Post: #101

Episode 3, I don't understand how that kid killed a fully grown man. They both didn't look like they lifted but that kid was a total pussy/weirdo. Overall I thought the hackers were hilarious, that would have been the lulz for the ages.

Post: #102

It is interesting that hackers didn't reveal themselves at the end and we don't know anything about them.

Post: #103

I just finished watching 1st episode of season 1, "National Anthem". That was the most uncomfortable television I've ever seen but I couldn't stop watching.

Post: #104

The last episode of season 3 was by far my favourite of the season. First 30 minutes I had no idea what direction it was going and thought it was boring but it ended up being great.

Post: #105

(10-22-2016 01:33 PM)Enoch Wrote:  Just watched the first episode of season 3 - absolutely incredible. It feels like we might be 5 years or less away from that, with google glass type tech rather than contact lenses.

(10-22-2016 07:46 AM)Zelcorpion Wrote:  1) Social media control where everyone can rate anyone and the ones with the highest social media scores win the game getting perks, prices and better jobs. This is already being implemented in China! The people get negative scores for being non-PC or even associating with non-PC people online or real life!

Sesame Credit - China 'social credit': Beijing sets up huge system

Quote:In most countries, the existence of a credit system isn't controversial. Past financial information is used to predict whether individuals will pay their mortgages or credit card bill in the future.

But China is taking the whole concept a few steps further. The Chinese government is building an omnipotent "social credit" system that is meant to rate each citizen's trustworthiness.

By 2020, everyone in China will be enrolled in a vast national database that compiles fiscal and government information, including minor traffic violations, and distils it into a single number ranking each citizen.

That system isn't in place yet. For now, the government is watching how eight Chinese companies issue their own "social credit" scores under state-approved pilot projects.

One of the most high-profile projects is by Sesame Credit, the financial wing of Alibaba. With 400 million users, Alibaba is the world's biggest online shopping platform. It's using its unique database of consumer information to compile individual "social credit" scores.

Users are encouraged to flaunt their good credit scores to friends, and even potential mates. China's biggest matchmaking service, Baihe, has teamed up with Sesame to promote clients with good credit scores, giving them prominent spots on the company's website.

"A person's appearance is very important," explains Baihe's vice-president, Zhuan Yirong. "But it's more important to be able make a living. Your partner's fortune guarantees a comfortable life."

More and more of Baihe's 90 million clients are displaying their credit scores in their dating profiles, doing away with the idea that a credit score is a private matter.

However, Sesame Credit will not divulge exactly how it calculates its credit scores, explaining that it is a "complex algorithm".

The company refused to give an interview to the BBC, citing concerns that the government would refuse to grant a permanent licence to issue credit scores if it engaged with the foreign media.

Instead, their spokeswoman issued a statement, discounting persistent rumours that the organisation monitors users' social media activity when assessing their social credit.

Sesame Credit tracks "financial and consumption activities of our users, and materials published on social media platforms do not affect our users' personal Sesame Credit score," explained spokeswoman Miranda Shek.

Sesame rates the online financial transactions of those using Alibaba's payment system, in addition to data it obtains from its partners including the taxi service Didi Kuaidi, rating whether users bothered to settle taxi payments.

Controversially, the company does not hide that it judges the types of products shoppers buy online.

"Someone who plays video games for 10 hours a day, for example, would be considered an idle person, and someone who frequently buys diapers would be considered as probably a parent, who on balance is more likely to have a sense of responsibility," Li Yingyun, Sesame's technology director told Caixin, a Chinese magazine, in February.

The Chinese authorities are watching the pilot process very carefully. The government system won't be exactly the same as the private systems, but government officials are certainly taking cues from the algorithms developed under the private projects.

A lengthy planning document from China's elite State Council explains that social credit will "forge a public opinion environment that trust-keeping is glorious", warning that the "new system will reward those who report acts of breach of trust".

Details on the inner workings of the system are vague, though it is clear that each citizen and Chinese organisation will be rated. A long list of people in certain professions will face particular scrutiny, including teachers, accountants, journalists and medical doctors. The special list even includes veterinarians and tour guides.

A national database will merge a wide variety of information on every citizen, assessing whether taxes and traffic tickets have been paid, whether academic degrees have been rightly earned and even, it seems, whether females have been instructed to take birth control.

Critics say the social credit system is "nightmarish" and "Orwellian". However, some believe that some kind of credit system is badly needed in China.

