this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2023
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[–] Bye@lemmy.world 51 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

Yes, I think people don’t like it because they think any time you use a word with a positive connotation (“benefit”), you must be speaking positively.

Another example is “brave”. Let’s talk about the woman who got shot to death while storming the US capitol. If you say she was brave, people will assume you side with Trump and the insurrectionists. But she was absolutely brave. But also deluded.

These mental shortcuts are reinforced all the time, and we really have to force ourselves to think critically (and cynically) to overcome them.

[–] be_excellent_to_each_other@kbin.social 9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Yes, I think people don’t like it because they think any time you use a word with a positive connotation (“benefit”), you must be speaking positively.

Although I agree with your overall point, in this case I think people don't like it because that's how it's most recently been used in this context.

DeSantis, however, is continuing to defend Florida’s new curriculum, which covers a broad range of topics and includes the assertion for middle school instruction that “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

[–] Bye@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago

What the fuck is that, holy hell. Wow I can’t believe that.

Also no wonder his support for the GOP primary is so low, he forgot to use the n-word.

[–] Pips@lemmy.film 1 points 2 years ago

Right, it's not so much that the words are used incorrectly so much as it is that their use is inappropriate in this context.

[–] zoostation@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

I get what you're saying but I don't think she perceived she was in any danger, so I don't think she showed bravery. She was probably too stupid to understand there could be real consequences.

"Brave" would have been facing 4 years with a president who made her uncomfortable instead of throwing a big tantrum.

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

you would think that a "language model" would have "connotation" high on its list of priorities - being that is a huge part of the form and function of language.

[–] Bye@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Not how it works.

It’s just a fancy version of that “predict the next word” feature smartphones have. Like if you just kept tapping the next word.

They don’t even have real parameters, only black box bullshit hidden parameters.

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I know, I was pointing out the irony.

I'm convinced it's only purpose is actually to give tech C-level and VPs some bullshit to say for roughly 18-36 months now that "blockchain" and "pandemic disruption" are dead.

[–] Bye@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

Exactly correct, I agree. LLMs will change the world, but 90% of purported use cases are nothing but hot air.

But when you can tell your phone “go find a picture of an eggplant, put a smiley face on it, and send it to Bill”, that’s going to be pretty neat. And it’s coming in the next decade. Of course that requires a different model than we have now (text to instruction, not text to text). But it’s coming.

[–] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 3 points 2 years ago

LLMs don't know what words mean, much less the connotations they have.