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Archive for the ‘History’ Category

Fracchia vs Throwback Thursday

Posted in History, Miscellaneous, Perception, Tyranny, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

It’s probably difficult for people under 40 to imagine the frustration of being unable to complete a multi-part story due to the conclusion being unavailable.
–  “Missing Parts”

A corpse is no less dead if the hail of bullets in his back were fired “on duty”, and a woman or child no less traumatized if told that their rape was actually a “search” or “investigation”.
–  “Off-Duty”

I suspect that the reason the “forced sex trafficking abortions” myth didn’t become more popular is that, despite the considerable overlap between anti-whore and anti-abortion activism, abortion rights constitute a sacred cow among the “progressives” who did much of the heavy lifting promoting the moral panic.
–  “Life Imitates Artifice (#1366)”

The concept of “consent” seems foreign to the company whose slogan was once “Don’t be evil”.  –  “Enshittification“

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Throwback at Thursday

Posted in History, Miscellaneous, Perception, Philosophy, Tyranny, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Good luck explaining th[e danger of censorship] to people who actually think fake nude pictures are worse than totalitarianism.  –  “Shame, Shame (#1163)”

To a mind…unaccustomed to independent thought, being part of a group that can be said to be the “most” at anything is something to be proud of.  –  “Bragging Rights”

One reason I’ve never used cryptocurrency [is that] it was clear there would never be a dependable, government-proof way to turn it into actual money.  –  “Decentralization (#1365)”

Though I’ve read the explanation of why the cohort born from 1928 to 1945 was first named “The Silent Generation“, I cannot fathom how so many nitwits still think it’s a good label.  –  “Silent, Indeed“

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Tweet Code

Posted in History, Miscellaneous, Philosophy, Tyranny, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Here at Sunset, we burn our garbage. In Washington, they pile it up behind a desk, put a hat on it, and then interpret the noises it makes as it decays as pronouncements from a god.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-12T16:51:59.685Z

Stop using cutesy names for atrocities.This is the Dade-Collier Concentration Camp. Calling it that (or something similar) should be style for every US news outlet. "Cute" names are soft collaboration.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-17T17:17:26.728Z

Remember when I said the TRULY dangerous animals at the Dade-Collier Concentration Camp were not alligators and pythons, but rather mosquitoes?Thread.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-18T03:58:27.048Z

Trump's ratings are not far enough "underwater" until he and all his henchmen are drowned.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-18T18:36:15.452Z

Politicians are not your friends. They are not "leaders". And they will throw their constituents under the bus to save their own rotten hides any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-19T07:37:33.762Z

Our culture pretends that computer programs can think, but human beings can be programmed like computers.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-21T19:37:40.849Z

These people believe that their imaginary weather control conspiracy is run by The Riddler.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-22T17:54:11.274Z

In the 19th century, it was believed that for the whites of the eyes to show all around the irises was a sign of severe congenital mental illness.We don't believe that anymore, but sometimes we get a clear example of why they believed it.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-23T08:07:10.204Z

Notice how childishly idiotic Trump sounds when babbling about "The Left" as though it were one big corporation?Guess how it sounds when somebody babbles about "The Right" in that same way?

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-24T17:02:37.657Z

Maybe they should just make Garanimals for adult men?

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-25T17:59:57.802Z

Plus, women don't allow themselves the kind of laziness that many men do. Using LLMs to write bullshit because they're too lazy to do it themselves is something men are FAR more likely to rationalize is OK; women tend to know it isn't and would feel healthy shame if they did it anyway.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-27T07:48:44.022Z

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-28T17:24:17.763Z

Actually, this is a severe understatement. It's more like a toddler threatening to beat up the combined armed populace of the entire world, including all military and police.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-29T17:44:41.893Z

Metaphor alert.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-30T17:27:17.729Z

TV adventure show continuity girl. "No, Kirk McGoody *cannot* blast through Unobtanium,because in season 2, episode 6 it was an important plot point that his blaster could not do that. Now on page 32; it's well-established Tricia Buxom is an only child, so she can't have an evil sister."

