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[penguinofhonor]

Today has been very long, very frustrating, and very tiring. I'm currently debating whether the best option for tonight is go to a party to blow of f some steam or to stay home and rest.

[Frumple]

I am not by any means the most world-weary or knowledgeable person on these boards, and you may be right that there are no better options available. I doubt it.

Honestly, the heuristic I've been using a lot for the past long while isn't if there's a better option, but rather if there are worse ones. "Better than you could be doing" is... not ideal, but obviously better than the alternative, and generally much more obtainable. Ideally you have more worse options that you're avoiding than better ones you've yet to reach, of course. And if it's better than you were, doing, well... improvement is a better goal than perfection, t'me.

However, since you're keeping a level head, the wider topic of resource use would be something I'd appreciate hearing. Toady is the nearest and one of the dearest, but not the crux. If you consider that deflecting (which i doubt), we can work everything else into that with difficulty.

Wouldn't really consider it deflecting so much as beyond the scope of this thread. In general, th'two things I'd say about it is that it's one hell of a topic, and that, while it might not be enough, most of what I've been pushing for on a personal level is relative and incremental improvement. "Do better than the average" and "keep improving, piece by piece". Small gains multiplied many times leads to great gains, etc., etc. Beyond the personal level, things get finickier. I'd say that without hesitation the ethics of resource use and acquisition is easily one of the greatest failings of modern times, but the project of doing something about it, beyond improving my own behavior (which is both definitely not perfect and notably ahead of the "curve", so to speak, in my society.) in relation to it and helping encourage and facilitate those near me to do the same, is still... somewhat beyond me. A project ongoing, and entirely likely to never complete.

But! Little steps, step by step, lead to long journeys and fine destinations, etc., etc., etc. Even if you don't actually reach the end of the proverbial road.

[Nadaka]

Well...

From one point of view, my day job consists of writing software that monitors, reports on and manages very bad things and prevents ecological disasters on a scale ranging from a spilled quart of used motor oil to global thermonuclear war.

From another point of view, my day job consists of writing software that makes sure that when the military wants to use those very bad things, they know exactly where to find them and how much damage they can do.

And you know what? It ranges from mind numbingly boring to sickeningly difficult. Without the glorious distractions of games made by people like toady, I might not be able to deal with my job.

[misko27]

* misko looks around room and sees disheveled, slightly smelly NY apartment beyond further comprehensible description

I literally do not own a single thing vaguely related to the internet. Hell, I only have 1 sarcastic shirt.


Does a cat count as internet related?

[Nadaka]

The internet is made of cats... and porn. But cats are a big component, so yes that is internet related.

[Sirus]

Other way around; the Internet is cat-related.

[Xantalos]

Other way around; the Internet is cat-related.

The Internet is partially made of distilled cat.

[Scoops Novel]

I am not by any means the most world-weary or knowledgeable person on these boards, and you may be right that there are no better options available. I doubt it.

Honestly, the heuristic I've been using a lot for the past long while isn't if there's a better option, but rather if there are worse ones. "Better than you could be doing" is... not ideal, but obviously better than the alternative, and generally much more obtainable. Ideally you have more worse options that you're avoiding than better ones you've yet to reach, of course. And if it's better than you were, doing, well... improvement is a better goal than perfection, t'me.

However, since you're keeping a level head, the wider topic of resource use would be something I'd appreciate hearing. Toady is the nearest and one of the dearest, but not the crux. If you consider that deflecting (which i doubt), we can work everything else into that with difficulty.

Wouldn't really consider it deflecting so much as beyond the scope of this thread. In general, th'two things I'd say about it is that it's one hell of a topic, and that, while it might not be enough, most of what I've been pushing for on a personal level is relative and incremental improvement. "Do better than the average" and "keep improving, piece by piece". Small gains multiplied many times leads to great gains, etc., etc. Beyond the personal level, things get finickier. I'd say that without hesitation the ethics of resource use and acquisition is easily one of the greatest failings of modern times, but the project of doing something about it, beyond improving my own behavior (which is both definitely not perfect and notably ahead of the "curve", so to speak, in my society.) in relation to it and helping encourage and facilitate those near me to do the same, is still... somewhat beyond me. A project ongoing, and entirely likely to never complete.

But! Little steps, step by step, lead to long journeys and fine destinations, etc., etc., etc. Even if you don't actually reach the end of the proverbial road.

That's the idea. I ask that you all keep on making those improvements, and am glad if you do. It's a societal problem, and i don't want to resign myself to waiting until a massive fuck up happens. I'm a bit glad that my past years of adolescence have been in what feel like years before and after the world upending and roaring and waving, but i desperately don't want to blow my shot, our shot.

[Vector]

How can you be so naive about what the world really is?

I'm... honestly a little bit offended.

[Scoops Novel]

*have been*, and my inner self really wants to tongue waggle at you right now, alongside stating that he does not see any better behavior in adults. He also really wants to dissect your life, but meh. Even my current self isn't a respect your elders type, given life.

[Pnx]

*have been*, and my inner self really wants to tongue waggle at you right now, ...

You... what?

[Scoops Novel]

Hyperbole mixed with being English, it only gets worse. Just to be clear, i expect you to fully list, in all it's acerbic glory, your reasons for that statement, Vector.

[Pnx]

Novel, if you're running all your statements through an online translator, it would explain a lot.

[Scoops Novel]

Little proof reading and lack of sleep is much more honest. Also, I'm a insufferable bastard when irritated. Edit: and drench my posts in qualifiers out of paranoia.

[SalmonGod]

Look at it this way, Novel.  What's the ultimate goal of society?  Of all this fuss over efficiency and resource allocation?  Longevity?  I can't really think of anything else.  You're saying we need everybody working to their potential to make life as safe and as lengthy for as many people as possible, right?  And sure, that's great.  I'd love for lots of really intelligent, dedicated people to be working on, lets say, medical research and application.  I fully believe that a sort of immortality is attainable within our lifetimes if we keep going at the rate that we are, and I really hope it turns out to be true.

But there's a reason immortality is even a desirable goal in the first place:  Culture.  I want to be immortal because I know that there are more people worth meeting, books worth reading, games worth playing, movies worth seeing, music worth listening to, and so on than I can possibly hope to get around to in 10 lifetimes.  There's just too much of life to experience.  The stuff that is practical or routine is necessary, but it's not what we hold out for, is it?  We slog through that stuff so that we can have more opportunity to indulge in things that are not routine or practical - to experience and participate in socialization and culture.  What would life be otherwise?  Just an endless, meaningless chore, I think.

So I want great people working on games and stuff just as much as I want them working on practical things.  Sure, there needs to be a balance, but I also think there's room enough that people can go where there inspiration leads them.  Toady is one who is clearly inspired.