Excelent thread here. An AI model can no more feel pain than an NPC in a video game. Can it, in the moment of immersion, make one feel like it can? Yes. Text can elicit emotions. But can it actually feel pain? No. And nobody asks if an NPC can feel pain because it is a stupid question.

Emily M. Bender@emilymbender.bsky.social · 2d ago

Anthropic is out with new nonsense about Claude (or the collection of models called Claude) deserving moral consideration and/or be able to feel distress, so my inbox is filling up with journos asking me to comment. I've also got a day job, so here is a brief set of public comments on this: >>

Java is, without any doubt, the worst class of languages I have to interact with regularly.

Scoop: At a secret meeting this summer, an aide to Stephen Miller laid out Trump administration's plan to make it easier for states to round up and institutionalize mentally ill homeless people — by pushing a drastic policy change that would weaken the rights of millions of disabled Americans.

How Trump’s homelessness crackdown became a sweeping retreat from disability rights

After issuing a memo making it easier to institutionalize homeless people, the Justice Department began abandoning cases protecting disabled people’s right to live in the community.

nbcnews.com

I know not many people will see this, but I think now is a good time to bring up one of my favorite novels ever: Jennifer Government

Jennifer Government

In Max Barry's twisted, hilarious and terrifying vision…

goodreads.com

Breaking: WNBA credits Caitlin Clark with Assist of the Year.

These emails are getting more desperate and more pathetic by the day. Like, this would make even a 409 scammer say, "dude, have some self-respect." It is clear they are getting scared.

NEW AD: Listen to this sh*t.

Really great work here from @maggiemertens.bsky.social:

She Was a College Beach Volleyball Star. Then She Was Abruptly Kicked Off the Team. The Real Threat to Women’s Sports May Be to Blame.

Republicans have made women’s sports a signature issue. What’s really happening shows how cynical that is.

slate.com

The techbros don't want you to see this trailer. Pass it on.

Here's how we get Medicare for All done: Make Medicare whole (no one can keep all the parts straight!) Include vision, dental, and hearing. Begin extending to more people, starting with children. We arrive at Medicare for All, which means great Medicare for everyone.

This serves as advertisement for Alex Gibney’s documentary, Musk, opening October 9. Pass it on.

The Major Social Media Platforms Are All Rejecting Paid Ads for Alex Gibney’s ‘Musk’ (Exclusive)

YouTube, TikTok and Meta have all turned down the trailer for the Oct. 9 doc, citing “political” content. X won't even take Bleecker Street's calls. The distributor is appealing.

hollywoodreporter.com

Absofreakinlutely 💯% True......

There is no psychiatric treatment powerful enough to break the right's collective hallucination about 2020. Like, literally none of this even came close to happening.

Hey @mayor.nyc.gov, while you are taking companies to task for stealing from workers, you might take a look into youtube demonotizing creators from youtubes mistakes w/o human review, still running ads on their content, and then pocketing their ad revenue with no compensation. youtu.be/exGFT1RL6ds

We Found YouTube's Secret.

YouTube video by Deep Humor

youtu.be

I just saw a Paxton add that ended "Defeat Talarico and their trans agenda!!!" They are really getting desperate and pathetic.

Mamdani really should just arrest Netenyahu and let the cards fall where they fall.

After banning CNN, MS NOW & Politico from the White House, he installs State-Run television, just like they have in so many other countries... Sieg Heil, ya'll. #38Days 🌊

Hello autumn my old friend It's time for cool weather again I long for days so moderate But Texas summers do not quit And the sweat from the heat of our summer days Still remains Within the temps of Texas

Is today the equinox? Who do I trust? The likely AI answer up top, or the Old Faner's Almanac down at the bottom?

$40 to fill up my tiny little hybrid. If republicans *ever* get power again after '26, I will consider the social contract null and void and act accordingly.

this is what the segments would look like on a left-wing fox news right now - should trump be impeached over gas prices? - a count of the number of times he said the strait was opened - hegseths obsession with erect penis and hairless bodies - another gas price segment - silly animals

It’s very simple and it’s been said over and over but I guess it needs saying continuously: if you deem one group too small to have equal rights you are enabling fascism, not fighting it. The people saying Dems are GREAT on trans rights are not paying attention and/or saying stuff like this.

The thing about trying not to pick a side is that the nazis *instantly recognize* which side you picked. They immediately identify you as an ally. They know exactly what side you're on. It doesn't fool the victims, it doesn't fool the Nazis, the only people it could possibly fool is centrists.

Mr too tired for a halloween name@laotianrockrat.bsky.social · 4w ago

Ed Sheeran's agent: Ok fuck me that was a wild few days. Still we should be over the worst of it now...

If Mitch McConnell is actually Alive I demand to see his long form Life Certificate.

“This should be unthinkable for the son of the president. End of story.” A Russian oligarch close to Putin bankrolled Don Jr.’s wedding. www.propublica.org/article/dona...

Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding Bankrolled by Putin-Linked Russian Oligarch

The oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island. He appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently, but he attended the intimate wedding with a large...

propublica.org

I have suddenly started getting emails from the GOP and the Trump administration asking for money. I have never given them my information, so no idea how or why they are sending them to me all of a sudden. But let me tell ya, they are absolutely bottom of the barrel pathetic.

Glad these were found unconstitutional in Texas, but I am sure it is just a matter of time before these AI companies bribe some politicians to have them try again.

Jacob Rockwell was fined by an AI red light camera in a different state

YouTube video by More Perfect Union

youtube.com