Utopia 84

At the present time I think we are on the verge of discovering at last what programming languages should really be like. I look forward to seeing many responsible experiments with language design during the next few years; and my dream is that by 1984 we will see a consensus developing for a really good programming language (or, more likely, a coherent family of languages). Furthermore, I'm guessing that people will become so disenchanted with the languages they are now using -- even COBOL and FORTRAN -- that this new language, UTOPIA 84, will have a chance to take over. At present we are far from that goal, yet there are indications that such a language is very slowly taking shape.

— Structured Programming with go to Statements, Donald E. Knuth, Computing Surveys Vol 6, No. 4, December 1974.

I haven't finished this paper, but I had to share the quote. It's interesting to see how optimistic Knuth was. My reading of history is that what happened instead is that we know many good ideas, but have never solidly landed on a definitive best.

On Model View Culture

I have been a fan and (minor) supporter of Model View Culture for while. For me, it's perhaps one of the most relevant publications for this period of my life. 

The last week or so has been filled with drama. I will not recount it all, partially because I didn't follow it closely, partially because there are better sources. Here's some of what I've read: 

There's more, I'm sure, but that's a good enough overview. Keeping in mind Leigh Alexander's advice, I'm here mostly to amplify other voices, and to say that I still support MVC as a publication.

I'll be keeping an eye out for more feminist publications in tech -- If the fallout from this is that more venues exist, it could end up being a net positive. I encourage everyone to consider supporting publications like this. Small amounts, large amounts, whatever is within your comfort zone. 

I especially encourage you to think about these things if you're a white or asian male in the tech industry: Seeing your industry reflected back at you through the mirror of outsiders can be very painful, but it's absolutely worth while. 

    Destiny

     

    I really want to like Destiny. It seems so promising! A Sci-fi MMOish shooter: 

    I like sci-fi settings.

    I like shooters.

    I am even willing to take a tepid plunge into the MMO thing.

    The core loop of Destiny, the loot loop, should appeal to me: Angband had a really similar loop, and ate many hours of my high school life. 

    Yet Destiny doesn’t work for me. (If you read any reviews of Destiny, this will largely be a rehash I expect)

    My level 10 Warlock. 

    My level 10 Warlock. 

    The story of Destiny, what little there is, is built on mystery. But in the time I’ve played, so little mystery has been resolved, I’m left hopeless that any of it ever will be. The lore is built up in Grimoire cards, yet, disjointed paragraphs are no substitute for narrative. 

    At the end of the day, my biggest complaint is that Destiny is… boring. The setting feels generic; the fact that the story and setting is so heavily punted out the game really hurts it. The levels often feel like big open spaces… with nothing filling them. Very little life. 

    The enemies appear in fixed positions, and seem lifeless, operating on fixed patterns. Challenge only ever comes through large numbers. 

    The game is beautiful, and hits the sweet spot for control between a lot of aiming help and no aiming help (in my limited experience with console shooters — though I wish they’d chosen another mapping for running). Over all I find the game feels old. Destiny feels like it was designed just before Half Life. 

    Multiplayer should really be this games saving grace, but, no luck. 

    In the campaign, there’s only one matchmaking raid per level set. This is especially terrible since Bungie has largely punted on the in-game social aspect. Not that the matchmaking raids feel any good, as there’s no impetus for real cooperation. One player races ahead, doubling back only if someone dies… if they feel interested.. maybe.  

    In the Crucible (PvP) the loot cycle causes huge problems. I rarely feel like I’m winning or losing on skill, instead, I feel like I’m being destroyed by items or levels. Even if this is only a matter of perception, it still taints the game for me. 

    I think I might be done playing Destiny for a while… It’s too bad. I want to like it so much. It reminds me of EVE Online in that sense, yet, the gaps in the game just destroy my interest. 

     

    Starting a Connected 2015

    I have a reputation for being grumpy about the social web. Many years ago I had  Facebook account, but I have since deleted it. The closest I come to social media is a Twitter account, which has a very small real-world connection. 

    I find myself concerned by the actions of most social companies, I have concerns about the culture they promote and the long term side effects of what they are doing to the web, and the way the products are built. 

    However, I have come to the conclusion that being a prick about it  is just keeping me out of touch with people who only really use social media as communication channels. 

    So, January 1, 2015 I have signed up for a new Facebook account. I am going to start going to the services where my friends are. 

    Paranoia and Consequences

    I have been paying a lot more attention to feminism over the last few years. Reading more stories on sexism, sexual assault, etc.

    GamerGate in particular has weighed heavily on my mind. It's a nightmarish shitshow of men repeatedly attempting to destroy women, their reputations, and terrorizing them out of 'gamer' spaces and their own homes. Arthur Chu points out some roots in a touching personal essay, that I completely sympathize with. Allow me to be frank here: I can imagine a hypothetical path, in which my life went a little differently, where I could have become an absolute misogynist GamerGator. I hung out in the right communities and was sympathetic to the kinds of arguments that pervade those spaces. 

    One of the side effects of this is a paranoia I've developed. I am continuously terrified that I will find out that a friend or a co-worker is a gamer-gate supporter. This is not the justified fear Felicia Day had, but a fear that I will stand silent.  

    You see, I like the people I work with. I (obviously) like my friends. Yet, recent history has taught me that the internet allows people to be absolute fuckers on the internet, yet seem to be perfectly reasonable human beings in reality. I have moved halfway across the country recently, and am very hesitant to burn any bridges.  However, I have to stand up for what I believe

    Let me say this here and loud: 

    If I ever discover that any of you, my friends or co-workers, harass women, attack women, or participate in a movement that implicitly supports these actions, I will do everything in my power to remove you from my life, and see that the consequences you deserve fall upon you. 

    I will not be your silent aid.