Stephen The Lesser
@stephenthelesser.bsky.social
Writer, Editor for Impossible Worlds: a Quarterly Speculative Fiction anthology. impossibleworlds.bsky.social
Impossibleworlds.net
Impossibleworlds.net
Pinned
Every video game with a character creator should release a mobile version of just the character creator
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.
November 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
The sheer number of ads touting AI tells you how fucked and over-leveraged these companies are. You don't spend this much on marketing a thing you called "inevitable" unless you are seriously underwater and it ain't inevitable
November 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The sheer number of ads touting AI tells you how fucked and over-leveraged these companies are. You don't spend this much on marketing a thing you called "inevitable" unless you are seriously underwater and it ain't inevitable
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
The Southwest American
Fort Smith Arkansas,11.25.1917
Fort Smith Arkansas,11.25.1917
November 27, 2025 at 5:43 AM
The Southwest American
Fort Smith Arkansas,11.25.1917
Fort Smith Arkansas,11.25.1917
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
November 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
Canada made weird tv shows because it was all being done with government funded art grant money so they fell in this wacky middle ground between “shoestring budget” and “no expectation to generate shareholder value” which is really the best way to make art
November 26, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Canada made weird tv shows because it was all being done with government funded art grant money so they fell in this wacky middle ground between “shoestring budget” and “no expectation to generate shareholder value” which is really the best way to make art
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
lol Montresor, nice try
November 27, 2025 at 3:48 AM
lol Montresor, nice try
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
AND supporting your local library is super important! If you actually DO want books to be available to everyone, the library *already exists* and is staffed by the people who are deep in the trenches of fighting censorship! Supporting the library is doing actual good for your community!
TAPS SCREEN
For like the zillionth time: Libraries are FREE for you, but WE still get compensated for our work!!
For like the zillionth time: Libraries are FREE for you, but WE still get compensated for our work!!
Just saw someone claim that authors who want to be paid for their work are "class traitors" because we "only let the wealthy" read our books, and I think I need to go into the woods to scream into the night for a bit.
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 PM
AND supporting your local library is super important! If you actually DO want books to be available to everyone, the library *already exists* and is staffed by the people who are deep in the trenches of fighting censorship! Supporting the library is doing actual good for your community!
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
Today, in Utah, homeowners *or renters* can simply buy a solar panel at Costco, take it home, and plug it in to a wall socket, like an appliance. It just sits there & trims about 15-20% off a residential power bill. If you move to another apt., you can take it with you.
November 26, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Today, in Utah, homeowners *or renters* can simply buy a solar panel at Costco, take it home, and plug it in to a wall socket, like an appliance. It just sits there & trims about 15-20% off a residential power bill. If you move to another apt., you can take it with you.
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
defunctland videos are great because everyone in charge of disneyland for the past half century have been trying to carry out what they think walt would’ve wanted like they’re the patriots in MGS trying to carry out the boss’s will. coincidentally both involve giant robot dinosaurs
November 26, 2025 at 4:25 AM
defunctland videos are great because everyone in charge of disneyland for the past half century have been trying to carry out what they think walt would’ve wanted like they’re the patriots in MGS trying to carry out the boss’s will. coincidentally both involve giant robot dinosaurs
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
So this happened in Oslo yesterday. Four articulated buses got stuck in a roundabout.
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 AM
So this happened in Oslo yesterday. Four articulated buses got stuck in a roundabout.
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
And doctors are still paid as the result of daily LABOR.
They're WORKERS.
They're rich. But they're not The Rich.
This is not a high hurdle to get over, but I see people fall over it every day.
If you're equating doctors with Elon Musk, you are 100% not ready to be having these conversations.
They're WORKERS.
They're rich. But they're not The Rich.
This is not a high hurdle to get over, but I see people fall over it every day.
If you're equating doctors with Elon Musk, you are 100% not ready to be having these conversations.
doctor who makes 200K annual is VERY comfortable. That’s not wealth hoarding though lol
It’s Facebook and Amazon paying no taxes for the last decade, its being allowed to take out loans on unrealized gains in the hundreds of millions, capital gains tax lower than the tax rate of ppl who make 55k
It’s Facebook and Amazon paying no taxes for the last decade, its being allowed to take out loans on unrealized gains in the hundreds of millions, capital gains tax lower than the tax rate of ppl who make 55k
November 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
And doctors are still paid as the result of daily LABOR.
