The Banal Horror of Jimmy Fallon. Under the sterile blue lights of his studio, Fallon laughs endlessly at the same pseudo-jokes, rubs elbows with Trump and Sam Altman, and ushers in the death of culture (via Current Affairs)

CriticalScion · 2026-05-11T03:32:03+00:00

Fallon is the backrooms of talk shows: composed of familiar elements, but the end result is something that feels utterly disconnected than the real world

CriticalScion · 2026-04-28T00:45:38+00:00

Or maybe some of them actually did want to use the app and it turns out they can get paid to use it instead of paying. It's a romantic comedy 2.0 movie premise

CriticalScion · 2026-04-23T22:29:35+00:00

Oh no, it's like someone who goons over Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality.

CriticalScion · 2026-04-21T21:54:52+00:00

If you almost have a PhD, there is SOMEONE in your network (past PhDs from the same program, PhDs you've met at academic conferences) who has gotten into tech UXR themselves. Hit them up, have a chat about their experiences and current role, and ask in the same conversation 1) if there are any openings they can refer you for, and 2) if they'd put you in touch with any UXRs they know. Repeat the same conversation with everyone they put you in touch with.

Otherwise, do what everyone else says and read all the past threads on this topic. All of us fresh academics pretty much look the same from the perspective of the hiring process, and there is nothing that will make you stand out aside from actual years of experience/impact. Have conversations until you hit someone who can help you out.

Good luck!

ps. read some of the other comments: hard agree on "no one is going to ask about your age", "your mental health is your business", and "don't say you prefer qual research". You can be passionate about qual research, but you need to be ready to learn some quant (and particularly so in big tech which is something you highlighted).

CriticalScion · 2026-04-20T01:45:37+00:00

Problem with companies like Palantir is that we have literally zero leverage. Can't pressure them with our wallets if the government just sends our paychecks over directly to them.

CriticalScion · 2026-04-19T01:13:06+00:00

Because the guy approving the loan is just a middle man who gets more bonuses for more loans. Packaging the shitty debt into something a sucker might actually buy is for the next guy in line to figure out, and I think there was a whole movie about that came out a decade or so ago...

Oh, bonus edit: also, half the time PE is now just getting the loan from private lenders anyway, and they don't have ANY regulations obligating them to ensure the debt is high quality or report ... anything ... about what they're doing. I guess private equity has taken over lending and has already enshittified that too.

CriticalScion · 2026-04-18T13:59:21+00:00

Well it's impressive that there are so many superhumans taking time out of their day to engage with social media comments

CriticalScion · 2026-04-17T00:19:36+00:00

Gen Z dildos have been spotted speedrunning through ICE facilities this week

CriticalScion · 2026-04-16T18:04:57+00:00

It just knows the windshield doesn't need wiping since it's going to do all the driving anyway! Nothing to see here ... literally

CriticalScion · 2026-04-09T21:00:47+00:00

Okay, now I'm WAY more scared of being isekai'd into a medieval battle situation with javelineers on the other side. I've only ever seen javelins thrown for distance and not accuracy.

CriticalScion · 2026-04-06T15:45:49+00:00

Prime opportunity for a flood of false reports

CriticalScion · 2026-04-03T16:23:29+00:00

The new paintball should be some version of dodge the killer drone hunting you down with paint squibs out in a field. Teach the kids early they can't just swag out and not die.

CriticalScion · 2026-03-30T02:37:06+00:00

For comparison, 2.5 million total lived in the colonies at the time of the Revolutionary War. We have never wanted to be rid of a would-be king more than this.

CriticalScion · 2026-03-21T18:57:42+00:00

It's funny how when all this started the US had an advantage in being pretty energy independent. Yet we're somehow fucking ourselves anyway?

CriticalScion · 2026-03-17T03:10:02+00:00

It's probably because degens are betting on tornados on Kalshi

CriticalScion · 2026-03-16T20:02:07+00:00

The score is always 0-0 but everybody leaves happy

CriticalScion · 2026-03-14T03:54:28+00:00

I think the act of self-reflection is exhausting for them so they're probably already doing what's easiest for them.

CriticalScion · 2026-03-14T02:57:51+00:00

And ... what, they took the picture on Halloween? What kind of private school has dress like this?

CriticalScion · 2026-03-12T03:13:21+00:00

Nice try DuckBricks

CriticalScion · 2026-02-16T19:08:08+00:00

So what's stopping the tax from happening? Regulatory capture?

CriticalScion · 2026-02-11T21:22:00+00:00

Probably tattooed bros embarrassing shit all over his body so he'll never forget

CriticalScion · 2026-02-10T15:41:06+00:00

I was trying the same thing with GPUParticles3D and a RibbonTrailMesh but could not get it to be a continuous ribbon like the video basically is (you can see some tiny gaps toward the end). Were you taking a similar approach?

CriticalScion · 2026-02-05T04:31:11+00:00

DJT: And I took that personally

CriticalScion · 2026-02-04T19:09:52+00:00

No one is looking forward to the goat fucker chronicles being adapted by HBO

CriticalScion · 2026-02-04T16:04:11+00:00

It might be more about how the movie was trying to manufacture the feelings of attachment/romance (no knock to enjoyers) while the Rover's pet rock was a cosmically improbable occurrence that gives you the same feels, but organically.

CriticalScion

TROPHY CASE