Aaron "Ayayron" Kitzmiller
@ayayronk.bsky.social
Should have put the sarcasm tag on it
November 27, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Should have put the sarcasm tag on it
He's right, though. Translating the requests of human beings and all their underlying assumptions is the exact same rote thing that converting code into assembly is. And you can figure out what every user needs for their specific business process by guessing based on the internet average.
November 27, 2025 at 2:04 PM
He's right, though. Translating the requests of human beings and all their underlying assumptions is the exact same rote thing that converting code into assembly is. And you can figure out what every user needs for their specific business process by guessing based on the internet average.
The point is a bit more general than cops. We're a society of 350 million people. Authority over certain things has to be delegated to specialists. The existence of corruption is inevitable, but it doesn't have to dominate.
November 26, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The point is a bit more general than cops. We're a society of 350 million people. Authority over certain things has to be delegated to specialists. The existence of corruption is inevitable, but it doesn't have to dominate.
I have never left with less than a $200 bill
November 26, 2025 at 6:07 PM
I have never left with less than a $200 bill
Try this at Costco. I dare you.
November 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Try this at Costco. I dare you.
... makers. Gotta make sure there are more good ones than bad ones.
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
... makers. Gotta make sure there are more good ones than bad ones.
... take a bullet for a total stranger. The other was the bully that wanted to swagger around with a badge and a gun and punch somebody in hand cuffs. The kind of police department you have depends on which of those two is winning."
There are always going to be cops, elites, decision-...
There are always going to be cops, elites, decision-...
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
... take a bullet for a total stranger. The other was the bully that wanted to swagger around with a badge and a gun and punch somebody in hand cuffs. The kind of police department you have depends on which of those two is winning."
There are always going to be cops, elites, decision-...
There are always going to be cops, elites, decision-...
... of the occupants.
One of my son's baseball coaches, a pretty solidly red-leaning person, after, I think, Michael Brown's death and protests said about cops:
"I knew two kinds of people from high school that went on to be cops. One kind was the best kind of person you'd ever know. Would ...
One of my son's baseball coaches, a pretty solidly red-leaning person, after, I think, Michael Brown's death and protests said about cops:
"I knew two kinds of people from high school that went on to be cops. One kind was the best kind of person you'd ever know. Would ...
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
... of the occupants.
One of my son's baseball coaches, a pretty solidly red-leaning person, after, I think, Michael Brown's death and protests said about cops:
"I knew two kinds of people from high school that went on to be cops. One kind was the best kind of person you'd ever know. Would ...
One of my son's baseball coaches, a pretty solidly red-leaning person, after, I think, Michael Brown's death and protests said about cops:
"I knew two kinds of people from high school that went on to be cops. One kind was the best kind of person you'd ever know. Would ...
... in the institutions rather than the institutions themselves. The distinction between today's Harvard and a generic "elite institution" is as important today as the distinction between Ketanji Brown-Jackson and Samuel Alito. The institution exists and life hinges on the quality...
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
... in the institutions rather than the institutions themselves. The distinction between today's Harvard and a generic "elite institution" is as important today as the distinction between Ketanji Brown-Jackson and Samuel Alito. The institution exists and life hinges on the quality...
If you're talking in the generic "American elites are generally comfortable with authoritarianism", I do not dispute. The fact that Harvard is behaving differently than Columbia may be a stroke of luck.
But if Trump 2 teaches anything it's that what holds democracy together is the people...
But if Trump 2 teaches anything it's that what holds democracy together is the people...
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
If you're talking in the generic "American elites are generally comfortable with authoritarianism", I do not dispute. The fact that Harvard is behaving differently than Columbia may be a stroke of luck.
But if Trump 2 teaches anything it's that what holds democracy together is the people...
But if Trump 2 teaches anything it's that what holds democracy together is the people...
... once in a while to ensure Schwarzman types keep donating.
I'm pretty happy so far with what I've seen from Garber and most of the folks I know are cautiously optimistic.
I'm pretty happy so far with what I've seen from Garber and most of the folks I know are cautiously optimistic.
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
... once in a while to ensure Schwarzman types keep donating.
I'm pretty happy so far with what I've seen from Garber and most of the folks I know are cautiously optimistic.
I'm pretty happy so far with what I've seen from Garber and most of the folks I know are cautiously optimistic.
