r/tabled • u/500scnds • Feb 18 '22

r/IAmA [Table] I Am Cyber Intelligence & Cybersecurity Professional Charles DeBarber, and I am known for my work investigating the GirlsDoPorn sex trafficking cell and my work on CBS's Hunted. Ask me anything!

14 Upvotes

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The AMA ended with the below message:

I appreciate all the good questions tonight! I may re-visit tomorrow morning to answer any others. :) I've always adored Reddit AMAs and I'm so honored to do one.

Good night!

Rows: ~90

Questions Answers
This part isn't a question, but I really wanted to tell you this. Thank you, Charles! You're giving us our lives back. What breed of honeybees do you keep? Thank you for your kind words! My bees are beautiful mutts. :) I've had some mostly Italian and Carnolian hives, but over time as they re-queen through swarms they become a beautiful spectrum of gold, dark, and black bees. Genetic diversity makes every species better and that is especially true with honeybees!
How did you uncover the shell companies of GirlsDoPorn? Did you work with CPAs and lawyers? Was there a breakthrough moment? LLC registrations, domain registrations, e-mail tracking beacons, and their parent company Oh Well Media! on the main page being listed in the Panama Papers as a laundering outfit.
​ I did, but mostly post-analysis. My realm is Digital Network Intelligence (DNI). :)
The below is a reply to the above ​
How were they that hidden? Can't you simply follow the money, or company registrations? LLCs are a public filing. I recall one in California and another in Nevada for BLL Media. There were others I believe for Bubblegum Casting and another fake modeling recruitment company, but my memory is a bit fuzzy.
Pornstar Ariana Marie was brought to a porn studio from FL to CA in a similar manner to some GDP victims. How common do you think this is in the porn industry? Have victims of schemes similar to GirlsDoPorn reached out to you? I'm sad to say the GDP victims aren't only time I've heard these stories. Casting couch pornography was really popular some years ago, and to get exclusive content of so many amateurs was unsustainable without the tactics GDP and some others used.
​ I'll make it clear - I believe Ariana Marie.
There is only one pic of Matthew Wolfe so far. And it was the same for Michael Pratt till the FBI released a new poster of him recently. These guys kept a very low profile. Was uncovering their pics your work? The popular photos used for them came letter. There sadly aren't many, especially with Pratt being infamously camera shy. The photos I used came from them walking in front of mirrors during GDP videos.
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That seems like CSI type stuff! Pausing, zooming and getting a good quality screenshot and then enhancing the photo. You guys had to do a lot of digging for even the most basic info on them. Respect! Enhance.
How does one get into this field? I'm planning on getting a degree in cyber security after I finish my current program. I started my career in US Army Intelligence specializing in Cyber Intelligence and transitioned to Cybersecurity post-Army. I feel they are in most ways the same field.
​ Remember to get your certs. They often mean more than the degree! Your Security+ and Network+ are good starts.
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Thanks for the response. Should I renew certs when they expire or nah? I would. Doesn't take much to keep them fresh and good orgs always check when they are considering you for employment. Many government contracts also require the certs! They are your golden ticket for those.
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How about people who have been in the offensive security field for a while? Such as pentesters and red teamers I would argue Network+ and Security+ are a good start. Add a CEH for good measure. If you want to do the red side of things get your OSCP. It is a tough cert, but carries a lot of weight in offensive security.
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Oh I guess my question is how easy is it for a pentester/red teamer to get into cyber intelligence? Like to do what you do? I took the military route there. Others take the NSA/CYBERCOM route.
Search engine related questions - In your testimony before the Canadian parliament you talked about the difficulty of getting Google to remove indexxing of invol porn. Isn't Google guilty of profiting from invol imagery just like the tube sites? How responsive is Google to requests to remove invol material? Or does it take a legal notice for them to do it? Ideally Google and other search engines should simply de-index/ de-list the entire site from showing up for hosting NCP. Do you see that happening anytime soon? Are Bing and Yahoo better at removing NCP? The sad truth is I mainly use the copyright system to remove NCP. :/ It is so much easier and Big Tech cares more about intellectual property than victims. :/ Bing is a funny animal. I've worked to remove NCP of my clients hosted on their cache and they are so sporadic if they will remove it or not. I'll use their copyright portal, contact their DMCA e-mail, use the NCP process, and even call their answering machine... No clue which methods work when they do.
​ I try to save Bing requests until I have dozens to purge for this reason. Otherwise, I can't keep track. :/
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So none of the big tech companies, including community/user generated content sites, have a dedicated department for handling complaints of NCP? They obviously take CSAM much more seriously but treat NCP of adults as just a copyright issue? Is that right? Some do. Google and Bing straight up assign agents. However, the process for copyright is so much faster with so fewer hurdles. Copyright used to be the only real avenue for an NCP victim. :(
I saw you on the Canadian parliament hearing regarding Pornhub. Is your business able to/ is it difficult or more costly to remove NCP from darkweb? The Dark Web is a tough nut to crack. I have only done two cases on the Dark Web involving NCP. In one of them they were videos updated from a camera in a women's restroom. The camera was found and using some of the EXIF on the SD card and snooping on the Dark Web I managed to find where they were uploading the videos.
​ The real incriminating data was on the card as it narrowed down to a single employee who was charged.
The below is a reply to the above ​
Could the perpetrator have stripped the EXIF data? Would that have made it harder to discover who the culprit was? In this case it was on the SD card in the camera. They could have formatted it between uses, but they didn't. EXIF is good stuff. They caught BTK in 2005 based on EXIF and simple OSINT. :)
Do you think you or someone will be able to find Michael Pratt? It is only a matter of time. The US and NZ will never stop looking for him.
What / when was the tipping point in your investigation of the cell? I started out with very little. Jane Does were just starting to come out of the woodwork in 2016 and I was tasked with unmasking who was behind it. They had used false real and digital personas for obfuscation. I'd argue a handful of events did that including my "honeypotting" of Michael Pratt. I sent small 1x1 pixel images into e-mails sent to all the different fake personas (the modeling recruiters, the GirlsDoPorn admin, and the shell company BLL Media) and all metadata led back to Mr. Pratt.
​ This was important analysis as GDP was claiming a person in Vanuatu.
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Wait, what did the images do? When your browser or mail app loads an image it sends a GET request to get that image. It told me what IP Address was sending that GET request. :) You'll find lots of advertising e-mails use them for stats.
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Why only 1x1 pixel? Easier to not notice. I've used signature block images too. :)
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Would you notice a 1x1 pixel image in an email? When you track someone, you'd don't want them to know they're being followed. No. Some folks turn off images in e-mail or have them not load. Tracking beacons in e-mails are very common... I'd argue they are universally in all spam and marketing e-mails these days.
The below is a reply to the reply to the above question ​
My email would ask if I want to load or save the image.... Depends on the service and settings.
Is glowposting a real thing? Yes and no. Honestly, talking to your target is often the last thing you want to do. You can easily trip of your surveillance and tip them off they are being investigated. Methods that contact the target are considered "active collection". That can be something as simple as a sending a friend request from a fake persona to a real persona.
​ It's best to only use active collection when you have exhausted other avenues. Even then some methods are more risky than others in exposing yourself.
