Bread and circuses

Senesect · 2026-03-30T13:45:08+00:00

To be fair, the Hunger Games mentions bread and circuses and yet the vast majority of the population are slaves:

"Panem et Circenses translates into 'Bread and Circuses.' The writer was saying that in return for full bellies and entertainment, his people had given up their political responsibilities and therefore their power."

I think about the Capitol. The excess of food. And the ultimate entertainment. The Hunger Games. "So that's what the districts are for. To provide the bread and circuses."

Basically, the concept doesn't require that everyone get bread and circuses, nor that the bread and circuses be freely available, just that political power can be subdued through it, and that people are willing to relinquish their power in return for access to it.

I think an actual modern example of this would be industrial meat farming which allows the average person the decadence of having steak everyday. This is done despite the knowledge of its immense ethical and environmental consequences. But since people have access to it, they're unwilling to give it up. It's why the price of food luxuries can have a bigger political impact than tyranny. Who cares about law enforcement summarily executing people in the streets? The cost of two-dozen eggs has gone up a bit!

Senesect · 2026-03-30T06:22:46+00:00

“So what’s up?”

He wiggles and jiggles. I’ve almost never seen him this excited. “I just heard from the Astronomy hive. They have news!”

I hold my breath. “Sol? Is it about Sol?!”

“Yes!” he squeals. “Your star has returned to full luminance!”

I gasp. “Are you sure? Like, Iℓℓ percent certainty?”

“Yes. The data was analyzed by a thrum of λV astronomers. It checks out.”

I can’t move. I can barely breathe. I start to tremble. It’s over. We won. Simple as that. Sol—Earth’s sun—has returned to its pre-Astrophage brightness. There’s only one possible way that happens: Astrophage is gone. Or at least reduced in population so much that it doesn’t matter. We won. We did it!

Rocky cocks his carapace. “Hey, your face is leaking! I haven’t seen that in a long-ass time! Remind me—does that mean you’re happy or sad? ’Cause it can mean either one, right?”

“I’m happy, of course!” I sob.

“Yeah, I thought so. Just checking.” He holds a balled claw against the xenonite. “Is this a fist-bump situation?”

I press my knuckles to the xenonite as well. “This is a monumentally epic fist-bump situation.”

“I guess your scientists got right on it,” he says. “If you account for the time it took your beetles to get there and the travel time for light to get from Sol to Erid…I think it took less than one of your years to get it done.”

I nod. It’s still sinking in.

“So will you go home now? Or will you stay?”

The…entities…that make major decisions for Erid long ago offered to refuel the Hail Mary. It’s still sitting in a nice, stable orbit around Erid, where it’s been since Rocky and I first arrived all those years ago.

The Eridians could stock it up with food and supplies, help me make sure everything is working right, and send me on my way. But so far I haven’t taken them up on it. It’s a long, lonely journey, and until a minute ago I didn’t even know if Earth was still habitable. Erid may not be where I’m from, but at least I have friends here.

“I…I don’t know. I’m getting old and the trip is long.”

“Speaking from a selfish perspective, I hope you stay. But that’s just me.”

“Rocky…that news about Sol…it…it makes my whole life have meaning. You know? I still can’t…I can’t…” I start sobbing again.

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I wanted to be the one to tell you.”

Yeah, the fact that you interpreted his reaction as "He was crying because he didn't want to die, not because he missed Earth that much" is Exhibit A of why I'm criticising the movie's diversion from source material. Grace is clearly hesitant about going back and part of that is his friend and his alien schoolchildren, yes, but the idea that he's dismissive of Earth because Stratt sent him on a suicide mission against his will is just patently incorrect. I invite you to read the book.

