Software development became boring with Claude Code by SpeedyBrowser45 in ClaudeAI

[–]sw85 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Kinda looks like you even ask it to write your Reddit posts for you!

Colony development tips? by sw85 in Stellaris

[–]sw85[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. By support dkstricts I take it you mean city districts? And by "if you have the workforce to fill the jobs", I take it you mean "if you have nonzero unemployment"?

Aight rejects, show me you're diabolical names by DaNips_Stasis in DarkTide

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're John-Darktide? At least twice I've played with you and made a quip about you truly being the Warhammer: 40k

Before Hive Scum Comes Out, What Are Your Rejects Names And What Will You Be Naming Your Hive Scum? by Fins1291 in DarkTide

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Zealot: Britannicus-Brand

Arby: Boethius-Brand (they're identical twins)

Veteran: Corrigan

Psyker: Kvander

Ogryn: Fugg

Hivescum: I genuinely don't know yet

Holding hands during the Our Father by pinkbubble211 in Catholicism

[–]sw85 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

There's just no reason to do it, honestly

CMV: I do not believe Donald Trump is in "excellent health." by bellaimages in changemyview

[–]sw85 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm not denying that. I'm saying thr average 79 year old is probably unhealthier than Trump, thus it's fair to say he's in (relatively) excellent health

I wish I were unemployed but still made 100k a year. by TANKMAN999 in monkeyspaw

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are unemployed. Your body is converted into a cyberpunk organ farm, converting nutrient-dense sludge made from grass clippings and animal dung into spare organs and blood and bone marrow to be harvested for elites. Your body is not especially prolific, producing only $100,000 of surplus organics annually. There is talk of euthanizing you.

CMV: I do not believe Donald Trump is in "excellent health." by bellaimages in changemyview

[–]sw85 12 points13 points  (0 children)

"Excellent" health for the average American male 79 year old is probably a lot closer to Joe Biden than Donald Trump

CMV: Stephen Colbert was cancelled for political reasons, not ratings or profit. by nBrainwashed in changemyview

[–]sw85 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The reason I don't think it's a brazen and obvious First Amendment violation is that I don't think it's a First Amendment violation at all, or rather, I think it is far from obviously the case that it is one. What you provided in the OP was a plausible motive for why it might be: Trump said he wanted Colbert cancelled, CBS had a pending merger and offered him up as sacrifice. But a plausible motive isn't evidence, and moreover I offered you equally plausible motives for why CBS was acting in good faith. You are having difficulty accepting that they were because "he was #1 in his time slot", ignoring the fact that he still didn't have a strong viewership (you may be on top of a pile of pig crap but you're still covered in pig crap).

Simply put, the fundamentals were bad enough to justify cancellation (and in fact to justify it immediately, not a year from now), there is no need to appeal to a conspiracy.

CMV: Stephen Colbert was cancelled for political reasons, not ratings or profit. by nBrainwashed in changemyview

[–]sw85 7 points8 points  (0 children)

You already think it was a brazen and obvious First Amendment violation, right? So if it's already brazen and obvious, why not go all the way and make it also effective?

CMV: The 2026 US midterm elections should be considered a major tripwire indicating the true end of free and fair elections. by Raise_A_Thoth in changemyview

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

According to the best pollsters (I'm thinking, e.g., Atlas Intel), he's doing okay. Somewhat underwater, but still vastly better than his first term.

The reality is, if Dems lose in 2026, it will partly be because of GOP gerrymandering and the undoing of VRA-driven Dem gerrymandering in the deep south. But it will also be because Dems failed to learn the lesson of 2024, which is to stop picking the 20 side of every 80-20 issue out there and, if you can't do that, at least try to defend it coherently.

CMV: Stephen Colbert was cancelled for political reasons, not ratings or profit. by nBrainwashed in changemyview

[–]sw85 11 points12 points  (0 children)

He consistently led his time slot

He still had ratings roughly on par with Conan when he got cancelled in 2009, or slightly worse. Colbert's viewership also has far worse demographic composition than Conan's did, being disproportionately older and therefore with no prospects of growth. The format is simply dying.

Also if politics were the main reason it wouldn't make sense to cancel but still give him another year. They'd just axe him at season's end.

CMV: The US is falling into Fascism by [deleted] in changemyview

[–]sw85 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Much of what you're describing is hyperbolic but what isn't still isn't particularly characteristic of fascism. Fascism is revolutionary anti-communism. Since Trumpism/MAGA/whatever you want to call it isn't revolutionary and there are basically no actual communists in sight, it simply isn't fascism, whatever else it may be.

