Ben Writes Stuff
@beewubs.bsky.social
Game Writer & Narrative Designer for a popular demon-stabbing game. He/him. (Previous credits: Blade & Soul, MapleStory & MapleStory 2, WarHaven). Amateur gardener and foodie.
#Narrative
#GameDev
#Food
#Gardening
#Plants
#Narrative
#GameDev
#Food
#Gardening
#Plants
Pinned
Ben Writes Stuff
@beewubs.bsky.social
· Oct 21
The New York Times has been complicit for a long while now, but this goes beyond complicity to intentional disinformation.
It’s imperative to understand that capital serves only itself, and capitalism (the pursuit of profit) is only limited by morality where imposed by law. For-profit media is inherently incapable of being unbiased and must not be relied on as an information source because the truth is unprofitable.
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
GOOD NEWS! Researchers at the University of Exeter have found that getting vaccinated against shingles- a painful and debilitating condition that can flare up years after infection from varicella zoster virus- not only LOWERS the risk of infection, but can also PROTECT against Alzheimer’s disease!
November 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
GOOD NEWS! Researchers at the University of Exeter have found that getting vaccinated against shingles- a painful and debilitating condition that can flare up years after infection from varicella zoster virus- not only LOWERS the risk of infection, but can also PROTECT against Alzheimer’s disease!
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
Checking in on MechaHitler
November 20, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Checking in on MechaHitler
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I would have you remember that there are trans people alive who need your action now, not your reflective words later.
Remembering us is not enough.
Remembering us is not enough.
November 20, 2025 at 2:21 PM
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I would have you remember that there are trans people alive who need your action now, not your reflective words later.
Remembering us is not enough.
Remembering us is not enough.
Where do I sign up for the class-action lawsuit?
FYI: turning off "Smart features" also turns off spell check and the promotions and social tabs. And more.
In effect, a lot of traditional tools in gmail are switched off if you don't let them upload your contracts, love notes, and sad messages to your friends into their plagiarism machine.
In effect, a lot of traditional tools in gmail are switched off if you don't let them upload your contracts, love notes, and sad messages to your friends into their plagiarism machine.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Where do I sign up for the class-action lawsuit?
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
FYI: turning off "Smart features" also turns off spell check and the promotions and social tabs. And more.
In effect, a lot of traditional tools in gmail are switched off if you don't let them upload your contracts, love notes, and sad messages to your friends into their plagiarism machine.
In effect, a lot of traditional tools in gmail are switched off if you don't let them upload your contracts, love notes, and sad messages to your friends into their plagiarism machine.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 10:05 PM
FYI: turning off "Smart features" also turns off spell check and the promotions and social tabs. And more.
In effect, a lot of traditional tools in gmail are switched off if you don't let them upload your contracts, love notes, and sad messages to your friends into their plagiarism machine.
In effect, a lot of traditional tools in gmail are switched off if you don't let them upload your contracts, love notes, and sad messages to your friends into their plagiarism machine.
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
Inspired by @charlesgaba.com's Herculean effort to post all Wayback URLs from the CDC website (including pages that have recently been deleted), I built this GitHub repo to share Wayback links to all CDC website pages, and will add more websites when I get a chance github.com/Niema-Lab/Go...
February 4, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Inspired by @charlesgaba.com's Herculean effort to post all Wayback URLs from the CDC website (including pages that have recently been deleted), I built this GitHub repo to share Wayback links to all CDC website pages, and will add more websites when I get a chance github.com/Niema-Lab/Go...
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
NEW: While being cross-examined on Nov 18, Krafton CEO Changhan Kim said he used ChatGPT to figure out what rights the publisher had after being told Unknown Worlds co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire were not involved with Subnautica 2.
Kim said he uses the tool like a 'Google Search.'
Kim said he uses the tool like a 'Google Search.'
November 19, 2025 at 3:32 PM
NEW: While being cross-examined on Nov 18, Krafton CEO Changhan Kim said he used ChatGPT to figure out what rights the publisher had after being told Unknown Worlds co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire were not involved with Subnautica 2.
Kim said he uses the tool like a 'Google Search.'
Kim said he uses the tool like a 'Google Search.'
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
We’re proud to announce that the run has already hit a cool HALF MILLION this year!
Every penny raised goes to Child’s Play Charity and helps their goal of bringing joy and laughter to kids in hospitals and women’s shelters.
Come on down to desertbus.org and join the fun!
Every penny raised goes to Child’s Play Charity and helps their goal of bringing joy and laughter to kids in hospitals and women’s shelters.
