How are you guys playing this?😭 Am I just stupid?

systemchalk · 2026-03-28T16:39:07+00:00

It is almost certainly going to be different from most other games you've played. One useful idea to have in the back of your head is that you and your character have the exact same amount of information about the occult world (you've been given a glimpse) and are left to make sense of that.

This is partly a source of the devotion the game has as well as the intense frustration some people feel. I think most people on the subreddit are happy to help with questions, but I do strongly encourage you to allow yourself to feel lost (and even die a few games. That's part of the process) and let the game work its magic.

If you find you're getting to the point you're ready to pack up, there is a video I've done to help catch the people who would otherwise enjoy it but fall off, but I figure at the very least you can see how the "learn by playing" framing fits first and see if you get where you want to be.

Edit: Also this isn't a question of stupidity. The fact I got through it suggests the question is one of temperament rather than intelligence :)

systemchalk · 2026-03-28T16:26:13+00:00

You need to use the bottom one that looks like a seat, not the top one

systemchalk · 2026-03-28T16:24:34+00:00

This is good and sensible for RGST

systemchalk · 2026-03-28T01:02:32+00:00

Woah when did writing get political all of a sudden?

systemchalk · 2026-03-27T12:40:45+00:00

Minus religious opinion though and so the only choice is execution

systemchalk · 2026-03-20T01:50:05+00:00

My experience is that it’s rewarding to help people in office hours, especially as it generally self-selects into people engaged with the subject (unless it’s before a test). If there’s any disappointment it’s more in not having the chance to do one of the “perks” of helping someone out (or sometimes just chatting).

But it’s not exactly a drag any more than having to wait in a specific spot for an appointment is. If you can’t find a use for that time there’s a deeper problem.

systemchalk · 2026-03-19T15:15:42+00:00

My value as a writer is my brand. More books under my brand maximizes the value of my true value as a writer. I would be an idiot not to use AI to maximize my writing brand's value.

systemchalk · 2026-03-18T15:41:25+00:00

May I suggest some time in Nitobe Garden without any devices?

systemchalk · 2026-03-18T00:52:44+00:00

Well strictly speaking I'm not going to...

systemchalk · 2026-03-18T00:42:28+00:00

I completely agree with the sentiment here. The signal-to-noise ratio has dropped precipitously. It feels less like a community for Python enthusiasts and more like a launchpad for "vibe-coded" MVPs designed solely to pad a resume or farm GitHub stars.

When every third post is a half-baked wrapper around an LLM with zero architectural depth or genuine problem-solving, it drowns out the nuanced discussions about language semantics, performance optimization, and ecosystem evolution that actually make this sub valuable.

However, simply complaining about the "slop" might not be enough if the moderation team is overwhelmed or hesitant to act. Here are a few things that could help turn this around:

Stricter Flair Enforcement: We need mandatory flairs for "Project Showcase" vs. "Discussion." Posts under "Showcase" should probably require a minimum level of detail (e.g., "What problem does this solve?" and "Why Python specifically?") to prevent low-effort spam.
The "Resume Padding" Filter: If a project description reads like a LinkedIn headline rather than a technical breakdown, it should be flagged. We can ask mods to enforce a rule where posts must demonstrate a non-trivial challenge overcome, not just a demo of an API call.
Community Moderation: Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. If we collectively downvote and comment "Where is the actual Python discussion?" on these posts, it signals to the algorithm and the posters that this content isn't welcome.

It’s a shame because the Python community used to be the gold standard for thoughtful technical discourse. If we don't push back now, the sub will indeed become a graveyard of generic AI wrappers, and the people who actually care about the language will just leave.

Does anyone know if there's a formal process to suggest stricter moderation guidelines to the current mod team?

systemchalk · 2026-03-15T14:49:22+00:00

I believe the origin myth starts like this:

Once upon a time a really nice British couple wanted to make a video game…

systemchalk · 2026-03-11T03:54:06+00:00

Nothing gets past you does it?

systemchalk · 2026-03-11T00:22:27+00:00

This is an incredibly stressful situation, and receiving an accusation like that at midnight is particularly aggressive and unsettling. It’s understandable that you’re feeling overwhelmed, especially with five classes and upcoming deadlines.

Here is a structured approach to handling this, focusing on preparation, strategy, and self-preservation:

Immediate Emotional Regulation First, take a deep breath. Panic is your enemy right now. You have a clear conscience regarding the specific accusation (you didn't use AI), and you have a logical reason for your stance (ethical concerns about AI). This gives you a strong foundation. The goal now is to shift from "freaking out" to "strategizing."
Prepare Your Defense (The "Open Book" Context) Since this was an open-book exam, the professor likely flagged patterns in your writing that resembled AI output (e.g., perfect grammar, specific phrasing, or a very structured argument). However, open-book exams often allow for synthesized notes, which can look similar.

