mx alex tax1a - 2020 (6)Feb 17

we're tired of hearing "it's just a tool" because, well, a) we disagree and

b) let's pretend that we agree. okay, it's a tool: who made it? why did they make it? what is this tool good at doing? is it any better at doing it than the previous methods by which we would do this thing? why should i use it for that? can you demonstrate the tool's utility in a situation i propose? are the tradeoffs worth the benefits? can you answer *any* of these questions?

but no, people just say "it's just a tool" and it's inevitable and we just have to get used to it, no questioning allowed, no objections allowed (see also: the cries of discrimination coming from adafruit) , and the conversation stops there. weird, huh.

Show threadmx alex tax1a - 2020 (6)Feb 17
it is not a tool, it is a an informational dirty bomb, it is a mechanism by which the worst people on the planet are enriching themselves at the expense of your ability to find information. it has no liberatory uses — it must be resisted by force.
Show threadIrenes (many)Feb 17
@atax1a well put
Show threadMx. Chara Aznable (they/them) of PnictogenFeb 17
@ireneista @atax1a So far we have seen no justification of the use of LLMs or "generative AI" that aren't either vague and unconvincing, or clearly about mere speed or bulk volume. Not to get all Catholic here but...is it really a good idea for the tech sector to be encouraging our sins? The sin of impatience, in this case.
Show thread✨pencilears✨Feb 22
@mxchara @ireneista @atax1a y'know, I'm realizing all the very strong anti-ai people I know are (at least a bit) Catholic.
Show threadIrenes (many)Feb 22
@pencilears @mxchara @atax1a right, like personally our beliefs are strongly against this stuff but our belief system doesn't tell us to go get in everyone's faces and be angry at strangers about it, you know?
Show threadIrenes (many)Feb 22
@pencilears @mxchara @atax1a at least, not unless we think doing so will bring about positive change
Show thread✨pencilears✨
@ireneista @mxchara @atax1a it is reasonable to be tactical about when to deploy an opinion to best effect
Feb 22 at 8:25pmWeb
Show threadIrenes (many)Feb 22
@pencilears @mxchara @atax1a that's certainly our view
Show threadmx alex tax1a - 2020 (6)Feb 22
@ireneista @pencilears @mxchara well, fuck, now we're thinking about saying "I have religious objections to AI usage, on account of being catholic"
Show thread✨pencilears✨Feb 22
@atax1a @ireneista @mxchara right, like it has to be a stronger argument than merely being sinful.
Show threadmx alex tax1a - 2020 (6)Feb 22
@pencilears @ireneista @mxchara the literal pope is against it, and, well, as a catholic,
Show thread✨pencilears✨Feb 22
@atax1a @ireneista @mxchara it is nice to see a world leader speaking up, even if the main perspective is "please go to church for spiritual guidance, not chat GPT"
Show threadIrenes (many)Feb 22
@pencilears @atax1a @mxchara oh no. did the pope say something we agree with ><
Show threadmx alex tax1a - 2020 (6)Feb 22
@ireneista @pencilears @mxchara yes, the literal pope of catholicism has a better stance on AI than your average tech worker
Show thread/usr/local/goth @ homeFeb 22
@atax1a @ireneista I'm happy to know I'm not the only one thinking about this. Welp I guess time to write my pastor and or Bishop (Lutheran for context)