Benjamin Harnett
@benjaminharnett.com
Sometime poet, historian, software engineer, novelist, union man. https://www.benjaminharnett.com https://thehappyvalleynovel.com
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Benjamin Harnett
@benjaminharnett.com
· Jun 20
I interviewed 300 high achievers about their morning routine, and you will never believe, they all have inherited family wealth.
Technology doesn’t “evolve” in some kind of inevitable natural fashion—people make choices as organizations and individuals to develop, use, and modify technologies. These decisions are only subject to our moral and intellectual character, not any fixed laws.
January 13, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Technology doesn’t “evolve” in some kind of inevitable natural fashion—people make choices as organizations and individuals to develop, use, and modify technologies. These decisions are only subject to our moral and intellectual character, not any fixed laws.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
I cant remember a single time when Democrats said they would take the moderate path then did a secret, better thing once they achieved power. I can certainly recall a thousand times I was told to trust them only for it to land us in a worse place than where we started.
January 12, 2026 at 9:07 PM
I cant remember a single time when Democrats said they would take the moderate path then did a secret, better thing once they achieved power. I can certainly recall a thousand times I was told to trust them only for it to land us in a worse place than where we started.
I think it is very good to tell normal people you are doing the thing they think you should do and then do something better because most people imagine their dumb idea will achieve the ends that need to be achieved otherwise. But you actually have to try to do the good thing.
I think people are struggling with the idea of rhetorical strategies around policy is because for our entire lifetime the Democrats have been saying they want to do some centrist appealing but dumb thing and then actually supporting fascism and doing worse, as opposed to then actually doing better.
January 12, 2026 at 8:58 PM
I think it is very good to tell normal people you are doing the thing they think you should do and then do something better because most people imagine their dumb idea will achieve the ends that need to be achieved otherwise. But you actually have to try to do the good thing.
I think people are struggling with the idea of rhetorical strategies around policy is because for our entire lifetime the Democrats have been saying they want to do some centrist appealing but dumb thing and then actually supporting fascism and doing worse, as opposed to then actually doing better.
January 12, 2026 at 8:57 PM
I think people are struggling with the idea of rhetorical strategies around policy is because for our entire lifetime the Democrats have been saying they want to do some centrist appealing but dumb thing and then actually supporting fascism and doing worse, as opposed to then actually doing better.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
The fall of an empire is brutal and terrifying to watch when you are inside of it.
January 12, 2026 at 3:44 PM
The fall of an empire is brutal and terrifying to watch when you are inside of it.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
The struggle is real
Really struggling with the disconnect between needing to show up to work every day, take care of mundane daily tasks, make small talk with neighbors, etc., all while multiple U.S. cities are under siege by a fascist regime that is killing citizens in the streets
January 12, 2026 at 3:44 PM
The struggle is real
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
As an alpha male, there is nothing I won't be afraid of
January 12, 2026 at 2:37 PM
As an alpha male, there is nothing I won't be afraid of
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
Academics’ enthusiastic (and often uncritical) embrace of LLMs and generative artificial intelligence will be a factor in the junkification of research.
You can’t outsource thinking nor the cognitive task of gradually absorbing knowledge. Nor discernment and creativity.
You can’t outsource thinking nor the cognitive task of gradually absorbing knowledge. Nor discernment and creativity.
January 12, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Academics’ enthusiastic (and often uncritical) embrace of LLMs and generative artificial intelligence will be a factor in the junkification of research.
You can’t outsource thinking nor the cognitive task of gradually absorbing knowledge. Nor discernment and creativity.
You can’t outsource thinking nor the cognitive task of gradually absorbing knowledge. Nor discernment and creativity.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
"The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence."
BREAKING: Thousands of nurses go on strike at several major New York City hospitals after weekend negotiations over contract disputes fail.
Thousands of nurses go on strike at several major New York City hospitals
Thousands of nurses at several major New York City hospitals have gone on strike. Nurses were to start walking off the job Monday starting at 6 a.m. after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield a breakthrough.
bit.ly
January 12, 2026 at 11:19 AM
"The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence."
Democrats are going to be approving reprehensible Trump judges right up to the end of however many terms the mad kind makes it, and totally regardless of whatever kind of electoral victories they manage.
I only ask how much more anyone would want to see before deciding on maximal obstruction against this administration
January 12, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Democrats are going to be approving reprehensible Trump judges right up to the end of however many terms the mad kind makes it, and totally regardless of whatever kind of electoral victories they manage.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
hi, political philosopher here! this is not funny, central banks only do this when they're in extreme distress
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:04 AM
hi, political philosopher here! this is not funny, central banks only do this when they're in extreme distress
This is pathetic.
