Chebucto Regional Softball Club

@slimbook

Seven segment displays always add a touch of class.

@Tomhodson @gbargoud

I run a python program that is very inefficient on my laptop. It gives a list of links that I have to click on. The program goes to each person's page and finds the URL of their first post that isn't pinned.

It times out before doing my whole friends list. I don't really know what I'm doing. Maybe this summer I will try to make it better.

But... I also keep hoping someone with more skill than me will make a slick version if I keep talking about how great it is.

@maya2

So, these are all of the parts of those paintings that feature children? That's an amazing idea.

These books are one of a kind, right?

(trying to figure out how I can read your tiny books)

@gbargoud

Recommendation algorithms could be good and helpful in some cases. I use one I made to help me find posts from people who don't post often and thus their posts get buried here.

A simple:

show me one (1) post from each person I follow from the last month is very powerful for finding out what people who are less active are posting. You know those people who only post like once a week... but then it's always some amazing photo they took or an incredible insight on some event.

@gbargoud @funkula

Our coop has basement storage units. But there is a waiting list to get to rent one. I have been on the waiting list for 16 years.

Any day now!

(Getting the right general storage box is more important that people think. I am considering a closet unit as a possible solution. But I have a lot of thinking to do about how that will work.)

@foone

But that's just a thumb drive.

@Richard_Littler

I can relate to this so much.

@tankgrrl @funkula

But there aren't people still using Eliza now in any great numbers.

And didn't Eliza "power users" grow tired of it eventually? Will those charmed by LLMs eventually grow tired and see the limitations?

I want to say yes.

But I don't really know.

@promovicz

This copycat, monkey see, monkey do, instinct is very real and strong in all people. It's part of how our minds work. I also think there is an aspect of modern (American?) individualism that says that if you can be influenced in that way you are weak willed and terrible.

This is very silly. Of course what you see other people doing has a direct impact on what you do. No man is a rock.

@promovicz

I mean. "we are already being manipulated" is already true. One of the reasons I started thinking about renovation is due to all of the interior design videos and magazines enjoy. And these all have an undercurrent of "renovate and spend" because ... well, consider who makes them.

But that was easier for me to compartmentalize than a conversation. If everyone on here was posting about their renovation it WOULD make me wonder "why can't I do that too?" and "should I do that?"

@funkula

I think a lot of people will swear up and down that no advertisement, no online content or social media could ever have a large impact on their real decisions or values.

Because to admit this is possible is to admit vulnerability. The same kind of vulnerability that might make someone say "I don't want to bother anyone with my boring concerns, I will just ask the LLM"

Please for the love of god: bother us.

@funkula

I *could* be convinced that I "need" to spend 10k on a bathroom renovation. But the people in my life: my family, my friends, their needs and values but also the people I choose to interact with online can make that rather large decision go the other way.

If I wanted to sell things to people and didn't have morals I'd want them ONLY talking to my LLMs and those LLMs would work on the assumption that buying my product was normal and essential.

Why doesn't this scare people more?

@snork303 @queenofnewyork

That's fascinating. Is that still in theatres anywhere?

@funkula

Our political opinions, our purchasing decision, even our emotional well being are shaped by interactions with other people.

Everyone rubs off on you a little. You are who you choose to talk to.

Who do you become if you talk to an LLM most of all? Whoever they want you to be I suppose.

And it seems likely that the LLMs are *already* designed to keep people using the product. So, the first brainwashing is "I'm the best one to talk to" then "Only I can really understand you."

@funkula

I have recently been feeling very self-conscious and dissatisfied with the interior design of my apartment. I've posted about it a lot recently and by interacting with people on this website I've decided that I don't need to throw everything away and buy new items, I can elevate my space through organization and repairs.

Where might I be if I talked to an LLM instead? I suspect I'd be thinking more about spending money. And couldn't a company pay to make that more likely to happen?

@funkula

I don't think any serious person really believes in the AGI fairy-tale anymore. "The machine will learn to improve itself and become god like!"

But there is a softer version of LLMs growing to dominate our world. If a significant portion of the population decides to treat these systems like their best friend and confidant all of those people become very easy to manipulate.

And this is exactly how the people creating these systems expect to cash in.

Forget traditional advertising.

@funkula

Sometimes I feel very confident that the possible social and economic impact of AI is being overblown because so much of it is like a toy whose novelty wears off.

I remember that people talked to the chat bot ELIZA for many hours before growing bored with it and seeing the limitations.

But, I do wonder if I'm just wrong. Maybe there are a lot of people who will want to use LLMs a lot and they will never stop. And it will slowly start to shape our world.

@foone

Maybe stop doing such sexy thumb poses hmmm??

No ads.
No* algorithm.
No tracking.
No influence campaigns.
No AI.
No face scanning.
No bots.

Just people on the internet talking to each other about all the little pointless things, (and big incredible things) in our lives.

*I realize that the demonization of the term "algorithm" in social media is unfortunate in many ways. The demonization of the words "social media" itself is also missing the point. But this is about a simple take on what I think a lot of people are looking for right now.

@boby_biq

My brother, that is why I am here.