They're WORKERS.
They're rich. But they're not The Rich.
This is not a high hurdle to get over, but I see people fall over it every day.
If you're equating doctors with Elon Musk, you are 100% not ready to be having these conversations.
They're WORKERS.
They're rich. But they're not The Rich.
This is not a high hurdle to get over, but I see people fall over it every day.
If you're equating doctors with Elon Musk, you are 100% not ready to be having these conversations.
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
For people unaware and playing/streaming Where Winds Meet, it uses GenAI for NPC chat bots, and let's you import a photo of yourself and a voice clip for character creation, which I'm sure I don't need to explain why that is fucked up
And no AI disclosure on Steam 🙃
And no AI disclosure on Steam 🙃
November 26, 2025 at 9:55 AM
For people unaware and playing/streaming Where Winds Meet, it uses GenAI for NPC chat bots, and let's you import a photo of yourself and a voice clip for character creation, which I'm sure I don't need to explain why that is fucked up
And no AI disclosure on Steam 🙃
And no AI disclosure on Steam 🙃
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
From someone who didn't realize then uninstalled.
- Doesn't disclose usage on steam which is REQUIRED!
- used for character generation
- NPCs use chatbots, even if selective
- people reporting generated npc voices
"But it's not a core part-" Playing it is still supporting the fascist theft machine
- Doesn't disclose usage on steam which is REQUIRED!
- used for character generation
- NPCs use chatbots, even if selective
- people reporting generated npc voices
"But it's not a core part-" Playing it is still supporting the fascist theft machine
November 25, 2025 at 8:47 PM
From someone who didn't realize then uninstalled.
- Doesn't disclose usage on steam which is REQUIRED!
- used for character generation
- NPCs use chatbots, even if selective
- people reporting generated npc voices
"But it's not a core part-" Playing it is still supporting the fascist theft machine
- Doesn't disclose usage on steam which is REQUIRED!
- used for character generation
- NPCs use chatbots, even if selective
- people reporting generated npc voices
"But it's not a core part-" Playing it is still supporting the fascist theft machine
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
nose down ass up
that's the way we cyberstuck
that's the way we cyberstuck
November 26, 2025 at 3:58 PM
nose down ass up
that's the way we cyberstuck
that's the way we cyberstuck
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
Society is a construct. You can just ask someone to do a ska cover of Faith of the Heart and they'll say "$300 please" and you give it to them and then you have it.
Everyone, give
@skatunenetwork.bsky.social
your money. They deserve it.
Everyone, give
@skatunenetwork.bsky.social
your money. They deserve it.
November 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Society is a construct. You can just ask someone to do a ska cover of Faith of the Heart and they'll say "$300 please" and you give it to them and then you have it.
Everyone, give
@skatunenetwork.bsky.social
your money. They deserve it.
Everyone, give
@skatunenetwork.bsky.social
your money. They deserve it.
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Every video game with a character creator should release a mobile version of just the character creator
November 26, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Every video game with a character creator should release a mobile version of just the character creator
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
Bluesky not addictive to teens but definitely a crutch for elder millennials who know too much about the Bajoran war.
Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat know how addictive their platforms can be to teens.
Those are allegations a group of school districts is making against the social media giants, according to a newly unsealed legal filing that quotes the companies’ own internal documents. https://cnn.it/3Xjq5x5
Those are allegations a group of school districts is making against the social media giants, according to a newly unsealed legal filing that quotes the companies’ own internal documents. https://cnn.it/3Xjq5x5
November 26, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Bluesky not addictive to teens but definitely a crutch for elder millennials who know too much about the Bajoran war.
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
there were a couple weeks where i tried Perplexity to see if AI search engines were any good.
They aren't.
If you disagree let me make something clear: I am better at searching than you.
They aren't.
If you disagree let me make something clear: I am better at searching than you.
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 AM
there were a couple weeks where i tried Perplexity to see if AI search engines were any good.
They aren't.
If you disagree let me make something clear: I am better at searching than you.
They aren't.
If you disagree let me make something clear: I am better at searching than you.
Reposted by Stephen The Lesser
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.