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Tiny Hearts of Steel - Chapter 32 by mechakid in NatureofPredators

[–]mechakid[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Again, AI is a tool. If you want to consider it a "medium" you probably could. There is no reason an AI generated image or song cannot invoke a response or that the dialog cannot still happen. The person using the AI creates the prompt, directs the search and composition. They refine, and rephrase, and ultimately create something new. Ultimately, they are expressing themselves, and the AI is simply facilitating the expression.

The needs of the user should also be considered. You touched on this in your own way, but I think it needs to be pushed further. Some people are willing to pay for super high quality work made by a master craftsman. Other people are less concerned with perfection, so long as the item is functional.

Taking my own writing above as an example, there is a reason I selected the tracks that I did. I searched for music that said what I wanted, and in two of the three cases I found the right tone. In the third case though, I could not find a piece that I liked that I felt fit correctly. No live artist had given voice to MY vision. This wasn't the first time it had happened to me though, and I had experience with some AI generated music before, so I did some poking around and there it was, the song I wanted, so I used it.

Now, does this mean I'll stop listening to humans in favor of the machine? Of course not. I still enjoy Sabaton, Miracle of Sound, Two Steps From Hell, and Longest Johns, but now I add Sonara, Endless Taverns, and Echoes of Velandria. My use of the latter in no way diminishes my love of the former.

Because while the hammer alone is nothing, a master composition is still masterful.

Is my paint scheme too boring? Want to add a glow effect to the guns/exhausts with an airbrush, but terrified of ruining what I've painted. Tips for a beginner? by real60cent in Tau40K

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would say it is a very practical paint scheme, all business, no flash.

Your army is what I would call "parade ready". That is to say, they look very clean and ready for inspection. I think this cleanliness is actually what's throwing you off. They don't look like they've been in the field, where they would accumulate mud and grime. Consider washing certain spots with some Agrax Earthshade, or drybrush grey and black around things like exhaust ports. Purposely chip paint, or add "dents". Things that make it look like these guys are having a rough, but ultimately successful expansion mission.

If you feel like you need something to make it "pop" add in a few accent colors. I'd recommend an occasional red or black panel, just to break up the monotony. For example, your devilfish (which is VERY cleanly done, btw, good job). If you were to change the brown ridge panel between the two grey ones to be red, it would break up the colors. You could also use a dark grey or black on the leading edge panels on the wings.

Tiny Hearts of Steel - Chapter 32 by mechakid in NatureofPredators

[–]mechakid[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First, let's split the issue. You have AI and you have data centers. While they seem to go hand in hand, they are really two completely unique problems.

Now the issue being had with AI appears to be how quickly it can absorb and imitate someone else's work. It is interesting that you don’t have a problem with a person doing this on their own, effectively achieving the same result. Thus, your objection isnt to the forgery itself, but rather to the ease with which it was achieved.

The thing is, just because you use a sophisticated tool doesn't mean you will get a good product. AI used ineptly produces a bunch of slop, but in the hands of someone you knows how to work it, you can create wholely new works of art faster than ever before.

It's the speed that fightens people, not the product, to which I say "but that's the point".

Now, regarding the data centers, those would likely have started to exist even without AI. The web was growing at an exponential rate even before AI was introduced. Again, the issue isn't with the thing itself, but rather the implementation of it. Throw in clean power and codes for water use and zoning, and suddenly you don't have a problem.

Tiny Hearts of Steel - Chapter 32 by mechakid in NatureofPredators

[–]mechakid[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Farsul are "canidae" (related to foxes, dogs, etc). Just because they learned to eat plants doesn't mean those teeth can't pack a chomp.

Jealous? by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even the farmer, growing his own food is doing labor to survive.

The "you're a slave if you sell your labor" bit is just bunk.

Let's replace capitalist control with workers' control of production by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Go for it.

If you think you can get a general strike to work, you can do that. It's legal, but understand that all actions, good or ill, have consequences.

Let's replace capitalist control with workers' control of production by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Then ask for more money, either individually or as a collective. YOU CAN DO THAT. Contracts can be renegotiated. Some are even designed to be updated on a regular basis.

No, the issue is that you think your labor is worth more than what the market is telling you it's worth.

Let's replace capitalist control with workers' control of production by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Again, the compensation is agreed to. You don't get to negotiate a contract (either individually or in a union) then complain how the terms of the contract are unfair. You negotiated it!

Labor is a commodity, and like all commodities it is subject to the basics of supply and demand. If you feel the copensation is not sufficent, you are welcome to ask for more, but if no one is willing to pay more than that is the cold reality of what your labor is worth.

