Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, video games, and the new online town square

Weekend <em>Donkey Kong 64</em> marathon serves as a gathering place for much more.

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[caldepen]

Good article, thanks.

Interestingly;

In the online realm, a game like World of Warcraft is sometimes criticized for being little more than an "interactive chat room," where the simplistic gameplay is just something to keep you occupied while you talk with friends. Derisive or not, that kind of description probably captures a large part of why World of Warcraft has been able to sustain itself for well over a decade.

I am not sure why this is perceived as a negative? Arguably every leisure activity could be described as just something to keep you occupied while you hang with friends... we have a yearly football roadtrip with 6-8 guys where half of us don't even like football.

Italians don't play bocce to see where the ball ends up.

 

[Danrarbc]

You can't fetishize the 1950s for the tax rates you like but ignore the racism. Also when the top rates were 90% back in the 1950s the loopholes were off the charts.
Also: https://taxfoundation.org/taxes-rich-1950-not-high/

What do loopholes have to do with anything? There are tons of loopholes now. The solution to this isn't to just lower the tax rate - the solution is to close the damn loopholes.

I guess AOC never heard of the Laffer Curve, but f him right? What does he know about economics?

Someone who knows about economics knows that the Laffer Curve is an illustration instead of a model, and also knows that this means that you cannot derive any practical conclusions about what an optimal tax rate is from it.

If super high marginal rates are wonderful, why are Europeans countries lowering them over the last decades? F.e. Ireland. Also Sweden is going to cut taxes next year, and they are cited as the #1 Socialist Utopia.

Sweden's top rate is 57% (the rate below that is 52%). The current proposal is just to eliminate the top bracket. Are you sure you want to claim that is the same thing as the 37% here? Sweden also has a flat 30% capital gains rate. They have very few loopholes. Also Sweden's rate has been going up for at least a decade, not down. Ireland's personal tax rate has also only gone up in the last 10 years - not down and the corporate rate hasn't budged. Most drops in Europe are a few percentage points.

 

[equine_physics]

I wonder when criticism of AOC will become a bannable offense on Ars.

About the same time that conservative Christians are rounded up by FEMA and death-marched into re-education camps.

Is that an option now? You know, just blue skying options and all? I'd maybe tone down the death-march part (they might get excited about it after all) and instead of re-education, just keep them there under the guise that's the next Joel Olsteen Manna From Heaven Bible Camp and it will take years for them to learn how to be just like Joel....dammit I mean Jesus.

 

[Thad Boyd]

I find it crazy how terrified conservative men are of a freshmen Congresswoman.

They're afraid because the more she talks the more people hear these ideas. They aren't hers alone of course, but they're coming from someone with a D next to their name and that probably makes them a little more worried than it coming from an independent Senator. The more people hear these ideas from a mainstream party the more it starts dragging the center of the country back to the actual center and away from the right as it has been for the last 30 years. Large portions of the GOP's own electorate support most of these ideas in - the 70% tax rate and Medicare for all both poll well with Republican voters.

They're also terrified because she's young - they might have to deal with her for a long time if she wants to keep serving. And she connects to younger generations in a way they can only dream of.

All that stuff plays a part, but let's not forget that some of it is just good old-fashioned racism and sexism.

 

[s73v3r]

Please explain how AOC being rude and dancing is going to win over voters to the entire Democrat party. Are the current 20-somethings that shallow and shitty?

I can't take seriously anyone who supports the current GOP claiming that AOC is rude, especially without any supporting evidence.

 

[Renzatic]

...Most of us would argue that these would be in the child's best interest. There isn't any solid answer and I am sure I will be down voted into oblivion, but giving a child the choice to make unalterable changes to their body before they have a fully developed mind seems unethical.

I wouldn't say it's entirely unethical, since everyone involved will be thoroughly informed of the consequences by the time they reach the point of beginning the procedure. Though it is still something that needs to be carefully, slowly considered before committing to.

 

[Deleted member 388703]

Please explain how AOC being rude and dancing is going to win over voters to the entire Democrat party. Are the current 20-somethings that shallow and shitty?

I can't take seriously anyone who supports the current GOP claiming that AOC is rude, especially without any supporting evidence.

I laughed at the ""Illegals and blacks are stealing our elections" Republicans don't make excuses for losing!"

 

[LtWiggledworth]

Good article, thanks.

Interestingly;

In the online realm, a game like World of Warcraft is sometimes criticized for being little more than an "interactive chat room," where the simplistic gameplay is just something to keep you occupied while you talk with friends. Derisive or not, that kind of description probably captures a large part of why World of Warcraft has been able to sustain itself for well over a decade.

