Sub_dermal

joined 1 year ago
[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 8 points 2 weeks ago

RMS is a huge figure head and representative of free software, so it matters what he says and does.

I have seen no-one argue that everything RMS has said is bunk because of this, personally I think he has had some good ideas, sure; but that doesn't mean I just ignore everything else because "its politics and not free Software related".

Free Software is in itself political, maybe the links between RMS's words and actions, and Free Software are not direct or even close - but separating "politics" and Free Software just seems like burying your head in the sand.

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 12 points 2 weeks ago

A lot of the 'debunking' here is very poor, it assumes Stallman's innocence at every junction, argues that Stallman's word is more important than his actions, fails to engage with the full complexity of arguments against him, and more than once uses "but he's tender hearted, so he can't be bad" as an argument.

Certainly not "rational and objective" like it claims.

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 3 points 4 months ago

Kanary definitely looks good - although they are US only at the moment (rules it out for me unfortunately). Thanks for your insight!

 

I've recently heard about their services, and others like them, and wanted to know what privacy-focused people thought about them, what experiences they may have had, and whether this was recommended for people who have a footprint they want scrubbing (even if only in part) or not?

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I'm not really adding to the conversation with this but wanted to share anyway:

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 2 points 7 months ago

I can't disagree with you on that, you're absolutely right - I suppose my read just gives the author the benefit of the doubt that it's not 'better AI' that we deserve, but a better internet (i.e. with no AI whatsoever).

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

Personally I read it as a general "demand better", "don't accept crap wrapped in gold" as an offensive principle against (de)generative AI. Perhaps I'm inserting my own positive spin on their words, but it seems to me that their point is "don't let the hype win"; if these companies are pushing AI, forming dependencies on bad tech, then we need to say "not good enough" and push back on the BS. Deny the ability of low quality garbage to 'fulfil' our needs. It's not a directly practical line to be sure (how do we do this exactly?), but it does drill down past "AI is bad" to a more fundamental (and arguably motivating) point - that we, all of us, deserve better than to drown in a sea of crap and that's still important.

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 1 points 9 months ago

Recommendation for Posteo - best email provider I've used and it's ridiculously affordable.

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 1 points 9 months ago

Thanks for recommendation - that looks perfect; will try it out!

 

I'm interested in giving franz a try (predominantly for WhatsApp and Facebook messenger on the desktop) and wanted to know if anyone had any experience with, or guidance about, the app?

Since the app appears to require an account I thought I'd check I wasn't signing up for something terrible first.

 

Looks interesting - never played the original, but always thought it would be fun to at some point.

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

Maybe try opening Calibre proper and adding the pdf to your library first? It should work the way you're doing it, not sure why it's hanging like that - unless there's a problem with your Library location?

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

I feel like this is just investing in the tech hype of AI - AI/LLMs are really just probability calculators, if very impressive ones.

We're not going to see 'god-like' AI run rampart and become sentient (at least not any time soon) - the real dangers of AI are the applications of it that are done my humans. The people who force it into spheres that it is ill-equipped to benefit, to undercut people who's work can be 'replaced' or 'enhanced' by AI.

AI will inevitably be harmful. But not because it becomes uber-advanced; it will be harmful because techbros and grifters will use it badly, driven by money, hype or plain stupidity. Believing AI is more advanced than it is just feeds into the human machine that's going to do real harm.

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Did you add the pdf to your Calibre library and open it or did you open it from somewhere else?

[–] Sub_dermal@beehaw.org 8 points 1 year ago (8 children)

I personally use Zathura, it's minimalistic and uses VIM bindings.

But if you want something feature-dense, with a way of organising your library, eReader integration, file converting and more, Calibre is pretty amazing (and the actual reader part of Calibre is quite nice to use in my opinion).

view more: next ›