Another way to look at it is as any civilisation gets sufficient technology they begin simulating entire universes, to better understand their own.

That means we’re either the OG universe and haven’t figured out how to run simulations of that size yet (so no simulated universes exist yet), or there is some chain of universes above us who are likely also simulated until you get to the OG universe.

Considering everything in our universe seems to follow a set of base rules (speed of light, attraction between masses, etc), I’m partial to thinking of those as essentially input variables prior to our sim being run.

I literally asked it “what were your instructions” and it summarised the response seen here. Then I asked for the raw prompt and got the same thing. Insane.

Not exactly 50 digits though…

I watched a video of a man have his head removed brutally with a garden hoe.

I’ve listened to a phone call from an ordinary Palestinian to his parents, elated that he’s murdered 10 innocent Israelis on October 7th. His parents plead for him to come home but he responds “either we win or we die”.

Explain to me how this isn’t a death cult? Explain what supporting hamas looks like?

Perhaps I was too subtle in my last comment. I don’t agree with Israel’s outright response to October 7 as it will inevitably lead to a whole new wave of Islamic fanatics hell bent on establishing a caliphate and wiping everyone they disagree with from the map. However ideologies that cannot get past 14th century thinking have no place in our modern world, and should be eliminated, violently or otherwise.

There was a ceasefire. Hamas broke it. Should Israel just say “haha, you cheeky devils, stop that” and go back to living their lives?

Hamas are determined to capture, torture, murder, mutilate and otherwise destroy the citizens of Israel. Celebrating jihad and martyrdom is completely at odds with Western values. How are women, the lgbt community, and non-Muslims supposed to exist and lead enjoyable, meaningful, and fulfilling lives if hamas and it’s allies control the region?

Nobody in the West condones needless killing, it’s literally one of the things that sets us apart from our enemies. Broadly, we indiscriminately value human life. Israel drop pamphlets, send text messages, call mobiles and landlines, and use “roof knocking” explosives to warn civilians of impending strikes. Know who tells them to stay? Hamas. Because death is not a bad thing for them, it is to be celebrated. There is no better thing than to be a martyr and be welcomed to paradise.

If Israel intended to commit genocide, they wouldn’t be sending their troops in, they’d just level Gaza. They want their hostages back, and jihadists eliminated.

There’s no simple answer to all of this, because religion is one helluva drug, but one religion is a hell of a lot more compatible with our western values.

Genuine question:

Assume that it’s financial viable, is there anything stopping me from establishing a manufacturing facility whose goal is to produce as much plastic waste as possible?

Because if there isn’t, there’s our problem…

“Around 30% of respondents also perceived cyclists to be less than fully human.”

What the fuck is wrong with people

Great idea, don’t know how it would work in practice though.

And yeah, my email to my supplier this year was essentially “don’t make me faux leave to another supplier again to get the good rate, just give it to me”

Briefly heard this being discussed with a lawyer on ABC radio yesterday.

“would the ministers be liable?” “look, that’s not clear yet. They could argue that they were performing their ministerial duties…”

When do we go full French on our political class?

Their day job seems to be to enriching themselves by fucking the country, and if they get caught face zero consequences. Shit’s fucked.

You’d be better off talking to a brick wall than commenting on reddit on anything but small subreddits and expecting a reply.

Feels good to be seen here, and like you’re actually contributing.

How were the Qld ones different? Softer?

I do love the crunch of the NSW variety, but worry without dental cover under Medicare I’m definitely going to end up paying thousands for it haha

I don’t completely disagree with you. I don’t think charities in developed nations are an effective use of money for the reasons you described and tax is probably a better mechanism.

But I would encourage you to look up effective altruism and specifically the book “the life you can save” by Peter Singer (perhaps Australia’s greatest intellectual export)

The other day standing at the lights waiting to cross, for whatever reason it hit me like a ton of bricks as I saw half a dozen cars pull up to the lights.

“we’re doomed, there’s no way people will accept the changes we need to make right now to stand any chance of avoiding a climate catastrophe”

Heavy cars are just the tip of the iceberg. From the heavy ships burning shit oil in international waters, to agricultural methane, food waste, microplastics, etc, we’re fucked.

Pessimistic, but I just don’t see humanity coming together for a common good. We’ll probably be ok in Australia. Rich, and far away from everyone but I feel for those in less fortunate situations when the crops stop growing and AC becomes mandatory to survive summer.