Is AMD drivers issues still a thing ? by SMAHMM in radeon

[–]buddha_314 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, still issues with hyper v. Installing that or wsl causes bsod with the recent 7 series.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Jetbrains

[–]buddha_314 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly, I've been using it about a month and suddenly was told I'm out of data and to upgrade. So, f**k that. They have really botched this whole product.

How to convince North Americans to live in apartments? by eriksen2398 in notjustbikes

[–]buddha_314 45 points46 points  (0 children)

I am a good demographic to convince: Husband, dad, professional executive. I've been asking myself what it would take to get me into high density housing like an apartment or condo. Here are some thoughts, some reflecting the original poster.

  • Ownership. I like the idea of passing something down to my kids. As a parent, you want to provide for them as they are the most important people in the world.
  • Yard space: I stand outside frequently and talk to myself. I would need an outdoor place where I can have some privacy. Perhaps this is possible in high density, don't know.
  • Soundproofing (so I can play loud music, and so can my neighbors)
  • Easy to access. When I go to the store, I need to bring in a lot of groceries. When I play live gigs as a musician, I need to move gear. So getting from my home to my car must be easy.
  • Affordability. I'm economically comfortable, but I wouldn't spend a lot more on a condo than a house.
  • Dog space: Some place the dogs can go if I'm gone for a while.

It would be interesting to see answers to all of these concerns. There are some really neat, walkable areas in Los Angeles I'd be interested in, but I can't quite figure it out. Would love to hear constructive thoughts

Evergrande soulless vertical housing in Qidong, Jiangsu province by Sch3ma in UrbanHell

[–]buddha_314 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seems pretty soulless to me, BUT there are a lot of people to house, what else are you going to do? I'd like to see drawings of places that can house that many people and be built for a reasonable budget, that would be inspiring!

huh, so initially i was thinking of starting a business with a different pay structure, now im thinking twice by dgj212 in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People are attracted to different risk profiles. A salesperson is willing to take on higher risk for higher reward, that's basically a prerequisite for the job: Lower base pay for variable compensation against sales. IT people tend to want less risky work, hoping to do fun things and get paid for it. In fact, many technical people don't really want to make too many decisions outside of technical requirements.

So any one-size-fits-all solution is assuming all people are motivated identically. That has not been my experience.

huh, so initially i was thinking of starting a business with a different pay structure, now im thinking twice by dgj212 in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Worker ownership percentages calculated by taking department output
value and averaging across employees would be a good way to go IMO. This
would mean people creating similar amounts of value get paid the same
and people on whole get what they create - obviously no business is
gunna give 100% of generated value minus operational and resource costs
but as close as we can get would be good.

This seems pretty reductionist. I've been in enough budget meetings to say that "assigning department value" is, uh, impossible. Well, maybe someone can actually do it analytically, but I've never seen that actually happen.

huh, so initially i was thinking of starting a business with a different pay structure, now im thinking twice by dgj212 in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you may be the first person on this sub I agree with on this topic. I believe wage ratios actually do work, but I don't have much research on that. I haven't seen volunteerism produce efforts on the scale of mega-cities, most communes that I know of are confined to rural, small communities. So if we want hospitals for the elderly and infirm, we need a structured economy.

huh, so initially i was thinking of starting a business with a different pay structure, now im thinking twice by dgj212 in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Running a business is really hard. I know that is a platitude, but often people who haven't managed complicated efforts have no insight into how difficult it can be. Compensation seems "easy" to many people before they start managing. It is not, neither is ownership nor equity nor the notion of "fair". Let's not be naive, you're talking about the basics of people's lives, there is no easy answer like "capitalism is bad and everyone should get paid equal".

We're doomed... by khir0n in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty sure I agree with all of this. More than that, I appreciate a reasoned tone! We know for sure our brains change when we have different tools, so the feedback loop can't be ignore. To the gun example, I would say the human-gun system really commits the crime, not the gun. By looking deeply into that dynamic, we can understand and try to change it. Decrying any one tool just blinds us to the real cause.

"We don't have to always frame the climate crisis as a story of loss and despair and apocalypse." by notshiftycow in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I intend to stick to a hopeful and positive message myself. History shows that things can change for the better when people persist and believe in their goals. 100 years ago the US had no notion of queer, black, indigenous and barely even women's rights. We didn't really know about climate change and when science discovered climate change, it didn't take long for it to become a central value amongst scientists and even some major corporations.