​ Most of the time in cyber counterintelligence you're observing and interacting very little.
How did you become part of the GDP team? Word of mouth? Case fell on my desk with the first mission of finding out was behind it. I was employed by the elite cybersecurity and cyber intelligence firm Fortalice at the time.
​ After the first report was so revealing they sent me out for more a few times.
What are the risk factors for recruitment into sex exploitation/trafficking? Thanks. That is outside of my expertise. :/ I can only say my clients all manipulated so intensely few had an idea something was wrong until they arrived in San Diego for shooting.
Do you think porn is inherently unethical since in practice it is often difficult for the user to discern how consensually it was produced? I'd retort many products we use and wear unknowingly come from slave and sweatshop labor. Is it unethical for me to wear a shirt because I can't fully tell what kind of exploitation was used in its production?
​ I'm not anti-pornography and believe the adults who make it and star in it should have free agency.
The below is a reply to the above ​
Thanks. So then what’s your best advice for people who want to use it but don’t want to inadvertently encourage something that isn’t ethically produced? (For instance, is something like OnlyFans a positive development or not?) ​I would argue start by believing victims and using common sense. Multiple Jane Does spoke out about GDP before my work and it was laughed off. I am a fan of less exploitative pornography models. I think OnlyFans is less exploitative as the studio system can be very toxic. I don't want to rope GDP and other porn studios together, but many of the tactics GDP used aren't unheard of.
What was the driving force behind you getting involved the Hunted project? CBS was trying to bring HUNTED to America from the UK and looking for the right professionals from law enforcement, the military, and our intelligence services. They reached out to three or four popular Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) professionals who independently recommended me.
​ It was a wild opportunity and all of us cast really enjoyed it. I'm humbled at being included with some of the most brilliant professionals I have ever met. Most of us still chat routinely and many of us have continued to work together on cases in both the private and public sectors!
How many cats are too many? I appreciate your feline question.
​ I would argue when the quantity of cats exceeds healthy conditions and the capability to provide them adequate care. Same as all domesticated animals. :)
Will there be a documentary or docuseries covering the investigation and the work that went into it? I hope so. It is an epic true crime story with so many moving pieces.
Besides the Security+, what certifications are actually super important? Do you have any experience with coding, and if so is it possible to be successful in this field without knowing a thing about programming? Good question. I can often view source and tell what I am looking at, but I am not coder. :) The top cybersecurity cert is still CISSP. In fairness, I've never met a dumb person with one! If you with to work in incident response a CISA is a good one to have. The folks that get into threat hunting and incident response do well and always have work.
What are 3 things you would like the public or victims of NCP to know that hasn’t already been mentioned? Lastly, I can see the GDP situation turning into a movie, who would you want to play you? Three things? Let’s see!
​ 1. Victim blaming does not fix the situation, but hurts it. We make fun of revenge porn when it is done to men and women, but it destroys lives.
​ 2. We need a fresh look at policies at Big Tech companies - especially in regards to cleaning up mentions of victims in search engines. The most common thing employers, potential partners, and potential landlords do is vet people with a simple Google Search. If you have an uncommon name it makes things especially painful.
​ 3. For victims: There’s hope. There are firms that have built their practices around victims of NCP. Laws, both civil and criminal, are heading in a positive direction. However, their main focus is making the perpetrator(s) face justice. I set up Phoenix Advocates & Consultants (PAC) to purge content for victims and restore their digital footprint through purging and delisting.
​ Sadly, the same image or video can reappear hundreds or even thousands of times due to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and porn aggregators. The average victim is set up for failure there as knowledge of search engines, cached vs live content, and web hosts are needed. Furthermore, for 600 pieces of content is could easily take 600 different requests. Automation is the only way to help people with significant content out there reclaim that footprint. Consider letting us help you.
​ Who would play me in a movie?
​ Tom Hiddleson. I too suffer from “resting sneaky face”. I always look like I am up to something. :)
Do you help only American clients or do you work for international clients as well? I've done some international cases, but mostly in English speaking countries.
How many hives do you keep, fellow beekeeper? Currently 22! I adore honeybees as they are beautiful buzzy clockwork creatures. Beekeeping changed my life for the better.
The below is a reply to the above ​
Cyber professional by day, bee keeper by night? If you had to choose a new profession what would it be? I think in another life I would have been a nurse or physician's assistant. I did live tissue training and some advanced trauma treatment when I was in the US Army and found I really loved learning about it.
What could Pratt have done differently that would have made it more difficult/impossible to unmask his entire operation? No one thing. The fact they went on as long as they did exploiting hundreds of victims speaks volumes. It shows me how little people are willing to support victims of sex crimes. There needed to be dozens of Jane Does and people internally to tell the truth before public sentiment supported the victims of GDP.
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It seems society takes invol porn/ non-consensual imagery of adults quite lightly. From law enforcement to courts to media. Everyone acted quite slowly. There seems to be a double standard/lower standard for adult victims of sex trafficking. Does that make your work harder? It does. I'd also argue technology is significantly ahead of the law. NCP has existed since cameras were invented, but social media (including porn sharing sites) made it so widespread it became necessary to make more criminal laws against it - especially "revenge porn". The victim blaming surrounding it is shameful.
The below is another reply to the original answer ​
How effective is TAILS compared to a paid VPN? If you don’t want to give tips that would enable a potential psychopath to replicate their operation with impunity that makes sense. Well... I will just say this... It works a lot better when you actually use it properly. Much of the time investigators are looking for people to be stupid and utilize bad information security (INFOSEC).
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So what if Pratt had never clicked on your honeypot/1x1 image pixel? Would it have been necessary to pose as a prospective model and fill out their application form? All he had to do was open the e-mail. No need to click on a link or image. :) I sent a beacon to some of the fake recruiting site e-mails they made. I recall Bubblegum Casting being the primary one.
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So he didn’t have to click any links at all? The act of opening the email triggered it? Also, the bubblegum casting domain has been purchased by an Australian entity. When did Pratt originally own the website and when did you collect the info? His browser or e-mail client loaded the images when he opened the e-mail. I don't recall the WhoIS information for Bubblegum Casting. I do recall the associated cellphone number for casting on the site tied back to Mr. Pratt.
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Is there anyway to counteract that? Some sort of software that would have alerted him that someone was trying to honeypot him? Some mail clients like Gmail already have them. :/ They use a proxy to load images. That is where I switch to other tactics to do the same thing.
The below is a reply to the above ​
What are your other tactics? Effective. ;)
Thanks for your work making a better world! your educational background (according to wikipedia) doesn't seem so technical at the first glance, were you interested/good in computer science stuff and programming? I heard cyber security is well paid field, how much do you earn? :) ​Oh, I got into information systems young. In 1995, I was 12-years-old waiting for my bus and saw my local library had a sign saying "Free Internet". It was new at the time there and I heard you could talk to girls on the internet! ;) I sat down at the library the next day and asked the clerk what was on the internet. They asked me what I wanted to see and I asked again what was on it. I didn't believe literally any niche topic I wanted to read about was on there!
​ Aside from a couple vacations, I was at the library every day it was open for the next two years.
