smoontjes's recent activity
-
Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
-
Comment on The West doesn’t understand how much Russia has changed in ~misc
smoontjes Link ParentThe comment in question was about was in regards to lifting the ban on Ukraine using donated American weapons in Russia proper. That is definitely an example of a non-insignificant trump card. But...The comment in question was about was in regards to lifting the ban on Ukraine using donated American weapons in Russia proper. That is definitely an example of a non-insignificant trump card. But you are right, especially with them creeping close enough to Kharkiv for it to be in artillery range, Western military aid has been too little, too late for 2+ years now.
-
Comment on The West doesn’t understand how much Russia has changed in ~misc
smoontjes Link ParentI am bringing it up as a counterargument as to why I would not be so sure that the middle class is the demographic that is the most opposed to the war. Because the middle class has largely been...I am bringing it up as a counterargument as to why I would not be so sure that the middle class is the demographic that is the most opposed to the war. Because the middle class has largely been spared from participating in it
-
Comment on The downfall of streaming in ~tv
smoontjes LinkIn which Mina Le talks about: history/background of streaming free things becoming paid like ex-buzzfeed staff's content large subscription price increases happening, then comparing them to when...In which Mina Le talks about:
-
history/background of streaming
-
free things becoming paid like ex-buzzfeed staff's content
-
large subscription price increases happening, then comparing them to when they were labeled unfair when cable increased prices in the 80's
-
a pattern of worse quality of content (and different types) on account of changes to how earnings changed from box office and physical media sales to straight streaming - e.g. Ryan Reynold's Netflix movies that each make him $50 million but they don't exist in the zeitgeist
-
how you no longer own things, and titles disappear entirely and will be impossible to stream anywhere at all
-
black holes in production companies' libraries as they won't spend the money to maintain their large archives of old movies and tv
The last part in the video, starting around the 30 minute mark, is about content creation and social media which in my opinion is less than interesting and can be skipped over if you only care about "actual" streaming like Netflix, Disney+, Apple, etc.
Posting to ~misc as I didn't know where else was appropriate? ~tv? ~movies? ~life? Could do with an ~entertainment subgroup!
-
-
The downfall of streaming
4 votes -
Comment on The West doesn’t understand how much Russia has changed in ~misc
smoontjes Link ParentThere are still trump cards left in the toolbox. If not in terms of sanctions, then in terms of military aid. Someone in another thread speculated they were going to come into effect as the...There are still trump cards left in the toolbox. If not in terms of sanctions, then in terms of military aid. Someone in another thread speculated they were going to come into effect as the campaigns ramp up and as the election itself gets closer
-
Comment on The West doesn’t understand how much Russia has changed in ~misc
smoontjes Link ParentI wouldn't be so sure about that. Look up the statistics for Russian casualties in the war. The middle class, which in Russia is in the metro areas, is largely unaffected in terms of men actually...The middle class got hit particularly badly, and that's most likely the demographic where most of the opposition was.
I wouldn't be so sure about that.
Look up the statistics for Russian casualties in the war. The middle class, which in Russia is in the metro areas, is largely unaffected in terms of men actually going/being sent to war. And if they go, they are less likely to be on the very frontline. As I remember it, of the soldiers from St. Petersburg and Moscow, only like 3% are casualties. Meanwhile, other regions in the far east especially has upwards of 10% of those soldiers becoming casualties.
-
Comment on The West doesn’t understand how much Russia has changed in ~misc
smoontjes LinkArchive link Saw this on cd and wanted to share here too:- Exemplary
Saw this on cd and wanted to share here too:
This economic dependence is filtering into everyday life. Chinese products are ubiquitous and over half of the million cars sold in Russia last year were made in China. Tellingly, the top six foreign car brands in Russia are now all Chinese, thanks to the exodus of once dominant Western companies. It’s a similar story in the smartphone market, where China’s Xiaomi and Tecno have eclipsed Apple and Samsung, and with home appliances and many other everyday items.
