Random Rants 80: Computer Says No

[Synobun]

You guys remember a while back I talked about those little messages my employer puts all the restrooms? Well the one they have in there this month has me thinking the person who came up with it didn't really think through what they were writing.

The message was about diversity in the workplace. Cool. The line that stood out to me though was at the end it said something like "We want a workplace where everyone feels comfortable being their authentic self". Now that sounds good on the surface, but when you really examine that statement, I don't think it really aligns with what the company wants. It's the use of the word "everyone" that throws a wrench in that statement. I mean, do you really want the closet Nazi working in Accounting to "feel comfortable being his authentic self"? Somehow I'm thinking the answer is gonna be a no on that one.

How many babies do you know that are born as Nazis?

You can't count yourself.

(I kid, I kid.)

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Oh !
My !
God !

Zhe ideoloshy *sniff*, it ish pure.

 

[choxorn]

Having a guaranteed platform is not the same thing as being able to pick your platform. No amount of free speech laws would stop, say, Netflix from pulling the show if they felt it necessary.

And if he thinks all platforms should be required to host all opinions, where does that end? Do climate forums need to give a voice to Charles Koch? Does a synagogue need to let David Duke give a sermon?

 

[Commodore]

And if he thinks all platforms should be required to host all opinions, where does that end? Do climate forums need to give a voice to Charles Koch? Does a synagogue need to let David Duke give a sermon?

I'm thinking since the main objective is to fight "cancel culture" the way to do it would be once a platform decides to allow someone to use that platform, they cannot unilaterally deny access later on due to disagreements with the message or opinion being shared. Once granted access to a platform, someone can only be removed from that platform by mutual agreement between the platform and the user, or a unilateral decision by the user to no longer use the platform.

So to go back to the Chapelle example: under the above system, Netflix would not legally be allowed to remove Dave Chapelle's special from their platform unless he agreed to have it taken down. Nor would they be allowed to use loophole tactics like keeping it on there, but programming their algorithm to make sure it doesn't show up in search results or recommended shows. Once they agree to put his content on their platform, it would have to stay there until he decides to remove it. To ensure compliance, digital platforms would be required to make their algorithms available for government inspection at anytime and notify/get approval from the government anytime they want to make changes to the algorithm.

 

[Arakhor]

So, commercial decisions will be gagged by "free speech"? Somehow, I don't think that'll be a winner.

 

[Commodore]

So, commercial decisions will be gagged by "free speech"? Somehow, I don't think that'll be a winner.

When platforms become essential to public discourse, they lose their right to make "commercial decisions".

And they can still make those decisions under this system, they just have to decide who they want to do business with before actually doing business with them. Again with the Chapelle example: I'm sure Netflix saw it before they put it on their platform, so if they were worried it might offend people, they could have made the decision then and there not to air it and that would be perfectly fine under the proposed system. What they could not do is air it, then decide to pull it, edit it, or censor it just because of public outrage. At least not without Chapelle's consent to do so.

 

[Arakhor]

As I said, that won't be a winner if someone actually tried to expand the First Amendment that way,

 

[Commodore]

As I said, that won't be a winner if someone actually tried to expand the First Amendment that way,

That depends on how it's marketed to the people. There is already a growing distrust of "big tech" across the political spectrum in the US, so the right people could sufficiently demonize them and build the public support to push this through. Probably wouldn't even have to amend the Constitution. Just do it through legislation and stack the courts to declare the legislation Constitutional when the tech companies try to challenge it.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

A week ago I adjusted the tension on the brake calipers on my bike as they had gotten mushy. Well I over corrected which made the pads rest permanently on the wheels. So I went back to loosen them, only to find out that it wasn't the tension that was causing the problem but rather that the front left brake pad had shifted such that it permanently rests against the wheel no matter what tension its under. There is a spring attached to the pad which I think allows me to adjust the spacing but of course that required a different tool than the one required to adjust the tension so I couldn't fix it when I wanted to fix it. Very frustrating. I'm going to watch some youtube videos now and take more tools with me and see if I can fix it.