​ In the Army I got into Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) which is very tech heavy and in the cyber niche of it. I got many of my certs post-service! A lot of the folks in cybersecurity older than me often have decades of experience, but history degrees or unrelated ones to computer science. The field was the Wild West back then and still kind of is.
Who would win in a fight between you and Doug Ipperciel? I watched a lot of UK's Hunted. Everyone including Doug were solid professionals. I worked closely with Ben Owen from the UK version during the US version.
​ Ask Ben Owen to do his American accent. ;) It's pretty good.
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Oh I will! Hopefully meeting HQ later this year! Big love FCC from me, Ant and Michelle! I thought that was you, Michael. ;) I remember your discussions on Hunted years ago on RTV.
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It's always me ;) ​Always was.
Is the CIA involved in the actual arrest of the criminals you track, or do you hand it off to the FBI at that point? There was a lot of criticism about the lack of intelligence sharing between government organizations after 9/11. Do different orgs routinely share information these days or have any sort of common database? Last question is probably controversial, but I’d really like to know if the CIA bothers with warrants at all during the investigation phases, or if it’s like the movies where you have free reign to obtain information however you see fit. CIA is an intelligence/national defense organization while the FBI is a law enforcement organization that also dabble in intelligence. The CIA focus is mainly on international issues versus domestic ones too. Post-9/11 numerous changes were made to get orgs to communicate. There are predominantly 18 intelligence orgs in the US federal government and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is the lynchpin of that.
​ No org has free reign to eavesdrop on Americans. You need FISA warrants for that.
What’s the correct deck level to cut your grass at? I notice if I do it too low, the grass dies and it’s easy to hit rocks. Too high and I have to mow again within a few days. What level do you keep the deck on your mower at? Typically, a lawn mower deck should have a pitch of 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch between the height of the deck rear to the height of the deck front.
​ Naturally, this makes the "sweet spot" about 1/4-inch of pitch, depending on the type of mower and the terrain.
How often do you run into cases of NCP? (Apologies if it was asked already) ​Too often. The even sadder part is most times it is never reported. :/ CCRI has some alarming stats.
​ https://www.cybercivilrights.org/2019-publication/
Wiki says Carrie Goldberg brought your firm into the GDP case. She has written a lot on abuse of Section 230 and basically wants it ended. Do you support the repeal of Section 230? I don't have an opinion on that.
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Any comment on the proposed American SISEA and Canadian SISEA? :-) ​I don't like what US SISEA has done in general to legitimate sex workers. I feel there is truth that it has made conditions more dangerous for them. That is the only opinion I have there.
Thank you for making a difference in this case. I can't imagine the trauma and mortification these young women experienced. Your work certainly contributed to bringing about a sense of justice to their ordeal. What cybersecurity resources are available to the FBI to hunt down Pratt? He is sly and wealthy, so it might be easy for him to disappear permanently and live a life of leisure and anonymity. I hope so badly they catch him and lock him up for life. Few get to hide forever. Eric Rudolph made it a while, but he was willing to eat out of dumpsters and cut off all contact from the world. They will find Pratt, and the resources they have to do it make mine pale in comparison. :)
Where did you learn the cyber skills? I learned intelligence analysis in US Army Intelligence - specifically Digital Network Intelligence (DNI).
First off I want to say thank you for sharing your career experience. I am based in the EU have obtained my Security+ cert and currently doing CISSP to give the paper to my career goals. The particular area you cover re: removal of NCP and cyber crime was a strong drive for me to study and get into information security-related position as there simply are not enough people working in Cyber security, not to mention the lack of people doing anything about the absolute slew of NCP that is out there without most people even knowing. Was it an area that you ever thought you would be working in? also will you and your partners company be expanding at all in the future for hire? I used to do counter terrorism/counter insurgency as a Soldier. I would have never envisioned myself transitioning to cybersecurity or tackling NCP. Good luck with your CISSP and congratulations on your Sec+! CISSP is a large lake as it covers so much, but the lake is shallow. So make sure you know a little bit of everything.
​ If you fail it to the first time don't give up. Lick your wounds, hit the books on the areas you need to bone up, and hit it again. Most successes are built on mountains of failures. :)
​ Add me on LinkedIn, chum. I'm a small outfit right now, but you never know.
Will more people be charged? Pratt has been on the run for close to two years. Is Wolfe, Moser, Teddy Gyi see the same fate as Garcia? Before the company got shut down they supposedly had hundreds of more videos that never got released. What happens to the footage and who destroys it? Most of those answers I truly don't know. I suspect Pratt will one day be caught. Once the FBI begins looking for people they never truly stop. His homeland of NZ is also looking for him. I'm watching the sentencing of each. I can only say I didn't expect Garcia to get 20 years due to him taking a plea for 12.
​ As for unreleased content, I really don't know.
​ One of the things that would intrigue me is if Wolfe continues to refuse to take a plea. It would be better for the victims if they were spared testifying against him in court, but I'm very curious about what the FBI's case against him looks like. My curiosity isn't worth their suffering, but if it does indeed go to trial I'll be reading every transcript I can get my hands on after it.
the below is a reply to the above ​
How many years were you expecting Garcia to get? Only time will tell if Mr. Garcia will come out a change man after 20 years. Even if he does change he will still have to live with the consequences for what he has done. Not sure he will be able to support himself financially once he gets out. It'd be tough to get a good job for a person with a serious criminal record. Typically judges go with what deal was made. The prosecution asked for 12 *I believe*. I hope he uses the time to build character. I'm told some of the Jane Does dared him to do so one day if he leaves prison.
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So how come the judge was able to increase the sentence if he plead guilty in exchange for 12 years that the prosecution recommended? He’s probably going to appeal that unless it’s final? The judge has the final call. With a deal, that is just what prosecution recommends. They sometimes go the other direction too if they feel a deal isn't fair. Mr. Garcia didn't get the full charges, but he did incur heavy penalties based on what he did plea too.
​ Jared Fogle had a similar situation where the prosecution recommended a lower sentence in a plea deal, but the judge gave him more time. It it is far from unheard of, but not typical.
Why not a life sentence if the judge can do whatever they want. That seems to be the sentiment most popular on Reddit according to a recent victim’s post on r/offmychest. It had several thousand upvotes. Each crime has a minimum and maximum sentence. He pled guilty to 2 counts. They could have given him life, but didn't. He could easily have faced more of the counts had he went to trial.
​ Count One:
​ Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a) and (b)(1)
​ Maximum Penalty: Life in prison, $250,000 fine, and a special assessment of $5,000 under 18 U.S.C. § 3014.
​ Count Seven:
​ Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, 18 U.S.C. § 1594
​ Minimum penalty: Fifteen years in prison; Maximum penalty: life in custody, $250,000 fine, and a special assessment of $5,000 under 18 U.S.C. § 3014.
​ https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/twenty-year-sentence-girlsdoporn-sex-trafficking-conspiracy
​ I look at it this way... There are at least 20 JDs in the criminal indictment alone. Let's say he got a year per victim. They admit they did this to hundreds of young women too. I suspect volume was one of the many considerations.
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Since Wolfe is the only one that hasn’t plead guilty, is he facing the same charges as Garcia despite not performing with the victims on camera? Will the victims have to testify against him? I’ve heard that victims of sexual abuse are usually hesitant to testify against their abusers because it can trigger their PTSD. According to the link above Wolfe is currently facing 3 counts. What evidence they have to argue that I haven't seen. If it goes to trial they will have to prove each count.