I am not sure why this is perceived as a negative? Arguably every leisure activity could be described as just something to keep you occupied while you hang with friends... we have a yearly football roadtrip with 6-8 guys where half of us don't even like football.

Italians don't play bocce to see where the ball ends up.

Or the French & Pétanque.

 

[s73v3r]

Laffer Curve

Since you brought it up, I'm going to expect you to have concrete evidence for what side of it we're on.

 

[Kesh]

Good article, thanks.

Interestingly;

In the online realm, a game like World of Warcraft is sometimes criticized for being little more than an "interactive chat room," where the simplistic gameplay is just something to keep you occupied while you talk with friends. Derisive or not, that kind of description probably captures a large part of why World of Warcraft has been able to sustain itself for well over a decade.

I am not sure why this is perceived as a negative? Arguably every leisure activity could be described as just something to keep you occupied while you hang with friends... we have a yearly football roadtrip with 6-8 guys where half of us don't even like football.

Italians don't play bocce to see where the ball ends up.

A certain breed of gamer is very loud about only the gameplay itself being important. They think everything else detracts from the play and is a waste.

 

[aikouka]

In the online realm, a game like World of Warcraft is sometimes criticized for being little more than an "interactive chat room," where the simplistic gameplay is just something to keep you occupied while you talk with friends. Derisive or not, that kind of description probably captures a large part of why World of Warcraft has been able to sustain itself for well over a decade.

I am not sure why this is perceived as a negative?

I think it depends on why you get into something. Your example of football retreats may involve people specifically joining for camaraderie, but people usually start playing a game like World of WarCraft for the content. That's where the whole "interactive chat room" remark comes into play as it's suggesting that the game doesn't have content, and players just log into talk to each other instead. Is that a bad thing for the player? Not necessarily. Obviously, these social relationships are substantial enough for them to just log in and talk, so that's a good thing, but all in all, I'm sure some might prefer having something to do.

Now, I mean... I've actually been in that boat before where I've logged into World of WarCraft without anything to do just to chat with people. (I think this was in Vanilla close to the release of the first expansion.) I do wish that I had something to do, but I did enjoy conversing with my friends in the game. That was one huge benefit of the game pushing you to find other players organically (versus programmatically)... you got to meet people and socialize!

 

[Danrarbc]

Please explain how AOC being rude and dancing is going to win over voters to the entire Democrat party. Are the current 20-somethings that shallow and shitty?

I can't take seriously anyone who supports the current GOP claiming that AOC is rude, especially without any supporting evidence.

Any Republican saying a word about the behavior of others is rich.

"What a stiff, what a stiff, Lindsey Graham"
"He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured."
"sleepy eyes @chucktodd will be fired like a dog"
Low Energy Jeb
Crooked Hillary
Leakin' Lyin' James Comey
Lyin' Ted
Dicky Durbin
(((Sneaky))) Dianne Feinstein
Jeff Flakey
Al Frankenstien
Wacky Omarosa
Pocahontas
Low-IQ Maxine Waters

 

[benjianth]

I think that AOC is a great politician - I mean, you can agree with her or not, but boy she knows how to get attention and how to capitalise it. I live I live in Europe and she's already well known here, and I think this tells a lot about her ability to convey her message. We need to have more politicians like her - and I mean young and passionate people you can admire even if you don't belong to the same party.

How did that blue wave work out.

One of the largest House swings in history?

I’m still salty about Ted Cruz beating Beto. Doesn’t feel like much of a wave here in Texas.

 

[Thad Boyd]

I think that AOC is a great politician - I mean, you can agree with her or not, but boy she knows how to get attention and how to capitalise it. I live I live in Europe and she's already well known here, and I think this tells a lot about her ability to convey her message. We need to have more politicians like her - and I mean young and passionate people you can admire even if you don't belong to the same party.

How did that blue wave work out.

One of the largest House swings in history?

I’m still salty about Ted Cruz beating Beto. Doesn’t feel like much of a wave here in Texas.

Beto had a pretty serious down-ballot impact, though.

 

[SMG]

 

[Static and Noise]

...Most of us would argue that these would be in the child's best interest. There isn't any solid answer and I am sure I will be down voted into oblivion, but giving a child the choice to make unalterable changes to their body before they have a fully developed mind seems unethical.

I wouldn't say it's entirely unethical, since everyone involved will be thoroughly informed of the consequences by the time they reach the point of beginning the procedure. Though it is still something that needs to be carefully, slowly considered before committing to.

