Sir Kill Alot wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:Did she kill him WITH the book?

I don't know, but I do know that Ebay is now recommending books to me like this:

** expired/removed eBay auction **


Sure hope my browser history is not someday held as evidence against me.

HermitFromPluto wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:the energy potential of romantic relationships

Is that why computers give us so much porn? They're getting energy in return?

smarmy1 wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:Is the book? Hermetech: Constantine, Storm: 9781907737589: Amazon.com: Books

Hi. Ah Yes! That is it! I misremembered the title.    Wow 4.6 stars. Maybe I should read it again. I have read a lot of SciFi over the years and it is still burned in my mind as one of the silliest SciFi books I've ever read.

sauromatian wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:
This one provides documentary proof that Nolan Ryan was actually a blue-skinned elf throughout most of his career:

 Vintage Nolan Ryan Houston Astros 7 Eleven Slurpee Cup

	$1.25  (fixed price)       Buy It Now
	Seller:  littletrain

As an inaugural member of the Slurpee Cup valuation committee, I'm not sure I could even place this as 'fair'.

Unbelievable what people try to pass off as collectible in this venerable hobby

(I actually sold all my cups and now collect PDF's of polaroids of them)

Tszii wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:people collecting cast iron skillets

They do?! I should try to find this community, because I collect vaudeville-era jokes involving cast-iron skillet collecting. My best find is "Collecting cast-iron skillets? Last time I collected one of those, it was across the face for not taking out the garbage!!" It only gets better with age, every time someone tells it. Sounds better with a drum roll & cymbal crash.

Here's What Europeans Think Americans From Every State Look Like

Oh. So that's what artificial intelligence is for, as if it wasn't obvious to everyone already. The illustrations are designed (probably by a human, not an AI) to look as offensive as possible. But there is no one to blame, because it was supposedly an AI. No one will analyze every 1 & 0 of the computer program which made it to prove that no human influenced it, so we are expected to cast blame to the machine instead.

From here on, nobody need be held responsible for their own actions, because they can just blame it all on an AI anytime something goes wrong, or anytime someone gets caught doing something wrong (assuming you are rich enough to own an AI & to hire enough lawyers to shift the blame).

sauromatian wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:Here's What Europeans Think Americans From Every State Look Like

Oh. So that's what artificial intelligence is for, as if it wasn't obvious to everyone already. The illustrations are designed (probably by a human, not an AI) to look as offensive as possible. But there is no one to blame, because it was supposedly an AI. No one will analyze every 1 & 0 of the computer program which made it to prove that no human influenced it, so we are expected to cast blame to the machine instead.

From here on, nobody need be held responsible for their own actions, because they can just blame it all on an AI anytime something goes wrong, or anytime someone gets caught doing something wrong (assuming you are rich enough to own an AI & to hire enough lawyers to shift the blame).

The crazy thing is most Americans live in suburbs, which is uncommon outside of the US, Canada and Australia. But you never see a stereo-typical depiction of ok-schools, tons of services, parks, grocery stores and 30 minute rush-hours.

The listing reads, "omg I hope some sucker that doesnt know anything about prints buys this, like the person making this post was in 2016."

You have to read between the lines, but it says it.

I am tempted to list these reprints myself. I can use the description to say "These are sold new from DTRPG for $8. Do not buy my listing, or anyone else's at these prices. I will simply order this and send it to your address new if you buy my listing."


** expired/removed eBay auction **

FoulFoot wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:While I do think in general that people selling photocopies should be shot, the seller of this lot does mention that they're reprints about a dozen times.

Foul

Apologies for kicking this one up again. I understand the bar is low.

And, yes, its crazy, but some folks are going to blow past the word "reprint." If it said "Purchased from from DrivethruRPG.com in 2023, where they are currently printed to demand" I wouldn't mind. Of course, educating the buyer of what is being sold is a no-go. Zero would sell. The point here is not to be a reseller who would educate, its to gouge the newest, dumbest, suckers to the hobby.

I admit, I havent seen a single issue with it in DnD. However, Youtubers like SMPratt, Rusty from TCA gaming, guy at Graded Gem, and guys I talk to at my LGS, Collectors Cache, all have stories of people who have got burned - and then it comes back to bite them, the legitimate sellers. Packs missing a code card? Fake cards. Top of a pack not crimped right? Resealed box, I want a refund. Some of the newest folks who got burned from fake cards and proxies leave the hobby. What they just started enjoying a week ago suddenly feels like a snake pit. I want it out of this hobby.

Edit: One last note, the fact that these are authorized reprints is the important factor that allows these on ebay. Magic and Pokemon proxies are banned now. It wasnt always that way, but as I understand it, it got to be too toxic for ebay to not enforce removing them. DnD may never get that popular.

Edit edit: Btw, I forgot some folks here may be selling some of these. Please look at this as a family dispute. I am still glad you are part of the hobby, here sharing information and love of the hobby...But stop selling these damn things! How much money could you possibly be making!? Just engage in the arbitrage of the idiots ending auctions at 4am on a Tuesday, or Christmas morning or whatever. You havent found a smart angle to sell stuff! You are just capitalizing on the dumbest of new collectors! Its not worth it for the hobby!

Ok, sorry. I got excited there.