Rater's Ridiculously Rambunctious Random Ranter #229

[LaZodiac]

It's not about the chocolate, it's about the principle of the matter, my brother acted entitled and bossy about it, we talked it out, and then he went behind my back to try and get my mother to berate me.

Everyone acting ****ty to you after the fact IS true, 100%. But it still begs the question of "why did you not want the chocolates?"

This entire situation would be solved by just accepting that they will never understand you don't want to celebrate with them. There are times where just rolling with a thing are correct, actually.

[Lord Raziere]

Rater, I'm continually amazed at how much your life sucks. as far as brothers go, I'm the youngest so what I had to deal with was an older brother who either constantly trolls me, draws me into tiresome nitpicky arguments like you find on the internet but in real life, or decides that I need some cynical speech about how harsh reality is and how I should grow up, things like that. But at least he is better than my father. Can take me some switching of gears, but I can find ways to have fun with my brother by being sarcastic back at him.

this whole exchange your having reminds me when my family wants me to try new foods. I don't really get such efforts myself other than wanting me to eat a wider variety for health reasons. it isn't as bad as it used to be as my tastes have expanded though.

[Rater202]

Rater, I'm continually amazed at how much your life sucks. as far as brothers go, I'm the youngest so what I had to deal with was an older brother who either constantly trolls me, draws me into tiresome nitpicky arguments like you find on the internet but in real life, or decides that I need some cynical speech about how harsh reality is and how I should grow up, things like that. But at least he is better than my father. Can take me some switching of gears, but I can find ways to have fun with my brother by being sarcastic back at him.

this whole exchange your having reminds me when my family wants me to try new foods. I don't really get such efforts myself other than wanting me to eat a wider variety for health reasons. it isn't as bad as it used to be as my tastes have expanded though.

The main reason I say I shouldn't be trusted with power is becuase I would use it.

The main reason I would use it is becuase... Why the hell wouldn't I? I'm not even halfway through the crapstorm that's been my life. There are hundreds of millions of people who have it as bad or worse than I do.

Why wouldn't I want massive amounts of power that I could use to improve my lot in life and right the wrongs that constantly befall me and countless other people on a daily basis?

[sktarq]

Yeah when it clears 100 for months...and 110 for weeks...heat will just kill ya and the lack of humidity will make you forget just how much water ya need.

In my 10K town we lost a person or so every year...mostly children or tourists. But even a 23 year old who just misjudged how much water they needed...

So really hot and dry will kill yeah.


Also I'm not sure people want more AC before sleep as when trying to sleep is when I normally hear of complaints...but DLT was set up when AC was rare and cities like Phoenix/Houston/Kuala Lumpur/Dubai were limited in appeal because of that. Back before the 60's lighting and heating were the big energy draws...so maxing out the use of sunlight makes more sense.

Then again I like DLT...(/unpopular opinion) i think people complaining about sunset coming early would be just as likely to complain about waking up before dawn...assuming you are far enough south to not have to deal with both...like say the Scottish, Canadian, or Finns.

[Anonymouswizard]

It's never good when the streets are so good water boils.

On advent calendars, I always forget to get myself one. But the idea of getting a bit of Lego each day (or heck, some other small thing that isn't some sort of sweet) is great. Unfortunately I didn't go looking in time for the non-discrimination funding Lego calendars to still be available.

[DataNinja]

I think ultimately the issue here is Rater, why do you not want the free chocolate gifts?

I know for me, I've had somewhat of a same problem where my mother and grandmother'll (and occasionally my aunt) will visit and then leave gifts of food without asking me. Often these are things with a limited lifespan, such as pastries.

Now, I am not a big eater, as I may have mentioned. So... if I suddenly have more food, I now have a problem - I bought enough food for me to be satisfied assuming that I would not have this additional food. And they just keep bringing more, no matter how much I ask. My grandmother makes tarts every year. I still had tarts in the freezer from last year, because I was given so much food over the course of the year that was perishable that I never was able to dip into the things that would keep when I was a bit more peckish than normal.

Sure, gifts are fine... but there becomes a point where such things are impractical, and in this case it's based on one's appetite. If it's never going to get eaten, it's just taking up space, or causing problems, or (even if non-perishable) causing guilt when more gifts just keep piling up...

[Rater202]

I know for me, I've had somewhat of a same problem where my mother and grandmother'll (and occasionally my aunt) will visit and then leave gifts of food without asking me. Often these are things with a limited lifespan, such as pastries.

Now, I am not a big eater, as I may have mentioned. So... if I suddenly have more food, I now have a problem - I bought enough food for me to be satisfied assuming that I would not have this additional food. And they just keep bringing more, no matter how much I ask. My grandmother makes tarts every year. I still had tarts in the freezer from last year, because I was given so much food over the course of the year that was perishable that I never was able to dip into the things that would keep when I was a bit more peckish than normal.

