It’s that whole frog analogy, where you can slowly boil a frog alive by gradually increasing the temperature by small increments.

1. Introduce cutting edge tech to the masses, claiming it will usher in a new era of connection, convenience and utility.

2. Firmly entrench that tech into every corner of modern society so that most day-to-day activities SUPPOSEDLY cannot be done without it.

3. Slowly tighten the screws by removing user agency and freedom while raising prices.

4. Become obscenely wealthy from an entire generation of locked-in consumers who think they have no choice but to submit to your control over their lives.

5. Wash, rinse and repeat.

LotRO Companion looks pretty neat and useful.

Please allow me to clarify - I’m not talking about people who help and share with each other as the regular course of a friendship. That’s perfectly normal and should be encouraged - that’s how community is supposed to work. What I’m talking about are the people who are like…um…well, professional ‘gold-diggers’, if you will. Their ONLY interest lies in what they can get out of you. ‘Users’ might be a better term, I guess.

I’d immediately outlaw the buying or selling of goods and services. The internet should be a free repository of knowledge and a communication platform. Not a marketplace.

I don’t know about ‘most’ of my dishes, but I do use an awful lot of smoked paprika…

I totally agree, and apparently so do a lot of people. :)

I absolutely love Shadowdark. I just can’t find anyone to play it with. Fantastic game, though.

It’s very simple. We’ll get rid of the pride flags as soon as they get rid of all the crosses. Fair is fair, after all.

Uncomfortable? You’re supposed to put cushions on those chairs, you silly person. :P

Oh, I’m well aware. I can’t even watch that one, again.

I’m like this, only I’m pointing out all the places where the films departed wildly from the books - such as Arwen at the Ford of Rivendell, elves at Helm’s Deep, Frodo and Sam at Osgiliath, Frodo offering the ring to a Nazgul, etc., etc…

I can’t help myself. I absolutely love the books AND the films…but…

My impression was always that ‘Wormtongue’ was a derogatory nickname given to Grima by those who secretly despised him and were truly loyal to Rohan and Theoden. I never felt that it was his actual name.

Posteo is ridiculously cheap, secure (e2e encryption and the whole works) and just all-around great. Been using it for years without a single issue.

I found some scenes from the movie ‘Amistad’ (1997) deeply disturbing, and they haunt me to this day (as they should any sane human being).

We have never had free or fair elections in this country. Not once. Ever.

I guess we’ll find out. If a viable option that isn’t Android or iOS comes along, I’ll use that. Until then, I refuse to play the game anymore.

Can you point me to an Amazon game that’s a runaway blockbuster success?

I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to stop using Android. I don’t need my phone. Sure, it’s convenient and often helpful, but it’s not something I can’t live without. Fuck these assholes.

I mean, considering what a train-wreck Rings of Power is…yay?