Spyke

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Par for the course

I feel like tech and finance bros turn to the right because bad guys who think they're good get tired of being told by educated people that they are objectively bad guys. And instead of changing, they end up seeking spaces that will reward them for being bad guys and will allow them to ignore or disparage those offering valid criticism.

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Los Angeles vs transplants...

Ok but LA sucks for reasons that have nothing to do with what I want from a city and everything to do with what everyone wants from a city: walkability, affordability, good roads/traffic and infrastructure, good vibes, authenticity, public transit, and people who don't suck.

Even people who are from LA and say "we have all that and I love LA" only mean "I love my neighborhood in LA, which is a 90 minute drive from the 7 other malignancies of highway sprawl that also call themselves LA."

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Think of the children!

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I've received in-patient care, overnight studies, emergency procedures, and much more in Spain without ever paying a dollar in copays or fees, and I've never waited more than 2 weeks for non-urgent care or an hour for urgent care.

My taxes are $600/month total in Madrid. Given that I have epilepsy, my insurance alone in the US was $490/month, AND I paid more in taxes ($1100/month).

So, yes, universal healthcare isn't "free," and it's supported by taxes. And still, Americans are taxed more AND have to pay for insurance? And then you still have to pay copays? I don't think "dur dur me taxes!" is actually the strong argument you think it is. And wait times are no longer (or in fact are shorter) in many countries with universal healthcare. But you know what's longer? Life expectancies.

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*Permanently Deleted*

I am personally someone who is annoyed by NDT. But I am not convinced his actions are net negative, and think the opposite is more likely. Folks who find him insufferable and also don't develop a passion for science probably aren't dissuaded from entering the field as a whole because of this one annoying guy. However, kids who find one season of Cosmos interesting or only see 5 of his tweets may actually develop a love for science before realizing that NDT is annoying. He'd be a much better role model, reach more people, and make the science community look better if he was better, but that doesn't make him bad when there are literally anti-science advocates out there. We need all the celebrity scientists we can get as long as they aren't actively doing harm in my opinion.

Edit: also, the number of ragebait debates he has started that get other folks talking about science isn't insignificant. He's probably gotten some people into science just so they could shut guys like him up lol