... attitude of the institution. It's been around for 400 years, it's an internationally known elite university and no one wants to rock that boat. You have to be friendly to diversity because you attract scientists worldwide, but you also have to through asshole politicians an IOP fellowship ...
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
... attitude of the institution. It's been around for 400 years, it's an internationally known elite university and no one wants to rock that boat. You have to be friendly to diversity because you attract scientists worldwide, but you also have to through asshole politicians an IOP fellowship ...
... because of the prestige. If the institution is well run, there is a balance. You have to admit turds like Donald Trump because dad made a massive donation or some shits like Ted Cruz, but you also attract the best actual students.
I think small "c" conservative is really the overall...
I think small "c" conservative is really the overall...
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
... because of the prestige. If the institution is well run, there is a balance. You have to admit turds like Donald Trump because dad made a massive donation or some shits like Ted Cruz, but you also attract the best actual students.
I think small "c" conservative is really the overall...
I think small "c" conservative is really the overall...
... but it is very much in the prestige business. Elites spend lots of money in tuition and donations to gain prestige and Harvard gets more prestige for attracting the elites. It does also work hard to bring in just plain quality students and scientists and they apply from all over the world...
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
... but it is very much in the prestige business. Elites spend lots of money in tuition and donations to gain prestige and Harvard gets more prestige for attracting the elites. It does also work hard to bring in just plain quality students and scientists and they apply from all over the world...
I don't really have any close working relationship with high level deans or members of the board. I do know some of the lower level deans at least in my school and have chatted with them about how Harvard has been managed.
H. does great science and supports lots of great overall academic work...
H. does great science and supports lots of great overall academic work...
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I don't really have any close working relationship with high level deans or members of the board. I do know some of the lower level deans at least in my school and have chatted with them about how Harvard has been managed.
H. does great science and supports lots of great overall academic work...
H. does great science and supports lots of great overall academic work...
massive donations from Stephen Schwarzman without being able to handle bad actors. An authoritarian government is a different thing and push back from Harvard is legit.
November 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
massive donations from Stephen Schwarzman without being able to handle bad actors. An authoritarian government is a different thing and push back from Harvard is legit.
Academic institutions are always attacked when authoritarians come in to power. To run an academic institution and be comfortable with authoritarians is what I would call malicious.
This is not to say that Harvard the institution doesn't rub elbows with some shitty people. You don't get ...
This is not to say that Harvard the institution doesn't rub elbows with some shitty people. You don't get ...
November 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Academic institutions are always attacked when authoritarians come in to power. To run an academic institution and be comfortable with authoritarians is what I would call malicious.
This is not to say that Harvard the institution doesn't rub elbows with some shitty people. You don't get ...
This is not to say that Harvard the institution doesn't rub elbows with some shitty people. You don't get ...
Yeah. We'll probably see a die off that concentrates higher ed in the elite colleges.
You'd think big companies that rely on pre-trained engineers, etc. would be arguing for MORE uni funds. Unfortunately, our biz execs are really just bean counters with little thought for their actual business.
You'd think big companies that rely on pre-trained engineers, etc. would be arguing for MORE uni funds. Unfortunately, our biz execs are really just bean counters with little thought for their actual business.
November 26, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Yeah. We'll probably see a die off that concentrates higher ed in the elite colleges.
You'd think big companies that rely on pre-trained engineers, etc. would be arguing for MORE uni funds. Unfortunately, our biz execs are really just bean counters with little thought for their actual business.
You'd think big companies that rely on pre-trained engineers, etc. would be arguing for MORE uni funds. Unfortunately, our biz execs are really just bean counters with little thought for their actual business.
Maybe malicious is a better term
November 26, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Maybe malicious is a better term
They are not evil. Small "c" conservative, yes. Extremely so, yes. But not evil.
November 26, 2025 at 3:19 PM
They are not evil. Small "c" conservative, yes. Extremely so, yes. But not evil.
If society as a whole is refreshed and reinvigorated by this fight against reactionary MAGA crap, but some institutions decline, I can be OK with that. Would be sad to "lose" Harvard though. Been working there for 14 years and for all it's flaws it is a truly great place.
November 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
If society as a whole is refreshed and reinvigorated by this fight against reactionary MAGA crap, but some institutions decline, I can be OK with that. Would be sad to "lose" Harvard though. Been working there for 14 years and for all it's flaws it is a truly great place.