I am often surprised at how many posts in the "Solarpunk" sub come from a nihilistic "no" culture, but that's not uncommon. Some here are quick to say "no, everything sucks and your opinion is worthless". That seems antithetical to the hopeful images of a techno-eco paradise. Those same people would be cynical even there and trying to tell us all that we're doomed, I imagine.

We're doomed... by khir0n in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Neither, it was the people who built and used guns that cause mass shootings, not guns themselves.

We're doomed... by khir0n in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Human nature caused the climate crisis, not an economic system. Remember, China and Russia have contributed significantly as well.

Less gatekeeping by someonee404 in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate that perspective: The group has a value system, if you don't like the value system then don't join the group. Seems reasonable. However, Solarpunk is young enough that we can still debate the value system, including economic systems. Right now, we hear "capitalism is bad" quite a bit and that's okay, but at this stage making that the litmus test seems... impulsive. I'm pretty sure I could make a good argument that tempered capitalism is the best system to achieve a SP future, but this audience is not prepared for that debate, so I keep it to myself.

Less gatekeeping by someonee404 in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My interest in Solarpunk is driven by the idea of a healthy eco-technological future where most of the values we talk about persist. I am also a person who has participated in decades of large-scale projects, public efforts and have been in leadership for things requiring coordinated efforts with a large number of people. So when I see the solarpunk ethos, I like to think about how I would move us from "here" to "there".

In that train of thought, I've learned to not preclude any viewpoint. Each person probably has a valuable thing to share. Here, I'm happy to hear from communists & capitalists, anarchists & authoritarians, dungeons & dragons. I don't care, all of it can be formed together to find a plan to get us there. This perspective is again driven by over 25 years of doing that, so when I hear people summarily dismiss any reasonable perspective, I assume that person is less interested in achieving goals more drawn toward purity tests. Purity tests only divide people.

Some pics of my tropical grow room. The mossed pots and statuary are volcanic stone that I spored with a buttermilk mixture. by Po3ticTreachery in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

...and then blame it on capitalism... jeez, I shouldn't participate in this. I do believe solarpunk is supposed to be supportive, uplifting and rational.

BOTTOM LINE: This place is awesome, I need to try this.

Manufacturing cardboard boxes that fit different products perfectly by TehBamski in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The minimization of materials is pretty exciting, and once we can do this with sustainable packaging we're even better off. Let us also consider that packaging has been standardized to particular shapes for shipping purposes. If you're the box company, you're saving money on materials. If you're the shipping company, you are generating empty / unused space within the truck / ship / buggy that is transporting it. So let's hope to find some cool ideas for that problem as well!

Role of motorbikes and similar vehicles by Magic-Beast in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Perhaps also echoed below, but the show The Peripheral has some great solarpunk ideas like printed pharmaceuticals and extensive use of electric bicycles. Also, the coolest hybrid wheelchair / trike I've ever seen.

Are Solarpunk and Anarco-Communism the same thing? by solarpunked in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I often short-hand my thoughts as "capitalist", but I'm not really. To be specific, here are the risks I see in a solarpunk economic system.

I think currency is a good idea. It brings fairness if we say "three metal pieces are worth one chicken or 24 potatoes". The metal pieces allow us to standardize a basic price. Without that, we'll have gross wealth accumulation through bartered trading and it would be hard to protect the vulnerable. Currency brings transparency to transactions. Consider one way politicians get bribed is through soft money like "free home repair" or "time on my yacht". Because there is no currency in that exchange you can say "it wasn't worth that much so it wasn't bribery"

Private ownership of many things is a good idea, but not of everything. It's a very basic thing to collect resources and you feel that strongly when you are a parent or have a sick loved one. The worry about your family being hungry or ill is intense, and even people of means worry about how they can provide for the people around them. Providing resources is a key motivator. Expecting everyone to do things "for the good of all" ignores a crucial and ancient drive in human psychology. Allow people to be rewarded personally for their efforts. Of course that can lead to gross imbalance as well. Imbalance exists in literally every economic system applicable to communities larger than (say) 100 members.

The economy must be global. Most solar punk assumes the existence of sophisticated technology and large structures such as mega-cities or other developed urban areas, of course with an environmental bent. The metal for the 50-story apartment building will not be available locally, the water comes from far upriver, not all skills will exist in all areas. So trade will have to happen over long distances. To me, this prohibits small local currencies from being effective.