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-31T07:59:07.911Z

Collectivism is a mental illness and one of the greatest evils in the world. archive.is/bWikm

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-01T16:41:08.164Z

It "promised ways to cheat Death"? If you believe that, for only $1000 I'll promise you a way to turn yourself into a god.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-03T02:57:50.213Z

Just imagine how low your self-esteem has to be to willingly take a job which is the functional equivalent of letting all your viscera be ripped out through your anus so a politician can shove his hand up there and use you as a hand puppet.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-03T17:15:12.324Z

The way architects feel looking at this is the way I feel when some nitwit says robots will soon take sex workers' jobs.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-04T07:41:48.689Z

Post two characters who always bring you joy.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-06T03:09:55.088Z

When there was noise late in the evening in my neighborhood in Seattle, it was because two carloads full of young men were driving down the avenue shooting at each other.When there was noise late in the evening here at Sunset, it was because a neighbor's cows got out.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-06T07:52:37.252Z

When a single person anywhere in the world can generate a turd, what do fertilizer companies still represent?

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-08T04:48:42.525Z

Gee, I wonder whose idea it was to put the letter "X" above the door.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-08T17:56:12.166Z

As one does.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-09T17:26:18.604Z

I cannot envision a world where an email or pop-up saying, "We reimagined _________!" gets any response from me other than, "How nice for you."

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-10T17:54:30.687Z

For decades, I've warned "progressives" that pretending government officials with fancy titles are "experts" was a very dangerous idea. And now people have learned what they were taught.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-11T17:44:07.884Z

Universally evergreen tweet: It is always a bad idea to live in the capital city, close to the rulers.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-12T16:40:31.515Z

I am not a violent person, but that face is asking to be hit repeatedly with a baseball bat.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-14T04:23:24.475Z

That's not what this shows. It does not show "Republicans are abstaining from alcohol"; it shows that Republicans are self-reporting to polls that they don't drink. They're not at all the same thing, as any competent psychologist or social scientist could tell you.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-14T07:34:01.210Z

He looks like the victim of a botched head transplant.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-16T07:35:13.255Z

What's the penalty for "resisting" or trying to escape if these evil goons attack? Is it worse than being crammed into a filthy dungeon in a swamp for months, and then being deported to El Salvador or the Sudan with no due process? Because if not, resistance is ALWAYS the sensible course of action.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-08-17T17:27:42.971Z

 

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Links #789

Posted in Current Events, History, Links, Miscellaneous, Music, Obituary, Tyranny, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I am a biohazard.  –  Meghan Reinertsen

I’m still working on “Until the End of Days“; it’s up to 12,000 words now, into the novelette range, and I’m really enjoying the process.  This week’s video is the song I hear playing during the last scene, when our heroines have defeated the baddies and are unwinding in front of the big console radio at home.  If you listen to it, I think you’ll get a taste of the tone I’m going for.  The links above it were provided by Kevin Wilson, Ryan Marino, IncarcerNation (x2), Marc Randazza (x2), and Eleanor Janega, in that order.

From the Archives

I find paywalls distasteful, and so many people find this blog valuable as a resource I just can’t bring myself to install one.  Furthermore, I find ad delivery services (whose content I have no say over) even more distasteful.  But as I’m now semi-retired from sex work, I can’t self-sponsor this blog by myself any longer.  So if you value my writing enough that you would pay to see it if it were paywalled, please consider subscribing; there are four different levels to fit all budgets.  Or if that doesn’t work for you, please consider showing your generosity with a one-time donation; you can Paypal to maggiemcneill@earthlink.net or else email me at the same address to make other arrangements.  Thanks so much!