It is. It's NOT a quick & easy process, despite what SOME here would claim. According to them HRT is handed out like candy, and kids are "transed" at the drop of a hat.

Actual trans people are surprised to hear this. (Source: Am trans)

 

[Fatesrider]

Mermaids is not a charity; it is a lobbying group pushing harmful and irreversible medical procedures on children--a pharmacological conversion therapy against gender-nonconforming children that is likely to leave them sterilized and at increased risk of suicide in adulthood. Mermaids is promulgating a regressive agenda that enshrines strict obedience to traditional gender stereotypes, including collateral from its founder that sorts children on criteria such as "Barbies are for girls, GI Joes are for boys". This is absolutely not an organization that deserves progressive dollars, pounds, or euros.

Gary Linehan, is that you? If it is, Thanks! Thanks so much! Hopefully Mermaids gets its £500k from the National Lottery, and this money. And this money, it's down to you.

You mean Graham, not Gary.
I’m pretty glad any lack of liking association football I may have had or still have was not medicalised as dysphoria.
“Oh no that biological female who likes sport is wearing trousers, she probably needs medical treatment!”

Our roommate (My wife, roommate and I are three disabled veterans living together to make ends meet) is a transgender. I first met her as a he, who was a friend of my wife. She transitioned after being discharged, on her own dime, from money she'd saved while serving. I've known her for more than ten years, and have been living under the same roof with her for about seven of them.

I think I have a better grip on where the LGBT - especially the T part - stands on things than the average person who probably doesn't even know one (and probably wouldn't if they walked up to them and shook their hand).

The distinguishing issue in your post the lack of any actual "dysphoria". At no time in my roommate's life did she think she was a boy, despite her physiological realities. Your post doesn't say anything about how you felt INSIDE. All you posted merely reflects attitudes toward stereotypical gender behaviors, which have absolutely nothing to do with gender dysphoria. There are manly women who want to be women. There are womanly men who want to be men. Orientation doesn't even play in to that, since gay men aren't wanting to turn into woman, nor are lesbians wanting to turn into men.

It took about five years before she could get her surgery. During that time, she underwent psychological counseling to determine her state of mind and to deal with her depression (suicide among these folks is high due to the high bar necessary to get transition surgery). She was on hormone treatments for several years (the kind that promotes transition), and had the transitioning surgery in two stages, about two years apart. She'll be on hormone treatments for the rest of her life, and the odds are she won't live a normal life expectancy because of that.

These are realities she faces every day, including frequent encounters with discrimination (especially as of late), despite our living in a relatively liberal area of the country.

So, your post has no clue as to what's involved in transitioning or how that works. No one would "make you" become a different gender without you demanding to be able to jump through more hoops to get there than a dog in a pony show. Moreover, it shows only ignorance in your assumptions. That you haven't been down-voted more than you have thus far indicates that there's still a lot of ignorance out there (a curable condition), which I hope this post helps to address.

It's not how people behave, or what they like, or how they dress. It's a disconnect between the gender they were born with, and the mind which inhabits that body. It took ME a very long time to get that, too (and I've been living with her for years), so it's not exactly self evident.

 

[FoxyMulder]

Good article, thanks.

Interestingly;

In the online realm, a game like World of Warcraft is sometimes criticized for being little more than an "interactive chat room," where the simplistic gameplay is just something to keep you occupied while you talk with friends. Derisive or not, that kind of description probably captures a large part of why World of Warcraft has been able to sustain itself for well over a decade.

I am not sure why this is perceived as a negative? Arguably every leisure activity could be described as just something to keep you occupied while you hang with friends... we have a yearly football roadtrip with 6-8 guys where half of us don't even like football.

Italians don't play bocce to see where the ball ends up.

Lol. I certainly don't watch baseball for anything that's happening on the field.

I wanna slowly get drunk and hang out with friends.

 

[FoxyMulder]

But then,

Holy shit, a Latina AND a Muslim? No wonder the hardline conservatives have been losing their shit over her.

"All these people! They're like...BOAT PEOPLE, man! They came here on a boat, and we were already here, and that's not fair! Venezuela! Grrrr!"

Right now, it's a strategic dead-end politically though. It does get people talking and maybe that's the point.

 

[DarthSlack]

Laffer Curve

Since you brought it up, I'm going to expect you to have concrete evidence for what side of it we're on.

Heck, I'd settle for concrete evidence that it exists in any form beyond hand waving.

 

[sphenodont]

I guess AOC never heard of the Laffer Curve, but f him right? What does he know about economics?

AOC was only an economics / international relations double-major, but what does she know about economics?

