Will Shetterly's Blog, page 28

Things shared on Feb 13ths

Is there a secret internet for people who don't read superficially and go berserk? I hope there is, even if they don't think I deserve an invitation. - You know who celebrates people dying? The Westboro Baptist Church. Don't be them. - Convincing people you're right is harder if you first convince them you're a jerk. - 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY INEFFICIENT PEOPLE 1. Not finishing what they begin.

Things shared on Feb 11ths: being called Hon, paying attention to politics, more

I really like it when strangers call me "Hon". Noted because it just happened and a lot of snobs online throw hissyfits when working class people address them in a familiar way. - The more I pay attention to politics, the worse they get. I am very sorry about this. I'll try to stop. - Claiming antiZionism is antisemitism is an example of neoliberal identitarianism. It’s no different than

Things shared on Feb 10ths: manned space flight should not be a priority, more

Dear people who think manned space travel must be a priority, I am sorry I said anything. I know the dream of human space travel is important to many of us because I share it. I hope as much as you do that humans are able to survive in space for long periods of time and therefore we can reach the stars someday. But I realize I'm a heretic for having other priorities now. The discussion has

Things shared on Feb 9ths: on Clinton vs Sanders, and abusive people online

Two kinds of abusive people online: The clueless can't tell what they're doing. The delicate flowers can't take what they give. Can we erase the internet and start over? - On Clinton vs Sanders: You can vote to support the women and men who would benefit from things like universal health care, a high minimum wage, and free college education that other nations already provide their citizens, or

Things shared on Feb 8ths: people who say Jim Crow has not ended, Bezos blackmail, more

People who say Jim Crow has not ended 1. Do not want to talk about class. 2. Minimize the horrors of Jim Crow. 3. Disrespect the memory of the civil rights leaders who ended Jim Crow. - I respect Bezos for standing up to a blackmailer. I still want to nationalize Amazon. Some leftists are saying we shouldn't give Bezos any credit because he can "afford to fight". But fighting

Things shared on Feb 7ths: on the DK Effect and more

When Musk sent his car into space: Who will be the next billionaire to send something into space that most of us can't afford, and what will it be? - The more you act like an asshole, the more likely you're wrong. #DunningKruger #CognitiveDissonance An implication of the Dunning Kruger Effect: if you only know that someone is smug or arrogant, the smart bet is that person is also wrong.

Things shared on Feb 6ths: saying "honestly" makes us doubt you, and more

Whenever I see "honestly" used as an intensifier, I wonder, "Why would they think I thought they were lying? Are they?" - I wish Facebook had these three emojis: 1. I respectfully disagree. 2. Please do more research before you discuss this again. 3. Are you willing to share the powerful drugs you are on? - Yachts are a measure of how well the rich are doing at our expense. The first great

Things shared on Feb 5ths

I am old enough that it still seems strange to call this the 21st century. But the reason isn't because I'm old. It's because we underestimated the rich and therefore got a new century that looks too much like the old one. - Maybe I'll start calling the 1% the Siphon Class. You can't make that kind of money by working for it. You can only make it by siphoning it from other people's work. -

Things shared on Feb 4ths

I wish Facebook required us to post at least three happy things for every post that's the least bit political. I'll try to set a better example now. - Opposing the death penalty is not supporting what a criminal does. Supporting free speech is not supporting what a speaker says. - I'm starting the Bowling Green Avengers. Our motto: Never forget we're really pissed at something.

Things shared on Feb 3rds: about guillotine jokes, more

If jokes about guillotines upset you: 1. I want to end the rich as a class. No deaths are necessary. 2. The guillotine may be the most merciful method of execution ever created. Capitalists have always been more brutal when killing those who threaten their privilege. - The brilliant rhetorical trick of privilege theorists was removing the economic component from privilege so white people and