS."
Conclusion 1: "I am in trouble!"
April 24, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Given 1: "I'll come in early tomorrow for my research meeting."
Given 2: "I'll come in early tomorrow to upload scores to the POS LMS."
Conclusion 1: "I am in trouble!"
Given 2: "I'll come in early tomorrow to upload scores to the POS LMS."
Conclusion 1: "I am in trouble!"
It's weird, but fun, to see the juxtaposition of Easter messaging and 4/20 messaging. Enjoy whatever you are celebrating!
April 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
It's weird, but fun, to see the juxtaposition of Easter messaging and 4/20 messaging. Enjoy whatever you are celebrating!
As a mathematician/philosopher I specialize in dealing with logical structures and systems. Thus, I am at a great disadvantage when trying to access healthcare in the United States. (Aren't we all, though?)
March 17, 2025 at 9:07 PM
As a mathematician/philosopher I specialize in dealing with logical structures and systems. Thus, I am at a great disadvantage when trying to access healthcare in the United States. (Aren't we all, though?)
Accusing an institution of being anti-sematic for not supporting the Israeli government is a white color equivalent of SWAT-ing.
March 6, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Accusing an institution of being anti-sematic for not supporting the Israeli government is a white color equivalent of SWAT-ing.
The great thing about democracies is that we choose our leaders. If Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned (and he probably didn't), that is a tragedy because Rome was saddled with him based on his family. (Was Claudius his dad, I'm leaning toward no, but not sure.)
February 12, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The great thing about democracies is that we choose our leaders. If Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned (and he probably didn't), that is a tragedy because Rome was saddled with him based on his family. (Was Claudius his dad, I'm leaning toward no, but not sure.)
I have decided that, with this new social media site, I need a new schtick. What do we think about trolling with covers from random board games?
January 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I have decided that, with this new social media site, I need a new schtick. What do we think about trolling with covers from random board games?
McAllister's is the master of the underwhelming offer. I just got an advertisement for a "Buy Three, Get One 25% Off!" offer.
November 12, 2024 at 8:48 PM
McAllister's is the master of the underwhelming offer. I just got an advertisement for a "Buy Three, Get One 25% Off!" offer.
I want to go home and play Slay the Spire some more. I need to stick around for Student Hours and prep for classes/meetings tomorrow. So what I end up actually doing is hopping on social media!
November 11, 2024 at 8:02 PM
I want to go home and play Slay the Spire some more. I need to stick around for Student Hours and prep for classes/meetings tomorrow. So what I end up actually doing is hopping on social media!
Hello Blue Sky, I am going to try to be on you more, because I need to be on the other one less. Also, I have a back-log of board game photos that should be shared somewhere!
November 7, 2024 at 10:55 PM
Hello Blue Sky, I am going to try to be on you more, because I need to be on the other one less. Also, I have a back-log of board game photos that should be shared somewhere!
"I will not argue with people on social media, it is a waste of my time."
"I will not argue with people on social media, it is a waste of my time."
"I will not argue with people on social media, it is a waste of my time."
(And I took the time to write that sentence three times.)
"I will not argue with people on social media, it is a waste of my time."
"I will not argue with people on social media, it is a waste of my time."
(And I took the time to write that sentence three times.)
March 24, 2024 at 7:33 PM
"I will not argue with people on social media, it is a waste of my time."
"I will not argue with people on social media, it is a waste of my time."
"I will not argue with people on social media, it is a waste of my time."
(And I took the time to write that sentence three times.)
"I will not argue with people on social media, it is a waste of my time."
"I will not argue with people on social media, it is a waste of my time."
(And I took the time to write that sentence three times.)
Dear fellow white Americans, if you feel the irrepressible urge to quote MLKJr., I implore you not to go straight to the "I have a dream" speech and, instead, quote "Letter from a Birmingham Jail". I say this because of the content of your character, which is informed by the color of your skin.
March 24, 2024 at 7:10 PM
Dear fellow white Americans, if you feel the irrepressible urge to quote MLKJr., I implore you not to go straight to the "I have a dream" speech and, instead, quote "Letter from a Birmingham Jail". I say this because of the content of your character, which is informed by the color of your skin.
Be the Reviewer #2 you want to see in the world.
(The real Reviewer #2 was inside you all along?)
(The real Reviewer #2 was inside you all along?)
November 23, 2023 at 6:27 PM
Be the Reviewer #2 you want to see in the world.
(The real Reviewer #2 was inside you all along?)
(The real Reviewer #2 was inside you all along?)