(Am I doing this right?)

 

[SMG]

I guess AOC never heard of the Laffer Curve, but f him right? What does he know about economics?

AOC was only an economics / international relations double-major, but what does she know about economics?

(Am I doing this right?)

Who would want someone like that in Congress? Pfft! More lawyers!!!

 

[elkinsj210]

...Most of us would argue that these would be in the child's best interest. There isn't any solid answer and I am sure I will be down voted into oblivion, but giving a child the choice to make unalterable changes to their body before they have a fully developed mind seems unethical.

I wouldn't say it's entirely unethical, since everyone involved will be thoroughly informed of the consequences by the time they reach the point of beginning the procedure. Though it is still something that needs to be carefully, slowly considered before committing to.

It is. It's NOT a quick & easy process, despite what SOME here would claim. According to them HRT is handed out like candy, and kids are "transed" at the drop of a hat.

Actual trans people are surprised to hear this. (Source: Am trans)

I wasn't trying to insinuate that hormones are handed out like ibuprofen. Is it not outside the realm of possibility that someone may decide that they no longer wish to transition? What sort of lasting effects could that have on a developing body? I know I am coming off as a prude, transphobe, bigot, etc but I sympathize and have befriended and known several trans persons in my life and I want them to live their lives as who they want to be, my hang up is the administering of these hormones and procedures on minors.

 

[Kyuu]

...Most of us would argue that these would be in the child's best interest. There isn't any solid answer and I am sure I will be down voted into oblivion, but giving a child the choice to make unalterable changes to their body before they have a fully developed mind seems unethical.

I wouldn't say it's entirely unethical, since everyone involved will be thoroughly informed of the consequences by the time they reach the point of beginning the procedure. Though it is still something that needs to be carefully, slowly considered before committing to.

It is. It's NOT a quick & easy process, despite what SOME here would claim. According to them HRT is handed out like candy, and kids are "transed" at the drop of a hat.

Actual trans people are surprised to hear this. (Source: Am trans)

I wasn't trying to insinuate that hormones are handed out like ibuprofen. Is it not outside the realm of possibility that someone may decide that they no longer wish to transition? What sort of lasting effects could that have on a developing body? I know I am coming off as a prude, transphobe, bigot, etc but I sympathize and have befriended and known several trans persons in my life and I want them to live their lives as who they want to be, my hang up is the administering of these hormones and procedures on minors.

Okay, we understand your concern. But you have no concern for the suffering of a minor who is forced to go through puberty despite a genuine wish not to undergo the changes to their body that entails? And what about the irreversible effects of puberty on their body if and when they do decide to transition when they turn 18?

Also, if you're really concerned about someone's brain being "fully developed" before making any decision about their own body, you'd have to support changing the age of consent to well beyond 18. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think science says the brain is done developing on a person's 18th birthday.

 

[Aurich]

I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, but that doesn't make me a Psychologist.

Maybe not, but you'd probably feel somewhat put upon if someone walked up to you and went "LOL SKINNER, EVER HEARD OF HIM? PROBABLY NOT." and started laughing. Presumably your degree conferred some basic knowledge of the popular topics in your field. You'd probably assume the person who thought they could catch you with such a painfully obvious and odd gotcha was a bit of a moron.

 

[vassago]

I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, but that doesn't make me a Psychologist.

Maybe not, but you'd probably feel somewhat put upon if someone walked up to you and went "LOL SKINNER, EVER HEARD OF HIM? PROBABLY NOT." and started laughing. Presumably your degree conferred some basic knowledge of the popular topics in your field. You'd probably assume the person who thought they could catch you with such a painfully obvious and odd gotcha was a bit of a moron.

Yeah, but they included a movie quote. Not only did you not include a movie quote, you didn't refute theirs.

Therefore they win by default and that therefore proves... uhmm... AOC overpaid for her education?

 

[whiteknave]

I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, but that doesn't make me a Psychologist.

Maybe not, but you'd probably feel somewhat put upon if someone walked up to you and went "LOL SKINNER, EVER HEARD OF HIM? PROBABLY NOT." and started laughing. Presumably your degree conferred some basic knowledge of the popular topics in your field. You'd probably assume the person who thought they could catch you with such a painfully obvious and odd gotcha was a bit of a moron.

Yeah, but they included a movie quote. Not only did you not include a movie quote, you didn't refute theirs.

Therefore they win by default and that therefore proves... uhmm... AOC overpaid for her education?

Haha... actually, I overpaid for mine.

 

[Sajuuk]

I guess AOC never heard of the Laffer Curve, but f him right? What does he know about economics?