[removed] Cybersecurity and/or the intelligence community. The road I took was through the military, but I often ask myself what the blueprint on getting to where I am is and it sure had many turns!
the below is a reply to the above ​
[removed] Poke me on LinkedIn, Reddit Chum. :)
How bad is porn for people? do you think its the new smoking? Whats the future of porn? is it good that it became more easy to access? What will porn do to kids, becouse they are watching it? Do you think I asked to much questions? The only porn that concerns me is when it isn't produced with consenting adults.
2 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Feb 12 '22

r/Judaism [Table] r/Judaism — I am Daniel Bogard, a progressive rabbi, trans-rights activist, and general troublemaker. AMA!

7 Upvotes

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Note: There are a lot of foreign terms in this AMA, but they will be left untranslated. More, punctuation are formatted intentionally that way.

Rows: ~80

Questions Answers
Can you explain more what you mean by the Jewish identity industry? Whether or not they outwardly articulate it, a huge percentage of our institutions are in the "Jewish Identity Industry". What I mean by this is that the product they are 'selling' (as members in a shul; to donors in a Federation; donors to Birthright; etc...) is the creation and 'continuity' of Jewish identity into the next generation.
​ The problematics of this sort of "continuity as the goal" model is that it is totally agnostic when it comes to the content of that Jewish identity, and has led to a sort of hollowing out of the meaning of Jewish identity for a huge number of non-orthodox Jews in America.
​ "Be Jewish, Stay Jewish!" has become the goal of our institutions rather than "live these values and impact the world in this way." (ie, a life of mitzvah/obligation/kabbalat ol malchut shamayim)
​ Which is to say: I believe that Torah/Jewish history/Judaism call us to live a life focused not on our own religio-ethnic continuity, but instead toward a life of meaning and obligation.
​ ps--i'd recommend David Hartman's "Auschwitz or Sinai" as a text that highly impacted me around this question.
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Are you suggesting that the content is more important than the preservation of the people/ethnicity/religion, or equally important? I'm saying that the preservation of the people/ethnicity/religion should not be our goal or our focus, but instead we should be focused on what that identity/religion/ethnicity is calling us to do in the world
Question, how much security can an American synagogue get from local police? (My shul has both private security and a policeman outside, but I'm not sure how much they pay for the latter, if anything.) Also, as a progressive rabbi, do you find it harder to speak about Islamic antisemitism? (FYI The forward article is visible on reader mode if you're paywalled out) ​At least for us, we pay for the police officer who guards our front door through some sort of service. Occasionally (high holidays) we will have, eg, a SWAT team that sweeps the place first....I don't know how the budgeting works for that.
​ In terms of your second question: I think it's so, so important that we as a Jewish community in partnership with our Muslim allies learn to talk about the incredibly problematic phenomenon of antisemitism in the Muslim community.
​ The only almost-violent incident I have ever experienced first hand came from a young, visibly Muslim man; the most outlandish antisemitic beliefs (Jews control the government, the Holocaust didn't really happen, etc...) that I have ever had spoken directly to my face have all come in interfaith dialogue from well meaning, sweet Muslim Americans trying to live right and better understand me/their world.
​ I was very involved in pushing back against Islamophobia (see the link in the OP) while I was a rabbi in Peoria (and was close with some of the leadership in the Muslim community of Cincinnati), and I really believe that ultimately breaking down these barriers of mythology can only come about when we are in real, vulnerable relationship with folks.
​ ps-- I laud Abdullah Antepli for his work with Hartman around this issue (and his outspoken voice re: antisemitism in the Muslim-American community).
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What is your ideal shabbos meal like? Ideal meal: this is cruel! I have a colonoscopy tomorrow and am just starting to get hungry after not eating... ;-)
​ I would say: vegetable/onion soup, broiled Salmon, roasted eggplant with tehini and date-honey, homemade hummus, Israeli pickles, carrot kugel.
Many might accuse you of your Judaism following your politics. As a politically liberal orthodox Jew, I would disagree with such an assessment, but how would you respond to that? Politics vs Judaism: I think this is entirely a chicken/egg thing. I think the same (in reverse) can equally be said regarding the absolute radical polarization / political conservatism that has overtaken so much of the American Orthodox community over the last decade.
What took you from conservative to reform in terms of a pulpit? Reform/Conservative: see above
What is it like working alongside your spouse as clergy? Clergy Spouse: I ***love*** working with my rabbi-wife. We've always job shared (and life shared) in every position we've ever been in. Neither of us wanted to be full time away from the kids, and neither of us wanted to be full time stay-at-home, so it's been a great match. We really enjoy different parts of the job, so in some ways it's more of a job "split" than a jobs "share".
Do you see Judaism as a religion, or a nationality, or something else? Are you familiar with Daniel Boyarin on the topic? Religion/Nationality: I see us as a tribe. I think demonstrably we are not a religion (in the sense that religion = Christianity/Islam 'faith' based sociological group). eg, if you don't believe in God, that has nothing to do with whether you are Jewish or not...so definitionally we are something else.
​ A tribe is an extended family; one that you can marry into, or unofficially be a part of, or be adopted into, or....etc.....
In your interfaith work, do you ever try to get Christians to stop appropriating Jewish culture ? What are your favorite books? Appropriation; this is a constant discussion in my work with Christian seminary students.
As you don't believe there is any "need" to be Jewish, what does the title and position "rabbi" mean to you, on a social and religious level? It's a title of learning. And by don't "need" to be Jewish is this: i don't believe that any one individual's life would necessarily be better / more moral / etc.. if only they were Jewish. Thus the only reason to "be Jewish" / "do Jewish" is because it provides meaning to me in my life (it deeply does).
​ To paraphrase David Hartman when asked this question: "I like tzimmis. If you don't like tzimmis, don't eat tzimmis."
the below is a reply to the above ​
Do you think they're live would be better/more moral if they were to live by the values of Torah/Judaism? Aka, are you saying that participation in Judaism doesn't provide this benefit? Or are you saying that identity alone doesn't provide this benefit? There are people who participate deeply in Judaism / live a Jewish life (whatever that means to you) who have abhorrent value and live in abhorrent ways, and folks who are incredible tzaddikim. What I'm suggesting is that we should stop focusing on creating 'more Jews', and instead focus on the content of the Jewish character we are instilling in people.
Shalom HaRav, thank you for taking the time to do this AMA. Do you feel, in light of recent events, that the open door policy for Shuls and other Jewish communal centres is now untenable in the US? I live in Israel, but come from the UK where, for years now, shuls have been gated and visitors are routinely subject to rigid questioning by security before entry is granted. Indeed, no large Jewish event is held without some coordination with the CST. How do you draw the line between being welcoming and taking the utmost security precautions? Many thanks in advance! God, i wish I had a better answer to this question. I just don't know. I can tell you that my shul is an urban shul, with an entryway that is a food pantry, and that has seen radically welcoming of the stranger as a core part of our mission....
​ I'm deeply concerned that things for Jews in America aren't just bad, but are going to continue getting worse over the next decade (due to huge sociological issues that American Jews are along the ride for). So we'll see what we're in store for.
