Best Of
Re: The AI tsunami
If I don't know if what I'm consuming is true what's the point of taking it in?
What we 'consume'/take in/believe has never been completely true. Is it useful? AI, like socialisation, education and even our 'free' choices are interdependent with vested economic, political and other interests. Most of us know this.
The ancient and modern dharma stars, shine a light. There is our cue and cLue.
Back to Basics.
lobster
Re: Deliberatly Ending a Human life- How can we justify it ?
Euthanasia is legal in Switzerland. Someone we knew from there, who was in constant nerve pain, decided after visiting us to end her constant pain. She had aready decided we wer not causal ... You think she should just suffer incurable pain?
We looked after my mother at home with Alzhiemers/Dementia until a week before her death in hospital. She could not drink and was barely responsive. Two doctors recommended taking her off drips and support. Me and my siblings agreed to this. We did not have to BUT she would never have wanted to be a burden. She was very well looked after by the NHS.
So to answer your question. Suffering is optional. Not for you? OK, don't!
Job done.
You are not offensive. Did you want everyone to suffer for your preferences? Just askin'. 
lobster
Re: Buddhist quotes
"You live most of your life inside your head
Make sure it's a nice place to be"
Shoshin1
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
Today I showed up at my job and the lady who I've done lots of work for in the past was on the phone saying her computer had been hacked and that it was bad. She was obviously worried, I heard the person on the phone asked who was there and then started work while she went to her bedroom for some privacy.
Pretty quickly I thought that a computer hack is usually just the first step and then they want to get you on the phone to reel you in and my customer is very trusting. So I decided to go knock on her door to ask who she was talking to, she said it was Apple support and that she checked to make sure. I then went about my business but something didn't sit right with me. I've done work for her sister and brother in law too who live close, so I texted him and said what was up. He called and we talked for a bit then he said he was coming over. I figured even if there was nothing fishy, she was distraught and could still use some emotional and tech support.
She basically told him the same thing and continued the call, but eventually the "tech support" wanted her bank info and she said she was going to vomit and hang up. She then checked with her banks and everything was alright, she didn't give them anything bad.
Just something that happened today, that I feel good about having the knowledge to spot a problem, the willingness to listen to my gut and the motivation to let someone else know.
person
Re: Not biting the hook
Examples of the real worm with embed hook:
1. Immigration "Problem" Needs an effective solution.
Hook - (Trump Administration) Deport all the "illegal" immigrants
Not enough - Artificially create more
Result: Crops rot in the fields, construction slows down or halts, eateries close,
Families torn apart, small businesses crippled, communities devastated
The people setting that hook want a land controlled by of Rich "Christian" Whites
and poor "Christian" whites to keep everyone else down and in line.
- Attacked (Israel)
Hook - We must eliminate the threat (Hamas)
Result - Total devastation, Thousands of innocents killed, from children to aid
workers...
[Now the plan is to occupy (annex) the West Bank - apparently the plan all along]
These are Real World extreme examples at national/international level
At the individual level, we face countless hooks. Usually not near as horrendous as the above. In relationships, the bait is proffered seemingly freely. The hook is to get you to say or do something not really benefiting you, but for the "benefit" of whoever is offering the bait.
We also self bait and hook. "If I only had X......" The I would be happy.
Only to find our efforts in vain, even upon acquiring X.
By becoming aware, by being grateful for what we do have, appreciating ourselves, we can see the bait for what it is. We can control our actions as individuals and not become blinded by our own illusion and the illusions of the bait put forth by others. We do not make of ourselves victims.
Peace to all
Lionduck
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
After the Zen honeymoon, one has to bite the dire dust reality can offer to the voracious "YOU" !!
Kotishka