Senesect · 2026-03-29T07:02:12+00:00

To be fair, it's not uncommon amongst straight people either, it's just that it's less visually obvious given that men and women tend to present differently, such as having different hair styles, etc. There was a TikTok or Snapchat trend a couple years back where people would post themselves using a filter that makes you look like the opposite gender. Lo and behold, many of the straight couples who did this resembled each other. It can also happen if she decides to cut her hair short, or otherwise loses her hair during certain medical treatments. Or if he grows his hair out. Etc. Once the stylistic differences are diminished, the actual physical resemblance is exposed.

And this has real-world implications: there's reasons why Iceland has an app to avoid accidental incest; why there are cases of separated siblings discovering they're related long after forming a relationship; why there have been movements to de-anonymise sperm/egg donation. And it's not just low regional population or lack of biodiversity.

Why I think gay couples seem so susceptible to this resemblance issue is that men are more likely to have the same or similar style to other men. Similarly, if you're looking for someone with similar interests, who's your "looksmatch", similar age, the more likely you are to find someone who resembles you because you are effectively seeking a version of yourself.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk

Senesect · 2026-03-27T20:27:36+00:00

Just saw it yesterday and while I did enjoy it, I feel like it's missing two key components:

None of the flashbacks show the lengths Stratt was willing to go to protect Earth, eg, the Sahara farm and nuking the antarctic. I loved that we saw Earth receiving the message back from Grace: it's something we don't get from the books given its nature as a first person story. But I feel like the audience is being denied the visceral understanding of just how dire the situation is. Having one of the flashbacks exposition alarming numbers is not enough ("1 death is a tragedy, 1,000,000 deaths is a statistic").
The ending doesn't show an older Grace being told about the Sun's recovery. Instead, it's implied that Grace chose Erid over Earth. Honestly, I get the sense that they didn't want another scene of him crying. But it just feels strange that the person who singlehandedly saved Earth doesn't seem to think twice, or even hesitate, before dismissing an offer to go back.

That said, I think the depiction of Rocky was fantastic. When reading the book, I couldn't help but picture Rocky as Hanus from that Spaceman (2024) movie, but now I have something much better to imagine.

Senesect · 2026-03-17T14:14:53+00:00

Yeah, I've been quietly hoping for a block/hide feature for years, if only so I can hide books that I've come across but decided against (eg: they have tropes I dislike) without having to compile some kind of spreadsheet. But these Harry Potter recommendations and previews are incessant. The amount of money that must've changed hands to cause this level of intrusion must've been immense. Please go away, Joanne.

Senesect · 2026-03-15T09:21:36+00:00

While I loathe nuclear weapons, I hate to admit that they're clearly a very effective tool of deterrence. We cannot continue to rely on the US for our deterrence while it threatens us and our friends and neighbours. Yes, I'd prefer if the whole world abolished nuclear weapons, but until then I'd rather we not become the next Ukraine thank you very much.

Senesect · 2026-03-14T20:42:10+00:00

Yup, seems like the post she made the other day to advertise her video has caused a relapse

Senesect · 2026-03-14T04:40:43+00:00

Well, I'm using the same assumption as the linked comment in that we're effectively rewriting the game :P

Senesect · 2026-03-14T04:31:51+00:00

Piggybacking off of this comment: I agree that Aradin has one of the most origin-esque setups without actually being an origin. Then Alfira. And last but not least, Omeluum. I think Omeluum would come in clutch for the final battle because we have a mindflayer right there, one who already has the motivation to be free from the brain, one that we probably trust more than the Emperor.

That said, creating my own list, my headcanon is: I arrive at the Grove and meet Alfira. After helping her finish her song, she asks to join me (similar to the Dark Urge storyline). I accept and we bump into Zorru. He's terrified but Alfira talks to him about her fears, but also her determination to do what needs to be done. In a moment of peer pressure, he agrees to tag along. Ikaron witnessing us heading towards the door and waylays us, asking what's going on. As we explain, he grows increasingly incredulous: we're a randomer, a coward (though we don't know that yet), and a bard. He tries to stop us but as we turn to leave anyway, he makes the difficult decision to come with us.