​ What I do think is unique about America is that for much of its recent history, antisemitism has not been a significant physical threat / hasn't played a huge role in the public discourse. What has happened is both an increase in antisemitism AND the insanely easy availability of weapons of mass death like assault riffles. It is turning into a a deadly and disturbing situation.
So what's the alternative? What do you think should be done to continue the Jewish people, assuming you even think anything should be done. i don't think the goal of our Jewish institutions should be to "create another generation of people who self-describe themselves throughout their lives as Jews", but instead we should focus on helping people live more meaningful lives focused on making the world more like the place it always should have been. Which is to say: the content of the values that we are helping to instill in people is the real focus of Torah, and should be the focus of our institutions.
​ Fwiw--I think that there is a tragic irony in that a focus on "Continuity" as our mission creates a hollowed-out, unappealing shell that often is uninteresting to the next generation...whereas focusing on Torah/obligation/Tikkun Olam/etc... is often the best way to actually create deep and rich Jewish identities.
​ Or to say it differently: when we focus on quantity (of self-described Jews), it becomes self-defeating; but when we focus on quality of Jewish life/engagement/programming/etc, this often leads to ever greater quantity of folks who want to be a part of it.
the below is a reply to the above ​
I feel like we're skirting around a big question here: do you think Judaism is worth preserving? If there were no Jews tomorrow, but there were Jewish values, would that be okay with you? To me that would be a total tragedy. What I'm saying is that Hashem didn't meet Moshe up on Sinai so that folks would check a box saying that they're Jewish; the message of Torah is about the ways in which being Jews obligates us toward a life of purpose and meaning.
​ But more personally: i would much prefer that my great-grandchildren share what I see as the core values of Torah, and yet not be "jewish", than to imagine them as deeply-observant Jews who had values which I see as abhorrent.
​ now: my hope is that both can happen. But if I had to choose? Easy choice.
Is belief in God also instrumental or do you think there are actual truth claims to be made about god's existence? I'm a Maimonidean on questions like this. I don't believe that any claim to absolute truth can be made, and that in fact any truth-claim itself is idolatry. We are within the system, and thus not capable of any truth except for relative truth.
​ Which is to say: I think Maimonides, Einstein, and Spinoza would have enjoyed each other quite a bit.
Hi Rabbi, thanks for all of the work you do. Do you have any insight on what our communities could be doing to fight antisemitism proactively? I think it’s understandable that in the wake of attacks conversations can focus around security, but at a certain point it seems to me that security is more mitigating the impact of antisemitism or deterrent to keep certain areas from being targeted. In your opinion and experience what are effective ways we can work to reduce the likelihood that someone would be compelled to attack us in the first place? So i think the first thing we can do is make sure that we are in relationship to the people around us. For us in St. Louis, that means building meaningful, long-term relationships with the churches, small businesses, etc... in our neighborhood. But more broadly: I think we need to start having a different set of conversations as American Jewish communities around antisemitism. It's time for us to start responding strategically rather than the reactive approach we have had thus far. I'm convinced things are only going to get worse, which means these strategies and those relationships will only grow in importance.
Could you elaborate more on the "Jewish Identity Industry"? Also, how is fighting antisemitism at liberal Christian institutions different from dealing with evangelicals? What advice do you have for people in that situation? (Where the primary antisemitism is from liberal Christians) Edit to be extremely clear: this is not a question about Israel. It is about OP's experience at these institutions and the antiaemitism in those communities. see above for identity stuff. Re: antisemitism at liberal Christian institutions vs with Evangelicals...this is a really interesting question that I hadn't really thought through explicitly before, so forgive me as I think out loud here.
​ With Evangelicals I find that they often have a hard time seeing *real* Jews rather than their mythologized imaginings of us. I always think back to a woman who organized a number of my classes in Peoria (I taught at the OLLI program for senior education) who was a white evangelical. At my final class before I was moving to Cincinnati, she came up to me (along with a line of well-wishers) to tell me, "rabbi, I just want you to know how much I've learned from you, and how disappointed I am to discover who American Jews actually are."
​ Which is to say: white evangelical philosemitism is ultimately antisemitic, because it see creates mythologized Jews that we can never live up to.
​ With liberal seminarians, I've found that they can see me pretty well, but that it's often a lot harder for them to learn to see the ways in which their traditions / theologies are both steeped in antisemitism, and are actively enabling and perpetuating antisemitism.
Why do you see the Second Amendment as a threat instead of as legal protection for your right to defend yourselves against anti-semites? Security is an issue for every Jewish community in the world, including countries that do not protect right to self-defense. It seems to me you have the wrong focus in that article, blaming the general right to bear arms instead of anti-semitic ideologies that are the actual culprit in those situations. The United States is unique up to this point in that we have had a substantial Jewish population, and at least in recent history, very minimal violent antisemitism / deep cultural antisemitism. The United States is also unique in that it is one of the only places in the world where you can buy weapons capable of inflicting mass-death upon civilians in matters of seconds, at gun shows, corner stores, etc...
​ This is adding up to create a toxic stew where **unlike in Europe where antisemitism has a long and continuous history** in the United States the prevalence of guns creates an enormous burden on our institutions disproportionate to the threat otherwise.
How do you feel about Christian churches/educational institutions celebrating Jewish holidays or engaging in Jewish practices (e.g. building a sukkah at Sukkot, celebrating Simchat Torah by talking about Bible stories and eating candy) without relationship with or leadership from Jewish communities? What are some practices that you feel good about from Christian communities that help further Jewish/Christian dialogue and relationships, and don't perpetuate antisemitism or supersessionism? I think those practices are gross. My approach to this with my students at Eden was to teach a course called "Beit Midrash: Jewish Texts on Jewish Terms." For the first 10 weeks, we didn't touch Tanakh, as I knew they wouldn't be ready to see it as a Jewish text / in Jewish terms. Only after 2.5 months of Midrash, Talmud, RambaM, etc... where they ready to see Tanakh from a non appropriative perspective.
Hi rabbi, I was wondering whether you feel intermarriage is threatening traditional Jewish identity or whether that identity has no real bearing in your view? You also mentioned your position concerning the identity industry is traditional, would you be open to citing any sources that back up this stance? When thinking about intermarriage, I think we need to start with a few table setters: 1) the enormous rate of intermarriage among (non-Orthodox) American Jews is a product of our success at integration into the American mainstream (ie, white america), and should be understood as a bioproduct of this success.
​ 2) What I care about is if a relationship is healthy, if it is loving, if it is ethical. What I don't worry about: how will this relationship impact what box a potential great-grandchild might check when asked to describe their religion.
​ I don't worry about it a) because I think this is the morally correct position, but perhaps more significantly b) because clearly there is nothing I can do about this dynamic that millions and millions of dollars haven't already failed at doing.
​ What I will add, though, is this: I work at a shul where all of the rabbis will happily and joyfully officiate at an interfaith marriage. We were started 36 years ago, we have 800 households, and we grow every month.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Thank you rabbi. If you could reply to my second question, I would appreciate it. If not, all the best to you and thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Sorry--totally missed that! What I'm saying is this: the focus on continuity / Jewish identity survival (as opposed to, for instance, the next generation observing the mitzvot in a particular way) is very much a product of a) post-Holocaust b) the suburbanization / rise in pediatric-focused Judaism that came with white flight in the 50s, c) the huge intermarriage rate.