The Looki L1 AI wearable
“…continuously captures a wearer's point of view, promising to advise when to avoid another cup of coffee, to comment on places or objects around you, and to summarize each day in a comic strip.”
“…continuously captures a wearer's point of view, promising to advise when to avoid another cup of coffee, to comment on places or objects around you, and to summarize each day in a comic strip.”
AI pendants back in vogue at tech show after early setback
Pendants and brooches packed with artificial intelligence abounded at the Consumer Electronics show, using cameras and microphones to watch and listen through the day like a vigilant personal assistan...
uk.finance.yahoo.com
January 11, 2026 at 6:07 PM
This is pathetic.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
The problem with ICE is not insufficient training or even training content.
It’s creating an agency where you give people guns and tell them to terrorize Brown people and then recruit people excited to do that.
It’s creating an agency where you give people guns and tell them to terrorize Brown people and then recruit people excited to do that.
January 11, 2026 at 5:16 PM
The problem with ICE is not insufficient training or even training content.
It’s creating an agency where you give people guns and tell them to terrorize Brown people and then recruit people excited to do that.
It’s creating an agency where you give people guns and tell them to terrorize Brown people and then recruit people excited to do that.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
Behold: the possum of love has blessed you.
January 11, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Behold: the possum of love has blessed you.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
I always like the stuff humans knocked out of the park on a first try like yep that’s a cup no need to go further
Something lovely for the weekend!
Minoan cups made by Bronze Age potters some 3,800 years ago!
Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Minoan cups made by Bronze Age potters some 3,800 years ago!
Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete 📷 by me
#Archaeology
January 11, 2026 at 2:35 PM
I always like the stuff humans knocked out of the park on a first try like yep that’s a cup no need to go further
Is it bad for our digital knowledge to be thoroughly polluted with extremely plausibly wrong information? Surely not says every important person atop every hierarchy and their enablers down the line.
January 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Is it bad for our digital knowledge to be thoroughly polluted with extremely plausibly wrong information? Surely not says every important person atop every hierarchy and their enablers down the line.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
We present a typology of traps to avoid:
1. Believing that AI systems are minds
2. Believing that AI systems are theories
3. Believing that cognitive science can be automated.
Learn to recognise and avoid these traps. Failure to avoid leads to numerous problems.
3/🧵
1. Believing that AI systems are minds
2. Believing that AI systems are theories
3. Believing that cognitive science can be automated.
Learn to recognise and avoid these traps. Failure to avoid leads to numerous problems.
3/🧵
January 6, 2026 at 5:54 PM
We present a typology of traps to avoid:
1. Believing that AI systems are minds
2. Believing that AI systems are theories
3. Believing that cognitive science can be automated.
Learn to recognise and avoid these traps. Failure to avoid leads to numerous problems.
3/🧵
1. Believing that AI systems are minds
2. Believing that AI systems are theories
3. Believing that cognitive science can be automated.
Learn to recognise and avoid these traps. Failure to avoid leads to numerous problems.
3/🧵
The Discord AI survey is a reminder that many business decisions are made and then justification is sought. In the end, the answer must always be charge the customer more for lower quality while squeezing labor.
January 10, 2026 at 8:27 PM
The Discord AI survey is a reminder that many business decisions are made and then justification is sought. In the end, the answer must always be charge the customer more for lower quality while squeezing labor.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
Jacob Frey saw ICE brutalizing people here and thought “only MY police force gets to do that”
January 10, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Jacob Frey saw ICE brutalizing people here and thought “only MY police force gets to do that”
I think the people who drive me craziest are the sober international relations folks who think that our world can be explained and predicted by applying econ 101-level formulas to the world simplified into a Risk board.
January 10, 2026 at 8:07 PM
I think the people who drive me craziest are the sober international relations folks who think that our world can be explained and predicted by applying econ 101-level formulas to the world simplified into a Risk board.
At least our society and its institutions are healthy, and our enlightened leaders are working diligently on the mass of problems weighing on humanity. Oh.
Vibes continue to be absolutely fucking horrible.
January 10, 2026 at 8:03 PM
At least our society and its institutions are healthy, and our enlightened leaders are working diligently on the mass of problems weighing on humanity. Oh.
Vibes continue to be absolutely fucking horrible.
January 10, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Vibes continue to be absolutely fucking horrible.
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
this was their design
January 10, 2026 at 7:56 PM
this was their design
Reposted by Benjamin Harnett
Elected Dems for reasons good and bad fear and hate protests but they have to step up themselves if they wish to prevent them. Yelling at their traumatized constituents aint it
January 10, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Elected Dems for reasons good and bad fear and hate protests but they have to step up themselves if they wish to prevent them. Yelling at their traumatized constituents aint it