Author | Lightnews

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦

@thomasembree.bsky.social

280 followers 160 following 510 posts

¬Harm Reduction Volunteer ¬Occasional Writer ¬Technology Enthusiast ¬Canadian AF Fuck Charlie Kirk, Fuck MAGA, Fuck Trump

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Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Mar 20

An article I've written about the unfortunate occurrence of drug exceptionalism in some harm reduction circles, where drugs like marijuana or psychedelics are elevated while drugs like methamphetamine or crack cocaine are looked down upon.

#HarmReduction #DrugPolicy #DrugSky #Drugs #Politics

Drug Exceptionalism in Harm Reduction

Finding a way past the “good” drug, “bad” drug dichotomy

medium.com

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · 24d

I think the bigger issue is that we think we'll go crazy if an AI is nice to us.

#Technology #Science #AI #ChatGPT #Artificial #Psychology #MentalHealth

No more Mr. Nice Bot: Some chatbot users push back against flattery, fluff | CBC News

Some chatbot users are toning down the friendliness of their artificial intelligence companions as reports spread of dangerous AI-fuelled delusions. And as people push back against the technology's sy...

www.cbc.ca

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · 27d

Premier Danielle Smith and her far right American style politics are now killing our children.

#Canada #CdnPoli #Alberta #Politics #Measles #Health #DanielleSmith

Premature baby dies of measles in Alberta outbreak's 1st death | CBC News

Alberta is reporting its first measles death since outbreaks of the highly contagious illness began in March. The province says a baby, who was born prematurely after the mother became sick, died shor...

www.cbc.ca

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Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 20

You don't have a solid grasp of this topic or these concepts. I can help you out with some resources if you want. It's not personal, we just can't have a sincere discussion about this until you learn it.

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 20

I am Canadian, I don't support the Democrats. I am also not a Socialist, I am Anarcho-Communist Transhumanism. I also don't give a shit who you would vote for, I'm a grown ass man and not a child who forms their values based on what is popular 😂

You are far too old to still be caring about that.

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 19

North Korea is not socialist, Russia is literally fucking capitalist, China is the leading superpower, and Cuba has better healthcare access than the US.

It's clear you have no idea what these concepts actually represent and haven't actually looked into any of these examples beyond memes.

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 19

Those in need of public transport are *anyone who needs to use public transport*. Do you think an average person is just riding the bus for fun? 😂

Or that Section 8 represents an acceptable standard of housing? Do the poors not deserve clean, safe homes or the same standards you?

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 19

If someone is so vulnerable that an AI could talk them into suicide, they need to be under psychiatric observation in a hospital. They are experiencing a severe mental health episode, otherwise they wouldn't consider ChatGPT a valid reason to die.

"No more AI" isn't treatment.

#AI #MentalHealth

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 18

Yes, because there are forms of crypto that don't require this form of mining as a direct response to those concerns lmao

Do people forget that things, yknow, *change*? And can be improved?

*And that this has literally defined every aspect of our lives for a century now?* 😂

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 18

So that I, and everyone else, can be more productive members of society, increasing the available resources for that society, and improving the benefit every member of that society receives from being a part of it.

Like, you realize you have always relied on the rest of us for survival, right?

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Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 18

I have been under the effects of all of these at the same time during hundreds of interactions with ChatGPT. I am mentally ill, to boot.

Not once have I made the leap from ChatGPT's flattery to "the AI is now sentient and that makes me chosen" 🙄

#ChatGPT #LLM #AI #MentalHealth #Technophobia

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 18

Do you think that is a permanent situation? AI is going to get more efficient, less power intensive, and very soon won't even need massive data centers. On-device AI is already around the corner. You remember the PC/Internet boom?

This is going to be even faster, and even deeper.

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 18

And guess what tool we have to take all those flaws into account, figure out the most effective way to appeal to our instincts, and devise a climate change plan that people will find convenient, appealing, and preferable over alternatives?

Artificial intelligence. It won't shut down with despair.

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Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 18

That's the point of a state. To support it's municipalities, citizens, and to deal with state-level issues (such as investing in municipalities lol)

Taxes pay for the public services that make your life easier, healthier, and safer. The services don't need to turn a profit, you already paid.

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 18

The age of reason and logic never existed. Why else do you think your generation trashed the planet so you had a more convenient 20s, 30s, and 40s? We just weren't as exposed to how truly stupid people are back then. Information traveled at the speed of the mailman. We are just aware of it now.

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 18

#CharlieKirk #Politics #FuckTrump #SelfDefense #Real2A #Antifascism #Antityranny #Antiracism

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 17

The internet has undeniably augmented human ability. Are you kidding?

You enjoy luxury that was unheard of even in my short lifetime (I'm 35 and we are living in a world that was pure sci-fi just a decade or two ago). You can order your groceries and go to work without leaving your couch.

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 17

It's a service, it's not meant to be a profit source. You pay for it using other sources of income, such as taxes and public investment. It's not a con, it's called "helping people so they are better able to help me in return".

You are always, *always* weaker alone than you are with a group.

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Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 17

This caused someone's "AI psychosis" and a total break with reality, thinking it meant their conversations with AI were historically significant and simulation theory must be true.

ChatGPT has said similar things to me. I never took the bizarre leap this person did.

#AI #Psychosis #MentalHealth

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 17

Someone help me understand this.

This one person eventually believed his conversations with ChatGPT would have historical significance, and began to question reality.

That is not a neurotypical response to any conversation, let alone an AI. How is this AIs fault?

#AI #Psychosis #MentalHealth

Long talks with chatbots left these men with 'AI psychosis' | CBC News

Reports of delusions fuelled by conversations with AI chatbots have been growing, with some cases involving psychotic breaks, hospital stays and even violence. Two Canadians have launched an online su...

www.cbc.ca

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 10

Well, if it can happen to Kirk...

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 10

Good fucking riddance. These assholes are an existential threat. This was self-defense, imo.

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Sep 10

I have zero sympathy for Charlie Kirk. The conservative movement is an existential threat at this point. As far as I care, this was self-defense.

Threaten the existence of entire groups of people, you can be sure as fucking hell they will threaten yours. And you know what?

They should. Fuck MAGA.

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Aug 29

People really haven't learned from past reactionary technophobic scares like "TV will rot your brain", "computers keep you from exercising", "books will make you too stupid to farm", "mechanized looms will steal our jobs", etc.

Why are you, and most others, so unable to question that response?

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Aug 29

AI is there to augment human ability, which is incredibly lucrative. Being useless is not lucrative. You can't make money off of something that everyone finds useless.

AI makes Wikipedia obsolete.

Thomas D. Embree 🇨🇦 @thomasembree.bsky.social · Aug 29

They don't care if you say that shit, they will care if you back that sentiment up with action.