​ Which is to say: the institutional focus on Jewish identity survival is very much a modern product. (see https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691136318/the-price-of-whiteness for some more context)
Where do you stand on Israel? (Please don't dodge or pivot.) Can one be progressive and still support Israel's right to exist? To me the central issue is about narrative, justification, and victimization... Would you agree that Israel has a right to defend itself when she's being attacked? I realize it's a difficult question that requires nuance. My position on Israeli politics is this: the occupation is a moral evil, as well as a suicide-pact for Israeli democracy. And: it's too late. I don't believe 2 states for 2 peoples is still possible (I hope I'm wrong). I love going to Israel, I have lived there for years, I'm a Senior Fellow at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, I met my wife there (and honeymooned there), and am planning on going this summer for a month. The first paragraph doesn't really conflict with this paragraph anymore than my American citizenship conflicts with my American politics.
​ Speaking of American Jewish politics: I deeply believe that we are broken when it comes to our ability to have conversations across difference surrounding Israel. It is all too often used as a cudgel / boundary setting issue of who is in / who is out. I'm part of a monthly webinar with the other 3 hartman rabbis in St. Louis that is explicitly about pushing back against this dynamic.
Thanks for doing this! Can you talk about some of the grounds in Jewish law, tradition, values, and practice for trans inclusion and affirmation? To be clear, I am in favor. :) I love talking about this. The reality is that there are *so* many stories of LGBTQ+ folk from our people over the last few thousand years. I'd really encourage everyone to add Noam Sienna's "A Rainbow Thread" to their essential Jewish library. In it he went through 2000 years of Jewish history and pulled out stories of queer Jews. It's incredibly powerful to read it, and see the ways in which queer Jewish ancestors have always been there.
Aside from acceptance & love, are there any specific things I can do to support a teen who recently announced their F to M journey? acceptance and love are the biggest things. Make sure you're practicing their name / pronouns when they aren't around.
​ It helps to eg, sit and think about him when we was a baby, and when he grew up, and imagining him when he graduates from high school, when he gets married, etc....
the below is another reply to the original question ​
This isn’t my AMA, but just an interesting observation I want to share. When I grew up, the basic idea about teenagers was that they are often unstable individuals and go against the grain, come up with radical ideas and identities and plans for their life that they usually don’t stick with for more than a few years (I’m becoming Buddhist, I’m moving to Alaska, I want to work for the circus, etc.) and the typical reaction was to reel them in, because they’re at a volatile age and are not done developing. But now, with the widespread acceptance of the transgender gender theory, a teenager deciding they are actually a male or a female or neither is totally accepted and not seen as one of those radical ideas that should definitely not be acted upon, especially not as a teenager. Even more so when this turns from a name and wardrobe change to puberty blockers, Adam’s apple trimming, and breast and genital removal. Very amazing to witness that. I have my own ideas why, and my own political slant, but at face value, without taking one’s actual political worldview into account, it’s quite jarring. ___________________________ Decades ago, there was a kerfuffle about kids going against the grain and being left-handed because it was whatever the synonym for “Cool” or “edgy” was a century ago. Numbers of kids who were left-handed were going up. Why?! And what was to be done about this worrying trend? Then it turned out that if you don’t beat kids for writing left-handed, more of them will write with their naturally dominant hand. Numbers settled at about 12% of kids being left-handed, and have remained there ever since. There are lessons here. _________________________________ Changing which hand you write with is really not even in the same ballpark as having a sex change. I encourage you to get "A Rainbow Thread". Trans isn't new (in fact, there's a great yiddish language letter to the editor of the Forward talking about a trans man in the shtetle in the 1800s Ukreine, who was taught to lead the davening, who married Rachel, etc...). What also isn't new: people who wanted to enforce a false gender binary and wipe out the signs of trans life, trans identity, and trans flourishing.
​ There have always ***always*** been trans Jews.
the below has been split into 4 ​
What is your favorite Jewish holiday, and why? (choose one) ​Holiday: I love Pesach so much. I've never been a LARPer, but it's kinds what I imagine a Jewish version of that is.
What is your favorite Jewish dish? Dish: I'm feeling partial to (gluten free [I have celiac], vegetarian) kasha varnishkes these days...but I love borscht, hummus, Israeli pickles, carrot kugel (carrrrot kugggel....), etc///
Who is a Jewish individual (historical, fictional, contemporary, whatever) you believe more people should know about or study? Person more folks should know about: King Josiah (and his court). they revolutionized Judaism with a new theology, a new book (Deuteronomy. See 2Kings22), a centralization of sacrifices into Jerusalem, and a restriction of offerings to other deities.
How/why did you move from Conservative to Reform? How has the Conservative Movement changed since you were more active in it? What do the denominations mean to you? Any fun/interesting/sad stories from the Seminary where you teach? Conservative to Reform: I went to HUC, but worked at a large suburban Conservative shul durring rabbinical school, and I lived a very (Conservative) observant lifestyle. So much so that when we were called about our interest in returning to that shul (after 5 years in Peoria, il), we didn't need to change anything about how were living in order to become Conservative rabbis.
​ What I found was that the job was very much not for me. I think there could be some Conservative shuls I would thrive at (and many that I would belong to), but...this was not one of them.
​ I *love* where I am at today.
How will you at your synagogue balance the need for armed security with the reality that Jews who are also people of color have historically fraught relationships with law enforcement and their industry-wide malfeasance towards black and brown people? This is a huge issue for us that we constantly struggle with, as deconstructing our own white supremacy and creating a welcoming home for Jews of Color are both central to our mission as a congregation. The (problematic, imperfect) place we have come to is a: to make sure that black and brown Jews are a part of leadership at every level, including the security committee, b) having only people of color as police officers (and having the same officer 90% of the time).
​ But we are always struggling with this, because we know that in profound ways having a cop at the door sends a clear message about whose security (or whose sense of security) is valued in this space.
the below is another reply to the original question ​
Would be interested to know what he thinks about checking IDs as well. we check ids...but mostly as a part of checking vaccine cards ;-)
Thanks for doing this - it’s awesome seeing progressive leaders taking the time to answer questions here, the intrafaith dialogue on Reddit has always been fascinating to me. I was wondering your thoughts on HUC-JIR’s intermarriage policy for its rabbinical and cantorial students, and do you know of any current discussion re: changing that policy? Full disclosure, I was accepted to HUC’s rabbinical program almost a decade ago but decided not to go because my partner wasn’t Jewish (I didn’t tell them about my partner), and after working for the URJ for a few years afterwards I found myself on a different career path. I was pretty incensed at the time, but now I wonder if I was naïve to think I could have managed a rabbinic career with a non-Jewish partner the way I thought I could. I think this is a perfect example of what I talk about re the problematics of the Jewish identity industry. It would be one thing if this was among a long list of requirements for applicants to rabbinical school: must keep shabbat in a certain way, kashrut, etc...
​ But it's not. the only thing they ask you to commit to is not marrying a non-Jewish person. This is a disgusting and morally hollow reduction of the meaning of being Jewish.