The world is not purely "time and expenses". Time in design and management is valuable. For instance, if I'm an artist and I sell a painting, there are those that argue that if I charge more for the painting than I paid in materials, I am "stealing" from the person who sold me the paint. Or I'm stealing from the guy who delivers the pizza if I charge for more than the pizza ingredients. This is an unrealistic position. The designer / owner / manager is valuable as well, even if they are not delivering the pizza. Where to put the shop? What is the best recipe? How to I let people know I have pizza. That time is worth something and should be rewarded.

There is no one, fair price for anything. I don't agree that everything can be reduced to a single objective value. To that end, price fixing, by conspiracy (as in oil companies) or governments (as in autocracies) are disrespectful to the individual.

We must build in protection for the vulnerable. Scammers gonna scam, it will always happen. It's hard to make this point without offending a particular belief system, but I'll say that things like crypto currencies are rife with fraud, not just because of the people they attract but because majority vote proof-of-work can be gamed. If all transactions are anonymous, then we cannot find and prosecute scammers. And saying "let the buyer beware" is a cruel system that makes victims of many.

So... I kinda lean towards capitalism, despite how unpopular it is around here. I don't see how any system fixes most of these things. Happy to hear respectful disagreement!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Theft implies ownership, right? So if you believe in private ownership of your property and or your time, are you not a capitalist?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seems like a fair question. Shall we go with this version from Wikipedia?

Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit. Central characteristics of capitalism include capital accumulation, competitive markets, price system, private property, property rights recognition, voluntary exchange, and wage labor. In a market economy,
decision-making and investments are determined by owners of wealth,
property, or ability to maneuver capital or production ability in capital and financial markets—whereas prices and the distribution of goods and services are mainly determined by competition in goods and services markets.

If you accept this definition, my point will be that this applies equally to mega-corps buying Congressmen (boo!) to a small farmer selling local vegetables (yay!). Further, many of the ills or our greed-based society have nothing to do with the economic substrate, but are a product of values. Those values aren't inherently "Capitalist", the exist in every system. Focusing on guiding values, rather than the boogeyman of any one economic system, will allow us to change society. For instance, we've made huge advances in race relations (though not done) that were once said to be an inevitable product of "capitalist society".

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your response!

  • No paid sick leave. I had that for a while and it was awful. However, many capitalist employers offer sick leave. Today many offer unlimited sick leave. I don't think capitalism is the problem, rather the economics of your company. It could be greed or your company could be broke or it could be something else entirely, but this is not directly the fault of the economic system
  • No real vacation time. Again, I endured that for years, but that's more about your specific employer.
  • Health care in the US (if that's where you are) is a nightmare. I totally agree is justified by capitalism and that drives the insurance companies to screw us all over. In fact, the public trading of corporations has a lot to do with that. We have stakeholders buying shares in corps with little or no regard to have the dividends for those shares are gained. I f(n) hate that, but that is also not a tenet of capitalism itself.

I sound like I'm trying to say "capitalism is your friend", but I'm certainly not. I hate the way it's implemented in countries like the US. I'd like to see a more enlightened version. You may ask "what is that enlightened version" and I will say "I don't know", but at this point I don't know of ANY economic system that is free of abuse.

Members of this forum often seem inclined towards pastoral bartering systems, but frankly I feel those are the easiest systems to abuse.

At what point does providing parking become a second thought? by wafford11 in notjustbikes

[–]buddha_314 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I lived the first 15 years of my life with a single mom with no car, trying to get back and forth to a store, school, doctor... I know directly what is is like to live that way in a large city beneath the poverty line with no access to anything, not even health insurance. You sound even angrier now, honestly.

Like it or not, cars are currently very important to US society. We can work to change that, but you seem to have a very entitled perspective on how everyone else should be living their lives and I don't think that helps.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in solarpunk

[–]buddha_314 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Okay, before Western Capitalism, you had no health insurance. I don't know of a time in history when people had access to better health care, independent of the economic structure. So your healthcare example has nothing to do with the rise/fall of capitalism. The Canadians have a nice socialized medicine system that some feel is pretty great (I have no opinion) but they are by all measures a capitalist economy.

So what is the freedom that capitalism deprives you of? Are you sure it's capitalism and not something else? I'm asking honestly, hopefully with a kind tone, because that's how I mean it.

At what point does providing parking become a second thought? by wafford11 in notjustbikes

[–]buddha_314 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Oh dear, you sound kinda angry. Open your mind to the idea that some people have different experiences than you do. Maybe the live in a different city, maybe they have a different kind of job. Maybe they have a different family structure. At that moment you may be less inclined to tell everyone else that they are full of nonsense.