nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Come to mine for coffee and a chat! (Might need a bit more than an hour though)
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Come to mine for coffee and a chat! (Might need a bit more than an hour though)
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Really? I read the piece I think you're referring to, and it's not anti science or anti vax. It doesn't even mention vaccines once. You should provide evidence if you're going to make accusations like that.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
You're a communist. So I guess we're both guilty.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
May I suggest you read (or even better see a production of) The Crucible. Its relevance today is searing.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
But this post isn't suggesting people don't buy the HP codenames (I'm not planning to either). It's suggesting all the publishers games should be boycotted. Buying regular codenames doesn't give JKR a penny. This kind of overreaction does far more harm than good IMHO.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
In what way have the publishers decided to side again human rights? They've made a game themed around one of the most popular IPs in the world. You may not like HP or its author but that doesn't mean a game featuring a wizard is "against human rights" in any reasonable sense.
Heyyy singing fans of Surrey, London and nearby... Want to see the UK's nerdiest choir performing? For free?? Come to CHOIRBLAST in Godalming (GU7 1HR), 14 June! https://www.choirblast.com/festival We'll be there with lots of other singers - please do […] [Original post on med-mastodon.com]
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Perfect 👌
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Well done for demonstrating the genius strategy that has caused trans rights to lose so thoroughly.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Agree uk is mixed. And that poll clearly shows JKR is in the mainstream of public opinion across the broad range of issues in the topic.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
What positions does she hold that aren't middle of the road? Her views on gender are held by most people in the UK.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social)
I'm going to be singing (along with prog-rock band PressX and the self titled Nerd Violinist) at the Clapham Grand in the biggest concert yet for Ready Singer 1! claphamgrand.com/event/ready-...
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Really? Interesting. I'd always understood the trend to be positive (as it should be given improved technology). Do you have a good link you can share?
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
After all, historically gdp being higher than inflation is not unusual.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Agreed. I don't think higher spending/lower taxes will be feasible any time soon. I just think the question could be interpreted as asking whether such a thing can ever occur, which I think it can. So answering possible is highly optimistic but not insane.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Really? Surely if gdp rises significantly you can increase real terms spending whilst cutting tax rates (slightly) since spending is decreasing as share of gdp but rising in absolute terms.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
At first sight that seems silly but of course it is possible IF you have strong economic growth. Which I admit is a big if, but given all political parties keep promising a return to growth it's not a totally crazy belief is it?
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
"Won lifetime cheese supply. Lactose intolerant"
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
"The cheese multiplied. I moved out."
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Can you give an example of one of these experts?
Take a listen to explore the Jewniverse! #jewsky
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Sorry maybe I'm being dense but where is the misgendering in the article. Nowhere is Dr Upton's gender identity questioned, indeed its barely mentioned. Where is Dr Upton misgendered?
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
many cancellations eg being removed from a game kotaku.com/ubisoft-to-r... and most recently this www.quackometer.net/blog/2023/11... . Gillian Philip, once a successful author, dropped for tweeting #IstandwithJKRowling www.heraldscotland.com/news/1856455...
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Ok - here are 3: Carol Hooven, author of Testosterone. Lost job at Harvard and had talks/events cancelled. whyevolutionistrue.com/2022/11/11/t... Helen Lewis, brilliant writer with v.moderate mainstream views. Yes, she's now established enough that she can get work thank goodness, but has faced 1/x
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Are you sure? It's at least 70 years isn't it? I'm intrigued who these cases are.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Thank you for your honesty in providing a the perfect argument against your thesis! 😉
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
...signficant downsides. Obviously my proposal will have some downsides (eg Mick Jaggers next of kin will be very slightly less well off in 2043). I've just not thought of any ones I consider major. But that may well be my lack of insight which is why I'm insterested in other people's thoughts. 2/2
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
I guess I have confidence/optimism/hope that through rational thought and debate we can get a good enough idea of whether a policy will be beneficial or not and we can then try it - whilst being sure to look for unexpected downsides and being flexible enough to change. And I should have said 1/2
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Ex-Lib Dem member here. I'm afraid I left when the party abandoned its principles (such as liberalism and freedom of thought) and became an anti-science, anti-women party. Sorry but I can't imagine ever supporting the LDs again.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Well yes. But my proposal would be any existing copyright terms would be cut to 20 years if currently longer. So no one would lose a penny for >20 years (and even then only a small number of individuals). So to me that's is a gradual change which will in any case be dwarfed by the AI tidal wave.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Ok cool. As I say, my questions to you earlier were never meant to be attacks. Rather I'm always interested to hear if there are counter-arguments to my ideas. I favour a much more radical cut and am curious if there are downsides. I've yet to hear a convincing one.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Ok fine- happy to start again. You're an interesting and rational thinker who has thought about copyright and is open to the idea of change. What do you think about the idea that copyright should be based on publication date not death of author and should be much shorter (eg 20 years from release)?