"Many people don't own houses, cars or credit cards in China, so that kind of information isn't available to measure," explains Wen Quan, a blogger who writes about technology and finance.

"The central bank has the financial data from 800 million people, but only 320 million have a traditional credit history."

'Very convenient'

Credit systems build trust between all citizens, Wen Quan says.

"Without a system, a conman can commit a crime in one place and then do the same thing again in another place. But a credit system puts people's past history on the record. It'll build a better and fairer society," she promises.

In a trendy neighbourhood in downtown Beijing, many were enthusiastic when asked about their Sesame Credit ratings, proudly displaying them on their mobile phones.

"It is very convenient," one young woman smiled. "We booked a hotel last night using Sesame Credit and we didn't need to leave a cash deposit."

Sesame has promoted the consumer benefits of a good credit score, from a prominent dating profile on the Baihe matchmaking site to VIP reservations with hotels and car rental companies. A mobile phone game designed by Sesame Credit encourages users to guess whether they have higher or lower credit scores than their friends, encouraging everyone to openly share their ratings.

But few people seemed to understand that a bad score could hurt them in the future, preventing them from receiving a bank loan or signing a lease.

And, even more concerning, many didn't know they were being rated by Sesame at all. For now, the pilot credit system is voluntary, though it's difficult to circumvent. Online shopping is a part of life in modern Chinese cities and Alibaba's financial payment service is ubiquitous.

"We repeatedly remind our customers that using Sesame Credit is voluntary," explains the matchmaking site's vice president, Zhuan Yirong.

"But people really care about trust and honesty. Alibaba's data can provide certain kind of proof. It's not 100% accurate, but at least it's one more filter for people to know each other better."

Perhaps it is good for all citizens to learn quickly about the concept of a "social credit" score, while it is still partly voluntary. Within five years, the government's mandatory system will rank everyone within China's borders.

Post: #106

The first time I visited China, in 2006, I thought to myself: One day, China's black market economy will rival that of the G7 nations.

This is only going to speed up that prediction. China will be a high/low country, one where those who are able, will proudly display their social credits. While those are unable, will be off the grid. Even more of the 20 million people who are considered in poverty in China will go even more black.

There will be more who have to navigate this world, and even more men who will never find wives. All pretty girls in China will find husbands, and for the millions of Chinese men, their only options is to take advantage of the black market power and rise up and take advantage of women's weaknesses.

The future for Chinese gangsters is very bright.

Post: #107

having trouble getting through S3 E5. It's about an army detachment led by a woman and with aggressive capable women fighting while men are scared and tentative.

Post: #108

(10-31-2016 04:37 PM)R_Niko Wrote:  having trouble getting through S3 E5. It's about an army detachment led by a woman and with aggressive capable women fighting while men are scared and tentative.

Yeah - plenty of that crap all across the spectrum. Women are better in infantry combat, they are mentally tougher, they may be much shorter, but will still kick ass and take names.

Ah - and they are also much smarter since in movies they seem to comprise the highest rungs of military leaders. In reality many military high command members are pretty close to the genius spectrum - 145+ IQs. If you tried to recruit women at that level then you would get 8 men for every woman. Taking into account the less competitive nature and other mental differences, then the likelihood of female high commanders vs men would be 1 to 500. 499 male generals and one female one - sounds about right. In the movies however the women will be the majority. Star Wars is an even greater offender at that.

Post: #109

All episodes were great (don't agree that it's not as hard hitting as seasons 1 and 2), but the San Junipero episode was the standout for me, due in no small part to the nostalgic feel and the higher production values.

The acting was also a cut above. Oh, and it helped that the black chick was easy on the eye.

Post: #110

Get over it and watch the episode, it is not the best of the season, but it is good.

Post: #111

(10-31-2016 06:57 PM)Atlanta Man Wrote:  Get over it and watch the episode, it is not the best of the season, but it is good.

I got past the "women are superior soldiers" angle and made it through the episode, only to be clobbered with a "all races (ie migrants) are actually equal if you know how to look past our differences" angle

Post: #112

I am not actually sure that was the point with female soldiers in that episode. It has more to do with the fact that in future you have volunteers for killers that purge human race. Does not matter what gender they are as long as they can kill.
Also bear in mind they are completely brainwashed, have chips installed that limit their senses so I think it is not so weird that women operate actually good in that army as opposed to real life.