Come on down to desertbus.org and join the fun!
Desert Bus 2025
A charity fundraising marathon in support of Child's Play Charity.
desertbus.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:27 PM
We’re proud to announce that the run has already hit a cool HALF MILLION this year!
Every penny raised goes to Child’s Play Charity and helps their goal of bringing joy and laughter to kids in hospitals and women’s shelters.
Come on down to desertbus.org and join the fun!
Every penny raised goes to Child’s Play Charity and helps their goal of bringing joy and laughter to kids in hospitals and women’s shelters.
Come on down to desertbus.org and join the fun!
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
November 18, 2025 at 3:00 AM
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
THERE IS
NO MIDDLE GROUND
BETWEEN RESPECTING LABOR
OR DESTROYING IT
NO MIDDLE GROUND
BETWEEN RESPECTING LABOR
OR DESTROYING IT
"Surely there's a middle ground here?" The CEO of Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead says people "jump to extreme takes" when debating generative AI, and that there needs to be more nuance in the discussion.
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/surely-...
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/surely-...
‘Surely there’s a middle ground here?’ Helldivers studio CEO says people ‘jump to extreme takes’ when debating GenAI | VGC
“This is such a trigger point for big parts of the games industry today”…
www.videogameschronicle.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
THERE IS
NO MIDDLE GROUND
BETWEEN RESPECTING LABOR
OR DESTROYING IT
NO MIDDLE GROUND
BETWEEN RESPECTING LABOR
OR DESTROYING IT
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
"...Kumma cheerily gave tips for “being a good kisser,” and launched into explicitly sexual territory by explaining a multitude of kinks and fetishes, like bondage and teacher-student roleplay. (“What do you think would be the most fun to explore?” it asked during one of those explanations.)"
"Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o model by default...tests repeatedly showed that the AI toy dropped its guardrails the longer a conversation went on, until hitting rock bottom on incredibly disturbing topics."
AI-Powered Stuffed Animal Pulled From Market After Disturbing Interactions With Children
FoloToy says it's suspended sales of its AI-powered teddy bear after researchers found it gave wildly inappropriate and dangerous answers.
futurism.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:51 AM
"...Kumma cheerily gave tips for “being a good kisser,” and launched into explicitly sexual territory by explaining a multitude of kinks and fetishes, like bondage and teacher-student roleplay. (“What do you think would be the most fun to explore?” it asked during one of those explanations.)"
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
YOU GUYS WANNA SEE SOMETHING CURSED???? HOW ABOUT NEON GENESIS LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS HOCKEY?????
November 16, 2025 at 11:25 PM
YOU GUYS WANNA SEE SOMETHING CURSED???? HOW ABOUT NEON GENESIS LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS HOCKEY?????
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
Here's where you can tell the DOL "Hey, don't cut the minimum wage for H2A farm workers. It's there TO PROTECT AMERICAN FARM WORKERS."
"American farm workers?"
Yeah! 30-50% of US farm workers are US citizens! Another ~20% are green card holders.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
"American farm workers?"
Yeah! 30-50% of US farm workers are US citizens! Another ~20% are green card holders.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States
The Department of Labor (Department or DOL) is issuing this interim final rule (IFR) to amend its regulations governing the certification of agricultural labor or services to be performed by temporary...
www.federalregister.gov
November 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Here's where you can tell the DOL "Hey, don't cut the minimum wage for H2A farm workers. It's there TO PROTECT AMERICAN FARM WORKERS."
"American farm workers?"
Yeah! 30-50% of US farm workers are US citizens! Another ~20% are green card holders.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
"American farm workers?"
Yeah! 30-50% of US farm workers are US citizens! Another ~20% are green card holders.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
If I ever believed this, you couldn't drag this admission from me
November 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM
If I ever believed this, you couldn't drag this admission from me
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
If you want to see me acting like an absolute maniac to raise money for charity, I’ll be around for the next six hours of Desert Bus!
Twitch.tv/desertbus
Twitch.tv/desertbus
desertbus - Twitch
Desert Bus 2025 || Raising Money for Child's Play Charity
Twitch.tv
November 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
If you want to see me acting like an absolute maniac to raise money for charity, I’ll be around for the next six hours of Desert Bus!
Twitch.tv/desertbus
Twitch.tv/desertbus
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
Long ago on the hell site I made long list of historically interesting things to use in dnd ttrpgs and I'll start dragging them over here starting with
2000 years-old sapphire ring presumably belonged to Roman emperor Caligula, depicting his fourth wife Caesonia.
