Mastodawn

nicerobot Mar 30, 2025

@darkghosthunter I’m with you. I shoot for 100% for libraries and if I can’t get there, I’ve probably designed something about the library poorly. Things like mocking complex external resources and huge datasets can make it hard, but otherwise, 100% is generally possible and preferable.

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nicerobot Dec 3, 2022

@alexch @QasimRashid @PeachMcD I disagree. I consider myself an extreme moderate. My positions are not decided based on the status quo. They are based on science/evidence/reality and a strong belief in universal human rights, democracy, and capitalism (in that order). None can be taken in isolation. I balance my centrist views on the consideration of the impact of issues on/to those three pillars of society.

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nicerobot Dec 3, 2022

@PeachMcD @alexch @QasimRashid

Centrist is the rational policies that balance worker, society, business, and government priorities, acknowledging that government is important and requires compromise while requiring constraints on its breadth and it embraces the complexities of the system. It believes that both extremes are dangerous and fights against them. e.g. To consider markets w/o labor is partisan manipulation. All policies must consider the inherent pluralities of the issues.

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nicerobot Dec 3, 2022

@PeachMcD @alexch @QasimRashid 💯 it wouldn’t fix all the problems but I think it’d be a huge win. I’ve been imagining a centrist party that could fight both the left and right at the same time to break the duolopoly.

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nicerobot Dec 2, 2022

@alexch @PeachMcD @QasimRashid
Let me get this straight. You can't decide between hypocrisy and ineptness? Are you FKM?! Hypocrites are dangerous, borderline psychopaths, saying and doing anything to get their way. Ineptness is many things, from ignorance to paralysis, but it's not due to extreme self-interest. If anything it's trying to please everyone resulting in being unable to please anyone. Don't try to both-sides this. The GOP is literally dangerous. DNC isn't.

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nicerobot Nov 26, 2022

@ilanaslightly @specwill @Chicago @lifstrand @bookstodon @pluralistic I definitely agree that we need better antitrust enforcement, but regulations aren't (shouldn't be) _mandated_ by politicians. They should have strong consumer/constituent support which implies some personal responsibility to know _something_ about the problems so they will demand change. We (the U.S.) have a real, deep civil/societal ignorance problem, exacerbated by the fear-mongering media and social bubbles. 😞

nicerobot Nov 26, 2022

@pluralistic re: "Not surprisingly, a lot of people assume that if an Audible search for an author or book comes up empty, that means there is no audiobook available. They don't think of searching for the book on Google Books, or Libro.fm, or Downpour."
Is it not possible to write an app that searches these alternative sites, provides hooks into each for purchasing, and downloads the books, all in a seamless, unified interface? Something like a federated marketplace app?

nicerobot Nov 26, 2022

"Any time someone puts a lock on something that belongs to you, but won't give you the key, that lock is not there for your benefit."
-- https://pluralistic.net/2022/07/25/can-you-hear-me-now/

Pluralistic: Why none of my books are available on Audible; Sarah Gailey’s “Just Like Home” (25 Jul 2022) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

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nicerobot Nov 26, 2022

@specwill @Chicago @lifstrand @ilanaslightly @bookstodon @pluralistic I recently left Audible. I was able to download every one of my purchases. I've imported them into Apple Books and able to listen there. I'm definitely not arguing for Audible/Amazon (I've even stopped buying from Amazon, I only shop locally now). This article confirms my decision! If only there were more people willing/able to sacrifice a little (or even a lot) for principles/ethics, consumers would be powerful.