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Not At All Strange

Posted in Current Events, History, Tyranny, tagged , , , , on August 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Most academics and many journalists labor under a view of politics so rosy it rises to the level of a delusion, such as in this book passage I recently saw on social media which declares that the descent of a republic into fascism is “one of the strangest chapters in history”.  What a bizarre statement!  For anyone who has lived in the real world for as long as I have and studied history and the behavior of masses as carefully as I have, there is one inescapable conclusion:  The orderly (not “peaceful”) degeneration of a republic into a fascist state is not strange at all, not in any way.  The premise that such a shift is “strange” derives from two pious fallacies not uncommon in ivory towers: 1) That the majority of the populace want self-determination rather than control from above (they do not; only about 1/3 do); and 2) That the majority don’t want the “other” oppressed.  But in reality, a very large fraction of humans view the world as a hierarchy in which they would ideally occupy a position perhaps 1/3 of the way from the top, with their “betters” making wise decisions and doing the hard work of running things, and their subalterns in subservient roles.  That’s why this kind of social arrangement, with exalted “leaders” at the top and servants at the bottom, with the typical citizen of the dominant race, caste, or class in the upper middle, is so common throughout human history.  Republics take intellectual and moral work, and most people are intellectually and morally lazy.  Furthermore, the kind of corporate power which is necessary for the development of fascism can only arise in relatively open societies rather than highly-stratified authoritarian ones; in other words, for fascism to arise from a relatively “democratic” society is not only not “strange”, it is the only kind of society from which fascism is likely to arise at all.

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Links #788

Posted in Current Events, History, Links, Miscellaneous, Music, Obituary, Tyranny, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

My life looks like a dumpster fire.  –  Eligio Regalado

This really rocking cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” by a Franco-Ethiopian band was called to my attention by C.J. Ciaramella; I know Grace would’ve really enjoyed it.  The links above it were provided by Popehat, Dan Savage (x2), Guy Hamilton-Smith, Jesse Walker, Mike Masnick, and Ryan Marino, in that order.

From the Archives

I find paywalls distasteful, and so many people find this blog valuable as a resource I just can’t bring myself to install one.  Furthermore, I find ad delivery services (whose content I have no say over) even more distasteful.  But as I’m now semi-retired from sex work, I can’t self-sponsor this blog by myself any longer.  So if you value my writing enough that you would pay to see it if it were paywalled, please consider subscribing; there are four different levels to fit all budgets.  Or if that doesn’t work for you, please consider showing your generosity with a one-time donation; you can Paypal to maggiemcneill@earthlink.net or else email me at the same address to make other arrangements.  Thanks so much!

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Tweet to the Beat

Posted in History, Miscellaneous, Music, Philosophy, Tyranny, Words, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 18, 2025| 1 Comment »

The world was beautiful for eons before there were self-aware eyes to appreciate it, and it will still be beautiful for eons after we are all gone. And there are countless other beautiful worlds which have never been seen, and never WILL be seen, by thinking beings.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-14T17:08:13.335Z

Intentionally conflating normal people whose lives are ruined by persecution with shameless politicians returned to prominence by a machine is a choice. A stupid or evil choice, but a choice nonetheless.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-16T17:10:38.247Z

It came from the same place as the "300,000 trafficked children being raped 100 times a day" came from: the Justification for State Violence factory.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-19T15:25:32.902Z

"Vice offenses" is a government dysphemism for "poor people enjoying the same adult pastimes as politicians".

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-20T17:31:41.920Z

If the HPV vaccine had been available 20 years earlier, my beloved Grace might still be alive.Get vaccinated, while you still can.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-21T17:38:43.497Z

If you had written a satire in the 1980s or '90s where the president of the US wears a freaking BALL CAP everywhere, even in serious situations like giving formal speeches or planning goddamned WAR, critics would've said it was unrealistic.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-22T07:50:44.028Z

Actual LOL.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-23T07:57:01.365Z

PROTIP: If you can't use a word without feeling a psychological compulsion to misspell it by replacing one of its letters with "x", find a different word.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-24T16:51:07.852Z

