Adam/MysticMoo

Keep the Heroes Out. Several cute wooden figures depicting mice, a witch, and a dragon rest on illustrated tiles of a cozy dungeon.

About to try a super cute game of monsters defending their dungeon against pesky heroes.

Not a novel sentiment, I know. People pointing at the lack of arguments over military spending. But it doesn't make the point any less valid.

I should put this one on a sign so the next time I hear that tired argument of "how will we pay for it" I can just reach back, grab the sign, hold it up, and with a very weary look give it a tap.

Like a recent actual study done on how they use flattering language in replies and how that drives engagement and blind spots in users.

There's a bunch of actual interesting talk and criticism of LLMs going on, but I feel like I hardly ever hear it over the general outrage and loud takes.

Great thread on just general overreactions to LLM usage imo. I've seen others react in very aggressive ways and it doesn't build relationships.

Congrats on 20 years!

venn diagram of board gamers, ttrpg players, and wargamers. overlapping areas: hang on, let me check the rules, omg so many minis, this could have been a pdf, and whose turn is it

A Cornell study: Sycophantic AI Decreases Prosocial Intentions and Promotes Dependence Both the general public and academic communities have raised concerns about sycophancy , the phenomenon of artificial intelligence (AI) excessively agreeing with or flattering users. Yet, beyond isolated media reports of severe consequences, like rein- forcing delusions, little is known about the extent of sycophancy or how it affects people who use AI. Here we show the pervasiveness and harmful impacts of sycophancy when people seek advice from AI. First, across 11 state-of-the-art AI models, we find that models are highly sycophantic: they affirm users’ actions 50% more than humans do, and they do so even in cases where user queries mention manipulation, decep- tion, or other relational harms. Second, in two preregistered experiments (N = 1604), including a live-interaction study where participants discuss a real interpersonal conflict from their life, we find that interaction with sycophantic AI models significantly

reduced participants’ willingness to take actions to repair interpersonal conflict, while increasing their conviction of being in the right. However, participants rated sycophan- tic responses as higher quality, trusted the sycophantic AI model more, and were more willing to use it again. This suggests that people are drawn to AI that unquestioningly validate, even as that validation risks eroding their judgment and reducing their incli- nation toward prosocial behavior. These preferences create perverse incentives both for people to increasingly rely on sycophantic AI models and for AI model training to favor sycophancy. Our findings highlight the necessity of explicitly addressing this incentive structure to mitigate the widespread risks of AI sycophancy.

*taps the “chatbots are making you dumber and meaner” sign*

A black and white cat snuggled into covers in a messy bed.

My cats are currently with my parents while we get renovations done at home.

I wonder if they're settling in.

Love is visiting your cats, who are staying at your parents' house, and coming home covered in their fur.

Always nice to see a fellow star fury.

The VR Industry's Great Reset. YouTube video by ThrillSeeker

This is why I come to Thrill's channel for VR news. He does such a fantastic job of bringing all the relevant info together and condensing it down, all without the need for sensationalist ragebait content.

youtu.be/JTIi0djNIoY?...

It reminds me, as an able-bodied person, how easy it is to overlook others. And how much I have probably overlooked people in my own ignorance in the past.

A little knowledge or training goes a long way. We still have a lot of work to do to be just a little more caring to one another.

Went to a very nice Bday dinner for a friend last night only to have it ruined bc restaurant staff don't seem to see food allergies (of another friend) are a serious thing.

Nearly had a situation on our hands and the server couldn't be bothered to own up to his lack of attention.

Well played, sir.

Even if it's just a hot cup of tea next to a cozy YouTube video, remember to take time to enjoy all the little in between moments of your day.

Most performers at least up to the point would emphasize the "and"

He instead emphasizes "Tomorrow" and it hits so much harder.

Macbeth is an all time favorite of mine.

Watching Patrick Stewart's PBS performance of the Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow speech is incredible.

Gecqua, a tiny blue gecko Pokémon.

In case you're wondering where I stand on the very important issue hitting us today:

Water starter. All day every day every gen.

I don't read German or Latin by the way. I have a translated readers edition of this book. Snapped the pic above for a friend. I also read with much more light in the room.

Why not? Here's a peek at my reading list. It's Carl Jung's Liber Novus, also referred to as The Red Book.

I don't often get time to read as much as I'd like, so it's been wonderful lately to dive into Jung's work. I never knew much about him and am finding the reading thoroughly engaging.

This is definitely one of those quests that unlocks because you've leveled up.

I was born in the 80s and grew up as a kid in the 90s. It goes back to my childhood too. The violent video game argument.

I'm sorry if you can hear that sound right now. It's just me rolling my eyes at these fools.

All this discourse going around about reviewers, ethics, and bias.

Now I just wanna write a review and title it "the most biased board game review" and it's just a regular review.

On this particular topic: all reviews are biased. That's how human brains work.

A mug of tea sitting on a napkin, next to a cookie.

Confession. Sometimes this is how board game night looks for me.

There is nothing wrong with coming out just to hang with friends, not play, and vibe while others have a good time.

Do as you will. I just wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed reading your writing.

For whatever this is worth, as both a writer and board game lover myself, I've always looked up to your writing.

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