I used to provide some user support at a previous job. (It wasn’t exactly my job, but people would ask for help.) And it’d be easy to get frustrated, thinking people were stupid or incompetent, but I’d remind myself that being good at computers isn’t part of their job, it’s part of my job. These people were hired for other areas of expertise. If I had to do take on parts of their jobs, I’d look stupid and incompetent too.

That said… sometimes the level of incomprehension people have really is incomprehensible to me. There’s a level where you’re reaching wilful ignorance. When I point at something on the screen and tell the person to click on that… and they can’t or won’t move the mouse there and click on it…

It’s nice that “new” Trek wants to portray things like equality for LGBT people as a given; hopefully we can reach that one day. And I think it’s good that LGBT people can “see themselves” on the screen without having their queerness be the focus of the drama. People just want to live their lives, and they want to see other queer people just living their lives.

On the other hand, showing the struggle and making it the focus of the drama, as Orville does, is the thing that helps people understand and confront the issues themselves. The whole story around Topa is very strong. Societal misogyny. Klyden’s entire journey (his own sex reassignment, hiding it from Bortus, their separation, his rejection of Topa when she transitioned back, the family’s eventual reunion). Bortus’ struggle to make the right choice as a loving husband and father. Bortus having the choice taken away from him. Topa lacking female role models.

These kinds of things are still very real issues that a lot of people don’t think about unless presented to them on this way. These kinds of stories help people imagine how they might need to support their own children, families, and friends.

It’s not really possible to compare Star Trek vs Orville because Trek is an entire franchise (even now there are 4.5 shows) and Orville is just one. But if I had to say of the current shows, which one does society need the most for social progress, I’d actually say Orville.

They’ll simply ask for it and people will give it in order to keep using the platform.

Google Ads asked me (a private individual) to provide my drivers license or passport in order to verify an organization’s Google Ads account, or else the account will be suspended. I understand verifying the organization via governed registration records, that makes sense. But requiring an emoloyee or volunteer’s passport?

The account is just going to get suspended.

It could also be that you (OP) could be wrong (at least sometimes) but continue to insist that you are correct. But consider that needing to be right is just another way of saying needing to prove other people wrong. That is exhausting and infuriating from the other side to have someone constantly tear you down. It’s not being factually correct that’s infuriating, it’s the attitude that goes along with needing to be correctz because (if it’s being pointed out to you in such a manner) it’s not done in a friendly way, but an adversarial way.

People usually just want to have fun, friendly, conversations. When someone, sometimes not even the person you’re talking to, butts in and keeps insisting your wrong and that you must acknowledge them, it’s extremely rude. It derails the conversation to centre around how smart you (think you) are, instead of the topic, in an adversarial way.

I know someone who “had to have the last word”. I’m still trying to figure out if he’s maybe neurodivergent and honestly doesn’t understand, or if he’s just an arrogant asshole. But the end result is the same: you come off as a arrogant asshole, and no one will like you for it. Not only does he always “have to be right”, he inserts himself when people aren’t even talking to him, and won’t let other people move on with the conversation until they acknowledge that he’s right. It’s rude, selfish, and self centred behaviour.

And then he cries himself the victim when people don’t like him, which makes everyone dislike him even more.

The fact that you’re even asking this question in this way (“how do I be right?” and not “why do people say this?”) shows your need to be correct and make someone else wrong, and your victim complex about it. If I knew you in real life, I wouldn’t be your friend.

Tai chi, my people. It’s often thought of as an old person’s activity, but it’s great to start young to keep yourself feeling young.

I signed up for a Google Ads account for a non-profit I volunteer with. I had to verify the organization with governing documents, okay, fair enough. They also “require” my drivers license or passport. Excuse me? We will no longer have a Google Ads account after Sept 15 (the cut off to verify my identity).

Mariner even gestured to the facial Scar and outlined the shape of the chair with her hands.

I’m all for not using Facebook, but this is really dumb. The federal Gov’t and media outlets gave Meta and other SM platforms an ultimatum: pay for linking to news, or don’t link at all. Meta called the bluff and chose the latter. Now the Gov’t and media outlet are crying foul.

It takes a lot to make me defend Facebook, but they are absolutely not in the wrong here. They are playing by the government’s and the media outlets’ own rules. It’s not even malicious compliance, its just compliance.

Have these media and the government even offered to make an exception for emergency messaging? I think they would say so of they did (to make themselves look better). The lack of say-so is telling.

Instead they’re trying to shame and coerce Meta into paying them. Well, shame on the govt and shame on the media.