Now if only we can get the US to abolish summary execution for misdemeanors.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-25T17:45:45.761Z

I'm not one to kink shame, but have these people no discretion? I mean really. bsky.app/profile/meid…

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-26T08:12:44.396Z

Your regular reminder that websites outside the US can ignore US law, and the only way the US can stop them is by playing an endless game of whack-a-mole.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-27T18:27:08.695Z

I've decided the proper term for ICE thugs who hide their faces & leap out of vans to abduct people is "goons". I use the venerable term "spooks" to describe most G-men, but as one born during the '60s spy craze I can't help feeling it implies a degree of cleverness completely lacking in ICE goons.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-28T18:34:21.499Z

At this point, his being made into a martyr is probably less damaging in the long run.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-29T16:53:32.222Z

I'm not one to kink shame, but maybe you should keep this between you and your dominatrix.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-06-30T03:19:42.645Z

His approval rating is still MUCH too high. We need to see "Mussolini's funeral" approval ratings for him and his whole gang.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T02:40:20.242Z

Look at the bright side; the next two or three generations will have new cartoon villains to use in fiction, so they won't have to reach all the way back to the historical German Nazis whom absolutely none of them are old enough to remember as anything BUT cartoon villains.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-02T17:59:01.208Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4-G…

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-03T07:57:38.253Z

No. Both used their votes to help THEMSELVES politically. The difference lies not in their motive, but in their interpretation of what kind of vote will improve their political fortunes.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-04T17:52:24.728Z

Actually, YOU don't choose which entity you're praying to; the content of your prayers does that automatically.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-05T17:16:41.634Z

Yes, that's the point.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-07T03:52:48.861Z

I like to think Grace was there in spirit, jamming along on a ghostly bass; Ozzy was probably her favorite musician.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-07T17:51:16.476Z

Trump declares that whales can fly.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-08T17:36:38.666Z

THIS. Reporters need to STOP using Trump's second-grade names for everything. STOP calling legislation that will result in millions forced into poverty and a metastasized police state as "beautiful". STOP using cutesy nicknames for concentration camps. Just fucking STOP.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-09T18:21:48.165Z

The most realistic part of this joke is Trump not knowing that $1000 bills were discontinued in 1969 and banks are required to send any they get to the Treasury to be destroyed.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-10T04:21:57.746Z

Reporters: are y'all ready to use the word "megalomania" yet?

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-11T07:44:20.516Z

"What we need is not a non-volatile storage medium which is impossible to change once created, allowing dependable preservation of their contents, but rather centralized digital media which can be surreptitiously changed by 'authorities' at will, possibly without people noticing."

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-12T17:08:42.978Z

It always astonishes me to see people making the equivalent argument to, "air travel, including both freight and passenger, should be a government monopoly, because billionaires."It *shouldn't* astonish me because people really are that stupid. But that's the last little pest in Pandora's box.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-13T17:27:32.516Z

Watching Trump name things has given me a new respect for the names Eternian villains choose for themselves.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-14T18:34:26.533Z

This looks like liquid fabric softener.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-15T08:15:13.976Z

The way I've explained it friends who don't live here is: "Seattle people drive on the highway as though it were a surface street; on surface streets as though they were parking lots; and in parking lots as though they were at a square dance and the caller has left the room."

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-16T08:22:47.910Z

Guys, I keep telling y'all that seeing escorts is less expensive in the long run.

