eRe4s3r wrote on Apr 15, 2018, 21:54:

Cutter wrote on Apr 15, 2018, 21:43:
Yeah, as this becomes more and more prevalent with insurance companies denying you insurance because you won't agree to be spied on 24/7 where will all those advocates of the "free market" be? For those of us in our poor ol' socialized democracies we don't have to worry about the bullshit.

Considering how many people run around with fitness trackers I'd be very careful of hoping for "socialized democracies" being immune to this. Insurers will push for it, that's guaranteed. And it only takes 1 weak government and a lobbyist in the right position and even we would be fucked.

And really, once this

You don't use mandated tooth brushing products? +25% on the rate)
You don't use mandated tooth brush with full sensors? +25% on the rate
You don't go the fitness center every 3 days? +25% on the rate
You don't use a full vitals tracker? +25% on the rate
You drink alcohol? +25% on the rate
You eat meat? +25% on the rate
You smoke? +25% on the rate

Becomes reality (at the start only for those receiving subsidies by the state), it will not be optional anymore for those people in our countries. And that's how they will creep this into our laws. You can be sure of it.

jdreyer wrote on Apr 8, 2018, 17:22:

Creston wrote on Apr 8, 2018, 14:17:
Most old games had no ending to speak of, just a line of "Whoo, you did it! Go you!"

Best ending of a classic game was the end of Impossible Mission on the C-64. "No, NO, NOOOOOOO!"

chickenboo wrote on Apr 6, 2018, 13:29:

Tipsy McStagger wrote on Apr 6, 2018, 11:23:

RedEye9 wrote on Apr 6, 2018, 11:14:
Instead of doing something that anyone can do WHY don't you focus on making reliable peripherals?

This is the first thing I thought. Hah. I don't buy Razer products anyways so it won't affect me...

My Deathadder 2013 is still going strong 4 years on. It's comfy, accurate, and the thumb grips haven't shown signs of wearing out yet. I'm quite pleased it's been issue-free. Judging by the Razer subreddit, there's no end to issues with their laptops.

Beamer wrote on Apr 2, 2018, 16:03:

theyarecomingforyou wrote on Apr 2, 2018, 16:00:

Bard wrote on Apr 2, 2018, 14:14:
Facebook.

It is silencing activism against the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

An example of the things Companies should not have the ability to do.

I'm just waiting for the EU's GDPR to go into effect so I can request all data be permanently deleted and have that be legally binding. It will also guarantee that Facebook provides all data it holds you, as currently it can claim it does without any legislation to compe it to do so.

Facebook went from being a useful method to keep in touch with friends and family to be a parasitic marketing tool used to manipulate people and silence political discussion by placing users in echo chambers. I've already uninstalled the client and moved to Messenger Lite to avoid the egregious advertising introduced to the main client. I honestly don't miss it at all.

I never used the client. First thing I do when getting a new phone is uninstall it. I don't use Messenger, either (it never caught on with anyone I know, though I know it's huge.) I just use a Wrapper, like Folio Pro, which pulls data from the mobile site and puts it in a more app-like experience.

Which is why, when I download my data from Facebook, it has nothing unexpected about me. No "apps" I've enabled to use my data, as anytime I click a link that asks to connect I reject. No insights. Just a very basic profile about me, the type of information I'm ok with literally anyone knowing about me, and which helps them give me ads that suck slightly less. If Facebook wants to know my age, education, where I live, gender, and that I enjoy luxury watches, I don't care. There was nothing in the data beyond that.

Cutter wrote on Mar 28, 2018, 14:22:
And I probably return 90% plus of what I order online because I can't see and handle it physically.

Mr. Tact wrote on Mar 28, 2018, 21:19:

Cutter wrote on Mar 28, 2018, 14:22:
And I probably return 90% plus of what I order online because I can't see and handle it physically.

What? I call bullshit. You are returning 90+% of online purchases? If that's true, why ever do it again?

BIGtrouble77 wrote on Mar 21, 2018, 11:12:
Considering they had a long open/closed Beta, I'm curious what the hell happened.

CJ_Parker wrote on Mar 20, 2018, 13:33:

Prez wrote on Mar 20, 2018, 10:18:
I don't mind using Uplay and Origin as well as Steam. It's the Windows Store that I have a problem with.

^ this

After the GFWL debacle MS can go and fuck themselves. They can also go and shove anything named 'Xbox' up their asses. I'm a PC gamer. I do not want Xbox shit on my PC.
First thing I did after the free upgrade, I have uninstalled the Windows store and also everything that is named Xbox from my system (game bar and all that retarded shit no one needs) and it will stay that way. Fuck Spycroshit!

Also lol @ this game. It's 2018. This game visually and technically looks like a MMO clone that should have come out 15 - 20 years ago when MMOs were still a thing. Fuck this garbage. Typical MS tho... totally inept to produce anything even remotely interesting.