This may be the first time I ever saw anyone try to use the Laffer Curve as having a legitimate value. There's a reason for this.

I'm late to the party here, but has anyone made a joke about Kansas yet?

 

[Aurich]

You make valid points, but I'm also not proposing Psychological changes for the entire country based upon my limited education and experience in the field.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but she's a freaking congresswoman, so you'll excuse me if I find these "stay in your lane" comments from people less than sincere.

Despite her fearsome reputation it turns out she doesn't actually get to make laws so by proposing ideas, and there's a process that must be followed, at least for the time being. Get back to me after 2020 and we'll see how firm I stick to that point.

So no, she's not out of line making proposals, and the people who are scared of her would be making the same fuss if anyone else dared question their tax dogma. One day they will all be billionaires you see, and they don't want to share any of that future wealth with anyone, because that's socialism.

 

[Shadowbird712]

I wonder when criticism of AOC will become a bannable offense on Ars.

About the same time that conservative Christians are rounded up by FEMA and death-marched into re-education camps.

So 32nd of Never, in the year of our lord i?

 

[whiteknave]

You make valid points, but I'm also not proposing Psychological changes for the entire country based upon my limited education and experience in the field.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but she's a freaking congresswoman, so you'll excuse me if I find these "stay in your lane" comments from people less than sincere.

Despite her fearsome reputation it turns out she doesn't actually get to make laws so by proposing ideas, and there's a process that must be followed, at least for the time being. Get back to me after 2020 and we'll see how firm I stick to that point.

So no, she's not out of line making proposals, and the people who are scared of her would be making the same fuss if anyone else dared question their tax dogma. One day they will all be billionaires you see, and they don't want to share any of that future wealth with anyone, because that's socialism.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to come across as one of these "stay in your lane" people. As a Congressperson, she is totally in her lane. I was merely saying while she may have a degree in Economics, it doesn't make her an Economist. Personally, I'm all for overhauling the tax system, making it simpler, and removing most of the loopholes. Now we can debate on what the top rate should be.

 

[Tofystedeth]

I guess AOC never heard of the Laffer Curve, but f him right? What does he know about economics?

This may be the first time I ever saw anyone try to use the Laffer Curve as having a legitimate value. There's a reason for this.

I'm late to the party here, but has anyone made a joke about Kansas yet?

Sorry, was late to thread, had to catch up.
Kansan here.

Brownback's low tax policies were disastrous in basically every way.

Wait, sorry, that's not a joke.

He did, several years ago, actually pay Laffer $75,000 for his input on income tax policy.

I could have given him Laffer's opinion for the price of a beer.

There, that's kind of like a joke?

 

[brentrad]

Please explain how AOC being rude and dancing is going to win over voters to the entire Democrat party. Are the current 20-somethings that shallow and shitty?

I can't take seriously anyone who supports the current GOP claiming that AOC is rude, especially without any supporting evidence.

Conservative folks all be like:

"AOC is rude and mean to people on Twitter! She needs to be more professional! She has no experience in politics and doesn't know anything about how the government works! She said something slightly wrong about how the government works one time, what an idiot, so you can't believe a thing she says, she's obviously stupid!"

The same conservative folks all be like:

"I love how Trump says what he means and isn't PC, he really owns the libs on Twitter! I hate those career politicians so that's why I voted for Trump! The media is mean and fake news because they report on what Trump actually says, not what he meant to say!"

 

[ubercurmudgeon]

Don't the Elders of the Internet have some sort of rule against conflating three separate hot-button issues - old videogames, childhood transgenderism, and a young female politician who has the nerve voice her opinions - into one mega-pissing contest? I've lost track, does the Laffer curve prove the N64 was better than the PlayStation, or that the activities of Mermaids are 100% virtuous? And if Graham Linehan could complete Donkey Kong 64 in less time than the guy who really seems to hate him for having a differing opinion, would that mean he probably isn't a transphobe, or that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez definitely is a communist?

 

[SMG]

So no, she's not out of line making proposals, and the people who are scared of her would be making the same fuss if anyone else dared question their tax dogma. One day they will all be billionaires you see, and they don't want to share any of that future wealth with anyone, because that's socialism.

The socialist label is the whole thing though. Rightly or wrongly, that's not palatable to the average US voter and that's not the path to upward mobility in American politics.

Socialism, in the US, means missile parades in Red Square and stars on the wall in CIA headquarters. It doesn't mean Denmark or Bernie Sanders.

Even God is a socialist:

1 Corinthians 10:24 (KJV): Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.