Prattle

False FOSS Dichotomies

Feb 11, 2022 · 2 min read · Prattle FOSS

People often talk in terms of the false dichotomy between pragmatic software use, and ethical software use. 'Us pragmatic folks', they begin, 'just want to use what works'. We should understand of course that they have nothing against people who have principles, but would prefer functioning to non-functioning …

Self Driving Cars may not happen

Jan 4, 2022 · 3 min read · Prattle Prognostication

I have doubts about self-driving cars. The entire argument rests on analogy with software translators. Software translators began as simple dictionaries. You type in 'cat', it returns 'le chat'. Next, programmers started to feed in simple rules, so 'black cats' could return 'les chats noire'. The rules became so …

The Jimbo Problem

Jan 2, 2022 · 5 min read · Prattle

In one episode of the cartoon South Park, Chef declares that the town flag is racist, and should be replaced. Uncle Jimbo disagrees that it should be taken down, and makes arguments about the importance of history. However, at this point the KKK arrive behind Jimbo and start shouting in support. From that point on he …

Robot Non-Wars

Dec 22, 2021 · 3 min read · Prattle Prognostication

Printers never waged war on pens, they simply made pens redundant. I suspect that if robots ever take over, we'll go the way of the pen rather than the dodo. Once machines can bake bread, calculate the proper tax rate and generally take care of what needs done, and do so cheaply, humanity can take a breather. I'm not …