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User: Nukedoom

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Comments · 63

  1. Re:Futility at its purest on Gold Artifact To Orbit Earth In Hope of Alien Retrieval · · Score: 2

    It doesn't strike me as particularly effective either--more symbolic than anything else. I can appreciate the gesture, though. And isn't that what this largely is? Part of the idea is that hopefully, somewhere out there is life. This is sort of a way to reach out to them. It's very human to me--reaching out towards the unknown, hoping for someone to be there.

    I'd like to think there are two ways to think about life--either everything's futile or some things are meaningful. I don't think there's a decisive way to prove one or the other wrong.

    On the scale of planets and galaxies, I existed for a short time--hardly any time at all. But I experienced it. These things did not. And even though I'll fade, and they'll stay for another couple billions years, I'd rather have known than not known at all. But each to his own.

  2. Re:Futility at its purest on Gold Artifact To Orbit Earth In Hope of Alien Retrieval · · Score: 1

    Ohh, I don't care for the contraption. It doesn't strike me as particularly effective--more symbolic than anything else. I can appreciate the gesture, though. And isn't that what this largely is? Part of the idea is that hopefully, somewhere out there is life. This is sort of a way to reach out to them. It's very human to me--reaching out towards the unknown, hoping for someone to be there.

    I'm trying to fill in the gaps here, but I'm having some trouble understanding. How would my argument no longer be valid? Let me try from one perspective, and let me know if I got it wrong.

    Let's say we all die. Does that make our existence any less meaningful? Possibly.

    I guess some people would say yes, and others would say no. I don't think there's a decisive way to prove one or the other wrong. I'd like to think there are two ways to think about life--either everything's futile or some things are meaningful.

    On the scale of planets and galaxies, I existed for a short time--hardly any time at all. But I experienced it. These things did not. And even though I'll fade, and they'll stay for another couple billions years, I'd rather have known than not known at all. But each to his own.

  3. Re:Futility at its purest on Gold Artifact To Orbit Earth In Hope of Alien Retrieval · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Whaaaa? Why do you say that? We are the Universe--we're the conscious part, a beautiful self-aware organism. We didn't create ourselves, but we are the product of a vastly complex series of interactions taking place over the course of billions of years.

    We're as about as meaningful as anything the Universe has brought into existence, if not more.

  4. Re:More evidence on Childhood Stress Leaves Genetic Scars · · Score: 1

    I agree it's still a problem and we have to implement better measures against it. But as a whole, I'd say our society is well-versed in the problem. We know it's there. I believe it's being taken seriously. We just haven't found an effective solution against it. Does that make sense? I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm saying it's a complex problem--difficult to solve. I don't think it's due to a lack of awareness about it.

  5. Re:More evidence on Childhood Stress Leaves Genetic Scars · · Score: 2

    Ever since the 1960s, child abuse has been touted as the worst thing an individual could do to another individual--it's pretty high up there in America. I was under the impression it was being taken seriously.

  6. Well.. on Playing With Friends Makes You a Better Gamer · · Score: 1

    Clearly you've never played League of Legends.

  7. Re:War as a video game on DARPA Researches Avatar Surrogates · · Score: 1

    You know, League of Legends revolves around that concept. Play a game, and lore-wise, you solve a political dispute.

  8. Re:An unfortunate confluence of terms on Text Message Brands Quebec Man a Terror Suspect · · Score: 1

    Don't forget the word "trade."

  9. What's The News Here? on Man Calls 911 To Fix Broken iPhone · · Score: 3

    I don't understand what's so important about a drunk man dialing 911.

  10. Pretty Interesting, But.. on Japanese Supercomputer K Hits 10.51 Petaflops · · Score: 1

    I wonder how that would compare to the combined computational power of every smartphone, laptop, and desktop computer around the world.

  11. Re:Dark energy on 2011 Nobel Prize In Physics · · Score: 1

    I think it's a humbling experience to not know-- it's nothing to be embarrassed about.