Sure, gifts are fine... but there becomes a point where such things are impractical, and in this case it's based on one's appetite. If it's never going to get eaten, it's just taking up space, or causing problems, or (even if non-perishable) causing guilt when more gifts just keep piling up...

That really doesn't apply to an advent calendar, but...

[DataNinja]

That really doesn't apply to an advent calendar, but...

I mean, it's along the same principle. I've been given an advent calendar, like I have every year. Still haven't touched it, since I've got a pile of other stuff I'll never end up getting to first, because I rarely am in the mood for that stuff, over that which I get for myself.

[factotum]

Now, I am not a big eater, as I may have mentioned. So... if I suddenly have more food, I now have a problem - I bought enough food for me to be satisfied assuming that I would not have this additional food.

If you've been given a gift of something edible, you could always...not buy as much food next time you shop? That way, you save money *and* get to enjoy your gift. This is assuming your edible gift actually makes sense, of course, unlike the time my brother bought me a box of chocolates for Christmas a few months after I'd been diagnosed with diabetes...

[Rater202]

Changing topics:

Relating to my previous comments regarding a third eye, ever since learning how the Rinnegan/Six Paths technique from Naruto works I've been curious as to how a being with a single consciousness distributed among multiple bodies each with independent senses would actually work or perceive the world.

[Anonymouswizard]

I learnt to touch type when I was like 13/14, partially because my handwriting was terrible (and still is, considering I'm disabled but insist on writing in cursive/script), and then almost immediately went back to hunting and pecking and mostly forgot how to do it until I was doing my GCSEs, where I just naturally slipped back into it when doing the 'get content out as fast as possible stages of academic work. Now I feel like actually looking at the keyboard slows me down, even though I don't do it in the correct posture most of the time (just using my first two fingers).

[Ajustusdaniel]

Changing topics:

Relating to my previous comments regarding a third eye, ever since learning how the Rinnegan/Six Paths technique from Naruto works I've been curious as to how a being with a single consciousness distributed among multiple bodies each with independent senses would actually work or perceive the world.

Interesting question. There's not really a solid working model of consciousness existing as a thing independent of the bodies it's manifest in, but then, consciousness is sort of a slippery thing and arguably there's not really a solid working model of consciousness existing in bodies either, so who's to say.

This is usually the point where I start talking about the superconscious and egregores and emergent order and swarm behavior until it's time to buy the next round, but I haven't been out to the bar in a while.

(And the trees have an internet mediated by subterannean fungal networks!)

In the meantime, for an interesting thought on how eyes outside of your body might feel, relevant XKCD.

[Fyraltari]

Changing topics:

Relating to my previous comments regarding a third eye, ever since learning how the Rinnegan/Six Paths technique from Naruto works I've been curious as to how a being with a single consciousness distributed among multiple bodies each with independent senses would actually work or perceive the world.

Would probably need some time to adapt (unless born that way) and then function more or less well but each couble would behave like a very distracted person.

There's a French show where in the last episode one (fairly dumb) character reveals he has the power to create a double that works that way, but he usually doesn't because "I get yelled at twice as much" and, indeed, it ends up much like the fantasy equivalent of a guy holding two phones to his head and trying to take part in two different conversations at once.

[Form]

A being used to a single body suddenly getting shunted into a multi body configuration or having to process input from additional senses is probably not going to do well, but an organism evolved as such would be fine. I imagine its brain and priorities would be very different, though.

[Bartmanhomer]

I think people were more concerned about your behavior in your youtube video.

The subsequent reaction in the thread obviously wasn't great, but the initial video was the real problem.

Yes, I know.

[DataNinja]

If you've been given a gift of something edible, you could always...not buy as much food next time you shop? That way, you save money *and* get to enjoy your gift. This is assuming your edible gift actually makes sense, of course, unlike the time my brother bought me a box of chocolates for Christmas a few months after I'd been diagnosed with diabetes...

Unfortunately, generally I'm barely able to make myself eat enough to just eat meals most of the time. So a lot of time any cutting out of sustenance'll be out of the actual important things in the day. Which is... not great.

[Anonymouswizard]

Six panelists? Six!>

Does I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue think it's not on Radio 4? How am I supposed to deal with this?

[Mystic Muse]

Yes, I know.

Have you taken the video down, and put up a video or public statement of some sort on Youtube apologizing for what you did?

[Bartmanhomer]

Have you taken the video down, and put up a video or public statement of some sort on Youtube apologizing for what you did?

Do I have to?

[Tvtyrant]

Do I have to?

You don't have to do anything, but not doing it is equivalent to not acknowledging there was a mistake.

[Anonymouswizard]

Do I have to?

Strictly speaking, no, but if people, especially whoever the video was about, have complained you should certainly make a public apology, and if you don't take the video down (or private it) your apology needs to explain why (and it should be a good reason).