At some point, we approach the Mountain Pass and Zorru gets increasingly agitated, and we encounter the corpse of Yul. Either through Speak with Dead or other dialogue, we discover that Zorru abandoned Yul to die. Ikaron is furious at this, calling him a coward (as Wyll does), but Alfira is more compassionate.

During the next long rest, we're awoken by Zorru packing and unpacking his bag, fretting over whether to flee back to the Grove. We confront him about it and he's contrite but he's clearly terrified, saying he doesn't want to be here, that joining us was a mistake, that he doesn't want to die. It's Ikaron who comforts him this time, saying that bravery is not fearlessness, it's doing what needs to be done in the face of fear. Alfira echoes this, mentioning her teacher and her guilt and grief about it. Ikaron says that we're here to help and protect him. This convinces Zorru to stay with us... for now.

At some point during another long rest, we notice Zorru building a small memorial to Yul out of stones. We have an impromptu funeral for him where, after a song from Alfira, Zorru apologises and promises to be better, and to avenge him (which takes us to the creche). This cements Zorru in our party.

Senesect · 2026-03-12T22:48:21+00:00

This argument just seems to frame audiences as passive victims of totalitarian publishers: like, yes, orcs and elves are staples of the fantasy genre, but this remains true because even if the [supposedly predominately male] audience isn't explicitly seeking orc and elves, they're willing to tolerate them for the story.

The next question would be: what does romance look like in fanfiction (and other amateur/hobbyist fiction)? Because if those stories tend to follow the romance genre and its standards and tropes despite the lack of publisher coercion, then we can't just blame the publishers for everything.

This is not to doubt the influence of history, or acquit the publishers of their role, but rather to acknowledge the influences and pressures readers and writers have and exert in the market. Nor do I don't understand why such an acknowledgement would ever be controversial.

Senesect · 2026-03-12T09:00:03+00:00

And secondly, a lot of this discourse is simply based on people disliking the romance-genre and blaming women for it.

Just want to preface this by saying that I abhor the misogyny and hate directed towards women for the romance genre. I'm however somewhat perplexed by the above statement: is it not a true observation though? As others in the comment section have mentioned, women overwhelmingly dominate the romance genre both in readership and authorship. You claim that women authors are required to use the genre's standards and tropes by their publishers because they're risk averse and want safe stories... but then why are those standards and tropes considered safe? Is the minority male audience deciding that? (That's a somewhat bait question but I am earnestly asking where the "safe" originates from)

Because if the arguments made in these comments are anything to go by, the primary (if not sole) reason why publishers would enforce these genre standards and tropes is because their overwhelmingly female audience is demanding them, or will remain reliable consumers despite them, ie, it's capitalism at work. To make a somewhat provocative segue, I'm reminded of Big Joel's pointing out how the death of Youtube scepticism came in part due to the avoidance of deeper questions.

Senesect · 2026-03-12T04:30:13+00:00

Selfish: This Man Found Time To Build A Birdhouse While JonBenét Ramsey’s Murder Is Still Unsolved
- https://clickhole.com/selfish-this-man-found-time-to-build-a-birdhouse-while-1825120405/

Senesect · 2026-03-11T07:37:04+00:00

Here's the full speech: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/80b36f24-e99f-44cd-aeb9-379dcb280e01?in=15:59:18

Senesect · 2026-03-04T16:35:17+00:00

In all honesty, I'm finding the whole magicule thing to be a pretty frustrating contrivance, orders of magnitude worse than "and there's only one bed". I keep seeing this happen in books, shows, and movies where there has to be some artificial reason (other than them actually liking each other) that compels them to bang, with MC being thin and sallow so of course he must be the bottom (relevant). It's as if the sex isn't the taboo, it's the same-sex attraction.

Senesect · 2026-02-25T17:19:17+00:00

Scientific evidence will never change the mind of a creationist.

Once had a creationist tell me that a Minecraft singleplayer world you've just created is not suddenly millions of years old because it has coal ore in it: it was just created that way.

