I've been playing #Starfield. A lot. And an intriguing scenario emerges from it:
Can we, as humanity, overcome our prejudices should we encounter another intelligent race that looks vastly different to our own?
Pop culture depicts alien species that are not humanoid to be malevolent e.g. Starship Troopers and Helldivers.
If we meet such a species in real life, and they were peaceful, would humanity have the mental fortitude to not demonise them?
[Un]Popular Opinion:
AI assistants like Co-Pilot and ChatGPT run the risk of making us dumber if we depend on them to think for us too much.
There has to be a set of skills, or a level of intelligence, we must achieve and maintain which allows us to work with AI. We still should check and understand what is produced. We still need to be creative - not rely solely on AI to be creative for us.
I'm not against AI. I believe it can greatly optimise complex tasks with vast numbers of variables seemingly impossible, or timely, to manage manually e.g. the work being done to discover new materials and chemicals.
Keeping our own intelligence is the difference between our coexistence and our downfall.
[Un]Popular Opinion:
If you're going to make a live action movie or TV series around a video game: PLAY. THE. DAMN. GAME. FIRST!!!
The main failure of movies based around video games is when what is offered is not what is expected. Disregarding the established IP of a video game franchise for seemingly no reason is incredibly difficult to justify.
Throwing in famous actors is not a fix-all. Poorly casting a famous actor in a role not suited to their style, as good as they are, doth not a good movie maketh.
A polling site which allows people from all over the world to "vote" on upcoming elections of various countries.
E.g. The USA would be able to see what the rest of the world would choose.
[Un]Popular Opinion:
Of course there's controversy in Australia about proposed vehicle emissions cuts.
As is well known, Australia is the "dumping ground" of inefficient cars unwanted in other parts of the world. One of the last bastions of the "gas guzzler" is being jeopardized.
<Sarcasm> Heaven forbid Australia wanting to demand better standards for ourselves.
How dare the arse end of the world complain about the leftovers being sold at inflated prices!
Australia is just a hole in the ground for cheap resources and gullible people.
Quick! A smear campaign on anything that alters the status quo!</sarcasm>
It's high time this nation makes more demands on emissions and efficiency standards. At a time of high inflation, efficiency leads to cost savings. Why should Australia miss out on that while the rest of the world reaps the benefits?
When we season our foods with herbs and spices we apply ground and dried plant matter - and minerals - to what we are going to eat.
Essentially we create custom dirt and mud that appeals to our palette and would never occur naturally.
Given how much coastline and beaches we have here in Australia, overall we have some pretty bad beach foods.
Kiosks seem wholly underwhelming and insufficient these days to cater to the Summertime demands with an increasing population.
[Un]Popular Opinion:
This year's game awards did not mention #HogwartsLegacy (HL) which, to me, makes the results feel meaningless and a shallow victory for the winners.
HL has topped $1.3B but, apparently, that much market penetration means little to whether or not it's good.
Apparently we're more than happy to support Activision/Blizzard despite Kotick and his alleged workplace sexual harassment. Yet one woman's Twitter comments which have ZERO bearing on the game, is persona non grata because these days it's not fashionable to like a game for its own qualities.
The level of obvious bias shown in the game awards means that the governing body has an agenda which will override impartiality whenever it suits them.
I guess I am looking for integrity in the wrong places.
Random thought:
When I hear of glass/ceramic storage media being developed the very first thing that comes to mind are the "isolinear" chips and rods in Star Trek.
The technology is strikingly similar to ceramics-based storage and may replace current day technology soon
[Un]popular opinion:
Cars are getting too big.
The American pickup truck style of vehicle does not lend itself well to anywhere but the widest of roads.
In particular the bonnet/hood is becoming far too tall to the point where they are unsafe around children.
SUVs with similar tall bonnet design aesthetics are also unnecessary.
Yes, a big grill is intimidating, but who are you trying to intimidate? And why? Does it make you feel good? Give you a sense of superiority? Is it the "might is right" mentality?
I don't get it. Why are we bringing these oversized behemoths onto roads not meant for them?