  12. Maybe I'm Naive But.. on Facebook's Faces Trademark Suit Over Timeline · · Score: 1

    Timeline.com is just making chronological lists of historical events, which anyone can do with a piece of paper and pen. That idea is probably older than Jesus. How is this a trade-mark infringement? It's like trying to sue someone for making a Venn diagram.

  13. Minecraft on How Do You Explain Software Development To 2nd Graders? · · Score: 1

    You can explain how worlds are created in Minecraft, or if that turns out to be too complex to simplify, show that software like Minecraft is capable of creating fun and interesting things, and that it's much more than a black box that pumps out endorphins.

  14. Bye Rob on Rob "CmdrTaco" Malda Resigns From Slashdot · · Score: 1

    It's probably starting to be a bit repetitive, but I thought I'd leave some comment history here, long after this story dies down a bit, for the sole purpose of reminding other users years from now, just how much you meant to this site. I'm fairly new here, but this website has a way of probing and bringing the most insightful information from people that I have never really seen replicated anywhere else. And I humbly thank you for that.

    With much regard,

    Andrew

  15. Re:Never 'gonna happen on Old Arguments May Cost Linux the Desktop · · Score: 1

    Is there a way you can save and bookmark comments on Slashdot? Because this truly gets into the heart of open source and their lack of appeal for the masses.

  16. Re:That's A Shame on Wikipedia Losing Contributors, Says Wales · · Score: 1

    ...I'd *hate* to see it go under just because people can't get along.

  17. That's A Shame on Wikipedia Losing Contributors, Says Wales · · Score: 1

    There's no other place like Wikipedia. I've never had any big problems when editing, but then again, I don't edit much. Still, if the common sentiment is that the Wikipedia editors are dicks, that won't bode well for new contributors. If it fails, hooray, woo, sparkles. But it's a useful place, and I'd to see it go under just because people can't get along.

  18. Re:Postwar abuse? on Germany Says Facebook's Facial Recognition Is Illegal · · Score: 1

    I'm thinking they're referring to the whole Holocaust thing, the SS rounding up Jews, etc. There's always a fear that it might occur again, and the last thing Germany wants is probably a database of people and easy identification along with it.

  19. Re:Facebook Vs. Google+ on Google+ Account Suspensions Over ToS Drawing Fire · · Score: 2

    I'm not really familiar with the term, heh, but if MUA is what Wikipedia says it is, then I use one all the time. I'm sure you've heard of it--it's called Sparrow and it's pretty much an integral part of my workflow nowadays. The problem I was talking about though, was that Google has the ability to completely turn off your Gmail account so that you can't access it. I agree with you over the interface, however. It looks better now; it's more minimalist, but I still prefer Sparrow.

  20. Facebook Vs. Google+ on Google+ Account Suspensions Over ToS Drawing Fire · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You know for all of Facebook's privacy infringement, there is one ace in the sleeve Google+ has over their users that Facebook does not: Gmail.

  21. Well, No on Fond Memories of Nerd Camp · · Score: 1

    I go to college and I don't have kids...I think...But it sounds like I could've made some friends there.

  22. Still Waiting For Faceback on App Uses Facial Profiling To Identify Perps · · Score: 1

    Scanning people's eyeballs is all fine and whatnot, but what about the back of their heads? Can we get a back-to-face app here?

  23. Re:Largest Population on Why People Who Make Things Should Learn Chinese · · Score: 1

    Really? I didn't realize English was a necessary secondary language for most other countries. I was thinking the language with the most users would also be the most common one.

  24. Largest Population on Why People Who Make Things Should Learn Chinese · · Score: 1

    Well, if you wanted to learn a language with the largest number of speakers, Mandarin Chinese would be your best bet.

  25. Well on How America Can Get Its Tech Mojo Back · · Score: 2

    ...That's all fine and dandy, but I'm pretty sure open distributed projects won't help America's poor education system. It's a start, and it might give way to some progress, but collaborative researching doesn't help Billy Bob Joel learn how to advance technology if they don't know shit about it.