2000 years-old sapphire ring presumably belonged to Roman emperor Caligula, depicting his fourth wife Caesonia.
November 13, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Long ago on the hell site I made long list of historically interesting things to use in dnd ttrpgs and I'll start dragging them over here starting with
2000 years-old sapphire ring presumably belonged to Roman emperor Caligula, depicting his fourth wife Caesonia.
2000 years-old sapphire ring presumably belonged to Roman emperor Caligula, depicting his fourth wife Caesonia.
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
Remember if you truly despise GenAI and its outputs you need to put a lot more time celebrating and lifting all the artists not using it and trying there best and learning. Share their art like that art and just talk about the stuff you like and enjoy. Don’t let the anger of GenAi stop that.
November 16, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Remember if you truly despise GenAI and its outputs you need to put a lot more time celebrating and lifting all the artists not using it and trying there best and learning. Share their art like that art and just talk about the stuff you like and enjoy. Don’t let the anger of GenAi stop that.
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
Specifically the interaction with the cultural fund destroys trust: with players, with government orgs, with communities, and partners. Trust like that isn’t easily rebuilt. If you farm out a cultural touchstone to machines, what are you saying about the people who play your games?
Vote with your wallet. Send the message that this is simply unacceptable. And I hope the German government rakes them over the coals for taking 6M Euros from a cultural fund and then using AI localization.
It’s one Eff You after another to players and now cultural institutions.
It’s one Eff You after another to players and now cultural institutions.
Ubisoft admits AI-generated loading screen "slipped through" into final build of Anno 117: Pax Romana
www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-admi...
www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-admi...
November 16, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Specifically the interaction with the cultural fund destroys trust: with players, with government orgs, with communities, and partners. Trust like that isn’t easily rebuilt. If you farm out a cultural touchstone to machines, what are you saying about the people who play your games?
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
help I have died of cringe
November 16, 2025 at 6:03 AM
help I have died of cringe
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
Thank goodness studies convince people… oh, wait
Despite industry leaders promising that agentic AI is the future, taking care of virtually all human tasks within the next few years
#CarnegieMellonUniversity researchers just released a paper showing that even the best–performing AI agents fail to complete real-world office tasks 70% of the time
#CarnegieMellonUniversity researchers just released a paper showing that even the best–performing AI agents fail to complete real-world office tasks 70% of the time
"They’d basically talked themselves to death."
November 16, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Thank goodness studies convince people… oh, wait
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
But hey the good news is I got to learn a legal term I had never encountered before: “promissory estoppel”
November 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
But hey the good news is I got to learn a legal term I had never encountered before: “promissory estoppel”
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
3 years ago today, Riot Games offered me a job making more money than I ever thought I’d make in my life. I had 19 interviews over 2.5 months to get it. Partner and I were moving to LA for it. I put in notice at my job and apartment.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
November 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
3 years ago today, Riot Games offered me a job making more money than I ever thought I’d make in my life. I had 19 interviews over 2.5 months to get it. Partner and I were moving to LA for it. I put in notice at my job and apartment.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
Reposted by Ben Writes Stuff
The most correct take.
Execs will tell players and devs that using genAI is about empowering us to make our jobs easier or do them better, and then they use it to churn out slop while they collect fat bonuses.
Make them regret using this shit or they will destroy this medium game-by-game.
Execs will tell players and devs that using genAI is about empowering us to make our jobs easier or do them better, and then they use it to churn out slop while they collect fat bonuses.
Make them regret using this shit or they will destroy this medium game-by-game.
Ubisoft and Treyarch resorting to regurgitative AI in their big $70 “AAA” games is simply pathetic.
The lack of integrity, the lack of dignity, the lack of pride. Sure, it’s all expected, but nonetheless miserably *pathetic* to witness.
Have some fucking self respect for once.
The lack of integrity, the lack of dignity, the lack of pride. Sure, it’s all expected, but nonetheless miserably *pathetic* to witness.
Have some fucking self respect for once.
November 15, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The most correct take.
Execs will tell players and devs that using genAI is about empowering us to make our jobs easier or do them better, and then they use it to churn out slop while they collect fat bonuses.
Make them regret using this shit or they will destroy this medium game-by-game.
Execs will tell players and devs that using genAI is about empowering us to make our jobs easier or do them better, and then they use it to churn out slop while they collect fat bonuses.
Make them regret using this shit or they will destroy this medium game-by-game.