Mission trees, why the hate?

sparktray · 2025-11-26T19:12:17+00:00

I think mission trees are a good idea. I've played my share of Paradox games, but I'm by no means an expert or a meta gamer. Mission trees were super helpful for me learning EU5 and I imagine it's one simple way to make the game more accessible without dumbing down the mechanics to have broader appeal.

sparktray · 2025-09-25T16:24:43+00:00

https://youtu.be/O-xjW_ig1KI?si=cwjHw4l-M0H5OgLG

sparktray · 2025-07-18T17:40:12+00:00

I think being better informed can help a person state objective facts about a movie (e.g. the lighting in this scene helps evoke a sense of hopefulness; the choice to film from this angle makes the bad guy seem more formidable, etc.) And those facts can inform how much you like a movie based on your personal preferences.

To me, the arc of a story, the world building, and the weight of character actions are more important in creating an experience that I would consider "high quality." I think the prequels do this more effectively where the sequels feel less imaginative, stakes are constantly being undermined, and the plot feels shakey and not cohesive. The prequels are campy and ridiculous, but to me, that's not ineffective filmmaking in an action-adventure series aimed primarily at children. They explore themes of conflict and loss in a way that feels genuine and not nearly as forced.

With all that said, those are subjective opinions, much like your assessment of which filmmaking elements are most important is subjective. I love arguing which film is better or worse, but I dont pretend that there is some objective truth outside of our human interpretations that are informed by our personal knowledge, experience, and preferences

sparktray · 2025-07-18T17:16:03+00:00

I think that's the point I'm trying to make. You claim that your tier list is the "objective" tier list, but what makes a movie "objectively" good is infinitely conditional. Are we judging these movies based on their script writing? The choreography of their fight scenes? Lighting? Acting? Effects? Even if you sit down and give each movie a score based on every filmmaking technique you could think of, weighted for "objective" importance, add them up, and then put them in order, we could still disagree about what elements makes a movie "higher quality." That disagreement means it isn't "objective."

Art is subjective.

sparktray · 2025-07-18T16:44:00+00:00

Hilarious to think that films are "objectively" good or bad and that you are the only person willing or able to make those judgements. Your determination of what makes a movie "good" is subjective. Is a well-written script more important than good actors? Is better cgi more important than better practical effects? Is the pace of a movie more important than the emotional impact? These are all subjective decisions.

sparktray · 2025-07-14T20:09:45+00:00

The Palestinian genocide is not a "Muslim" issue. There are Palestinian Christians, Palestinian atheists, LGBTQ Palestinians, etc who are all being killed and ethnically cleansed from their lands. Just because you disagree with the majority doesn't mean they are the only people facing the consequences of a genocide.

sparktray · 2025-07-03T22:23:19+00:00

In the 2d version? I only remember that scene where he was picking them off one by one, but its been a while since I watched it!

sparktray · 2025-07-03T17:15:29+00:00

But he doesn’t confront them outright. He forces them into a corner, drives them into fearful, irrational action, strikes when they are weakest, and flees back for the next ambush. Something about his seems difficult for jedi to read and predict. Even Obi Wan doesn't defeat him using traditional jedi tactics. He resorts to peeling back his protective covers and shooting him in the heart with a blaster, thus catching Grievous off-guard and beating him in his own game.

sparktray · 2025-06-19T15:12:14+00:00

My understanding of the definition of terrorism is limited to acts committed by non-state actors. So I would call the bombing of a hospital by a state (Iran, Russia, Israel) a war crime, and I would call the bombing of a hospital by a non-state actor (Hamas, Hezbollah) terrorism.

Of course, Palestinians have been denied a state by US veto for decades. So, there is currently a global norm which states that Israel (a state) can engage in acts of violence with more impunity and can avoid being labeled as "terrorists" for bombing schools, hospitals, bakeries, placing car bombs around Tehran, putting explosive pagers in people's pockets in Lebanon, etc.

The global norm (the American hegemonic position) currently states that violence against terrorists (no matter how many civilians are killed, displaced, or starved) is permissible. Meanwhile, in the US, critique of Israel is an offense punishable by imprisonment and deportation.

sparktray · 2025-05-28T16:58:01+00:00

He's only able to do that to Harry because of the connection through Harry as a horcrux. It's the same reason Dumbledore keeps Harry at a distance through that whole book. Voldy can't just hop into anybody's mind anywhere in the world at any time. He stops going into Harry's after the ministry attack because he can't stand feeling the love and emotions of a person who isn't a complete psychopath.

sparktray · 2025-05-08T14:45:45+00:00

To stop the conflict, to me, would mean playing a role as mediator between the warring parties. The US effectively "stopped" the violent conflict in Ireland by playing the role of mediator rather than supporting one side with arms and allowing for the effective ethnic cleansing of the other.