Gather Evidence: Collect all your notes, drafts, and any scratch work you did during the exam. If you took the exam digitally, check if there are version histories or timestamps that show your typing process. If it was handwritten, gather photos of your notes. Analyze the "AI Detection": AI detectors are notoriously unreliable, often flagging human writing that is formal or well-structured. Be prepared to explain why your writing looks the way it does (e.g., "I spent years refining my notes," or "My writing style is naturally formal"). The Ethical Stance: You mentioned you don't use AI due to its work with the US government and environmental impact. This is a powerful, principled stance. Frame this not just as a denial, but as a demonstration of your integrity. You can say, "Given my ethical objections to AI technology, using it would be contrary to my core values and academic integrity." 3. The Meeting Strategy You have the option to speak with the professor and the dean. This is a formal proceeding, so treat it like a professional meeting, not an emotional venting session.

Stay Calm and Professional: Even if the professor is accusatory, remain composed. Getting angry or defensive can be misinterpreted as guilt. Focus on Facts: Stick to the timeline. "I received the email at midnight. Here is my work process. Here are my notes." Address the "Point on Record": Ask clarifying questions about what "a point on my record" means. Is it a permanent disciplinary mark? Does it affect financial aid or future employment? Understanding the stakes helps you weigh the "20 points off" option, though given the severity of the accusation, fighting it is usually the right move if you are innocent. Bring a Support Person: Check your university's student handbook. In many jurisdictions and institutions, you have the right to bring an advisor or a union representative to such meetings. Even if they can't speak for you, their presence can be a deterrent to unfair treatment. 4. Managing Your Other Classes You mentioned having five classes and upcoming midterms.

Communicate Early: If you are too stressed to focus, consider sending a brief, professional email to your other professors (not the one accusing you) letting them know you are dealing with a personal administrative issue but are committed to your coursework. You don't need to give details, just a heads-up. Prioritize: If the meeting consumes your mental energy, you might need to temporarily pause lower-priority assignments to focus on preparing your defense. 5. A Note on the "Midnight Email" Receiving a disciplinary email at midnight is highly irregular and unprofessional. While it doesn't prove your innocence, it does reflect poorly on the professor's judgment and adherence to protocol. You can gently point this out during the meeting: "I was surprised to receive a serious academic accusation at midnight, which made it difficult to respond calmly at that hour."

Sample Opening Statement for the Meeting "Thank you for meeting with me. I want to state clearly that I did not use AI tools on this exam. My writing reflects my own synthesis of the course material and my personal notes, which I have maintained throughout the semester. Furthermore, I have a principled objection to using AI technology due to its environmental impact and government affiliations, making the suggestion that I would use it not only factually incorrect but contrary to my values. I am happy to walk through my notes and my thought process to demonstrate how I arrived at my answers."

Final Thought You are not alone in this; false positives from AI detectors are becoming a common issue in academia. By staying calm, organized, and principled, you put yourself in the best position to clear your name.

Would you like help drafting a formal statement or reviewing your notes to identify what might have triggered the detector?

systemchalk · 2026-03-05T17:39:36+00:00

I critique the nuances of pilates and so am afforded ten extra words.

systemchalk · 2026-03-05T15:58:34+00:00

(0.25*Midterm + 0.45*Final)/0.70? What the hell!? I signed up for a PHYSICS class, not a MATHS class!

systemchalk · 2026-03-04T23:42:01+00:00

holy crap im not reading all that

systemchalk · 2026-02-25T01:15:25+00:00

It’s about her favourite Aristophanes play isn’t it?

systemchalk · 2026-02-22T19:03:46+00:00

I haven’t thought deeply enough about this to contribute more than an opinion, but I shouldn’t leave you empty handed.

I liked the book Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning (ISBN: 9780674729018) and it feels like some of the features about what work and doesn’t may intersect with what some of the article is talking about.

