Hacker News: Zarath

New comment by Zarath in "Google is investigating the actions of another top AI ethicist"

Zarath — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 07:44:24 +0000

What if Google is doing something unethical?

New comment by Zarath in "Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China"

Zarath — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 21:17:41 +0000

I think even more than that they simply do not have a choice. Yes, it sucks that Apple's suppliers are unethical, but what am I supposed to do if I want to Snapchat my girlfriend or talk to my friends, or have a phone that is compatible with itunes/apple music? If my choice is between Apple and Google, how do I know that Google's ethics are any better? Am I supposed to spend hours and hours of my life investigating whether one is marginally more ethical than the other?

We simply have to stop making consumers responsible and accountable for every unethical thing a company does. Why is the status quo that every company is evil and that's ok? You'll see AMEX commercials imploring you to "shop local" during the pandemic but where is their relief for small business? Why is it my responsibility to save them but business as usual for those that want to exploit me?

New comment by Zarath in "What Did the Past Smell Like?"

Zarath — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 01:57:04 +0000

Funnily enough I find the most offensive smells to be way too much perfume, or scented laundry detergent.

New comment by Zarath in "MicroStrategy's Bitcoin Debt Bet"

Zarath — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 02:31:12 +0000

The US stock market is nearly always at or near an all time high

New comment by Zarath in "The public has a right to know how companies that pay no taxes pull it off"

Zarath — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 07:40:44 +0000

If you are upper middle class it is possible to pay zero taxes. Between tax loss harvesting, 401ks, opportunity zones, and LLC formation, a citizen can legally pay no taxes some years. It's a bit of a learning curve but none of the mechanics are particularly difficult.

New comment by Zarath in "Twitter and Facebook's action over Joe Biden article reignites bias claims"

Zarath — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 00:02:09 +0000

Tell that to megacorporations? Why are prescription drugs allowed to be advertised on TV? Free speech.

New comment by Zarath in "Researchers have invented a new way to thwart facial recognition"

Zarath — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 04:50:53 +0000

Maybe just placebo here, but I can notice a difference between the left and right images. The right definitely seems blurrier or harder to focus on.

New comment by Zarath in "The global fertility rate is falling"

Zarath — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 04:05:33 +0000

You're getting downvoted but I think there is some truth to this statement.

New comment by Zarath in "America is giving up on the pandemic?"

Zarath — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 23:36:52 +0000

Policing doesn't even make it near the top of a list of dangerous professions

New comment by Zarath in "Jack Dorsey is giving Andrew Yang $5M to build the case for a basic income"

Zarath — Fri, 22 May 2020 02:57:04 +0000

"One of the big reasons for UBI is the belief that an individual can better assess their own needs and wants, and procure them more cheaply than the government"

Perhaps, but many of the major problems we have today are tragedy of the commons situations, and that's precisely when we need government to step in, not just leave it up to individuals.

New comment by Zarath in "Bitcoin Halving Just Occured"

Zarath — Mon, 11 May 2020 20:53:40 +0000

Does anyone actually use stocks? I mean, it's not like I can show up at AAPL and demand their espresso maker because I own enough shares of their stock. The "partial ownership of the business" is a complete myth. In reality, unless a corporation pays a dividend, or goes bankrupt and is liquidated and shareholders are paid, stocks are just liquid vehicles of speculation.

New comment by Zarath in "Bitcoin Halving Just Occured"

Zarath — Mon, 11 May 2020 20:51:53 +0000

A vast majority of transactions don't need to wait for a full confirmation, simply existing in the mempool is enough. Just like my electric bill doesn't need to wait for the ACH transfer to complete before it's considered paid.

New comment by Zarath in "U.S. Economy Shrinks at 4.8% Pace, Signaling Start of Recession"

Zarath — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 16:09:22 +0000

Yep, I've seen places close in even the richest (read: highest rent) areas of town

New comment by Zarath in "At least 11 cities use automated surveillance in the EU"

Zarath — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 16:07:30 +0000

Actually, I do.

New comment by Zarath in "The San Francisco Bay Area shelter-in-place order is being extended through May"

Zarath — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 22:48:47 +0000

Get off reddit, you won't regret it or miss it at all tbh.

New comment by Zarath in "The Obsolescence of Advertising in the Information Age (2018)"

Zarath — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 03:34:13 +0000

Right, but it redistributes demand around. Ever been to a busy boardwalk with people hired to call out and give samples out to get people to come in? It's an arms race like that, it redistributes the demand of eating on the boardwalk, and those that don't pay for the advertising don't survive, so everyone does it, but ultimately the boardwalk would be more or less the same without it

New comment by Zarath in "Not everyone has an internal monologue"

Zarath — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 06:54:08 +0000

They are different IMO. There are thoughts, which are just abstract forms, and there is the response to thoughts, which are emotions and monologues.

New comment by Zarath in "Toyota will transform 175-acre Japan site into a ‘prototype city of the future’"

Zarath — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 19:04:19 +0000

A corporate sponsored city is a city of the future? I actually think it is, sadly.

New comment by Zarath in "Disinformation for hire: how a new breed of PR firms is selling lies online"

Zarath — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 18:23:19 +0000

Blockchain would also mostly solve the corrupt ICANN issues being discussed on another thread, but people here don't really want to hear it for some reason.

New comment by Zarath in "Disinformation for hire: how a new breed of PR firms is selling lies online"

Zarath — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 18:12:05 +0000

Honestly I'm surprised more people aren't burnt out on this. I can only be angry and get triggered by the same bullshit for so long before it just doesn't work.