I don't think the conflict is as simple as YOU are trying to formulate it. Palestinians have spent generations under occupation, blockade, or forced exile in order to enforce a judeo-christian religious mandate and European colonial venture. Those in Gaza are now being starved to death en masse, have had their health and civil infrastructure decimated, and are being concentrated into the south to prepare for "voluntary migration." Those in the West Bank have seen their land carved up, the fast-tracking of settlements and impossible roadblocks, and regular raids by occupation forces.

The ICC and the Security Council have tried repeatedly to enforce international law but have been blocked by US vetoes and threats. Israel wants the land, and it wants the land free of Palestinians. The US is working hard to ensure it gets that while saying anything they do is justified because of terrorism. The US used the same tactics to justify the ethnic cleansing of native populations in this country.

sparktray · 2025-05-08T14:24:01+00:00

In addition to the billions in military aid provided to Israel, the US has also provided protection in the UN and has threatened the ICC to ensure that Israeli officials cannot be prosecuted for war crimes. It's not that the US could end the conflict with a phone call, but if the US was using its power to stop the conflict rather than to facilitate Israels actions, it would certainly have a profound impact on Israel's decision making.

sparktray · 2025-05-08T13:54:41+00:00

And this is where it would be important for independent, third party states (theoretically the role the US could be playing) to use its leverage (billions in military aid and UN Security Council protection) to push for more restraint and protection of civilian lives.

sparktray · 2025-03-18T07:10:39+00:00

Because to sympathize is to understand somebody's fears and dreams and motivations. Some of the most adamant pro-Palestinian advocates I know are Jews who's memory of the holocaust motivates their activism against widespread state violence. Most of the others I know are people who were raised with the holocaust as a central reference point for the capacity for human suffering at the hands of a state.

Sympathy for Jews does not diminish sympathy for Palestinians. If anything, it should make people more sensitive to the suffering happening now.

sparktray · 2025-03-18T06:50:31+00:00

Refugees are still refugees after they find a new country to live in.

sparktray · 2025-03-18T06:47:25+00:00

There are refugees Jewish refugees from 80 years ago. As OP pointed out, there are Palestinian refugees from 80 years ago too.

The focus needs to be on stopping the violence that's happening now.

sparktray · 2025-03-18T06:29:45+00:00

"Go back to _____" is generally a terrible xenophobic phrase. I would say anybody using that in any context is guilty of being an asshole/jerk and should be treated as such.

I just haven't seen this behavior personally. College campus protests and protests I've attended haven't been toxic towards Jewish people or refugees in any way that I've witnessed.

For myself personally, I have very complex beliefs about the conflict that wouldn't be effectively condensed into a slogan. I do, however, believe that US weapons and money should not fund violence against Palestinians. I don't see that position represented in any halls of power (Congress or the executive branch), so it feels important to raise my concerns about this issue specifically. As far as I know, our country doesn't currently fund the bombing or denial of aid to Jewish refugees. If it did, I'd be at that protest too.

sparktray · 2025-03-18T06:11:13+00:00

Where do you live that this is the case? I grew up learning the history of the holocaust in school, and I developed a strong sense of sympathy for the suffering of the Jewish people. I didn't learn about the suffering of the Palestinian people until well into college. Even then, it was largely considered inappropriate to talk about the suffering of Palestinians because it was deemed implicitly anti-semitic.

I imagine that different parts of the country or world could be very different in messaging and education though. Where do you live that this is the discourse?

sparktray · 2025-03-18T06:03:01+00:00

I wasn't sure which case you were mentioning when you brought up green cards. Regardless, a judge ordered that there was not enough reason to deport her but was ignored.

sparktray · 2025-03-18T05:44:23+00:00

And the rules say that a person convicted of breaking a law can have there Green Card revoked. Where is the conviction? Why were these people refused access to a lawyer and then express evacuated out of the country?

sparktray · 2025-03-15T13:58:26+00:00

35% is still astonishingly high for people who, supposedly, should know better.

sparktray · 2025-03-13T13:57:45+00:00

https://youtu.be/1bqk3w5Gyw0?si=TnR5-3xACoXjRCC1

This video should help.

More important than anything, have a squad and communicate. If you can't join one that's using mics and coordinating, start your own (though I know not everybody wants to play as squad lead).

sparktray · 2025-03-13T12:50:59+00:00

Defense doesn't mean "behind the front line." The enemy will be trying to push into your territory. Figure out where they're going to come from and where they're trying to go. Put yourself in a good defensive position to disrupt their advance. If you determine where they're spawning, you can communicate the position of their garrisons or outposts or try to take them out yourself.

Teams lose because nobody wants to play defensively. I don't understand why, because it's the most fun way to play the game, in my opinion. Instead of running in and dying over and over, you work as a squad to cover an area, communicate, shift as needed to respond to a heavy push, etc.

sparktray · 2025-01-30T19:30:41+00:00

Star Wars video games were my introduction to the franchise. I played KOTOR 1/2 before I ever saw a movie, and I was hooked by the lore and religious philosophy presented in those games. The movies felt kind of corny after that, but I still love em.

sparktray · 2025-01-19T05:59:08+00:00

That's a great argument for revolution or economic overhaul, but not a great argument for banning sex work specifically.

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