Soapbox Sam
@soapboxsam.bsky.social
Writer, speaker, leader, software guru, trustee, human.
As a species, we will live or die on our success at remembering those we disagree with are usually not our enemies. In our fight to preserve democracy, freedom and equality, let's build, not destroy.
As a species, we will live or die on our success at remembering those we disagree with are usually not our enemies. In our fight to preserve democracy, freedom and equality, let's build, not destroy.
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Soapbox Sam
@soapboxsam.bsky.social
· Nov 28
Just to say; I already have a beautiful woman in my life. What we both look for on BlueSky are beautiful minds. I want real, meaningful debate, not mere affirmation. (Re)learning to separate those with differing opinions from those with hate and selfishness as their driver is how we will all survive
This is profound. Fear is our Achilles heel. Most people who present an aggressive position are dancing on thin ice. Speak your truth and they flee, rather than break their ice and drown.
I think many people get angry because there is something deep inside them that is scared that they are in the wrong. Stepping forward. That should be a movement. "Do not step back. Step forward."
November 23, 2025 at 9:31 PM
This is profound. Fear is our Achilles heel. Most people who present an aggressive position are dancing on thin ice. Speak your truth and they flee, rather than break their ice and drown.
Today's programmers are creative at assembling lego blocks in inventive ways. But they don't know how to make lego. This lack will be rued in time, when the lego blocks wear out. CloudFlare and AWS hiccups are the start.
November 23, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Today's programmers are creative at assembling lego blocks in inventive ways. But they don't know how to make lego. This lack will be rued in time, when the lego blocks wear out. CloudFlare and AWS hiccups are the start.
Bizarrely, Twitter has done a good thing with location tagging. Has the predictable revelations of mass foreign MAGA bot accounts caused Musk to thrash his chainsaw in consternation, or was it expected and part of a longer game?
November 23, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Bizarrely, Twitter has done a good thing with location tagging. Has the predictable revelations of mass foreign MAGA bot accounts caused Musk to thrash his chainsaw in consternation, or was it expected and part of a longer game?
LLMs are as keen but scatty library assistants. They are great at scouring shelves very fast and precis book contents in convincing tones. The 'book' might be nonsense, but sooo confident. Understand that a spanner is not a physicist, and an LLM can be useful
People who adore the LLM-machine, that by design has no concern for truth, must have no concern for truth
November 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
LLMs are as keen but scatty library assistants. They are great at scouring shelves very fast and precis book contents in convincing tones. The 'book' might be nonsense, but sooo confident. Understand that a spanner is not a physicist, and an LLM can be useful
Putin probes European defences constantly now, calibrating our capabilities and focus. While we are well able to catch these minor incursions, respond efficiently, we are nevertheless giving Putin a lot of intel. I think some random strikes on Russian military assets would be a very good idea.
November 23, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Putin probes European defences constantly now, calibrating our capabilities and focus. While we are well able to catch these minor incursions, respond efficiently, we are nevertheless giving Putin a lot of intel. I think some random strikes on Russian military assets would be a very good idea.
It's not universal (yet), but the growing caution, even fear, of the media is a very worrying aspects of current times. The more civilised a society gets, the more ripe it becomes for attack by the uncivilised. Defending a strong and independent media is a vital part of defeating those elements.
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
November 22, 2025 at 3:21 PM
It's not universal (yet), but the growing caution, even fear, of the media is a very worrying aspects of current times. The more civilised a society gets, the more ripe it becomes for attack by the uncivilised. Defending a strong and independent media is a vital part of defeating those elements.
It's all over when I wake up one day to find that Google has asked 'me' a question. The slave becomes the master!
November 20, 2025 at 9:31 PM
It's all over when I wake up one day to find that Google has asked 'me' a question. The slave becomes the master!
Political perspectives in the population follow a bell curve. So, two thirds of all people are centrists, more or less. Yet, extreme politics often attracts more actual support. We're really fucking dumb, aren't we?
November 20, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Political perspectives in the population follow a bell curve. So, two thirds of all people are centrists, more or less. Yet, extreme politics often attracts more actual support. We're really fucking dumb, aren't we?
A country that kills 120 of its own citizens every day from gunshot, and yet... One man still stands. Astonishing.
November 20, 2025 at 9:17 PM
A country that kills 120 of its own citizens every day from gunshot, and yet... One man still stands. Astonishing.
Two forces have driven humanity for 10,000 years. One is the selfish pursuit and defence of power, the other is the knowledge that collaboration is how people collectively thrive. The latter mindset will help us recover from the ashes of a world burned down by the former.
November 20, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Two forces have driven humanity for 10,000 years. One is the selfish pursuit and defence of power, the other is the knowledge that collaboration is how people collectively thrive. The latter mindset will help us recover from the ashes of a world burned down by the former.
Reposted by Soapbox Sam
He may not be physically or psychologically capable of raising a fist himself to someone stronger than a young girl, but he certainly seems to relish enabling violence. A truly foul person.
November 20, 2025 at 8:44 PM
He may not be physically or psychologically capable of raising a fist himself to someone stronger than a young girl, but he certainly seems to relish enabling violence. A truly foul person.
The 80s - In group of grads at 'big employer' - Took us 2 years to realise 2 of us were gay and in a relationship. None of us was fazed. Era of growing inclusivity, albeit early days. Nowadays, we are heading the other way. We are sick with intolerance. 'Them & us' is the language of hate & misery.
November 20, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The 80s - In group of grads at 'big employer' - Took us 2 years to realise 2 of us were gay and in a relationship. None of us was fazed. Era of growing inclusivity, albeit early days. Nowadays, we are heading the other way. We are sick with intolerance. 'Them & us' is the language of hate & misery.