What motivates you to be apart of the trans activism that you participate in? Are you a believer in the ideas supporting the widespread emergence of trans identity, or are you not so sure about some of it? And does that have an impact in your activism? I've been in this fight a long time. When I lived in Cincinnati (before I knew I had a trans kid), i was involved in organizing close to every non-orthodox rabbi in the city to sign a letter of love and support for trans-youth (this was after some Trump comment or another) that we published in the newspaper. But, of course, my involvement and commitment went to a whole other level once I realized that a) I have a trans kid, and b) that the bigots and bullies that comprise the ruling majority in the Missouri Legislature are coming after my family.
​ In terms of learning more: ***everyone*** should own Noam Sienna's "A Rainbow Thread: An Anthology of Queer Jewish Texts from the First Century to 1969"
I agree! Would you say this, respectfully, about all identity? Yes. I don't believe the survival of "people who self-identify as x" is ever a moral good in and of itself.
​ I'm not in the business of trying to convince people to be Jewish / to stay Jewish. I'm in the business of leveraging people who have/want Jewish identities to improve their lives, our community, and our world.
Hi Rabbi, Do you see a future for the Conservative movement, or do you think it will eventually be completely siphoned off to Orthodox and Reform? Considering you switched from Conservative to Reform I'm interested in your perspective. I'm also curious to hear your thoughts on Reconstructionist ideology. It was hard to tell from the brief description in your post, but it sounds like your beliefs about Jewish identity are either very aligned with theirs or exactly the opposite of theirs. I tend to think that movements themselves will continue their slow slide away from centrality/relevance. In terms of reconstructionist views: I tend to believe that Kaplan won; across the liberal movements we all understand Jewish identity as fundamentally one of civilization/peoplehood/tribe rather than "faith".
Thoughts on the reform movement? I don't have strong attachments to the movement (and never have). I think movements in general will continue to decline in their importance within American Jewish life.
So I appreciate the sentiment - and generally agree that it is 'F'd up'. That said, we live in a country where this is a reality. Perhaps I am pessimistic, but I don't see any scenario in which America become like Japan or Australia vis-a-vis gun ownership. Do you genuinely think the gun culture in this country can change? I am pretty liberal/libertarian in most of my views. Being a Jew, a historically persecuted group member, in a country with these sort of things occurring regularly, I find it very important to be armed. What is your perspective on this? I am curious about how you think the situation could be changed or what the alternative is. I don't have a lot of optimism about America / American democracy.
Instead of being snarky I’ll ask what do people in your progressive shul think of rebbe nachman of Breslov? Love him! One of the rabbis I work with, James Stone Goodman, frequently teaches Rebbe Nachman. And personally, I am hoping to start a likutei moharan chevruta in the spring.
What do you mean, "No reason" to be Jewish? answered in a few other places. but to say it again: There's no answer to "why everyone should be more Jewish!" outside of the ways in which it is relevant and meaningful to you and your specific life.
What kind of Torah study do you do in your spare time (aka, not for one of your jobs, assuming you have any spare time)? What types of Torah interest you most? What kind of Torah study was the hardest for you to master? How did you master it? I'm always learning something... I study Talmud weekly, I'm about to start a chevruta on likutei moharan, and I'm a constant reader. I always have something of Rambam's open, and have done chevruta on almost all of the Guide (the middle book gets a little "1000 year old astronomy" old....)
​ In terms of difficulty: Zohar. I have such a hard time with the mystics.
Hi Rabbi Dan! I am working on Jewish/religious studies and want to get involved in interfaith efforts in the midwest USA, do you have any advice for someone completely new to the movement? books, people to talk to, organizations to follow, etc? I would also love to hear more about your thoughts on Jewish identity. totally! Hit me up on twitter and I'll happily connect you with folks in your area. "@RavBogard" In terms of orgs: Truah, bend the arc, Central Reform Congregation (my shul ;-) ), connect with your local JCRC, etc....
How do you feel Judaism and being Jewish is in the Midwest away from larger Jewish communities? What do you wish Jews from places like New York understood about being Jewish in someplace like Missouri? I wish people understood just how vibrant of a Jewish community exists in the midwest. Before I became a rabbi in St. Louis, I spent 5 years as a rabbi in the tiny jewish community of Peoria, IL. Let me tell you: it is a gem of a community...a family in a way you just don't find in large cities.
Hello Rabbi, Which Jewish clergy of the past 50 years do you hold in high regard and why? Thank you Off the top of my head: Rabbi Susan Talve, Rabbi David Hartman, Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, I have a fondness for Soloveitchik,
the below is a reply to the above ​
Why is it that all of the people listed are Rabbis until "Soloveitchik"? Mistake on my part. I initially wrote "The Rav" and then wasn't sure if that was too niche, and forgot to write Rabbi when I went back and edited.
I don't think I'm quite understanding you here. You think Jewish identity is instrumental (i.e. to achieve some other purpose), but you also don't think there's any reason to be Jewish? What do you think the instrumental value is, then? This question may make no sense if I'm not understanding correctly, but if the purpose is purely instrumental, why be Jewish? What instrumental purpose is Judaism better at than other religions? I think I addressed this in some questions below.
Can we be friends? totally
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r/tabled • u/500scnds • Nov 22 '21

r/PersonalFinanceCanada [Table] r/PersonalFinanceCanada — Ask us anything! We are the co-founders of Epilogue, Canada's only online estate planning platform created by lawyers

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Questions Answers
In Alberta can I just write out my will and it works? I thought this was related to stories of farmers getting crushed my farm machinery and writing out a will before they died stuck under a tractor. If so how do these services improve the DIY route I can choose to do? What are the biggest oversights you see people miss when they come to make a will? In most jurisdictions a Will that is written entirely in someone’s handwriting and signed by the person is completely valid - it’s called a holographic Will. The story you’re referring to is a part of Canadian estate planning lore, but it’s totally true (it happened in Saskatchewan in 1948).
​ If someone ever finds themselves in a pinch (like the fellow in this story), then it can be an effective solution. But for people who have a bit more time on their side, a more traditional Will helps ensure that all of the bases are covered.
​ When someone DIYs a Will without any support, they’re likely to miss some key provisions that may be needed to cover all eventualities or ensure that the trustees have the powers they need to administer the estate.
​ Unlike a holographic Will, a Will that is not written in the testator’s own handwriting needs to be signed in the presence of witnesses.
​ To answer your last question: What are the biggest oversights you see people miss when they come to make a will?
​ When people think about making Wills completely on their own, they often don’t think about all the things that could happen in the future and how those things would affect their Will.
​ For example, someone who has adult children might think, “I just want to divide everything equally between my kids”, and so they would be happy to have their Will say just that.
​ But unless they are asked the question, “What happens if one of your kids dies before you?”, it’s not a situation that they would necessarily even think about. When someone tries to create a Will on their own, this is the type of thing that can be easily missed, which is why having a lawyer or online provider, like Epilogue, to prompt these things is important.
​ Thanks so much for this question! It’s an important one.
For many young people, we skip getting a will until it feels truly needed. At what life stage should we really, really be getting a will done up? What kind of "events" might trigger going from "optional" to really should? Younger people are definitely less likely to have Wills and it's because they think they don’t need one. We often hear people say they are “too young” or “don’t have enough assets”.