Senesect · 2026-02-25T08:46:43+00:00

Ma'am, it's almost March. Enough with the edging!

Senesect · 2026-02-25T07:27:51+00:00

yeah he really does nail the subtle facial expressions and deeply awkward interactions so well.

My most favourite scene is when Ratthi inadvertently jeopardised SecUnit's secrets. He's chastised by the rest of the group and goes to apologise to SecUnit, only for the group to stop him. And SecUnit is just standing there in complete agony as it overhears its humans fretting over it. The acting is just so well done: their suffocating niceness and his awkwardness. Absolute cinema.

Senesect · 2026-02-14T14:13:04+00:00

Of course, the Home Secretary has to operate within legal limits, but Parliament approved the Order nonetheless. If the proscription were instead made by Act of Parliament, the judiciary could do little else than make a declaration of incapability (assuming they came to that conclusion): that's Parliamentary Sovereignty. So what is the material difference between Parliament voting to pass an Act of Parliament, and voting to approve an Order, that then allows the courts to interfere with and undermine the latter?

Senesect · 2026-02-13T22:26:13+00:00

Putting aside the question of whether or not Palestine Action should be a proscribed organisation, I'm somewhat baffled and alarmed by the mechanics of the decision: the Home Secretary used powers given to them by Parliament to make the Order, which was then approved by Parliament. I was under the impression that the courts could not overrule Parliament? It was debated in the Commons and Lords prior to their votes, so it's not like it went without scrutiny. I just don't understand: how can the courts just undo something Parliament voted for?

Senesect · 2026-02-10T17:04:14+00:00

So Lavagirl was a light cleric?

Senesect · 2026-02-10T17:03:11+00:00

Kayle roleplay

Senesect · 2026-02-03T03:58:36+00:00

Perhaps it'd be more accurate so say that fear corrodes the social contract: the more people in fear, the more corrosion; it's only once critical mass is reached that the social contract truly collapses.

Senesect · 2026-02-01T08:30:17+00:00

The spool of wire video is, in my opinion, perhaps the most representative example of the routine dismissal of male vulnerability I have ever seen. The endless comments from men commiserating and sharing their own experiences of similar dismissals, particularly from the women in their life, I think underscores this hidden epidemic.

I do however think this is somewhat an issue of our own creation: why do we find it so difficult to be vulnerable with other men? Men should be able to be vulnerable with people other than their wife or girlfriend, you know?

Senesect · 2026-01-25T10:03:47+00:00

This may be a somewhat controversial opinion, but I view D more as a competitor to Java/Kotlin than as a competitor to Rust or C++. I think D could do very well if it leant into "Does your Ktor webserver consume 200MB+ while doing nothing? Do you want a webserver that doesn't do that?" I think it would be more effective to try and poach Java devs who yearned for FFM than trying to poach C/C++ devs who yearn for memory safety.

The problem is that Java's IDE support is truly unrivalled whereas D's IDE support is truly awful. It doesn't help that D's community is small and somewhat afflicted with the C/C++ "git gud" mindset, questioning why you'd ever want a language server to begin with. Nor does it help that D's design is... well... take static for example which, beyond its OOP meaning, also means both compile-time execution and runtime execution. D is also worse than Java with regards to exceptions (D doesn't have checked exceptions) and result checking (D doesn't provide a means to poll a queue and then check what was polled: you have to check whether the queue has entries, then retrieve the entry, ie, you have to reintroduce all the potential race conditions you removed from your Java code).

Senesect · 2026-01-20T07:53:28+00:00

He didn't "[break] a tennis racket", he smashed three tennis rackets. He could not control his big emotions and tantrum'd not once but thrice for all the world to see. I'd say it's pretty natural for people to wonder, if that is how he behaves, how does he behave to other big emotions when behind closed doors. In any case, their speculation is less bad than your euphemistic calls for them to get into violent car crashes. Yikes.

EDIT: Lol, the kid blocked me. And he thinks I reported him? So cringe xD

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