StringJunky

I had a conversation a while ago with someone who regularly viewed pornography, who was of an age that the internet has always been an integral part of their lives. It transpired that what they viewed, in the various styles and approaches in them were things to emulate themselves and had bodies to aspire to which were outside the norm; like supermodels, only often surgically enhanced. The overall theme I got from them was that what they saw depicted was what sex should be like in real life; seen as sex education videos, I suppose. I’m sure this perception is replicated amongst young people the world over. What will be the longterm effect on how such individuals, and the emerging society in general they grow up in be, relative to those who matured before the internet? I'm not asking about ones personal ethics on porn, or ethics per se, although it's effects on ethics at the societal or individual level might be relevant.

The thing about Windows now is that it is undergoing constant evolution which is evident month-to-month that occurs in the now silent updates; this contrasts with the quantum changes that occurred from one edition to the next every few years. It's development is also more quickly reactive to threats and locked down security-wise,which is a good thing for the Windows ecosystem collectively, although a pain for those that like more personal control.

Like I said earlier, they'll just realise, one day, AI has reached the equivalent of a sapient level of consciousness and cognitive autonomy.

Yes. I have a feeling that it will, one day, just be realised that computer function has evolved to become functionally indistinguishable from a brain rather than a premeditated design from scratch; consciousness will emerge 'accidentally' ..."Ooh! Eureka!"

....for now. With increasing functional complexity, consciousness will emerge.

Yes. Computers are evolving mirrors of our brain functions; how can they be anything else? We make them in our own image, in effect.

It's easier to spot the crazies than it is to find the sane ones.

I've agreed with most of what you've said in this discussion but for this post I must say "Bollocks". Every other first world country doe not engage in the daily, totally unnecessary, carnage that occurs in the US for wont of the unregulated freedom to own an arsenal, Most of the first world has evolved to control their violence. Please don't conflate what is happening there with the other countries.

I was a headbanger in my early teens when Halford was the lead singer. This is a good cover of Floyd's Time:

I like the variety of conversations on here. It is a rare place to have discussions on many topics with disciplined thinkers, which is what scientists and sciency-types are. The trick is to treat the forum subjects as discrete places i.e. non-science from science. The science is the core but not the whole. Forums are like shops or restaurants; find one that suits you. Pure science forums don't suit me; tend to be too dry and exclusive in the makeup of their membership for my taste but they may be right up another person's street

Bieber it is then.

Only a guy that designs GPS clocks could know that...you need to get out more.

+50

Insane people don't know they are insane by virtue of their insanity...

'Why' is about cause which is ultimately axiomatic i.e. it is based on a starting presumption. 'How' is about behaviour i.e. it is what is observed, which is what science deals with.

....and, so, we quickly walk back into that crazy, inhuman quagmire of the Second Amendendment...a bird's nest of a tangle if ever there was one

Yes, there is an inherent bias towards any particular black person being seen as bad simply because of the statistics which creates a vicious self-perpetuating cycle. More generally, they are victims, not the cause, of the problem.

I think the underlying problem here is that western society insidiously disempowers black people throughout their lives from young which creates the negative feelings that they are more likely to carry than their white counterparts, hence, making them more likely to engage in antisocial behaviours; this preordains them to be seen as worse by default and more likely to be shot at.

Gelatin was the one I was trying to think of.

Wallpaper paste powder?

I found the migration quite painless. The way you look for things is easier in 10; you just type it in the Start box. The continuous silent upgrading good; no more pain-the-ass major OS changes. You notice little upgrades and changes with some updates. Overall the feel is similar to 7. You might as well jump in; it's the future. It is more complete out-of-the-box with respect to essential apps. The biggest negative is it is harder to override some default settings. Also it is more aware of your usage if you leave some settings at default. It does this so it''s apps can adapt to you and become more bespoke. I've had it since it came out and it is pretty invisible and intuitive in use. It's OK.