Showing posts with label debased humanity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label debased humanity. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Stupidity Is The Real Threat

There is an article in today's Star about the threat to Canadian democracy posed by artificial intelligence. However, I can't help but wonder if the real threat is human stupidity.

Raisa Patel writes:

Whether it’s manipulated video, voices or text, Canada is at risk of seriously endangering its democratic institutions if it doesn’t get a grip on regulating artificial intelligence, one of the world’s foremost AI leaders warned Monday.

The use of such tactics — which are becoming increasingly common at a time when high-stakes elections are set to be held around the globe — “can fool a social media user and make them change their mind on political questions,” said Yoshua Bengio, scientific director of the Mila-Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute

“There's real concern about the use of AI in kind of politically oriented ways that go against the principles of our democracy.”

Bengio, who is also the co-chair of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s AI advisory council, was speaking to the House of Commons industry committee as it studies a bill seeking to reign in and regulate the rapidly developing technology. 

Given that fake videos and voices have now reached the point where they are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, it is sad that there is no inoculation available against human credulity. 

On the other hand, however, is it really too much to expect people to inspect their sources? Surely it is one of the 21st century's greatest ironies that we live in a time when the world's information and knowledge is available literally at our fingertips, yet many people choose to use the internet simply to verify their own ignorance and prejudices. Instead of checking a reputable media source or even Snopes to see whether something is true, there are those that will rely only on their Telegram channels, Q-Anon, Facebook groups and other discredited sources, happy to label and dismiss mainstream media as lamestream media. 

That is capitulation, not critical thinking, and it appears to be endemic. I found myself thinking more about this last night as I watched the news about the latest Trump outrage. Apparently, even though a private citizen, he is giving direction to Congress to block a southern border deal because he wants to make it an election issue. While not a perfect bill, it becomes painfully obvious that a problem near and dear to so many Americans, and a clear Achilles Heel for Joe Biden, takes a back seat to the political machinations of Trump and the gutless Republicans who pay him complete obeisance.


In a normal world where people thought deeply about such things, all of this would be so obvious. Yet the MAGA crowd and others will undoubtedly let weak and corrupt politicians do their thinking for them. 

In Canada, things are not much different. Increasing numbers prefer PP's aphorisms ("Axe the tax", "Jail, not bail") to real policy discussion. Sadly, no legislation regulating artificial intelligence here can do a thing about a dearth of natural intelligence. As I have said many times before, we truly are a deeply flawed species.


Friday, June 9, 2023

Adding Fuel


In the debased species known as humanity, it perhaps is not surprising that the very wildfires consuming us have become fuel for yet more deranged people and their 'theories'. Here are two of my favourite examples of our ongoing slide into social, political and spiritual senescence:

The embers of one particular theory were fanned Thursday morning by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who was asked by podcast host Ryan Jespersen about how she reconciled her government’s resistance to emission reduction schemes with the reality that climate change is contributing to more damaging fires.

“I think you’re watching, as I am, the number of stories about arson,” she responded. “I’m very concerned that there are arsonists.”

 The question of arson seems to have taken hold in certain corners of the internet among users who share stories of people charged with arson, and given oxygen not only by Smith, but by federal politician and one-time Conservative leadership hopeful Maxime Bernier, who tweeted earlier this week that he bet “a good portion” of the fires had been “started by green terrorists.”

Then there is this illustration of supreme idiocy: Nicholas is fighting fires in Alberta. The rumour is that the military that came to help isn’t even Canadian…it is the UN. Here, not to fight fires, but to round “them” up and put them…🤔…where? IDK 🤷🏼‍♀️.

“Our guts are telling us it’s round up time”

That's all I have the heart for today. 

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

The (Once) Mighty Oz

Until he was bitten by the fame bug, Mehmet Oz apparently had a reputation as a respected cardiac surgeon. However, once he got the nod from Oprah and was given the Doctor Oz show, his ego swelled and his credibility and integrity oozed away. He reached his nadir when he embraced that narcissitic psychopath, disgraced ex-president, Donald Trump, along with all of his wacky protestations about rigged elections.

It was hardly a surprise that Oz's sycophancy won him Trump's endorsement and he now stands as Pennsylvania's Republic nominee for the 2022 Senate mid-term election. 

Want to know more about this sad, debased example of  humanity? How about a peek behind the curtain?




Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Even Dogs Have More Self-Control

Today, I was going to post about the rabble stalking Justin Trudeau on the campaign trail. However, I became depressed at the prospect of writing about humanity's dregs. Therefore, because words fail me, I leave you with this story about equally appalling 'human' behaviour and a caution that you use your discretion in watching the accompanying video.

A disgruntled customer at a Dairy Queen in Port Alberni, B.C., took out his frustration over being told to wear a mask by relieving himself in front of staff at the counter.

The incident was captured on camera and appears to show the man urinating on the counter following an altercation with restaurant employees.

In the video, the man can be heard arguing with staff and refusing to wear a mask before he unzips his pants.

Staff can be heard shrieking as the man begins to relieve himself.

The video was recorded by a customer and was shared with CTV News by his friend.

The RCMP say the incident happened around 9 p.m. Saturday.