-
The West doesn’t understand how much Russia has changed
30 votes -
Comment on Dune: Prophecy | Official teaser in ~tv
smoontjes LinkI mean it doesn't look like the movies, but it still looks pretty good! Hopefully not a Sicario 2 situation though but I will definitely be watchingI mean it doesn't look like the movies, but it still looks pretty good! Hopefully not a Sicario 2 situation though but I will definitely be watching
-
Comment on China's unmarried 'leftover' women in ~humanities
smoontjes Link ParentYou are most welcome! I thought so too. I'm equally cynical about it. It seems like they really did want and tried to make the sexes equal, but even though they by law are meant to be, that just...You are most welcome! I thought so too.
I'm equally cynical about it. It seems like they really did want and tried to make the sexes equal, but even though they by law are meant to be, that just wasn't ever the case in reality. And listening to the professor, it seems like the "iron girls" was more of a propaganda thing than anything else. That it was never real nor actually pierced the consciousness of the average Chinese.
I can only compare it to my own country where if you read the constitution and other laws etc., we are basically 100% equal with men. But in reality, there are still many aspects where women are seen as lesser than men - and also some where men are lesser than women.
-
Comment on China's unmarried 'leftover' women in ~humanities
smoontjes LinkFrom 2015 but still worth a watch. Some snippets:From 2015 but still worth a watch. Some snippets:
Female infanticide was not a concern of the government. But man cannot find wife is a concern of the government.
[...] girls have been shunned by their families for refusing to tie the knot.
Young men are also victims of these highly sexist gender norms. How to be a masculine man, what is the success of a masculine man? It's all related to the money and the house and the cars.
According to the UN, more than 50% of Chinese men abuse their partners. And marital rape is not a crime in China.
-
China's unmarried 'leftover' women
18 votes -
Comment on What is a value or belief you have that is extremely outside the norm? in ~talk
smoontjes Link ParentYes, and that historical aspect is something I'd consider important too. In my country though there was recently some discussion about churches in rural areas that are falling apart, but the state...Yes, and that historical aspect is something I'd consider important too. In my country though there was recently some discussion about churches in rural areas that are falling apart, but the state won't fund restoration of them - we are talking about churches numbering at least 1000. Practically all of them has locals who want them to be restored because they're part of our/their "heritage" or whatever, but that's once again one of those examples that I just cannot for the life of me see how that many churches, most of them more or less the same blueprints, are in any way significant to our history, especially the ones built within the last 100-200 years, which many of them were.
I remember a family gathering and this came up, and seeing as I'm the annoying atheist who believes in something akin to Soviet state-atheism, I said that I would not oppose demolishing religious buildings like that. The upkeep for that many abandoned churches (and other religious buildings probably?) is just too crazy to think about. Family was polite about it and just said huh, but I think they thought I was being a little obtuse to say the least lol
-
Comment on What is a value or belief you have that is extremely outside the norm? in ~talk
smoontjes Link ParentMaybe I misunderstand what you mean, but the king's quality of life is in no way comparable to the average Dane. It is garish to a ridiculous extent. The population massively approves of him...and their quality of life is representative of the general populace
Maybe I misunderstand what you mean, but the king's quality of life is in no way comparable to the average Dane. It is garish to a ridiculous extent. The population massively approves of him though so he may as well have been elected as born into it.
The election part is pretty interesting though, because Norway actually once voted in favour of having royalty.
-
Comment on What is a value or belief you have that is extremely outside the norm? in ~talk
smoontjes Link ParentSame here. Half of all my posters are cheap Ikea ones for this reasona thing that I consider more beautiful even though it was mass produced in some factory, instead of another that I find less beautiful but happens to be one of a kind made by a renowned artist
Same here. Half of all my posters are cheap Ikea ones for this reason
-
Comment on What is a value or belief you have that is extremely outside the norm? in ~talk
smoontjes Link ParentI feel the same way in some aspects. It's an inanimate fucking object! I'm a creative type so I absolutely believe that our makings hold inherent value. But something that is hundreds of years...I feel the same way in some aspects.
It's an inanimate fucking object!
