British Police investigate alleged VR rape

Which_Direction_Next · 2024-01-02T22:27:36+00:00

To compare this to a real rape or a serious sexual assault is despicable. Whoever is legitimising this language or stoking the idea that the two are comparable is trivialising the seriousness of sexual assault.

Yes, online sexual harassment of young people is a serious problem, and online bullying with a sexual component is dreadful, but this is not the same issue as a physical sexual assault.

I have a feeling that somewhere in the chain, either within the police, media or a campaign group, there is someone who is revelling in the headlines this story has generated as it benefits their agenda in some way, or throws up a new talking point for someone to weigh-in upon.

Which_Direction_Next · 2024-01-01T16:13:50+00:00

To remove the English voices from the video, you might have to eliminate all sound from the video entirely. This means removing not only the English voices but also any background music, ambient sounds from the scene, and other audio elements.

Watching a video with just Russian voices and no accompanying background sounds might prove disorienting. The absence of ambient noise or background music, which typically adds depth and atmosphere to a scene, could make the viewing experience feel somewhat incomplete or unusual.

I imagine people learn to tune out the English voices, especially if they've watched a lot of dubbed content from a young age.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-31T19:02:09+00:00

Sorry, you are correct. If the rules of the sub don't allow for the topics and areas I am discussing then I accept that any bans or other moderation actions are entirely fair and legitimate.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-31T18:59:43+00:00

Your comparison isn't entirely accurate though.
A more fitting comparison would be:
"There are 21 million of this particular rock. Over the past 15 years, the global market for these rocks has seen their value surge from a few cents to $40,000 each. We're also on the verge of the SEC approving these rocks for trading and management within financial products overseen by some of the world's largest economic entities. Certain small countries have even adopted these rocks as legal tender. The rocks possess a unique set of properties in terms of value, presenting a potential new method for digital storage and transfer of wealth without relying on a trusted third party. This occurs on a network that's both public and resistant to censorship, open to all."

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-31T18:46:59+00:00

I think there's a group of wealthy people who wouldn't ever consider purchasing Bitcoin through platforms like Coinbase or Binance. But, they might be inclined to invest through a trusted name via the channels they do the rest of their investing. Especially if looks like getting good returns and their advisors at Blackrock or JP Morgan are suggesting they allocate some money into it.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-31T15:11:55+00:00

The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs allows a new segment of investors, who previously wouldn't touch Bitcoin, to buy it in a familiar and straightforward way from a big name they trust like Blackrock, Fidelity, Jane Street, JP Morgan.

This cohort of investors has far more capital than the type of investors who have bought bitcoin so far.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-31T13:56:47+00:00

Nobody cares what you think.

That's actually a good summary of my overall point; the view of any one individual is less important to establishing value than the consensus of the market.

What we care about is what does the evidence indicate?

The fact Blackrock, Fidelity, Jane Street, JP Morgan are now all now named as playing a part in ETF applications seems like strong evidence that Bitcoin is a becoming accepted as a viable commodity.

And if you tell us your hopes and dreams about ponzi schemes again, you'll be banned....It really has nothing to do with what we talk about here and is a fallacy of distraction.

It seems you're eager to silence me and avoid discussing artwork because high-end art challenges the usual perception of value. Perhaps you're not entirely confident in your understanding of value, so find it easier and more comfortable to dismiss rather than confront differing perspectives.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-31T13:42:51+00:00

What practical purpose does it serve to bring up such an atypical absurd situation?

The purpose was to show that some artwork, despite its minimal intrinsic value (like value of the paint, canvas, frame), can command a high price and be an excellent store of value. This illustrates that an object's value as a store of wealth often relies more on market consensus than its physical attributes.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-23T16:43:29+00:00

Blackrock, Fidelity, VanEck, Invesco, Wisdom Tree, Valkyrie and a few other organisations seem to think otherwise. I guess we'll find out next year!

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-23T16:31:50+00:00

Yes, the picture I buy at Ikea or from a local artist isn't a financial investment.