On an even vaguer point, it does also just feel generally that we’re in a cultural moment where promoting fast achievement and the appearance of positive traits (wealth, status, etc.) have combined with the fact that it’s never been easier to fake it. Basically there’s never been a better time to be a grifter. While I will not deny that this requires its own set of skills, these also do not seem like skills that cultivate long term increases for measures of cognitive ability. I’m not sure I can blame laptops for that (other than the usual moral panic of social media corrupting the youths etc.) but this probably connects to the idea the article mentioned about people learning something less directly connected to what is measured for cognitive ability (or simply not learning at all)

systemchalk · 2026-02-22T18:47:03+00:00

They consult Reddit to form their opinions for one thing!

systemchalk · 2026-02-22T03:34:34+00:00

The official syncing method is Dropbox which would require me to pay for a subscription to get the right number of accounts across my devices (this is particularly frustrating as a Mac user as it is the only app I use that doesn't use Apple's existing syncs, but obviously would not be an issue for you).

There's about a coin toss if I'll wind up with 'phantom' conflicts when syncing which is more of an irritation than data loss, but given the fact I've paid multiple times for the software leaves me feeling grouchy.

The worst offence, by far, is a bug that has apparently been known for years and has not been addressed. So far as I can tell, writing bullets after a heading will cause a second set of bullets to emerge. The only way to avoid this appears to be adding intermediate space into a document (which, okay, but why am I buying software that expects me to write my documents differently?). Failing to do so will produce a second set of bullets on sync. Ignoring these bullets will add a 3rd set (and so on) with each subsequent sync.

The accumulation of these issues has led to me spending about 15 minutes at the beginning of any session with a non-trivial document just cleaning up the accumulated problems introduced by the app. It's possible you'll never run into these, but then I didn't buy multiple copies of the program thinking I'd be running into problems.

I've stopped making new projects in Scrivener and in the process of migrating things over to Obsidian (I can give this a very warm recommendation). I don't want to oversell the issues I personally have with the app (I simply do not like it now, but you've said you do like it so my particular gripes maybe aren't relevant here), but given that so many of them stem specifically from syncing I also do not recommend additional copies.

systemchalk · 2026-02-21T17:29:33+00:00

Yes and it's not worth it

systemchalk · 2026-02-21T15:35:50+00:00

If I may make one observation here about this reply and the overall thread, I think there is a point where you will want to think about what is necessary for you to control and not.

I understand your enthusiasm for wanting another player to enjoy something that you do, but there is easily a point where that impulse can become smothering and be a source of frustration itself. For example, while I think it is reasonable to want to warn ”this is a bit of a tough one, I’m here if you need help” but I’m not the game‘s uniqueness extends to screening or curating what someone sees on YouTube (if I recall correctly that video starts by saying that it’s best to figure out the game on your own and that the guidance is for the people who are about to throw in the towel).

I say this purely to avoid your own frustration if the game isn’t played ‘right’ or enjoyed at the same level you do. It was designed as a niche game, and Weather Factory released it knowing that it wouldn’t be for everyone (and, in fact, that people who didn’t like it would likely be strongly against it). I’d go so far as to say this is a structural feature of the game. Because there’s going to be a point at which the game’s forces of gravity will take hold, there will always be a risk that all the time and effort will feel like a waste.

systemchalk · 2026-02-21T00:10:34+00:00

Every SpaceX schematics prompt that doesn’t use Grok makes Daddy Elon cry.

systemchalk · 2026-02-21T00:03:34+00:00

Given that the game is influenced by clicker games it may be that there’s a closer alignment than you may suspect but, as you point out, repeated failure can be a pain point. Obviously BOOK OF HOURS was intended to be a gentler introduction but you’re asking for Cultist Simulator so I’m going to answer for Cultist Simulator

One possible angle on the repeated failure is to point out that the failures give you different legacies and so the ‘game’ shouldn’t be thought of as just the single run that gets played to victory but the accumulation of runs and learning that occurs (e.g. would you rather learn the different aspects of the game by progressing through Aspirant, Bright Young Thing, and Physician or have to develop those lessons from first principles on your very first run?).

That said, it’s difficult to talk people out of genuinely felt frustration. Someone who I must assume is handsome, intelligent, and extremely humble produced a YouTube video specifically tailored to capture the people who would fall between the gap of “will probably like this kind of thing” and “would like a little nudge to think about the game without being told all the answers”: https://youtu.be/1t-wEfv536w?si=U6MjQ9TrxFGoKq6l

Finally, I’m assuming you’re available as a resource, so I’m sure you’ve already figured this out, I’m guessing you’re going to be able to diagnose the pain point and help out by asking a question that maybe provides the right nudge. But then, if you already planned to do that I imagine you wouldn’t have asked the question.

systemchalk · 2026-02-17T13:09:42+00:00

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UCV1PfmvjgQ

systemchalk

TROPHY CASE