The next part is to not do it again. You don't have to be perfect, but slip-ups can't be near this magnitude or you run the risk of making it look like you're not sincere. Actually unless you can come up with a very good reason not taking the video down runs that risk, and even if you do have such a reason it's safer to take the video down.


Social things are hard and depend on context, and certainly here the exception action is to take the video down and apologise. It's like with offensive jokes, who your audience is changes reactions and expected behaviour a lot. I can tell a joke that begins with a very offensive statement to close friends because they know I'll turn it around by the end, I could not put such a joke into a YouTube video or post it here.

[Bartmanhomer]

You don't have to do anything, but not doing it is equivalent to not acknowledging there was a mistake.

Strictly speaking, no, but if people, especially whoever the video was about, have complained you should certainly make a public apology, and if you don't take the video down (or private it) your apology needs to explain why (and it should be a good reason).

The next part is to not do it again. You don't have to be perfect, but slip-ups can't be near this magnitude or you run the risk of making it look like you're not sincere. Actually, unless you can come up with a very good reason not taking the video down runs that risk, and even if you do have such a reason it's safer to take the video down.


Social things are hard and depend on context, and certainly, here the exception action is to take the video down and apologize. It's like with offensive jokes, who your audience is changes reactions and expected behavior a lot. I can tell a joke that begins with a very offensive statement to close friends because they know I'll turn it around by the end, I could not put such a joke into a YouTube video or post it here.

You made a good point though.

[Sermil]

That really doesn't apply to an advent calendar, but...

According to my chocolate advent calendar, it's now 5 days after Christmas.

[Anonymouswizard]

Darn it, I hate free trials. The lack of a machine that can run Cyberpunk 2077 is making me want to try the Stadia Pro trial just to see if the lag is minimal enough to allow games to actually be played.

[Rater202]

Darn it, I hate free trials. The lack of a machine that can run Cyberpunk 2077 is making me want to try the Stadia Pro trial just to see if the lag is minimal enough to allow games to actually be played.

I'd wait: Apparently even on a PC optimized for gaming Cyberpunk 2077 still has some... issues.

"It's not even been out a week and the company is already offering refunds directly" type issues.

PEr commentary from Penny Arcade, the game seems to have been released before it was done.

[Anonymouswizard]

I'd wait: Apparently even on a PC optimized for gaming Cyberpunk 2077 still has some... issues.

"It's not even been out a week and the company is already offering refunds directly" type issues.

PEr commentary from Penny Arcade, the game seems to have been released before it was done.

It was clear they were intent on releasing it in 2020 come what may, so I'm not surprised. I've heard that the PC version is relatively stable but still has some bugs, but I'd probably mess around with the free Pro games for a month before starting it anyway (as I'd still need to put done a decent chunk of money to play it on Stadia).

[sktarq]

It's never good when the streets are so good water boils.

Well toss a glass of water onto the concrete and you can see the steam forming over the puddle in seconds it takes to disappear...as in under a minute. And to see the vapor formation you mostly needed a good backdrop more than anything.
Watching water dry was an actual pastime in my childhood because we are talking about a retreat of 1-3cm/sec of the edge of the puddle when you get into the really hot and dry days. (also watching tourists try to clean their windows in a gas station could be really funny)

[Rater202]

The Guy who does XKCD used to do a blog where he'd answer math and science questions and a few other things. The bog stopped updating a few years ago.

One of those questions was "what if someone built a device that captured all of the sun's outpoint anf focused it ito a beam that was one meter in diameter when it reaches the earth.

(spoilers, it wouldn't end well.)'

I like the choice of words used for what happens to a person standing in the beam.

If you were standing in the path of the beam, you would obviously die pretty quickly. You wouldn't really die of anything, in the traditional sense. You would just stop being biology and start being physics.

[Mystic Muse]

The Guy who does XKCD used to do a blog where he'd answer math and science questions and a few other things. The bog stopped updating a few years ago.

One of those questions was "what if someone built a device that captured all of the sun's outpoint anf focused it ito a beam that was one meter in diameter when it reaches the earth.

(spoilers, it wouldn't end well.)'

I like the choice of words used for what happens to a person standing in the beam.

I quite like that as well.

Do I have to?

If you're legitimately sorry, I would say you at least have to delete the video. The public post would be nice but is not strictly necessary.

[LaZodiac]

Darn it, I hate free trials. The lack of a machine that can run Cyberpunk 2077 is making me want to try the Stadia Pro trial just to see if the lag is minimal enough to allow games to actually be played.

I can tell you in no uncertain terms that there really is no reason to buy and play Cyberpunk 2077.

The Guy who does XKCD used to do a blog where he'd answer math and science questions and a few other things. The bog stopped updating a few years ago.

One of those questions was "what if someone built a device that captured all of the sun's outpoint anf focused it ito a beam that was one meter in diameter when it reaches the earth.

(spoilers, it wouldn't end well.)'

I like the choice of words used for what happens to a person standing in the beam.

I should look that up For Specific Reasons...