Definitely Unrelated: Scammers Often Use Time Pressure To Convince You To Do Things That You Normally

I like the direction this is going in, but I think it’s missing some nuance.

My main critique is that this fails to realize just how complex computers really are. Because of this complexity there has to be different layers of user interaction with varying complexity, and consequently, control.

As someone who has dabbled in programing, I can give some insight as to why some tools are made exclusively for command line: gui's are not easy to make. Even harder if you want it to be any good. When I want to make a tool or program to do something for me, I don't choose to make it only accessible from the command line because I want to disadvantage others or otherwise maintain a status quo where I have an advantage, I do it out of practical necessity; programming is a hobby I use to accomplish things when I can't tools that do what I want, and as a hobby I don't sink enough time into it to make everything into polished gui's. There is something to say regarding companies who have the resources deciding not to make a gui when they could, but that's not an issue I'm aware of.

I really love the critique of how computers are currently structured, specifically folders and file structures. For files and folders that the computer is directly using (say by the os or applications) I would say folders are probably a decent way of ordering things. Or that is to say I can't think of a better way to structure things in an efficient way for the computer to access. (I know your critiquing the focus on efficiency, but for resources used by the computer itself, not the user, efficiency is important. Poor efficiency results in worse system performance, and so is not desirable.)

Returning to files (or equivalent concept) that are used by the user, there really is no reason why they should be ordered the same as the operating system does it. There is a pretty good argument that they shouldn't be ordered in such a way, which I believe is what is being argued above. I personally order my files and notes in folders mostly out of a practical need. There are alternatives though, look into Personal Knowledge Management systems and the tools that make them possible. My personal favorite is Obsidian, and in there I don't order files using folders, I use tags and note metadata. To track books I'm reading for example, I have a '#books' tag to designate the notes, and then I use a combination of properties ('status' with 'reading', 'read', 'tbr' or 'progress' with the number of pages I've read so far, etc). I can then use special searches to create lists of notes to surface information or content that is useful and easy to find. To make my point, I think that there are tools allowing users to already go beyond the hierarchical file/folder structure. They might have farther to go, but I think people are interested enough in them that they are improving.

Should using the command line be necessary? Honestly, no. It probably shouldn't. Should the command line not exists? Also no. Because of the complexity of computers, I don't think we should try to remove that lower level. Should we improve the higher levels? Give more control to users without requiring them to go to harder to use mediums, such as a command line? One hundred percent!

I would also agree that command line and computer system management stuff does have a steep learning curve. And unfortunately I don't see that going away; it's sort of in their nature to be hard to learn. Maybe I'm being a broken record, but computers are complex. That doesn't mean that the user interface (gui 99% of the time) should be difficult to learn. And to the point above, that control should require a steep learning curve.

There is an argument to be made though regarding giving command line tools and interaction some grace. If the goal is to make user interfaces that are easiest to use for different individuals, that is what works for one person might not work for another, so we need several options for different individuals and tasks, then I would say command line interfaces should be included in that. I would say that they can be the best tool for some people and for some tasks. Not all tasks, and not all people though, which ties back in to the necessity of using them if you want to do certain things. Perhaps that shouldn't be necessary.

It is also worth pointing out that due to the complexity of computers, if the user had easy control over their entire system, they could very easily mess it up in irreparable ways. Because of this it might be a benefit to have difficult interface options such as command lines that have a steep learning curve, because it requires by nature that the user knows, to a degree, what they are doing, and are thus less likely to case permanent damage.

That was a lot. Thanks for reading this far!

Would These Cosmere Characters Survive Email?

There was a post I saw talking about how Achilles of Iliad fame would not survive sending one polite email, despite being good at, you know, war and stuff. It got me wondering: Would Cosmere characters succeed if they had to Send Email?

1. Steris: Yes

Steris is a master of email. She's cutting down her enemies with "per my last email" and "just to make sure we're all on the same page" and she knows how to use both CC and BCC.

2. Vin: No

Vin is leaping out the window at the first sign of email.

3. Kelsier: In a way

Kelsier signs off every email with "Smiles :)" which is terrifying, given some of the emails he writes.

4. Marsh: Yes

Marsh doesn't think that Kelsier writes good emails. Marsh, however, feels that he writes very good emails. Most of which contain the word "however."

5. Lezian: No

Much like Achilles in the post I saw, Lezian would die if he had to send one (1) polite email.

6. Sadeas: Yes

Sadeas has one of those fancy email signatures that says "Torol Sadeas" with green lettering in a cursive font. Adolin has always been secretly jealous of it.

7. Dalinar: No

Dalinar strikes me as one of those people who are incapable of answering more than one question in an email, who when asked, "Would you like to have the meeting Tuesday or Wednesday," simply respond "Yes."

8. Marasi: Moreso than she thinks

Marasi is always having a friend read over her email for her to make sure it's okay, but she's actually very good at email and probably doesn't need to do that.

9. Vivenna: Less so than she thinks

Vivenna writes emails that are politic but incisive...and never once has she been understood properly. Greg from IT still hasn't forgiven her for that email she sent a year ago that Vivenna thought was pretty charming.

10. Jasnah: Yes

Jasnah's emails are long, polished, and perfectly grammatical, and her eye only twitches a little bit when she gets "yeag" in response.

11. Lightsong: Yes but also no

Lightsong's emails are great! But of course, it's actually Llarimar writing them according to his "interpretation" of what Lightsong says.

12. Shallan: Yes but also no

Shallan was taught Proper Email Technique as part of her education. But also she saw that "Your timesheets are now three days overdue" email...and then she ceased to see it, and now she's busy designing Adoliin a new email signature that's way better than Sadeas's and uh maybe Radiant needs to take over again.

13. Adolin: No

The worst turn-based combat, in Adolin's opinion, is email. Why can he not simply duel Maurice from Accounting with swords?

14. Sarene: Yes

Sarene's favorite turn-based combat is email. Because she always wins.

15. Raoden: Yes but it's not his favorite

Raoden would much rather pick up the phone or stop by your office, but he can do email if he needs to. It's just much better to talk in person, you know?

16. Fort: No

His emails keep getting flagged as spam. If he didn't put "Great Deal!!!" as his subject every time maybe it would be different.

17. Yumi: No

It's not that she writes bad emails exactly, but she definitely overwrites them. Her intro paragraph is always like five lines long, and her conclusion turns "best wishes" into like nine sentences.

18. Rlain: Yes

Rlain is unfailingly polite in emails, even when he is responding to one that was...less than polite.

19. Sazed: Yes

Sazed's emails are meticulous and well-written, and he can always cite the exact policy he needs.

20. Renarin: It's mixed

Renarin appreciates that email allows you to consider and craft your response, but he does NOT appreciate that tone is impossible to determine. When his boss wrote, "We need to have a meeting," Renarin thought he would die (it ended up being about what color balloons to order for Sharon's birthday). Renarin just wishes humans would use email tone indicators like the Singers do.

reblog if you think math doesn't deserve all that hate

HUGE new feature in @kde-plasma-official

look at he :3

Today the sky looked like straight from a van gogh painting

In the forest

“I will tread lightly…you’re a bunch broken pieces that might need… some putting back together, so don’t leave”

-Forest Black

Anything can be an epic adventure with the right music playing (the lord of the rings soundtrack is the right music imo)

If you saw this, you didn’t, for future reference.

I know, I know, gatekeeping the outdoors, that's supposedly bad, right, but I think if you show up to do a hike and you brought a portable speaker with you to play music while you hike, I think, like hear me out, there should be a gate, and someone at the gate should keep you from doing the hike.