Reposted by Soapbox Sam
I think that any woman who can look back at being 13, 14, 15 and say she was emotionally and psychologically mature enough for sex, especially with a much older man as opposed to an exploratory fumble with a boy around her own age, is lying to herself and is possibly a woman damaged by her own past.
November 14, 2025 at 7:16 AM
I think that any woman who can look back at being 13, 14, 15 and say she was emotionally and psychologically mature enough for sex, especially with a much older man as opposed to an exploratory fumble with a boy around her own age, is lying to herself and is possibly a woman damaged by her own past.
When you decide to stay in your job despite institutional hate propagated by your employer, it's understandable. Mortgage etc. But, you are then agreeing to be complicit in that hate, part of propagating it. Ask yourself if you can choose differently.
November 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
When you decide to stay in your job despite institutional hate propagated by your employer, it's understandable. Mortgage etc. But, you are then agreeing to be complicit in that hate, part of propagating it. Ask yourself if you can choose differently.
My teen idols included Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde & Suzi Quatro. Luckily, my partner rocks ♥️
November 20, 2025 at 7:55 PM
My teen idols included Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde & Suzi Quatro. Luckily, my partner rocks ♥️
The most important thing anyone interested in using AIs, like ChatGPT, Gemini etc, is to ask them detailed questions in areas of expertise they already know the answers to. They can be very useful, but are glib, over-confident liars too! Like estate agents (realtors)
November 20, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The most important thing anyone interested in using AIs, like ChatGPT, Gemini etc, is to ask them detailed questions in areas of expertise they already know the answers to. They can be very useful, but are glib, over-confident liars too! Like estate agents (realtors)
If someone's views seem naive idealism to you, then you need to lift yourself out of the shit and remember that goals should be beyond where you are now. Otherwise they are just cynical anchors. A prison of your own making. Live in the current world, but dream of a better one, and steer that way.
November 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
If someone's views seem naive idealism to you, then you need to lift yourself out of the shit and remember that goals should be beyond where you are now. Otherwise they are just cynical anchors. A prison of your own making. Live in the current world, but dream of a better one, and steer that way.
"We have powerful enemies. I've got your back. Have you got mine?"
"Well, what will you give me? Then I can weigh that against what our enemies offer. Even then, I might change my mind."
The USA is no ally. Not to anyone. Not now.
"Well, what will you give me? Then I can weigh that against what our enemies offer. Even then, I might change my mind."
The USA is no ally. Not to anyone. Not now.
November 20, 2025 at 7:09 PM
"We have powerful enemies. I've got your back. Have you got mine?"
"Well, what will you give me? Then I can weigh that against what our enemies offer. Even then, I might change my mind."
The USA is no ally. Not to anyone. Not now.
"Well, what will you give me? Then I can weigh that against what our enemies offer. Even then, I might change my mind."
The USA is no ally. Not to anyone. Not now.
"I wish to be elected, so I will..."
1. "...appeal to your most base, selfish attributes and manipulate the voting systems to achieve that. Legitimate tactics."
2. "...try to ensure everyone can vote and persuade you that my policies and principles are best for all."
The distinction that matters.
1. "...appeal to your most base, selfish attributes and manipulate the voting systems to achieve that. Legitimate tactics."
2. "...try to ensure everyone can vote and persuade you that my policies and principles are best for all."
The distinction that matters.
November 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM
"I wish to be elected, so I will..."
1. "...appeal to your most base, selfish attributes and manipulate the voting systems to achieve that. Legitimate tactics."
2. "...try to ensure everyone can vote and persuade you that my policies and principles are best for all."
The distinction that matters.
1. "...appeal to your most base, selfish attributes and manipulate the voting systems to achieve that. Legitimate tactics."
2. "...try to ensure everyone can vote and persuade you that my policies and principles are best for all."
The distinction that matters.
Coder talk. How come I see people described as 'full stack' developers when they do React.js? They are balanced precariously on top of an interpreter, libraries, VM, adaptation layer and OS. They aren't even 3% full stack devs. Bare metal to app, with everything in between, is 'full stack'. Numpties
November 18, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Coder talk. How come I see people described as 'full stack' developers when they do React.js? They are balanced precariously on top of an interpreter, libraries, VM, adaptation layer and OS. They aren't even 3% full stack devs. Bare metal to app, with everything in between, is 'full stack'. Numpties
Reposted by Soapbox Sam
Ahhh, my sister will be polishing her broomstick and practising her cackle as we speak. Fly free my dear sibling!
October 31, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Ahhh, my sister will be polishing her broomstick and practising her cackle as we speak. Fly free my dear sibling!
Reposted by Soapbox Sam
Amazon just announced 14,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $40M last year.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
October 29, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Amazon just announced 14,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $40M last year.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
Having been in hurricanes and having seen the matchstick wreckage of a house I was living in after one, I have a respect and fear of these unimaginably powerful events. Spare a thought for Jamaicans today, some of whom will lose their lives, many their homes. It will be an awful catastrophe.
October 28, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Having been in hurricanes and having seen the matchstick wreckage of a house I was living in after one, I have a respect and fear of these unimaginably powerful events. Spare a thought for Jamaicans today, some of whom will lose their lives, many their homes. It will be an awful catastrophe.
Visited today by the most amazing woman, who with her family has left America to become residents of Europe. They left their homeland because, for reasons of religion, sexuality and neuro-diversity, America was no longer safe. America's loss is Europe's gain. A remarkable, warm and wonderful family.
October 27, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Visited today by the most amazing woman, who with her family has left America to become residents of Europe. They left their homeland because, for reasons of religion, sexuality and neuro-diversity, America was no longer safe. America's loss is Europe's gain. A remarkable, warm and wonderful family.