4 ms·

It's not really baffling. The underlying analog nature of bits becomes problematic when many bits become ambiguous. When nearly all of them are unambiguous, pre

by dolni 6y ago

It's not really baffling. The underlying analog nature of bits becomes problematic when many bits become ambiguous. When nearly all of them are unambiguous, presenting bits as strictly on or off is perfectly serviceable. As almost everyone using a computer needn't care about the hidden analog nature of bits, most of society needn't care that sex rarely manifests in a non-binary way. All that needs to be said to most people is "be a decent human being."

tomlockwood 6y ago
If we were reading an article about the nature of bits in a real computer system, I'd expect it to say they aren't discrete. I'm not even sure what you're proposing anymore.
eyelidlessness 6y ago
> It's not really baffling. The underlying analog nature of bits becomes problematic when many bits become ambiguous. When nearly all of them are unambiguous, presenting bits as strictly on or off is perfectly serviceable. It’s baffling because it acknowledges then discards the ambiguity, and for the reasons that ambiguity is important which I already addressed. It has nothing to do with volume of ambiguity: a semiconductor product which misrepresents 0.01% of its bits is probably less serviceable than one which misrepresents 10%. > As almost everyone using a computer needn't care about the hidden analog nature of bits, most of society needn't care that sex rarely manifests in a non-binary way. All that needs to be said to most people is "be a decent human being." When both biological sex and social gender are non-binary for some of the population, insisting that they are is counterproductive to the directive to “be a decent human being”. Disacknowledging the reality of another person’s real experience is one of the most common tools used to neglect their needs, and ultimately to abuse and oppress them.

4 ms·

It's not really baffling. The underlying analog nature of bits becomes problematic when many bits become ambiguous. When nearly all of them are unambiguous, pre

by dolni 6y ago

tomlockwood 6y ago
If we were reading an article about the nature of bits in a real computer system, I'd expect it to say they aren't discrete. I'm not even sure what you're proposing anymore.
eyelidlessness 6y ago
> It's not really baffling. The underlying analog nature of bits becomes problematic when many bits become ambiguous. When nearly all of them are unambiguous, presenting bits as strictly on or off is perfectly serviceable. It’s baffling because it acknowledges then discards the ambiguity, and for the reasons that ambiguity is important which I already addressed. It has nothing to do with volume of ambiguity: a semiconductor product which misrepresents 0.01% of its bits is probably less serviceable than one which misrepresents 10%. > As almost everyone using a computer needn't care about the hidden analog nature of bits, most of society needn't care that sex rarely manifests in a non-binary way. All that needs to be said to most people is "be a decent human being." When both biological sex and social gender are non-binary for some of the population, insisting that they are is counterproductive to the directive to “be a decent human being”. Disacknowledging the reality of another person’s real experience is one of the most common tools used to neglect their needs, and ultimately to abuse and oppress them.