I grew up in Silicon Valley and happen to be here visiting my parents right now. My mom volunteers at a blood bank. She says all the young tech bros that come in all ask her help finding girlfriends, not for sex but for cooking when their office cafeterias are closed on the weekend. SMH....This is a long way of offering an anecdote to say how right you and your analysis is, Lyz.
Pretty much. They see the situation not as "I need to learn how to cook." but "I need a woman to cook for me because I am so busy doing such important work as coding." [The gendering of engineering is an interesting topic completely separate that I have many thoughts on.]
Yes, there is that history I was thinking of. But currently bioengineering has almost parity in terms of participation between the sexes, though many of my engineering students sniff at the emphasis on practicality vs. the Elon Musk's sci-fi strain Lyz writes about here.
It's a relatively new field - hopefully it will benefit from 21stC views on equality.
I remember sitting in a lecture theatre for a graduate diploma in programming in the early 90s - half the students were women. I wonder what happened to them, because that's not what it looks like over 30 years later.
I dropped out of the course because I was studying part time and the project I was working on insisted I work 6-7 days per week (I was a technical writer), but I'm still working in the industry as a business analyst. At least I'm still in the industry!
The bonus joke in the URL of the weekly dingus newsletter usually brings me so much joy but this week I am afraid it's going to result in Hims ads showing up on all my social media feeds. I may fit the age/sex demographic for their market, but I listened to The Dream so I'm gonna hard pass on any kind of supplements that are advertised to me on Instagram.
Also a late breaking good thing this week is that the High Fructose Corn Sweat team supplies wishlist is completely sold out. Thank you to everyone who generously supported our team with an order of supplies or a donation to the Iowa Abortion Access Fund or Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund.
I sent this to my new son in law, who is a computer programmer. He said this sort of thing was exactly why all computer programming science majors at Worcester Polytechnic were required to take an ethics course!
As streaming services constantly raise their rates and start to make even "premium" subscriptions watch ads (the dreaded "commercials" I am trying to avoid), Lyz deserves as much or more. For those that can afford it, the "kick ass level" may help Lyz and her staff earn the just wages for their efforts.
I had seen the Bring Ya Ass story and thought immediately that it would be a winning campaign, especially for Minnesota. My own connection to the state is my stepdad, who grew up there when he wasn't in boarding schools because my stepgrandmother had a delicate constitution. She was really sweet, but what I remember most was when she would whisper that she had to use the bathroom. She never said it out loud. Anything she thought was unseemly was whispered. Bring Ya Ass is the perfect antidote.
Last night when I couldn't fall asleep, I entertained myself by trying to predict who the Dingus of the Week would be. It was too easy, though; I guessed Sam Altman within about a minute.
This article was worth my whole annual subscription!!! Tech bros have gone from hero to not just zero but something below (villain?) in such a short time. I worked in tech for 10 years, the concerns are real.
First, Lyz, I couldn’t agree more about your take on “The Unbearable Lightness of Being.” I read it in 2004 after my breakup. I’ve read nothing like it since.
But on to the tech bros and their monetization of electronic caricatures of women like those adolescents dream about, like in the awful film “Weird Science.” Immature and insulting.
Finally, Sam Altman is another rich arrogant white guy like Elon Musk who is convinced he’s immortal, unstoppable and always right. He just won’t take no for an answer. I have a solution for guys like that from an old rock song (judge the rest of the lyrics by contemporary standards though, just saying):
If only Elon had been IN the car he shot into space. Can we try that timeline? Con man wasting our tax dollars and tanking NASA, yanking arms off employees because he doesn’t like yellow. Solar panels burning houses. I must imagine him in the car.
I saw that Black Mirror Christmas episode one time, and since then I haven't been afraid of AI itself, but the people that make AI and put it out into the world. Especially considering Altman's evident obsession with Scarlet Johannson.
I am an electrical engineer taking classes (albeit online) with a human professor and human classmates - the topic for Spring and then for Summer is antennas. Your smartphone contains several antennas that you can't see. My course involves pencil and paper. My professor expects to see us show our work (a lot of math). As I write this, I have a lot of pencils on my end of the dining room table. I am writing a book - I use the pencils and write in engineering block letters in an engineering notebook. Finally, I am starting to learn Spanish. My wife and kids told me about these apps, but I have something better: a colleague who was raised by Mexican immigrants - we are going to start by using Spanish phrases. I have the best language lab to learn Spanish - Southern California. I see a trip to our local bookstore in my future!
It has always bugged me that the default voice for these various assistants is female. It just doesn't sit well with me to tell a device to do something and have it respond as a woman. It's always the first setting I change -- but lots of people are surprised when they hear a man's voice respond to my voice commands... it seems so deeply ingrained in society... ugh!
Part of the appeal of this dystopian marketing is the delusion that those potential consequences won't affect you, that you have "plot armor". Merchant's article makes a key point that the primary sales pitch of all of this is that you- the consumer- are like the protagonist in the dystopia that gets to have adventures above the rest of the rabble.
Altman's denial of what he so clearly did reminds me of how toddlers will sometimes close their eyes and think you can't see them.
I grew up in Silicon Valley and happen to be here visiting my parents right now. My mom volunteers at a blood bank. She says all the young tech bros that come in all ask her help finding girlfriends, not for sex but for cooking when their office cafeterias are closed on the weekend. SMH....This is a long way of offering an anecdote to say how right you and your analysis is, Lyz.
So... they just want a mother? Or at least, a 1950s version 🙄
Pretty much. They see the situation not as "I need to learn how to cook." but "I need a woman to cook for me because I am so busy doing such important work as coding." [The gendering of engineering is an interesting topic completely separate that I have many thoughts on.]