Post: #113

Just finished watching season 1 and 2.

Episode 4 season 2 made me laugh. Live RVF advice feeds. Wouldn't that be something.

Post: #114

You mean winter special? My favorite episode.

Post: #115

(11-01-2016 02:16 AM)sterling_archer Wrote:  I am not actually sure that was the point with female soldiers in that episode. It has more to do with the fact that in future you have volunteers for killers that purge human race. Does not matter what gender they are as long as they can kill.
Also bear in mind they are completely brainwashed, have chips installed that limit their senses so I think it is not so weird that women operate actually good in that army as opposed to real life.

That was my thoughts as well.

Perhaps the most dangerous animal in the world is a mother protecting her offspring. From what I have read and been told, some senses are heightened while others are muted. Makes sense to have the same idea for soldiers too. The sounds of children begging for their lives must be a large hurdle to overcome when your mission is to wipe them out, every last one of the low IQ breeders.

What really got me was that the language of the people they were protecting was foreign, while the language of the people they were exterminating was local.

Post: #116

Those people were Swedish, am I right? Although scenery looked like from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. video game series, i.e. desolated eastern European. Liked that grayish touch, seems to go hand in hand with post apocalyptic time.

Have you maybe thought about how their society looks like? They have these killer squads, but what about "pure" population, how do they live. I thought about that.

Post: #117

(11-01-2016 12:34 PM)sterling_archer Wrote:  Those people were Swedish, am I right? Although scenery looked like from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. video game series, i.e. desolated eastern European. Liked that grayish touch, seems to go hand in hand with post apocalyptic time.

Have you maybe thought about how their society looks like? They have these killer squads, but what about "pure" population, how do they live. I thought about that.

Yeah it was Danish. But the landscape looked North German, maybe even Denmark. Not sure that had much to do with the show, unless Brooker wanted to bash the Danes for shutting its borders to migrants.

The soldiers seemed UN/NATO/NWO.

I only watched it once, but it seemed to me that the locals were the "cockroaches" and the villagers were the immigrants.

Post: #118

If NWO would ever be implemented (if its not there but subtle), very possible that NATO would be in fact apparatus for maintaining "order" or "cleansing".

Villagers, you mean those who spoke Danish with female squad leader?

Post: #119

(11-02-2016 02:51 AM)sterling_archer Wrote:  If NWO would ever be implemented (if its not there but subtle), very possible that NATO would be in fact apparatus for maintaining "order" or "cleansing".

Villagers, you mean those who spoke Danish with female squad leader?

Yes.

Post: #120

Just watched a really disappointing episode tonight. It could be best described as "old decrepit lesbians find true love and relive the '80s in the Matrix".

I kept waiting for a dark, soul killing twist that just never materialized. It was sort of like a bad episode of the '80s remake of the Twilight Zone.

Post: #121

(11-01-2016 10:56 AM)Laner Wrote:  ..
...
What really got me was that the language of the people they were protecting was foreign, while the language of the people they were exterminating was local.

Can't believe I didn't notice that.

And that's not just random. They went to a lot of trouble to put in the whole translator box tech.

Post: #122

(11-19-2016 08:26 PM)Hell_Is_Like_Newark Wrote:  Just watched a really disappointing episode tonight. It could be best described as "old decrepit lesbians find true love and relive the '80s in the Matrix".

I kept waiting for a dark, soul killing twist that just never materialized. It was sort of like a bad episode of the '80s remake of the Twilight Zone.

If you want a "dark, soul killing twist" just watch every other episode of Black Mirror. The silver lining in this episode didn't detract whatsoever, unless you're a hardened cynic.

San Junipero was my favourite episode of this season, followed closely by Play Test.

Post: #123

Regarding Play Test, I knew there was a twist at the end, but at that "level" I didn't expect.

Btw, big plot twist also happened in Westworld this week.

Post: #124

(11-20-2016 02:26 AM)sterling_archer Wrote:  Btw, big plot twist also happened in Westworld this week.

I thought it was great foreshadowing with the standard line by hosts "it doesn't look like anything to me" when presented with a picture that's alien to them.

With three episodes left of the season, here's hoping they didn't peak too early with that reveal.

Post: #125

Actually I didn't intend to write that here, I mistook this thread for a TV series thread. But yeah, when I saw him looking at drawing at seeing that it looks like him and then when he asked "what door", my reaction was "It can't be!". Really good played.