Topic: The Chit Chat Thread

@Yousef- Agreed, though the comment sections are way worse on social media sites like Instagram. I think it’s the bad moderation on that site that enables everyone to be negative. Thank goodness that PS, NL, and PX have active and kind moderators that make sure the site is safe and positive I like these sites way more than social media sites for that reason.

@Yousef- Yes, civility is in short supply in recent years. Discourse has trended toward absolutes and name-calling. As @Pastellioli mentioned, it seems worse on social media at large, which is one of the main reasons I avoid the likes of Twitter/X, Tik Tok, Instagram, FB, etc.

I think I discussed it before, but there’s studies on social interaction to suggest that people respond most openly to changing their minds when spoken to face-to-face, especially if it takes place in a friendly setting (over dinner, for example). Also, people tend to have stronger opinions when they feel like they discover something for themselves and come to their own conclusions, rather than being convinced by someone else. — So in other words, when a person blasts another through the confidentiality of an online argument it’s the least effective form of debate and the involved parties just dig into their positions deeper and deeper.

So I think this is why comment sections spiral into a more toxic atmosphere of polarized extremes. People so rarely talk to each other face-to-face anymore. And everyone has access to mountains of misinformation from which to draw their own erroneous conclusions. Then you end up with large swaths of the populace suffering from the Dunning-Kruger Effect, more and more convinced that they’re right about something, despite them actually knowing less and less about the subject.

Edit:
“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that…” —Charles Darwin

@Th3solution the Dunning-Kruger Effect is a fantastic reference point and ties in incredibly well. I would also like to add people will harden if they think they’re being put on a spot or confronted on something and have to prove themselves when that’s very likely not what’s going on at all.

Some people also unnecessarily confuse ignorance with stubbornness, and think they if you express a view that means it’s not a view you’re willing to change. I also hate it when people put words in your mouth or lump you with the opinions of someone you never interacted with. Group lynching is the WORST.

Now there’s an extremely thin line between negativity and being critical. You can be critical without being negative, and you can be negative without saying anything of value. We obviously can’t police that stuff nor is it our place to dictate who’s being what but even so… some people need to SERIOUSLY take a chill pill man. Seriously.

Oh yeah. One general note I’ll add to everyone is that I’m not really seeing myself tuning in for today’s livestream to be really honest. Believe you me, I’d die to get in with the guys and have a good laugh throughout, but 1 am in Kuwait is NOT a good hour especially if you work a regular 7-2.
That’s right, you heard me, and not that’s not a typo. Our shifts do actually start at 7 am, as opposed to 9 am compared to a few other countries. I’m also already been really harming my body with how little sleep I’ve gotten in the past two days. If I INCIDENTALLY happen to be online, I’ll tune in. Besides that, I’m probably missing remaster show: the remaster.

@Yousef- If it helps you feel any better, my workday starts at 6:00am (sometimes earlier) and usually ends around 6:00pm (sometimes later). Throw a side business and 5 kids into the mix and, well, sleep has become a luxury 😄

@Jimmer-jammer preach 😆

My ex often went in around 4 - 6 in the morning. Will never understand how he did it.

@Ralizah both his and Jimmy’s sound completely brutal. XD

@Jimmer-jammer I also read some Lovecraft stuff, and appreciated the referenes in Bloodborne of course, and I was also gonna ask you how the shooting is going?

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN The thing I like about Lovecraft’s brand of horror is that it digs into what I believe to be the deepest human fear: what if my - and by extension - our existence is ultimately completely insignificant? It’s a humble thought bed to spring off of.

We shoot early October but prep work is going well, thanks 😄

Well that stream wasn’t so bad

@Jimmer-jammer As a big fan of Lovecraft, I think ,if you haven't read it already, you may enjoy Providence by Alan Moore, imo it's the best graphic novel of all time, heavily inspired by Lovecraft, complete with some - if you can handle them - grotesque visual moments, and somewhat disturbing sex scenes, but the Lovecraftian horror aspect of it is a theme that is thoroughly maintained throughout the novel, and there is even some Jungian-dream-psychology related stuff mixed in, along with some light philosophical moments, there is some straight-up gore in it as well, as you would expect for a horror-themed graphic novel based on Lovecraft's work. It is basically the horror equivalent of Watchmen, if you know that one, also by Moore, almost as good as Providence

On a related-note, I would avoid it's prequel Neonomicon as that is even more disturbing, but not in a good 'artistic' way, and the content is inferior imo, plus I don't think you need to be familiar with it to enjoy Providence .

Good luck with shooting in October!

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN I much prefer the style and works of Harlan Ellison to Lovecraft but do have a real appreciation for Lovecraft’s pioneering contributions to sci-fi and horror. I quite like some of Moore’s work so I’ll look in to Providence, thanks! Watchmen being described as “almost as good as” is high praise for Providence, indeed.

Getting into electro-jazz now after all the free and fusion related stuff before that. Favourites so far are The Comet Is Coming, Mehliana & Shigeto.

@Shepherd_Tallon Judging by your display picture I'd wager that you're a fellow Souls fan. Nice to meet you. There should be even more of us on here! Which is your favourite in the series and why? Currently playing through Elden Ring for the first time, myself. Recently beat DeS (2020 Version).

General gaming question, what has everyone been playing lately?
I’d like to say that I’ve been marathoning Dead Rising; Deluxe Remaster, but that would be a fat lie, and I hate fat, it’s too greasy. In truth, I’ve been marathoning Gintama again, I hope I stop there and not binge another comedy though. Can safely say it’s an uncontrollable hobby of mine.

I would hope that I can get back into the Metaphor demo and also sneak in an El Paso Elsewhere purchase while I’m at it… in NZ money, that is.
Yeah, I cannot continue gaming in an American account as I’m not a big fan of the disadvantages and setbacks. First of all, I already can’t use many of the streaming apps to begin with so why even better?

And the bigger setback? By using an American acc, I am forcing myself to only access newly released games at…. 6 AM soonest where I live.

My idiocy aside, since I already can’t set my Xbox to Kuwait, the world is my oyster. So why not set it to the nearest timezone and get games a tad earlier? Then brag about it like an arsehole! Win-win!

@Malaise can’t help but relate with the game buying bit. Especially in a year where I don’t want to buy as many full priced games anymore.
Doesn’t help that I have an unhealthy desire to get stuff as early as possible 😂
I might already cancel my plane to buy sparking zero and sonic, curse two full priced games coming out in the same month!

@Malaise our mutual friend @Ravix definitely has a similar tiny tiny silly issue that’s akin to our own tiny tiny silly problem. Basically, Kingdom C**’s release tragically coincides with AC Shadow’s delayed release, thus ending up with two games in one month, a tragic fate indeed ALA my own silly DBZ/Sonic/Metaphor conundrum, which forces me to make a decision because not only are three games in a month brutal, the “deluxe” edition of two would just be too high of a spending. Games are not expensive, but that’s no excuse for me to be foolish with my money.

You mean Yakuza Pirate? That game is actually releasing fairly soon, not even 5 months from now even. February 24 I believe? Gee, I sure hope that won’t collide with a friend’s buying schedule!

@Malaise that’s a really good pick for favorite series of all time : D
My three picks are a lot weirder by comparison, but they’re probably not difficult to guess

Yeah Ubisoft stuff isn’t the best at launch, especially now they’ve introduced a program where you can buy three-games at once. I used that to nab the rpg trilogy in one full sweep! I should honestly get back to playing those, only hindrance I had was with the UI being a genuine nightmare but… it’s probably better now, maybe.