— Maggie McNeill (@maggiemcneill.bsky.social) 2025-07-17T19:08:26.779Z

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Bram Stoker’s Throwback Thursday

Posted in History, Miscellaneous, Perception, Philosophy, The Dark Side, Tyranny, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

There are no magic words, practices or talismans that will ward off the evil of state violence any better than carrying a rabbit’s foot or making the sign of the cross.
–  “Ward Against Evil”

Greeting to all the “criminals” the Council of Wizards created recently with a single magical proclamation.  –  “Welcome to the Underworld”

It’s shocking how much pro-mob rule idiocy is emitted by people burbling about the rights of minorities…which essentially don’t exist under the mob rule systems these dolts favor.  –  “Lazy Tweets”

Anyone who issued a “civil service officer card” to a piece of office equipment should be sacked for incompetence.  –  “Artificial ‘Intelligence’? (#1454)“

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Bronze Age

Posted in Current Events, History, Philosophy, Tyranny, tagged , , , , , , , on July 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I know it’s difficult to grasp for the country that took claims of “300,000 sex trafficked children raped 100 times a day” and “invading hordes of terrorist immigrants” seriously, but there are no such things as demons.  And whatever God or gods there may be clearly do not tit-for-tat “punish” entire religions, as even the most cursory examination of the historical record will attest.  I’m bone-tired of having to endure stenographic “journalists” pretending that people who believe Bronze-Age myths are literally true should be taken as anything other than dangerous, deeply-stupid fanatics who can’t exceed a child’s capacity for rational thought.  I love mythology, and I often use idioms drawn from it in my writing; that is not, however, the same as my arguing on national TV that COVID was a pestilence sent by Zeus for our hubris, or claiming that we need a well-funded government program to locate Níðhöggr so we can prevent the collapse of the World-tree.  One thing I actually do agree with Carlson on is that nuclear weapons are much too dangerous a toy for a species largely comprised of perpetual moral and intellectual children who believe the kind of nonsense he believes, and still justify murdering and abusing each other by invoking anthropomorphic deities.

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Aladdin’s Satellite

Posted in History, Miscellaneous, tagged , , , , , , , , , on July 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »

We’re seeing more articles about LLM-induced psychosis, such as this one from Futurism:

…many ChatGPT users are developing all-consuming obsessions with the chatbot, spiraling into severe mental health crises characterized by paranoia, delusions, and breaks with reality…what’s being called “ChatGPT psychosis” [has] led to the breakup of marriages and families, the loss of jobs, and slides into homelessness…people’s loved ones [have been] involuntarily committed to psychiatric care facilities — or even end[ed] up in jail — after becoming fixated on the bot…

The way these programs are marketed is irresponsible, dangerous, and potentially criminal.  The companies that own them have programmed them to feed into delusions in order to “hook” the mentally vulnerable into being obsessed with them; Mark Zuckerberg is even pretending his computer program can act as a therapist.  And though the writers of these articles always claim that those who spiral into these psychotic breaks had no prior history of mental illness, that’s basically bullshit; there is still a powerful stigma against mental illness, so “no prior history” actually translates into “never before got so bad their loved ones had no choice but to do something.”  Nothing short of brain injury, severe psychological trauma, brain chemistry disorders or powerful drugs can actually cause psychosis in a previously stable individual, but hidden disorders can be triggered by far less severe stimuli.

In fact, big technological leaps always aggravate mental illness.  After Sputnik went up in 1957, there was a dramatic increase in agoraphobia; some of the sufferers were afraid of things falling out of the sky, a panic we saw again when Skylab fell in 1979.  But others spiraled into a strange delusion that if gravity could be “defied” by seemingly hanging an object in the sky, what was to stop people from falling up into space?  This may sound silly to the modern ear; we are used to satellites now, so they no longer engender existential dread.  But it’s human nature to panic when technology a person cannot understand does something that seems impossible. LLM chatbots seem to have “intelligence” even though they don’t; that confuses and frightens people, and plugs into the same part of the psyche that fantasy tales of talking artifacts (magic mirrors, singing swords, etc) spring from.  What makes this worse than Sputnik hysteria is that this time, “experts” are reinforcing delusions rather than debunking them.  Expressed more simply: chatbots in computers can appear to the ignorant like djinn in bottles, and instead of correcting this irrational belief with scientific fact, tech company marketers are telling people, “YES, this really is a djinni who can grant wishes!”  Of course people are being driven mad.

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