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Let me explain. Dead-internet theory suggests that the internet has been almost entirely taken over by artificial intelligence.

I had expected AIs to be more intelligent.

Why?  It's not like there were any superintelligent aliens programming them or anything; just other humans.  And we all know how that goes.

If you should ever wish to open a branch office in my state, let it be known that I am available, for a surprisingly reasonable fee, and a willingness to overlook past... indiscretions.  I say my state, because there are few things that could ever induce me to move to AZ, and quite a few things that would prevent me from doing so -- in particular, my wife, who would acclimate to the heat in much the same way as an elegantly-crafted ice sculpture, only with greater rapidity, and dramatically increased volume of complaint.

I've been reading about an awful lot of incidents similar to this lately, people who just flew off the chain and killed people over little shit, like just recently in Georgia four were shot, including the gunman, and one store clerk died because a customer was asked to put on a fucking mask,

There has been so much anti-mask conspiracy theory rhetoric (QAnon, etc.) that I'm rather surprised that this didn't happen a lot sooner, like the Pizzagate thing.

there was the road rage incident in California where a 5-6 year old boy was shot and died in the backseat of a car, there's more, but listing all of them would be draining, there was the religious guy in Georgia who went through shooting up Asian massage parlors in Georgia because of his "sex addiction"...

The mainstream news media leaned in hard to Long's sex-addiction claim; but tended to downplay his history of racism and misogyny.

Maybe I'm late to the party but it would seem we need to rethink a few things about the right to bear arms.

At least until Americans as a whole grow up and stop acting like spoiled two-year-olds.

And sometimes we need to take things seriously, we just also need to remain flexible, to not get trapped.

Laughter is the most serious quality that exists.

Possible reasons:

1.  The BBS format just flat up lost to Facebook and other modern platforms.

Problem:  I know of at least 10 other BBSs that still have hundreds - or in one case, thousands - of active users.  This is not the answer.

Almost all of the traditional forums I've been a member of have died.  What's happening here doesn't appear to be materially different to what has happened elsewhere.  Fewer people post, so fewer people post.

Since Facebook/Twitter/Discord/Etc. became a thing, BBS style forums in general have been slowly dying.  Having one with a strong population of active users is very much the exception, not the rule, and these are generally driven by a narrow focus on a niche interest, or by a fairly tightly-knit community that exists primarily outside the forum.  Message boards are almost non-existent these days compared to, say, 15-20 years ago.  Hell even FB communities don't get the traffic they once did, as people are migrating to Discord.  In another 20 years, something else will take it's place.

Another excerpt, rather longer this time:

When I arrived to commune with the Master, as I do most evenings, I was in an agitated state. I had had a frustrating day, with many things I could not get out of my head. Problems at work, problems at home, problems within myself. I was unable to achieve the calmness needed for meditation.

The Master noticed this, and spoke to me. After a few pleasantries, I informed him of my difficulties and asked his advice. He responded by telling me the following parable:

"Consider the bus," the Master began. "People get on the bus, and people get off the bus. Some stay on for a short time, some for a long time. Some people ride quietly and passively, some noisily but harmlessly, and some cause trouble for other riders or the driver. But the bus keeps moving in its assigned path. It starts in one place, and stops in another; no matter how many people get on or off. People get on, and get off, but they do not normally stay on the bus beyond what is necessary to bring them to their desired destination. They do not stay on the bus forever"

"I'm not sure I understand" I replied, slightly confused. Do you mean that I should be like the bus? That my thoughts and frustrations are like the people that get on and off? That I should only think on these things when necessary, but not dwell on them; and then forget them when they're no longer important? But how will I know when is long enough, and when is too long or too early?"

"Consider again the bus," intoned the Master. It travels its path over and over, around in an endlessly repeating circle, never changing. Each bus has its own path, and never travels the path of another. But each person has his own destination. No bus can take every person to every destination. Each bus can only reach destinations along its own path. Some people can reach theirs by means of one bus, others require more than one. Some need only change busses a few times along their path, some require many transfers. Some can change busses immediately upon reaching their transfer point. Others must wait for their next bus to arrive; some for a long time, others a shorter time." Still others must walk a distance between busses to continue on their way. A rider only stays on the bus as long as is necessary. If they stay on too long, they miss their destination and must backtrack. If they get off too early, then they must wait for the next bus, no matter how long it takes; or travel the rest of the distance on foot. If they take the wrong bus, they can get lost."

"I'm still confused." I replied. "Do you mean that I should be like the person riding the bus? That if I follow one direction of thought to long, I'll end up going in circles; but should instead follow it while it is useful, and only as long as it's useful? And when it is no longer useful, I should find a new direction to point my thoughts, no matter how long it takes, or how far I have to go to find it? And how will I know which is the right direction, and which is the wrong one.?

The Master simply said, as he had so many times before and since, "Meditate to find the wisdom."

"But Master," I responded, somewhat distraught, "I do not understand what I should meditate upon! What is the most important thing in what you've taught me?"

"What is most important," replied the Master, "is to have your fare ready, and to use exact change."

"All identity is complicated, because all identity is false; just a show we put on for ourselves and others."

Not talking about the big dramatic brain-overload things that like people describe getting at church, or in a magick ceremony, or on the really good drugs.  Just the simple, small, hints-at-transcendence experience one can have just randomly at any time.  The usual things like walking alone in the woods on a warm summer day, spending quiet time with a loved one, or finally getting that really tricky yoga position (you know the one) just perfect and the release after.

One of mine is the first time I heard the recording of the Grateful Dead's "China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider" from Winterland 1974-10-17.  That transition in the middle just does it for me every time.

Just a short snippet from a book I'm working on, entitled Zen and the Art of Riding the Bus:

In my town, there is a Scottish Zen monk who dresses all in robes of tartan plaid; unlike the yellow-orange robes the other monks wear.  When asked why, he invariably responds, "Is the Buddha only to be found in saffron, or may he inhabit the thistle as well?"

Is he the cool kind of Buddhist who whacks people with sticks, or just the regular kind?

That depends on how stereotypical he feels at any particular time.

Just a short snippet from a book I'm working on, entitled Zen and the Art of Riding the Bus:

In my town, there is a Scottish Zen monk who dresses all in robes of tartan plaid; unlike the yellow-orange robes the other monks wear.  When asked why, he invariably responds, "Is the Buddha only to be found in saffron, or may he inhabit the thistle as well?"

It is my opinion that when you start identifying with the various fake ideologies that the monkeys have all bought, you drop on your knuckles and no longer qualify as a biped...This, in turn, disqualifies you as a Discordian for the duration of your error.  This would include political, economic, religious, and fraternal beliefs. 

"Do I contradict myself? 
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)"

i_iⁱ

I haven't strictly perused the entire thread; but an old acquaintance of mine wrote what is probably the definitive work on Bitcoin history and viability, and cryptocurrencies in general.

Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain by David Gerard

A pretty comprehensive explanation of why crypto-currencies in general, and Bitcoin in particular, are little more than a techno-libertarian pipe dream at best, and an outright scam at worst; and why they're technically not even a currency, but function more as unregulated securities.

Minimalism can get pretty complicated.

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson

Every Mare and Every Stallion is a Star