Duolingo isn’t a good resource for learning a language, it’s focus is user retention
These two statements contradict each other. To learn a language you must practice it every day, week after week, month after month. It's an appropriate application of addictive game mechanics, because our motivation doesn't last long: 1-3 months for most people.
Duolingo might not be the best place to learn some languages (e.g. German), but it can be a very helpful tool for everyday practice. And stuff like streaks, leagues, and other things are rather helpful.
Yes. Spotify blocks my account if I'm using VPN, ChatGPT asks to solve ridiculous captchas (on a paid account!). It's crazy. Reddit blocks access if you're on the VPN and not logged in.
Imagine instead of fueling up once or twice a week, you start everyday at Full.
Sure. I can also imagine Taylor Swift sitting on my lap, but that won't change the reality. If you live in a regular tenement block, charging your car becomes a problem, and you'll be the one paying for the infrastructure if it's not there yet (and it isn't where I live). Add these extra costs to the difference between a regular and EV car. Even if you're ready to pay, it's not guaranteed that other residents will approve that.
That's an improvement. But risk = impact * probability. Realistically, the probability of installing such an app from repos is virtually non-existent. My point is that Wayland comes with some improvements, but I've been seeing comments like the one I replied to for almost 15 years, as if Wayland will revolutionize Linux desktop. It won't. Probably most users won't see any difference, except for bugs caused by the migration.
If that was true, we would be on Wayland for years. But in reality, it proves minor improvements versus heavy investments to migrate from X. And that's why it's still a fetish and not a standard.
I don't understand this fetish. Every day I read about problems people have with Wayland, while I've been using X for the past 15 years without any issues.
Why is the blame placed solely on wealthy individuals? While they do bear a share of the responsibility, it's also important to consider the role of everyday citizens. The choices made by voters, such as supporting climate change deniers or prioritizing short-term economic growth over long-term environmental sustainability, play a greater role in shaping policies. It's unreasonable to blame the system when the existing checks and balances refuse to act.
The first step in dealing with addiction is understanding it and identifying it. The problem is that parents often don’t speak to their children about the dangers, and what it could mean, with concrete examples.
The issue of addiction to technology is deeply rooted in the way our brains are structured. This is particularly concerning for children and teenagers, as their brains are not fully developed until around the age of 21. Simply having conversations about the dangers of addiction is not a sufficient solution, especially considering that many adults are also addicted to technology. After all, here we are, possibly spending time online arguing with strangers instead of engaging in more productive activities.
To address this issue, it's crucial to move away from a black-and-white mindset. Extremes are rarely beneficial. It may be necessary for children to have smartphones for safety and communication purposes, but these devices should come with certain restrictions. For instance, limiting the ability of children to install any app they want or restricting excessive screen time could be effective measures. By implementing these controlled measures, we can provide the necessary safety net while also safeguarding the mental and emotional well-being of younger users.
However, real-world actions should be informed by scientific evidence. Any approach we adopt needs to be backed by data (and not opinions) proving its effectiveness in achieving the desired outcomes.
This post highlights some issues with the commercial software that are obvious to anyone who is working in the industry, but completely ignores issues of the open source software. Both good and bad software is being developed using each model. It's pointless to compare them this way. Linus in his book provided more substantial arguments in favor of open source.
These two statements contradict each other. To learn a language you must practice it every day, week after week, month after month. It's an appropriate application of addictive game mechanics, because our motivation doesn't last long: 1-3 months for most people.
Duolingo might not be the best place to learn some languages (e.g. German), but it can be a very helpful tool for everyday practice. And stuff like streaks, leagues, and other things are rather helpful.