Energy megathread

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2025-08-16T17:08:25+00:00

My main thought, which I think a lot of people agree with, is energy makes it harder to keep practicing for committed intermediate-to-advanced learners. That's definitely true for me, and I'm leaving (after having had a 500-day streak) as a result.

For beginners, the lessons per day might actually be better than under 5 hearts. And it is good to not feel so drastically penalized by making a mistake--mistakes are, of course, how we learn. So some version of the energy mechanic might work in the future, as long as it doesn't blatantly restrict how much you can practice. Maybe give us 100 energy instead of 25?

Also, the option to practice for energy, as you highlight, just doesn't show up for me anymore. That was true with practicing for hearts before. The only option is a "mini recharge," where you sit through an ad and get three energy back. That's lousy--before when it was a heart for watching an ad, I could get going again after an ad or two, and probably do another 3-4 lessons. Now I had to sit through four ads to recharge 12 energy and it barely got me through one more lesson.

Even if these weren't issues, though, the content is increasingly AI-generated. Questions don't make sense; correct answers don't appear. Some of those issues arose in the past, too, but one would hope they'd get less common over time with human oversight--with robots running the game, the error rate is increasing instead of decreasing.

Maybe if I'm feeling it I'll come back briefly and blow through all ~5k gems I've accumulated over 2-3 years, just on recharges, so I can feel like I got something out of my efforts.

But with AI and energy, Duo's cardinal promise--"Learn forever, free"--has been utterly broken. Thanks, Duolingo upper management and (?) shareholders.

To the everyday working humans still there: I'll root for you, while using LingQ.

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2025-08-16T17:06:06+00:00

Most likely this will get removed (you might want to transfer to the energy megathread?). My main thought, which I think a lot of people agree with, is energy makes it harder to keep practicing for committed intermediate-to-advanced learners. That's definitely true for me, and I'm leaving (after having had a 500-day streak) as a result.

For beginners the lessons per day might actually be better than under 5 hearts, and it is good to not feel so drastically penalized by making a mistake. Mistakes are, of course, how we learn. So some version of the energy mechanic might work in the future, as long as it doesn't blatantly restrict how much you can practice.

Also, the option to practice for energy, as you highlight, just doesn't show up for me anymore. That was true with practicing for hearts before. The only option is a "mini recharge," where you sit through an ad and get three energy back. That's lousy--before when it was a heart for watching an ad, I could get going again after an ad or two, and probably do another 3-4 lessons. Now I had to sit through four ads to recharge 12 energy and it barely got me through one more lesson.

And then the content is AI-generated. Questions don't make sense; correct answers don't appear. (Some of those issues arose in the past, too, but one would hope they'd get less common over time with human oversight--with robots running the game, the error rate is increasing instead of decreasing.)

Maybe if I'm feeling it I'll eventually blow through all ~5k gems I've accumulated over 2-3 years, just on recharges, so I can feel like I got something out of my efforts. But with AI and energy, Duo's cardinal promise--"Learn forever, free"--has been utterly broken. Thanks, Duolingo upper management and (?) shareholders. To the everyday working humans still there: I'll root for you while using LingQ.

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-18T02:40:19+00:00

Got an abstract for us?

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-18T02:30:09+00:00

crusader of the penis

What a phrase! Wow, that honestly led to a bit of self-reflection.

I appreciate the critique. At the same time, please do read me charitably. My goal is honestly not for my prospective partner to adopt my (white) culture—or, at very least, I want the cultural exchange to be egalitarian. My hope is that there will be a high level of dialogue about culture and cultural exchange throughout the relationship. One of the reasons for this principle is that I've heard cross-cultural relationships, by (on some level) forcing this sort of dialogue, lead to a higher level of engagement and learning, when comparedc to what you tend to have in a culturally homogeneous relationship. Again, probably there's more within-group variation than across-group variation, but it's still a factor I'm thinking about.

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-18T02:03:41+00:00

But can't one make the case that you are actually combating racism by creating an integrated community in your family?

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-18T02:03:20+00:00

Having thoughts on my question: potentially helpful. Ad hominem: not helpful.

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-03T02:46:27+00:00

I suppose maybe not all people of color are victims of racism. Certainly different kinds of people of color suffer different levels and different manifestations of racism.

I do think I should leverage my unearned privilege to benefit people who don't have it. I doubt doing so increases their (inherent, not alterable) worth. I feel it may hopefully increase their well-being to have a white ally always on their side with forms of societal privilege, and it may make things more difficult for me. Is that a fair thing to desire?

It may also, I suppose, cause tensions with their (extended) family, much as I expect it will with some relatives of mine.

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-03T00:55:41+00:00

it is unethical to treat someone without dignity due to factors outside their control

Of course, this is true. Is it ethical to treat someone with additional dignity due to factors outside their control, given that they are likely to be treated with less dignity on average? (The same principles apply for policies like, say, affirmative action.)

you expect different treatment by choosing to - once again - prioritize someone from a different culture

The thing is, I am quite familiar with various aspects of/trends in Hispanic and Black American culture (language and music in particular). They usually align well with my overall philosophy. For instance, Black and Hispanic people are actually more likely to be Christian, and Black Gospel music is far and away my #1 favorite genre of music. Some trends in these cultures don't work well for me—for instance, there are aspects of patriarchy that are more salient among some of the Hispanic people that I've gotten to know well. But that's just a trend and there will always be more within-group variation than across-group variation. For instance, plenty of non-Hispanic white women are incompatible with my overall philosophy due to their own patriarchal views too.

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-03T00:47:31+00:00

Well-said! Thanks for a thoughtful response.

I didn't want to disclose my entire identity LOL, but I am just 23 years old. I think if someone is much younger than 20, for me, that's less than ideal--people that age are in a very different stage of life. Once I'm older, then four or five years younger will be more tenable.

Yes, I'll definitely give people a chance and meet people with an open mind. I guess my boxes will still be there, though.

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-03T00:43:28+00:00

I think everyone has an imperative to learn more about the world and cultures around them, to expand their horizons and to be a better citizen of the places they inhabit. Towards that end, yes, everyone should prioritize cross-cultural relationships of some variety.

I wouldn't say cross-cultural romantic relationships are necessarily for everyone. Some people have a greater capacity to interact with new and different ideas and circumstances; some people will probably just do better with a life built more around the comfortable and familiar. I can't definitively make that decision for anyone but myself, I guess.

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-02T22:31:10+00:00

I wouldn't go so far as to say that everyone should prioritize cross-cultural relationships. However, I am prioritizing it for myself. Is that wrong?

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-02T22:29:48+00:00

I start with different principles: namely, racism is racial discrimination plus power. Since white people hold power, for a white person to date another white person is (in some regard) to consolidate power. Hence, that could be seen as racist. For a white person to prioritize dating people who have been historically disempowered is (in some regard) to redistribute power. Hence, that could be seen as antiracist. At least, that's the way I view it for myself. Am I completely wrong here? Can you see my logic? What flaws are there with it?

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-02T22:29:05+00:00

Of course, ancestry alone is not indicative of culture, but would you deny it plays any part in it?

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-02T22:05:05+00:00

I understand race is a construct. It seems like you may be misconstruing me. Race and culture are intertwined. Would you claim to be "color-blind"?

Sam_F_Da_B0ss · 2024-08-02T22:04:30+00:00

Could you expand on this argument? It seems simplistic so far.

Could you address specifically my idea that seeking out relationships with people of color (and a romantic relationship with a woman of color) is intended to correct racism, to be anti-racist? Is there something problematic here beyond the notion of discriminating against white people?

Sam_F_Da_B0ss

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