 

[Lexicus]

A week ago I adjusted the tension on the brake calipers on my bike as they had gotten mushy. Well I over corrected which made the pads rest permanently on the wheels. So I went back to loosen them, only to find out that it wasn't the tension that was causing the problem but rather that the front left brake pad had shifted such that it permanently rests against the wheel no matter what tension its under. There is a spring attached to the pad which I think allows me to adjust the spacing but of course that required a different tool than the one required to adjust the tension so I couldn't fix it when I wanted to fix it. Very frustrating. I'm going to watch some youtube videos now and take more tools with me and see if I can fix it.

It shouldn't require tools to put the spring back in place on a bike brake caliper. IIRC it's like a little metal pin with a loop on the end, you can just put it back in place by hand if it got dislodged.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

The spring on the break pad had a flat-head fastener which looked to be used to adjust the tension in the spring. But I have to look into it more to be sure. And I do have the tools, they were just 5 stories up when I was working on the bike and I just wanted to ride so I fiddled with it enough to make it rideable even if it wasn't perfect.

 

[Lexicus]

Well I think I used to have the problem you are describing sometimes, I have disc brakes now so things are different but all the bikes I ever had my whole life were the "regular" wheel-clamping kind.
If you're having the problem I think you are, you can just stick the spring (the little metal things I circled red in the image below) back in place and it should "balance" the brake properly so it doesn't sit on the wheel anymore. I used to have to do this a lot because I often popped of my wheels to transport my bike in a car, which required opening up the brakes. You shouldn't need to change the tension or anything.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Thank you!

 

[hobbsyoyo]

@Lexicus I found this video that explains how to do the adjustment. I do need to use a screwdriver to adjust the tension in the spring. The pads are misaligned - one is closer to the rim than the other.

Relevant bit at about 3:05

 

[Lexicus]

@Lexicus I found this video that explains how to do the adjustment. I do need to use a screwdriver to adjust the tension in the spring. The pads are misaligned - one is closer to the rim than the other.

Relevant bit at about 3:05

I gotcha, if it is a tension problem in the springs causing the pads to be misaligned that is something I never dealt with.
I have Hydraulic Disk Brakes nowadays it's kinda badass. Hydraulic lines to the brakes are much more resilient than cables. They don't get loose at all. The downside is that pads sit much closer to the disk than "normal" brake pads sit to the wheel, so bumps and stuff can misalign them. Fortunately readjusting is as simple as loosening the screws on the caliper mounting, then screwing them back in while holding the brake.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

After looking at your picture and that video, I also realized the safety cable they used for the brakes are super crappy. I mean I knew that from monkeying around with them as they're already frayed and the crimp-caps straight up fell off but I thought they were just standard for bikes and now I know they're actually really crappy. Which explains why the brakes got loose so quickly. Not sure why they got misaligned though as that's controlled by the spring and not the cable.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I didn't sleep very well last night. I've gotten pretty good at taking my medication and turning off the reminder on my phone without fully waking up. But then my mother randomly came in and yelled at me to plug in my phone (which was already plugged in). It was no use trying to go back to sleep after that.

 

[Lexicus]

I also realized the safety cable they used for the brakes are super crappy.

Some cables are probably crappier than others but in general I think cables are just not that long-lasting. I had to get them tightened pretty routinely on every bike I ever rode that had them.

 

[Birdjaguar]

When platforms become essential to public discourse, they lose their right to make "commercial decisions".

Sounds like socialism or Chinese overreach. Unnecessary Government interference with the free market. The "equal time" rule was dumped by Reagan allowing the pure propaganda of Rush and Fox News.

 

[Synobun]

Missed out on an awesome new place because I was a bit too reactionary about a lacking amenity and didn't bother waiting to see if I could fix the problem. Would've changed my life pretty significantly.