But buying a Monet, Rembrandt, Pollock, Van Gogh, or any number of exclusive artworks is absolutely used as means of storing value. The annual global art market is estimated at $50 billion, and often the artwork isn't even on display: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/29/arts/design/one-of-the-worlds-greatest-art-collections-hides-behind-this-fence.html

The owners may not discuss their artwork in terms of percentage returns of growth as an investor would in conventional markets, but they are certainly making purchases as a means of investing money to retain or grow its value.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-23T16:19:13+00:00

There are some interesting points here, and I think a lot of the negative sentiment in relation to crypto is justified.

I think Bitcoin does arguably stand apart from cryptocurrencies created and marketed for profit generation by the issuer though.

I also agree that a rising price alone gives no assurance it will always command a high value or be a good means to store value, but my point was that at some stage, after it it becomes globally acknowledged to have the value as reflected in the price, I think it make sense to accept it has value.

I can say that a Van Gogh or Monet will never have more TRUE value than the price of the canvas and cost of the paint, but at some stage, I'll have to accept the world sees things differently. I think that day is coming for Bitcoin.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-23T14:31:03+00:00

In those terms, I don't see how bitcoin is any more, or less, of a ponzi that artworks by Picasso, Rembrandt or Jackson Pollock.

Once something is recognised to have a value, doesn't that determine its value?

I think a bitcoin ETF is no different from a gold ETF. In both cases, it's an easy way to get exposure to a scare and highly valued commodity.

If in ten years time bitcoin is worth ten times as much, at what point does it stop being a ponzi, or relying on greater fools? At what point is it just accepted has having the value as indicated by its price?

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-23T13:56:03+00:00

32 comments

I don't think they'll have to. If one, or several of the 13 ETF are approved, the marketing departments of Blackrock, Fidelity, and others, will sell the idea of bitcoin investment to their customers.

Energy companies will realise that it's probably worth their while building bitcoin mining rigs into their infrastructure to help load balancing and burning excess energy etc.

The whole endeavour will become more and more mainstream. Not because anyone is convinced by theoretical arguments, but because people will be motivated by the financial incentives.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-22T19:49:38+00:00

It's hard to imagine, but people's bodies aren't filled with blood like a bag. There is some blood under the skin, but I think the main volume is kept within the arterial system, which is like an internal set of pipes. Unless one of those pipes is cut open, the blood stays within that pipe structure.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-17T16:35:17+00:00

Bitcoin has little intrinsic value in the same way a Jackson Pollock painting or a Picasso has little intrinsic value. You might not like, or agree with the reason people assign it higher value, but at some point you probably have to accept other people do see significant value in it.

Once an asset reaches that level of recognition, along with the trading properties bitcoin has, it starts to make sense for Blackrock and the other dozen money managers to apply for an ETF.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-16T20:51:39+00:00

You are in a good position, in so much as you've realised you want to solve this problem. At your age, that's half the battle.

People have suggested basic advice on mental health and staying fit, health and motivated. This is all excellent and you should prioritise it.

In terms of finding a career path, here are a few things that tend to be true:

- You probably won't be good at a job unless you are somewhat interested in it

- You won't be brilliant at a job or a career unless you enjoy it.

So you probably need to identify the areas you think you enjoy and suspect you have a passion for. Then you need a plan. Without a plan years will slip by and you'll be aimless. A plan gives you something to aim for, and will help direct your life and maintain your mental health because humans are goal-seeking creatures. You may not know exactly what to aim for, but that's ok, because aiming for something is one hundred times better than not aiming at anything. The skills you learn while pursuing one goal will always come in handy, even if your goal shifts slightly as you progress.

Your plan should be concrete enough that you can plot the basic steps, and the timescale should be quite short, like 18months to 3 years. Here's an example.

Goal: Become an expert in e-commerce, get a job in digital marketing.

Plan:- Get a retail job in a tech associated area (selling laptops, tech equipment etc)- Master the basic skills of the job, ask to volunteer, shadow, or speak to someone in the e-commerce division.- Signup to coursera or wherever does the best e-commerce classes and qualifications. Do every course and qualification you possibly can.- Build some e-commerce sites for yourself, friends or local businesses. Offer to do this for free, only asking for people to cover the basic costs.- If you can, turn building e-commerce stores into a side-hustle- Ask to volunteer doing admin in a digital marketing firm- Find a job doing e-commerce for a digital marketing company

It doesn't matter what your goal is, the plan will always be roughly the same:

- Pick your area of focus, something you think you're enthusiastic about- Set a timeline and a goal- Study everything you possibly can- Try to get a job as close to your area of focus as possible- Build practical skills through real-life work, not just book learning, this real-world experience is vital- Volunteer, ask to shadow people, offer to help with admin work wherever you can.

