It’s like people learn how to make a phone app in React Native or whatever, but then come to the shocking and unpleasant realisation that a data-driven service isn’t just a shiny user interface - it needs a backend too.

But they don’t know anything about backend, and don’t want to, because as far as they are concerned all those pesky considerations like data architecture, availability, security, integrity etc are all just unwanted roadblocks on the path to launching their shiny app.

And so, when a service seemingly provides a way to build an app without needing to care about any of those things, of course they take it.

And I get it, I really do. The backend usually is the genuine hard part in any project, because it’s the part with all the risk. The part with all the problems. The place where everything can come crashing down or leak all your data if you make bad decisions. That’s the bothersome nature of data-driven services.

But that’s exactly why the backend is important, and especially the part you can’t build anything decent without thinking about.

Yeah exactly, I don’t get it either.

With “Toxic Masculinity” it’s pretty clear how masculinity - which is not a problem in itself - can become over-applied to the point where it’s damaging both to oneself and to others.

But toxic empathy? Is it really possible to care about others too much? To try and see things from someone else’s perspective too much? I feel like it really isn’t, because there can never be enough of that in the world.

Which means “toxic empathy” is genuinely nothing more than a nonsense phrase for people who don’t wish to see or hear about any viewpoint except their own.

Dynamic range and loudness normalisation are surely the main reason people are using subtitles, but habits are undeniably also changing too, as is the way people consume media in general.

People don’t just look at the TV for an hour straight - they are doing other things, or second-screening, or having conversations, and multiple methods being available to pick up on the show dialog is helpful.

Let’s not forget simple reasons like accessibility, either. My friend here in the UK is Hungarian, and despite being completely fluent in English he always likes to watch shows with subtitles as it helps with understanding some British accents which can be tricky for non-natives.

And people just process information in different ways. We’ve all heard by now that some individuals can be visually oriented, while other people are aural. If you get a choice, why not take it?

Not to mention that subs on streaming services are much better visual quality and timing than subs on broadcast TV used to be, which felt nasty and mis-timed, and very second-class. Clearly ‘good enough’ for hard of hearing individuals but not very pleasant.

I don’t think it’s a hot take to say that as accessibility features get better and more available, more people will use them. And accessibility is for everyone.

Let’s be real, cats are also capable of great destruction.

Gaying instrument

For me it’s a necessary compromise.

I’m a Linux user on my other devices and I’d love to have a fully libre and open phone, but the most important thing for getting my life tasks done is that apps work, so I’m somewhat hostage to where the apps are available and will run.

Graphene is me trying to achieve that in the least-bad way I can.

GrapheneOS is at least better than Google android.

Ah. Apparently it’s called a slug snake because it EATS slugs, not because it looks like one.

Which is good, because it looks like a stick. Literally the most twig-ass looking snake ever.