Random MetaBanter – Random Banter no. 236 (now with Flowers!)

[HalfTangible]

By definition, most things are standard.

Therefore, most things are not "sub-standard"

[Cazero]

I think Sturgeon was talking about ideas and artworks.
Of course we don't need to throw away 90% of products mass produced in an efficient process. We might have thrown away 90% of the processes though.

[Anonymouswizard]

He's also saying 'it's not exclusive to one thing', which I think was the point. I believe he was asked why 90% of science fiction is crud(/crap), and his response was basically that it was no more likely to be so than anything else.

[Qwertystop]

I think I disagee with Sturgeon on this matter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon%27s_law



Pins? we have to throw away 90% of pins because they are not fit for their purpose? I don't use a lot of pins myself, but that seems a ridiculously high percentage failure rate. I would say that even of the more or less self published webserials, 10% being excellent would be overstating the case, but of the rest the vast majority are at least barely adequate, the truly appalling maybe reach one or two percent but certainly no more than that in my experience so far (I've little doubt that someone could point out some examples to counter that, but I hope they will refrain).

What of people? by which standard are 90% of people sub-standard?

This is not a law of nature, it's not even a decent rule of thumb.

I think "pins" there was meant as fashion pins: hairpins, lapel pins, buttons, etc.

[halfeye]

I think "pins" there was meant as fashion pins: hairpins, lapel pins, buttons, etc.

I suspect that is not correct.

However, be that as it may, there is adequate, and there is perfect, perfect is said to be the enemy of good enough, and good enough is what we need, because absolute perfection is unattainable.

The question is what is acceptably good?

If you say that 90% of things aren't good enough, where did they come from and why aren't they good enough?

If it comes to the point that 90% of food is inedible due to pollution, that would not be a fact of life, it would be a fact of human depravity, we clearly aren't there yet, and there is time to clean up our act before we get there.

If Sturgeon had been saying 90 of Fashion was garbage I'd have said he missed 10%, but that's about the only case he's half correct. He wrote some decent stories.

[Peelee]

Apparently Birmingham has its own version of the bat signal:

Spoiler: Our city's iconic statue, the largest cast iron statue in the world

Show

[dafrca]

My son does not really like TTRPGs but is having fun playing CGRPGs. I am having fun because he keeps sharing things from his games he thinks I might like and it gives me ideas of stuff I can port over to my TTRPGs. He did it tonight, showing me a new mount he received in his game thinking I might like the idea. Fun as heck because while we do not share our likes 100% he has found a way to bridge them and give us common ground to talk and share.

[Bartmanhomer]

I'm going to get my COVID booster shot. Wish me luck, everyone.

[Rater202]

I saw a picture today.

Someone ran all of the major characters from the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movies through a "gender swap filter" and poster them side by side with the orignal shots for comparison.

Legolas as a woman looks exactly the fricking same. At first I thought they were making a joke but as I looked closer there were some very subtle differences but on first look, virtually identicle.

[Peelee]

Peelee, I have a question...

Is "Y'oth" a word?

Never heard of it before. But it's etymology might come from "yoot".

[Form]

Never heard of it before. But it's etymology might come from "yoot".

What's all this fancy legalese y'all are bandying about now?

[Bartmanhomer]

So anyway today I went to Duane Reade to get my COVID booster shot but the pharmacist told me that I have to make an appointment online On their website.

[Peelee]

What's all this fancy legalese y'all are bandying about now?

Common law in the state of Alabama.

[DavidSh]

So anyway today I went to Duane Reade to get my COVID booster shot but the pharmacist told me that I have to make an appointment online On their website.

The same thing happened to me at my local pharmacy (not a Duane Reade). I hope you don't get too much of a delay -- my delay was about a week.

[Fyraltari]

I saw a picture today.

Someone ran all of the major characters from the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movies through a "gender swap filter" and poster them side by side with the orignal shots for comparison.

Legolas as a woman looks exactly the fricking same. At first I thought they were making a joke but as I looked closer there were some very subtle differences but on first look, virtually identicle.

And so did Gimli right?

[Bartmanhomer]

The same thing happened to me at my local pharmacy (not a Duane Reade). I hope you don't get too much of a delay -- my delay was about a week.

Oh really? Wow. I really hate delays and I'm not the most patient man in the world.

[Anonymouswizard]

The same thing happened to me at my local pharmacy (not a Duane Reade). I hope you don't get too much of a delay -- my delay was about a week.

Mwahaha. I got mine at work just because I happened to be in on that day.

Needles are the worst, but at least I'm 150% immune. My doctor friend said so.

And so did Gimli right?

My personal headcanon is that Gimli is a woman, and nobody noticed. She's clearly a lesbian as well, Tolkien was ahead of his time.

[Bartmanhomer]

I'm a good man who believes in acceptance and equality for everyone. What I don't accept is bigotry, hatred, prejudice, and ignorance from other people. I have no patience for that ****.

[Peelee]

I'm a good man who believes in acceptance and equality for everyone. What I don't accept is bigotry, hatred, prejudice, and ignorance from other people. I have no patience for that ****.

And I'm smart and handsome and run fast and pay all my bills on time.

[Bartmanhomer]

And I'm smart and handsome and run fast and pay all my bills on time.

That's good.

[Mystic Muse]

I'm a competent, functional adult.

[Lacco]

I'm a competent, functional adult.

*In my best Steve Buscemi voice*

How do you do, fellow competent, functional adults? I am just going to perform work. In exchange for currency! And then pay my bills!

Eh, this RPG is hard.

[Rater202]

I'm a competent, functional adult.

I'm a neurotic mess who suffers from constant existential dread from a combination of factors who can feel himself slowly growing old and dying.

[Form]

I'm a pony. That's a real image of me right there. And I'm cute and lovable.

And I'm smart and handsome and run fast and pay all my bills on time.

This one time I was late with a bill (some local tax thing) because I hadn't checked my mail very well and I got letter ordering me to pay in the name of the King. Seriously! Because The Netherlands has a King. I thought that was kind of funny.

I'm a competent, functional adult.

How'd the networking exam go this time around by the way? I remember you mentioned you had it rescheduled to early December? Did you get a chance to take it?

[Anonymouswizard]

I'm a competent, functional adult.

That's good. Meanwhile I'm played by a fairly incompetent molinmaxer.

But yeah, pay your bills on time. While I'm sure even the government drones understand having the occasional slip, it's just a lot better if you never have to deal with them. If you know how to manage your money well enough to pay by direct debit(/standing order) then you're pretty much able to run your own place.

I still wish I was living with my girlfriends, but that's the reality of work/university.

[BisectedBrioche]

I saw a picture today.

Someone ran all of the major characters from the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movies through a "gender swap filter" and poster them side by side with the orignal shots for comparison.

Legolas as a woman looks exactly the fricking same. At first I thought they were making a joke but as I looked closer there were some very subtle differences but on first look, virtually identicle.

Dare I say, transition goals!

[DataNinja]

I'm a competent, functional adult.

Well, that's goals right there. I can manage two of those on a good day.

[HalfTangible]

I am not competent, functional, or an adult, nor am I particularly confident, but I can fake all 4 pretty well.

[Peelee]

Today I learned about the great pain au chocolatine/pain au chocolat divide.

[Mystic Muse]

Well, that's goals right there. I can manage two of those on a good day.

I assumed that we were deliberately overplaying our actual achievements.