I'm a creative type so I absolutely believe that our makings hold inherent value. But something that is hundreds of years old, that has already been seen and appreciated, like Notre Dame or Børsen burning down? Or extinction rebellion activists gluing themselves to artworks, or tossing paint on it? It's shocking, sure, but I feel little to no emotions about it. Those things have been documented minutely anyway - I could not possibly care less if the "original" burns down (whatever that even means - Ship of Theseus). And I laughed so much when a former politician here was interviewed, and said that it was the worst day of his life when Børsen burnt down. I mean get a grip lol
Having said that, I would be very sad if my own works were burnt. And I think AI art is deeply problematic. But paintings and buildings that are hundreds of years old? The original artist is no longer here, I promise their feelings won't get hurt lol
-
Comment on Tiny electric trucks are coming to a bike lane near you in ~transport
smoontjes Link ParentI live in Denmark and while larger-than-bicycle vehicles can be annoying, there's plenty of space and I highly doubt this new "truck" is gonna take over and invade like that. Just saw this for...I live in Denmark and while larger-than-bicycle vehicles can be annoying, there's plenty of space and I highly doubt this new "truck" is gonna take over and invade like that.
Just saw this for example lol, dude is transporting an entire cabinet on his cargo bike - so from someone in a country with some of the world's best bicycle infrastructure.. it's no big deal, and when it happens, it's a rarity.
-
Comment on Vast coin collection of Danish butter magnate L.E. Bruun is set to finally go on sale a century after his death, and could fetch up to $72 million in ~humanities.history
smoontjes Link"He collects collections" - that's a whole other level of wealth. Very cool, thanks for posting!"He collects collections" - that's a whole other level of wealth.
Very cool, thanks for posting!
-
Comment on I find myself intimidated by the Bear community in ~lgbt
smoontjes Link ParentWell, maybe I do still have some advice - just thought I didn't as I'm not a bear. But I can definitely speak about social anxiety, and the key to overthinking things is to stop thinking. Like...Well, maybe I do still have some advice - just thought I didn't as I'm not a bear. But I can definitely speak about social anxiety, and the key to overthinking things is to stop thinking.
Like @Akir says, just go.
It sounds like such a stupid thing to say but it has helped me in the past, so maybe it will help you too? Now I still have many days where I can't leave my apartment, even ones where I won't open the curtains because I feel so anxious that I have to shut out the world or I can't get my mind to relax. But on better days, I try to literally ignore my thoughts and do things anyway, because I know my brain is lying to me and my the trains of thought I have are not representative of reality - it sounds like you know this too. So exposure therapy is the best way to work on social anxiety. You really have to rip the bandaid off, get it over with, get out there - there's a first time for everything, and the first time is going to by far be the most anxiety inducing one.
I bet going to an event in the bear community for the first time gives you the same level of anxiety as the first day of school, a new semester, or a new job - where you'd also meet a ton of new people all at once. But your brain has somehow reinforced this idea in your head that the bear community is to be scared of even though it's not - but I remember from therapy and psychoeducation that anxiety makes us scared of things equal to the fight or flight response on a physical level, so we (you and I) end up in avoidance behavior to an large extent.
I guess I just feel like I won’t fit in with a queer community like that because I was never properly exposed to it. I show up to one of these events and what? Announce that I’m here to see all the bears?
Maybe not the last part, but yes, you could literally say something like that. There's nothing wrong with being relatively open about feeling nervous as it's your first time at a queer event - everybody there is going to be understanding of it, because they too had their first time when coming out. And you also won't be the only one who grew up in places without a gay scene. Don't be brutally honest about it of course, and maybe phrase it in different ways, but you definitely could say things along the lines of what you did in your post above: "almost all of my life I've lived in smaller locals that lacked any real gay scene". It's intimidating when you don't know a single soul, yes, but everybody is going to be able to relate to the things you say, how you feel about it, and probably understand it too! And since it sounds like you have a real social media presence, maybe a simple post would suffice? I bet someone would be very willing to take you under their wing if you just commented "never been to [bar/whatever], looks fun! Anyone wanna show me around?"
and yes I know this entire comment is deeply ironic because I wouldn't be able to take my own advice lol - it is so much easier said than done
I'd been listening to a lot of Phoebe Bridgers, and then I saw that she was in a band, Boygenius, with two other indie pop artists. So I've been listening to them a lot. Favorite songs of theirs so far:
Julien Baker - Faith Healer
Lucy Dacus - VBS