Flatline wrote on Mar 12, 2018, 18:10:

Prez wrote on Mar 12, 2018, 15:31:

Cutter wrote on Mar 12, 2018, 15:18:
It depends on the activism, Prez. All the PC clicktivism and outrage today is not only stupid, it's dangerous. The far left is only fostering the far right. They're th

eir own worst enemy. Just look at the recent German and Italian elections. And that's unfolding all over the globe. But there's plenty of good and necessary activism too.

You're example is spot on. I also admit their are causes worth fighting for. I just see no value in activism of any kind. Unless there is a figure head, a true leader. One who is respected and charismatic enough for his or her followers to actually heed what they say. And at that point, said person becomes a general in a revolution. Your run-of-the-mill activist is now a soldier, marching to the orders of the leader. There's actual direction. The body acts as one. That's how things get done. Any movement that lacks a defined and strong leader or leaders is going nowhere at best, or making things worse at worst, exactly as you illustrate in your example.. Today's movements, every single one of them, bare that out completely in my view.

So specific case in point that doesn't fit what you're saying. I'd point to gay marriage rights in the US circa 2010-2011. There was no one single charismatic leader leading that fight but in the span of about 18 months the entire political landscape shifted significantly and then was followed up with Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015 (it seems like a lot longer ago).

If I had to point to any one thing kicking off that 18 month timespan I'd probably put it on Biden going off the reservation in an interview and stating on the record he was in favor of anyone being able to marry anyone, and the Obama administration deciding not to hang him out to dry. It didn't influence Obergefell v. Hodges but that seemed to be a cultural cracking point.

The #metoo thing seems to have legs too. That doesn't have a leader per se, but more of a poster boy for everything the concept is against. Time will tell if it impacts the industry.

I do absolutely agree that coordination and an agreement of goals by different groups that might not otherwise come together are necessary to invoke change, and that with a charismatic leader or a handful of them that it's easier to bridge those gaps and get past the narcissism of small differences, but I don't think it's necessarily mandatory.

jdreyer wrote on Mar 10, 2018, 19:32:

Cutter wrote on Mar 10, 2018, 12:23:

People aged 18 are considered adults "for almost all purposes and certainly for the purposes of the exercise of fundamental constitutional rights", the lawsuit says.

So buying assault rifles? Fine. Buying a beer? No. Yeah. Ok. *insert Twilight Zone theme music here*

Can't rent a car until you're 25.

Cutter wrote on Mar 10, 2018, 19:07:
I will never buy into the desensitization BS. Point in fact we see a direct correlation in the opposite effect. That with the rise and availability of violent games and porn we see less actual violent and sex crimes in society. Gee, it's almost like allowing people to blow off virtual steam they're less frustrated and need to act out IRL.

edaciousx wrote on Mar 10, 2018, 17:56:

Cutter wrote on Mar 10, 2018, 11:51:
Next time I go to the US I'm going to go to a gun range and try a whole host of weapons because I should be a world-class shootist by now if video games are the problem. Hell, get my cardio up and I should be able to easily win gold in the next Olympics for biathalon. You know, 'cause that's how easily video games translate into real life. And given how much I play 4X games I should also be a major captain of industry and be able to design cities and nations from the ground up without breaking a sweat.

i just started buying guns and shooting irl. the games that are more realistic actually has taught me some about holding guns, reloading, and shooting irl. still it's pretty different though but there's similarities.

you definitely should go to a gun range next time you're in the states.

bigspender wrote on Mar 7, 2018, 00:17:

Red886 wrote on Mar 6, 2018, 23:52:
i don't get how single #metoo activists will ever get a bf, unless they consider the only way for courtship and pickups is when the female initiates it.

#metoomens

Um no, you just have to learn how to pick up women without sexually harassing them, verbally or physically. Why is that such a hard concept for people to understand?

VaranDragon wrote on Feb 7, 2018, 17:20:

RedEye9 wrote on Feb 7, 2018, 11:55:
Paradox was much better than I expected.
Altered Carbon, on the other hand, blew me away.

You must have pretty low standards. Don't get me wrong AC is decent. Great art direction and world building, but I get the feeling it could have been much more. Just finished my second episode, and already have some peeves. The dialogue is stilted for the most part, the acting kind of wooden on the part of the lead. Oh and the latino supermodel detective? God....she is cringeworthy. Other than that the story seems like its going somewhere and as I already mentioned the worldbuilding is very well done.

Still not nearly as good as The Expanse, which is how Sci-Fi noir should be done, but its gonna be hard to top that anyway.

Tipsy McStagger wrote on Jan 8, 2018, 12:20:

Creston wrote on Jan 8, 2018, 12:13:
Big Fucking Gaming Display.

I don't imagine too many people have a PC setup where a 65 inch screen is all that useful...

That where you're wrong friend, I play on my 70" TV and have been waiting for something like this.