Interestingly enough, in the 60s and early 70s, programmers were often women, trained by their company because they could type.
Of course, it wasn't until it became a well paid job that men took over.
Yes, there is that history I was thinking of. But currently bioengineering has almost parity in terms of participation between the sexes, though many of my engineering students sniff at the emphasis on practicality vs. the Elon Musk's sci-fi strain Lyz writes about here.
It's a relatively new field - hopefully it will benefit from 21stC views on equality.
I remember sitting in a lecture theatre for a graduate diploma in programming in the early 90s - half the students were women. I wonder what happened to them, because that's not what it looks like over 30 years later.
I dropped out of the course because I was studying part time and the project I was working on insisted I work 6-7 days per week (I was a technical writer), but I'm still working in the industry as a business analyst. At least I'm still in the industry!
Have these bros never heard of home chefs or restaurants? SMH
but girlfriends are cheaper!
The bonus joke in the URL of the weekly dingus newsletter usually brings me so much joy but this week I am afraid it's going to result in Hims ads showing up on all my social media feeds. I may fit the age/sex demographic for their market, but I listened to The Dream so I'm gonna hard pass on any kind of supplements that are advertised to me on Instagram.
Also a late breaking good thing this week is that the High Fructose Corn Sweat team supplies wishlist is completely sold out. Thank you to everyone who generously supported our team with an order of supplies or a donation to the Iowa Abortion Access Fund or Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund.
I sent this to my new son in law, who is a computer programmer. He said this sort of thing was exactly why all computer programming science majors at Worcester Polytechnic were required to take an ethics course!
As streaming services constantly raise their rates and start to make even "premium" subscriptions watch ads (the dreaded "commercials" I am trying to avoid), Lyz deserves as much or more. For those that can afford it, the "kick ass level" may help Lyz and her staff earn the just wages for their efforts.
I had seen the Bring Ya Ass story and thought immediately that it would be a winning campaign, especially for Minnesota. My own connection to the state is my stepdad, who grew up there when he wasn't in boarding schools because my stepgrandmother had a delicate constitution. She was really sweet, but what I remember most was when she would whisper that she had to use the bathroom. She never said it out loud. Anything she thought was unseemly was whispered. Bring Ya Ass is the perfect antidote.
Last night when I couldn't fall asleep, I entertained myself by trying to predict who the Dingus of the Week would be. It was too easy, though; I guessed Sam Altman within about a minute.
Yeah I’ve been picking some popular vote ones but a curveball will be coming your way soon. Stay on your toes 😉
Congratulations on the success! Honestly all this is worth more than 7 bucks a month but I’m here for it
This article was worth my whole annual subscription!!! Tech bros have gone from hero to not just zero but something below (villain?) in such a short time. I worked in tech for 10 years, the concerns are real.
Spot on Dingus (I accidentally typed “Dongus,” which also seems fitting!) of the Week and an inspired musical choice!
First, Lyz, I couldn’t agree more about your take on “The Unbearable Lightness of Being.” I read it in 2004 after my breakup. I’ve read nothing like it since.
But on to the tech bros and their monetization of electronic caricatures of women like those adolescents dream about, like in the awful film “Weird Science.” Immature and insulting.
Finally, Sam Altman is another rich arrogant white guy like Elon Musk who is convinced he’s immortal, unstoppable and always right. He just won’t take no for an answer. I have a solution for guys like that from an old rock song (judge the rest of the lyrics by contemporary standards though, just saying):
“Tax the rich, feed the poor
'Til there are no rich no more”
Ten Years After, I'd Love to Change the World
If only Elon had been IN the car he shot into space. Can we try that timeline? Con man wasting our tax dollars and tanking NASA, yanking arms off employees because he doesn’t like yellow. Solar panels burning houses. I must imagine him in the car.
Congrats on your major award! I heard this story on NPR on Tuesday and somehow did NOT think DINGUS. What's wrong with me?
I saw that Black Mirror Christmas episode one time, and since then I haven't been afraid of AI itself, but the people that make AI and put it out into the world. Especially considering Altman's evident obsession with Scarlet Johannson.
I am an electrical engineer taking classes (albeit online) with a human professor and human classmates - the topic for Spring and then for Summer is antennas. Your smartphone contains several antennas that you can't see. My course involves pencil and paper. My professor expects to see us show our work (a lot of math). As I write this, I have a lot of pencils on my end of the dining room table. I am writing a book - I use the pencils and write in engineering block letters in an engineering notebook. Finally, I am starting to learn Spanish. My wife and kids told me about these apps, but I have something better: a colleague who was raised by Mexican immigrants - we are going to start by using Spanish phrases. I have the best language lab to learn Spanish - Southern California. I see a trip to our local bookstore in my future!
Research has shown that handwriting notes enables you to retain information better than typed notes. Keep writing! 💪
It has always bugged me that the default voice for these various assistants is female. It just doesn't sit well with me to tell a device to do something and have it respond as a woman. It's always the first setting I change -- but lots of people are surprised when they hear a man's voice respond to my voice commands... it seems so deeply ingrained in society... ugh!
If only the tech bros paid more attention to Star Trek technology and less to Terminator…
I honestly don't think we can trust them to interpret it correctly.
I don't think the message of "Her" was "an AI lady companion is infinitely superior to real women," but that seems to be what Sam got from it.
Part of the appeal of this dystopian marketing is the delusion that those potential consequences won't affect you, that you have "plot armor". Merchant's article makes a key point that the primary sales pitch of all of this is that you- the consumer- are like the protagonist in the dystopia that gets to have adventures above the rest of the rabble.