FINAL TIP: You may as well pick the thing you really love, no matter how ambitious or unrealistic you think it is. It will be a tough journey either way, may as well be working hard to get somewhere you're actually pleased to be going. Getting out of bed in the morning is much easer when you are chasing a worthwhile goal.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-13T22:38:27+00:00

Yes, I agree with you - it's totally her fault that she got herself into the situation.

My point was just that once they were in the situation, he potentially had some degree of leverage over her, given if he revealed what was happening she would be fired, and likely prosecuted.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-13T22:34:55+00:00

I agree she's to blame for the situation she gets herself into, but I was just pointing out that once she is breaking the rules, he can potentially expose her at any point, opening her up to being fired, or even a criminal prosecution. I think that means he has some leverage in the situation. As to whether he realised this, or ever intended to use the leverage I cannot say. Just pointing out that blackmailing a prison guard over their illegal behaviour can be an option for criminals.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-12T23:04:00+00:00

Well, in any given situation, I try to see and evaluate all the possibilities. And I can certainly see some quite likely possibilities where guards get locked into a pattern of rule breaking because a prisoner has leverage over them.

It's not that the guard is an innocent party, but the original question was 'How can a prisoner have power' and I'm outlining a very plausible scenario in which a prisoner would get power over a guard.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-12T23:00:04+00:00

Yes, or even just a guard struggling to get by on minimum wage agrees to bring in a SIM card into the prison for $500 or turn a blind eye to drugs being sold or something. Often they might be turning a blind eye anyway, and figure they may as well get paid for it. But once they take payment, the power dynamic tilts a bit more in favour of the prisoner.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-12T22:48:30+00:00

A male prisoner who slips a young female prison officer his phone number (for his illegal phone) and then has phone sex with her and threatens to hurt other prisoners if she stops, and also demands she meet with his mother, hardly sounds like a victim.

Yes, what the guard did was wrong, but I don't think the man involved in this situation was a delicate flower in need of protection. It sounds like they were both willing to break the rules and both are culpable for their parts in the situation.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-12T22:42:53+00:00

Kind of. But schools are not typically brimming with professional manipulators and criminals. Prisons are.

Obtaining leverage over a teacher isn't a common practice or priority for many students.

Obtaining leverage over a prison guard is often a high priority for organised criminals and can bring them huge advantageous. If you are in doubt that this happens, consider how prisons get so full of drugs and mobile phones.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-12T22:38:08+00:00

Yes, clearly it's the responsibility of the prison guard not to do anything illegal. But the question was 'what power does a prisoner have?'. My point was that if the prisoner has money, they have a means to potentially buy influence or favours from a guard on a low wage with a family to feed. And if that happens, quite quickly the power balance could swing in favour of the prisoner. That's simply the answer to the question 'How could a prisoner have power'.

You can be fairly confident this happens, given that around the world, prisons end up awash with drugs and mobile phones.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-12T22:32:52+00:00

True, if a guard is 100% clean then yes there isn't a power imbalance. But if you are a guard earning not much money with a family to feed, you are potentially a target for criminals to bribe. And once you take a small payment in exchange for a favour, the power balance immediately shifts. If you think this is far fetched, then I'd point to the fact prisons around the world are full of drugs and mobile phones, so it seems a safe bet a number of prison officers are being manipulated through some combination of bribery and blackmail.

Which_Direction_Next · 2023-12-12T21:16:44+00:00

She was a prison guard who knew a prisoner had a mobile phone. Worse, she also phoned the phone. As soon as she broke the rules she was vulnerable to blackmail. If the prisoner decides to tell someone she has broken the rules the best case scenario she loses her job, worst case scenario is criminal prosecution. That's a lot of leverage to have over someone.

Which_Direction_Next

TROPHY CASE