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
See other tweet for apology if tone was wrong. The limited space means I'm trying to fit in my argument without space for lots of pleasantries which perhaps comes across as abrupt. But I'm purely interested in the rational arguments for either side - not wanting to attack anyway, certainly not you
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
I'm curious to know your argument. Sorry if it came across as bad tempered, it wasn't meant to. I'm new here so perhaps I'm still in a twitter mode. To reiterate I think you're absolutely right about shortening and would like to hear reasoned arguments against further shortening. No attack intended.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Fair point: what you suggest is certainly moving in the right direction. I just think not anywhere near enough. And when I suggested what I think would be a better copyright model you said it was wrong (at least that's how I understood you). So if you think it should be longer than 20 years from 1/2
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
I think the amount I could earn from exploiting that one idea over and over again for 20 years will be plenty of recompense. Knowing the copyright will expire in my lifetime will give me an incentive to come up with a new idea & I've got 2 decades to do it. So we get more creative ideas not fewer.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Fine - then consider a lone inventor who invents a better butter knife in her shed. Why should he only have protection for 20 years from invention. And why should the amount of money an artist be reduced if they get hit by a bus a year later vs living another 60 years. You've not made the case.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
I love my residuals (as a TV director) but the contribution from works over 10 years old is miniscule - and idea that I'm still entitled to payments for work I did more than 2 decades for (and was paid for) is bizarre. There are a myriad better ways to support artists now.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Why so long and why linked to death rather than publication? If I invent a cure of cancer I get patent protection from 20 years from that point. Why should writing a nice tune be more protected? 20 years is plenty and will only make a difference to the 0.001% of artists who are earning loads anyway.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
of innocent civilians in the name of decolonial education. They boast about this making others "uneasy". Think of the very real distress these comments will cause to people grieving the murder of family members. Not a word from the people who said Cuthbert had to be cancelled. I hope they reconsider
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social)
A few weeks ago a female academic was cancelled from an education conference because her softly spoken voice would make people unsafe. She argued that some aspects of modern education are problematic - surely an opinion worth hearing even if wrong? Now we have academics celebrating the murder 1/2
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social)
I'd love to move across to this place and abandon toxic-space-man. But the level of engagement is so wildly different. I posted my article here and got 1 like. On the other place, 570 likes and over 45000 views. Obviously that's purely network effects but shows how hard moving will be.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social)
I've written a piece about the sad state of the Green Party. The greens should be about tolerant, respectful, rational politics - not bullying women for have the "wrong" opinions. We should be uniting to fight climate change, not throwing abuse at each other: thecritic.co.uk/it-isnt-easy...
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Ok interesting. Seems that Rethink disagree with you. They now say she was right to be invited and that they were entirely wrong to cancel her. Their updated statement is a v.positive step www.rethinking-ed.org/rethinking-e... - Look forward to hearing you defend the indefensible 😉
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
I'd be very interested to hear why you think DDU shouldn't be heard - but maybe this isn't the place? And not sure what you mean by besmirched? I'd hope you agree that cancelling Dr Cuthbert and using "safety" as an excuse was a dreadful thing to do and RE have rightly been criticised for that.
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
Shame! What do you make of the Dr Cuthbert story? As reported it seems utterly damning, but maybe there's more to it. Understand you might not want to comment here (even in the friendly environment of bluesky!) You around in London tomorrow?
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social) reply parent
You back at LaSwap?
nathankw.bsky.social (@nathankw.bsky.social)
It's like real life Wipeout!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaQpDUfPZr0&t=1s