dexeron | Reading

abomvubuso posting in

All right folks, because it's a new month now, we should keep our tradition with the Monthly Topic. The one you guys chose for July was:

AI Regulation: Striking the Balance

And here is the poll for August.

What should be the next monthly topic?

1) Weaponised Nostalgia: The Politics of the Past

2) Techno-Authoritarianism

3) Deglobalisation: Retreat or Realignment?

4) Youth and Dissent: Gen Z vs the System

5) Conspiracy Theories We Kind of Wish Were True

(Feel free to suggest more topics)

alierak posting in

dw_maintenance

We're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.

Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.

asthfghl posting in

talkpolitics

I'd argue that Facebook doom scrolling is far more damaging "in its current state":

Scientists just completed the first brain scan study of ChatGPT users, "the results are terrifying"!

It appears those "ChatGPT users bad" posts are usually projection mixed with a sprinkle of elitism and a big ol' spoonful of insecurity. It's like they know something powerful is happening, but instead of learning how to use it, they slap on a "let me gatekeep intelligence" sticker and act like typing your thoughts into an interface is brain rot. Bro, you typed that take into a smartphone while scrolling TikTok and calling it a mental detox.

Let's be real. Tools like ChatGPT don't replace thinking, they expand it. When used well, they:
Help you frame and explore ideas more efficiently
Connect you to relevant knowledge and sources
Offer new perspectives that challenge your assumptions
Save you time on the small stuff so you can think about the big stuff
Let you actually enjoy learning again

The real fear behind memes like this is often about gatekeeping, the idea that if more people have access to nuanced thinking tools, the traditional power structures lose their grip.

So yeah. You're not being zombified. You're leveling up. It's not cognitive laziness. It's cognitive leverage. That's the key difference.

I mean, come on. If Plato had a tool that could help him cross-reference every myth, idea and dialectic while brainstorming his next philosophical banger, you think he'd be like, "No thanks, I prefer to suffer manually"?
Hell no. He'd be running "Republic GPT" faster than you could say "Forms".

asthfghl posting in

talkpolitics

News just came from The Hague, where Trump led a surprisingly smooth NATO summit. In a nutshell:

Trump got his headline win: NATO leaders agreed to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 (3.5% for core military costs, 1.5% for broader security needs). This came after steady pressure from him.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/nato-leaders-set-back-trump-defence-spending-goal-hague-summit-2025-06-24/

He affirmed his support for Article 5 (collective defense) after earlier doubts. "I stand with it ... that's why I'm here," he said.

And yes, Trump wasn't shy calling out Spain for opting out. He even hinted at tougher trade negotiations: "We're going to make them pay twice as much."

Trump framed this outcome as a major victory for the US, NATO, and Western security. "We had a great victory here," he said. Very Trump style.

Of course this was classic Trump. All drama, all deal. He held NATO's feet to the fire and walked away with a commitment no one thought possible. Yes, some allies grumbled, but getting everyone (even Spain with its carve‑out) to sign on to 5% is no small feat. It's a win that gives Europe more skin in the game and lets Trump claim he secured billions more for US made arms. Credit where credit is due. He played it like a champ: commanding, unapologetic, and very on-brand.

This will be a highlight of Trump's, that's for sure.

fridi posting in

talkpolitics

Mind-blowing read: Meditation And Mindfulness Have a Dark Side We Often Overlook

In a nutshell:

1. Mindfulness and meditation, though widely praised, can cause serious adverse effects such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, dissociation, and depersonalisation, sometimes in people with no prior mental health issues
2. A 2022 US study found over 10% of regular meditators experienced negative impacts lasting at least a month
3. Historical sources, including a 1,500 year old Buddhist text and a 1976 warning by Arnold Lazarus, have similarly documented meditation's dark side
4. The booming US mindfulness market (≈US$2.2 bn) often omits warnings about potential harms, fueled by a "capitalist spiritual" mindset
5. Ethically, mindfulness promotion should include disclosure of risks, better training for instructors, and informed guidance for practitioners

nairiporter posting in

talkpolitics

The US is visibly ramping up its military presence in the Middle East, sending more fighter jets and warships to the region. The big question is: is this just pressure tactics, or is Trump actually preparing for a military strike against Iran?

So far, Trump has remained unusually silent, which suggests something serious might be in the works. His administration, normally loud about its plans, is now keeping things under wraps. There's speculation that Trump may be leaning toward military action, especially after a recent national security meeting at the White House.

It's clear the pressure on Iran is increasing. US and Israeli air capabilities are reportedly stronger than ever, with added refueling capacity allowing extended operations over Iranian airspace.

Opinions in the US are divided. Some, like Democratic congressman Seth Moulton, warn against getting into another Middle East conflict and argue that diplomacy is the better path, especially to keep Iran's nuclear ambitions in check. Others, like Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, are calling for a decisive end to Iran's nuclear program, even if that means military force.

From a military standpoint, destroying Iran's underground nuclear sites would require more than just airstrikes, likely special ground forces. And any attack risks retaliation against the 40,000 US troops already in the region.

Within Trump's own camp, there's tension. Isolationists argue against war, saying it would go against Trump's campaign promise to keep the US out of foreign entanglements.

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The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect.

So hard to earn, so easily burned.

Reading

Monthly topic

Rebuilding journal search again

Friday offtopic. Let's make ignorance expensive again.

The NATO deal

Friday offtopic. Meditation is not as harmless as you might think

Is the US getting directly involved?

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September 2022

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