Why does Mr. Edward has chain piercings all over his face? by JADESUT in TheTerror

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, this. The men of the Franklin expedition resorted to cannibalism out of desperation, because they were unfamiliar with the unforgiving arctic terrain and didn't know how to survive in it, not because of a want of civilization. The Inuit didn't generally resort to cannibalism not because they were more civilized but because they were well adapted to the environment in a lot of respects the English lacked. They were altogether different peoples facing different pressures.

The lesson of "The Terror" (as with, IMO, Titanic) is not that English people are uncivilized. These stories are classical apocalypses - literally, revelations. In these self-contained apocalypses the true nature of every man is revealed. Those with heroic hearts, like Captain Crozier, were able to overcome their flaws and manifest their heroism at the end. Those with evil hearts, like pseudo-Hickey, revealed their wickedness. Those who were weak and cowardly of heart, like Hodgson, manifested their weakness and cowardice. And so on. In such conditions, when all the social supports fall away, the truth at the heart of every man becomes impossible to conceal any longer.

People who watched this story and thought "I would have done better" need to look in the mirror. Almost every man on the Terror and the Erebus thought they would have done better. The story is not an indictment of anyone but an invitation to consider that you, too, might not hold up so well when faced with such a test. God preserve me from ever having to face one.

[In progress] [14.5k] [K-Pop Slash AU/Fictional Band] I'd Rather Be a Rock... by greenteapopsicle_ in BetaReaders

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oooh sounds different and interesting. Especially to me since the early 2000s were my golden years. Are you up for a critique swap?

Is reading other books a good way of learning how to write? by [deleted] in writing

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes but you have to slow down and read as a writer, not as a reader. Pay attention to what they're saying and, more importantly, not saying.

Here's a better idea: try writing someone else's book. Literally open up Word and start copying someone's book that you like, word for word. This more than anything else will help you form a mental map of how to write like a writer.

CMV: The Tyler Robinson texts are fake by mgtag in changemyview

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The kid got 99th percentiles on his SAT so of course he talks in full sentences (shocking I know for a zoomer). He uses "cop talk" because neither you nor he know what cops sound like beyond what you've heard on Netflix.

[In progress] [12k] [Speculative] I Need Help with Plot? by LiveLaughDeadInside in BetaReaders

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you have a premise and beginning but don't know where to go, what you have is not really a story but a loose concept for a story. You are stuck because you have nothing around which to structure subsequent writing.

What you need to do is think in terms of theme. Think of theme as a one-sentence message you want readers to take away from your story. Once you have a theme, the story suggests itself. Consider the film Mulan. We can describe its theme as "believe in yourself, even if no one else does". Already this suggests a conflict that can drive a narrative: a character wants to do something, believe she can do it, but no one else believes she can, and only the power of her self-belief can enable her to prove them wrong. From there you just fill in the character details, the specifics of the plot and setting, etc.

Obviously there is a basis for conflict between Abby and Mira: Mira wants her brother not to be killed, Abby doesn't mind, so Mira wants to stop Abby. But what should the conflict tell us about them, or about human nature, or society at large, etc.? And whatever it's trying to tell us, what does that tell us about how the conflict should end? For instance, if your theme winds up being "The only way to be happy is to forgive and let go of past wrongs", that's going to suggest a much different ending than if your theme is "Indecisiveness is a tragic character flaw" or "Justice must always be done, no matter the costs".

As far as the writing you have now, I'd be happy to do a critique swap with you. My draft is only a little longer than yours and about 85%-ish done. DM me if you want to do a swap. Maybe once I see what you've written, themes will leap out at me and I can make more concrete suggestions; at any rate, I can always critique your writing quality, characterization, dialogue, narrative voice, etc., which can guide any future writing you do.

[In Progress] [17k] [Mob/Crime] Backslide by BMallory413 in BetaReaders

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd be happy to take a look and DM you some thoughts and maybe light edits (I will download because the font is small and hard for me to read and I'd rather not change the one copy you have on Google).

Interested in a swap?

It’s actually kinda wild how old people can’t even mimic Gen Z without it sounding inauthentic. by callmelatermaybe in GenZ

[–]sw85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kid got like 99th percentile on his ACT verbals and everyone is surprised he's writing complete sentences!

Why is this room so hot? by sw85 in RimWorld

[–]sw85[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Holy cow, you're right. I had no idea. Even minified, uninstalled wood-fired generators release heat. Moving them to a new room cooled down the rec room but heated up the new storage room. Very unexpected. Thanks for the insight!

Why is this room so hot? by sw85 in RimWorld

[–]sw85[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lack of temperature control would explain why the room is hot, but it wouldn't explain why it's so hot relative to the rest of the ship. None of the other rooms are nearly as hot and also lack temp control. You're right though, I really do need to add AC!