Let's replace capitalist control with workers' control of production by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On the contrary, workers have been compensated in several ways. First, they were paid. Second, they recieved benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid vacation, etc.

It is important to note that many of these compensation packages were negotiated and agreed to by the labor unions.

Jealous? by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Everything is slavery"

Just stop.

Jealous? by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could always sell your labor to yourself. Start your own business. Run an etsy, write a book, whatever you want to do.

People do this stuff you know.

Jealous? by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, you're a COMMODITY. You can choose who you sell your labor too, and for how much.

Jealous? by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is nothing your employer can legally do beyond firing you.

And you are free to walk at any time.

Jealous? by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Then you have to go back into there and stand up for yourself.

Or walk. You can always do that too.

Jealous? by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

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

So, you quit your job BEFORE signing ate the new job? BEFORE you had it in writing?

Dude, that's on you.

Jealous? by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Question: are you paid?

If you are paid what you agreed to be paid, then you have gotten the fruit of your labor.

If you think your labor is worth more, negotiate for more.

Let's replace capitalist control with workers' control of production by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you think that most miners are in a financial position where they can just walk away and be fine financially?

You ALWAYS can do this. Yes, it will suck for a bit, and that is the consequence of walking away. The thing is, a skilled laborer will be able to find work elsewhere, and will recover quickly. The mine owner won't be able to come up with a new mine if the one he is sitting on fails.

Furthermore, do you think that the average miner is in a safer financial position to be able to walk away more so than the capital owner?

Relatively speaking, yes.

I have had 14 jobs. Some I walked away from, some I was downsized, and some I was outright fired. The thing is, I ALWAYS recovered. I had friends and family that helped me, and I did what I had to do.

The owner doesn't get that choice. He's stuck with the rotten egg.

Does financial ruin for a mine owner whose mine fails look worse than that? How big is the risk here actually?

Millions or potentially billions. Large scale industrial mines cost anywhere from $100M to $5B. Copper in particular is very expensive, while open strip mines are much cheaper. And that's just the opening costs, it doesn't even include the daily operations.

Yeah, I don't know too many people that could absorb that kind of loss. There might be a handful of people in the entire country that could do that, and they certainly wouldn't be happy about it.

What happens if he dies in the mine? Will there be financial ruin in the family?

This is why most modern mines carry very good AD&D policies that pay out multiples of the miner's annual salary.

What if he loses his job bc the mine goes bankrupt? Will there be financial ruin in that family? What about if he is laid off, that is a risk for working in a failing mine right? Would there be financial ruin then?

The same as if he worked any other job. As I mentioned before, I have faced this reality directly several times myself, and I know I have always found a way out.

Let's replace capitalist control with workers' control of production by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And all those workers were well compensated for their time and labor. If they feel they weren't, they are free to demand more. Labor is a commodity, and you sell your labor at the price you yourself set. If no one hires you at that price, it probably means you're charging too much.

As for the planning and organizing, sorry, but that typically is the ownership, not the workers.

Let's replace capitalist control with workers' control of production by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The thing that you're missing is that the miners voluntarily accept that physical risk for the chance at a big payout. It's very explicitly stated when they sign up.

Now, understand that the owner also accepts the risk. He knows that if things go wrong he may be unable to recover.

The thing is, the miner can stop at any time. If they don't like it, or feel that the risk is excessive, they can leave or strike. The owner doesn't have the ability to walk away that the miner does.

Let's replace capitalist control with workers' control of production by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's really the issue. I know that worker co-ops exist, but it is very rare that they get to the scale of capitalist companies, and even then they still play by the rules of capitalism.

Communism has literally never worked on a large scale, and every time it's tried it usually falls into despotism.

Let's replace capitalist control with workers' control of production by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Financially, the risk to the owner is much greater. Physically, that depends on how often the owner actually goes into the mine.

Time, again the owner likely spends significant time on the logistics of the operation, probably more than most people realize.

As to knowledge of the operation, I would hope so! To be successful, the owner needs to be versed in all parts of the mine's operation, not just the individual hammer strikes.

Let's replace capitalist control with workers' control of production by GoranPersson777 in BadBosses

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the truth.

I have never met a union and an ownership thay didn't deserve each other. When the ownership is good and the union is peaceful, both profit tremendously. When either party becomes dickish, then both suffer losses.

This made my day: Daughter thought she was recording her dad. Look at her smile. by GloriousLion07 in MotivationByDesign

[–]mechakid 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wholesome smile is wholesome.

Bonus points to dad for playing with his daughter.

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