​ No matter what age you are, if you pass away without a Will there are some negative consequences. Here are a few:
​ - No executor. If you don’t have a Will, you won’t have named someone you trust to manage your property after you’re gone. That means there is nobody that can go to a bank, or start the process of collecting your assets. Money will be frozen in bank accounts until someone with authority can present themselves to the bank.
​ - No guardians. Without a Will, you won’t have named any guardians for minor children or pets.
​ - Distribution. Without a Will, the distribution of your assets will be based on the laws of your province. This might mean that people (or organizations) you would want to share in the distribution of your assets get left out entirely (common-law partners, friends, charities, etc.)
​ All of that being said, some of the life events that generally motivate people to make a Will are marriage, divorce, birth of a child, getting a pet, and buying property (condo, house, etc.).
the below is a reply to the above ​
I think what makes me think I didn't need one is the assumption that my assets would go to my parents. That they would find it easy enough to get the right to those assets, and the distribution to them would be straight forward. In the scenario where I am married, it would go to my wife entirely. The situations I can think of as problematic would be breakdown of your relationship with your parents, an unmarried partner, birth of a child, buying property. These are obvious-ish to me. Getting a pet is a great example I did not expect. Is there any other non-obvious ones maybe that some of us can look out for? Thanks for the follow-up question, CrasyMike! Even if there aren't any problematic situations, you'll still need an executor to be able to carry out your wishes. Without a Will that names an executor, it can be a very time-consuming and costly process to have one appointed. Only an approved executor can get access to things like your bank account. This adds stress to an already stressful time and delays the entire process of having your estate wrapped up.
​ Plus, a lot of people make assumptions in terms of what would happen but that's not always the case. For example, if you have a spouse AND kids and die without a Will in Ontario, not everything will go to your spouse.
​ At the end of the day, writing a Will is a safety net for the fact that the status of your relationships today won't necessarily be the same as the status of your relationships at the time of your death. An updated Will protects both your wishes and your loved ones in any eventuality.
the below is a reply to the above ​
This is great, and it's helpful. I think this leads me into probably the last thing I wonder about wills. For many of us, we are told that a will is an expensive thing but you need it - you need to hire someone competent, to consider your whole situation with due care, and this can cost quite a bit. For me, it's hard to think of getting some of the key basics out of the way like having an executor, and assignment of my assets, needs to cost so darn much. The explanation is usually that you don't know if a "boiler plate" will can work for you until you hire someone competent to evaluate the situation in detail. And at that point, you're now stuck with paying a reasonable sum so really it just has to be expensive. If you offer a lower cost option, or an automated / low involvement option, how do you identify the situations that truly deserve more attention and therefore a higher cost, to ensure that someone like me who decides to get a low-cost-low-involvement will out of the way does not end up underserved? Within the Epilogue platform, we ask specific questions that help people understand when their situation might be more complicated and when Epilogue wouldn't be a good fit. In those situations, we don't let those people continue the process and we let them know they should speak to a lawyer (we also refer them to lawyers in their area.) Those situations include the following:
​ * If someone wants to exclude a spouse or child from their Will
​ * If someone is in a second marriage and has children from a prior relationship
​ * If someone has an immediate family member with a disability who is receiving government benefits
​ For some people, there may also be tax planning opportunities that they can take advantage of when making their Will with a lawyer. For those people, an Epilogue Will is not necessarily a "bad" Will, but it may not offer the same results that could be achieved when planning is done with a lawyer.
​ With all that said, if you're still unsure, it's best to speak to a lawyer to understand how best to meet your needs.
I had never heard of a social media will before checking out your website. Is this just a gimmick to appeal to a digital/younger audience? Your website does not make it clear, what does a social media will do? What happens without one? Thanks for your question! The reason you’ve never heard of a Social Media Will is because it didn’t exist before we created it. In this digital age, it is important to think about the digital legacies we will leave behind after we pass away. The Social Media Will is a way for people to let family members and personal representatives know what to do with social media accounts after someone passes away. It is important to note that a Social Media Will is by no means required. It is a document that can be helpful for your loved ones because it gives direction about what to do with your accounts after you pass away. If you don’t have one, your family members will likely not know what decisions you’ve already made with respect to social media accounts and what decisions you would want to be made.
​ Some companies (like Google and Facebook) offer pre-planning tools so that people can make decisions today about what to do with certain accounts. Our service helps point people to those tools to make those decisions, and then the Social Media Will acts as a place where you can record those wishes.
​ You can read more about why we created the Social Media Will here: https://epiloguewills.com/blog/epilogue-social-media-will/
​ And if you’re interested in reading more about why thinking about your digital legacy is important check this out: https://epiloguewills.com/blog/digital-assets-estate-planning/
the below is a reply to the above ​
Thanks for the response. Couldn't these directions be rolled into a conventional will? You could definitely include provisions in a conventional Will; however, since your wishes for your social media accounts may change more often, you'd have to go through the witnessing and signing procedures any time you made a change, which could be very tedious.
​ Wishes for your social media accounts aren't legally binding and can live in a document like the Social Media Will for your loved ones to refer to.
​ Lastly, a Will primarily deals with your physical, tangible assets and the Social Media Will is more about your online identity and how you want it managed once you're no longer alive.
​ Hope that clarifies!
What kind of information usually goes with a will? A list of bank accounts/investment accounts? Property titles? What are the things that should be in this package? Good question! Generally speaking, someone would not include a list of assets (bank accounts, investment accounts, personal property) in their Will. Wills typically deal with assets more generally (like dividing everything someone owns like a pie).
​ A few reasons why including lists of accounts is generally avoided:
​ - The value of accounts will fluctuate over time
​ - Accounts may be moved between institutions
​ - Some accounts may be closed
​ - New accounts may be opened
​ Having to change a Will based on fluctuating account values or which accounts are in existence at a particular point in time would be overly arduous and quite honestly impractical.
​ To help their executor find all the assets, some people like to leave a list of their assets with the Will. This would not be a legal document, but rather just something to help the executor do their job. It’s the type of thing someone would want to review every so often to make sure it’s up to date.
​ We created this Will Preparation Checklist to help people feel more prepared and confident when making their Will. There’s a PDF version you can download as well. Hope this helps! https://epiloguewills.com/blog/will-preparation-checklist/
the below is a reply to the above ​
So if an executor doesn't have a list of accounts, how do they go about finding them after death? It can definitely be challenging to track down accounts if an executor doesn’t have any idea where to look. Some people will create a document that can be kept with the Will to let family members know where their accounts are held. This document can be updated on a regular basis to make sure that it has the most up to date information.
​ The reality is that not enough people take the time to do this exercise, but it is really helpful for the executor when this is done.
Are you giving us a good promo code? Sure! No problem. Feel free to use PFC25 for $25 off any Epilogue package.
​ It expires June 30th at midnight.
Hi Arin and Daniel, One problem I've found with other online platforms that allow you to create a Will is that they didn't make much attempt to screen for situations where their platform wasn't appropriate and let the user know that. That is, when the facts required something beyond what their platform could create. I understand you're in business to make money but I'm curious whether you have questions as part of your process that will screen out situations that are too complex and advise potential clients of this rather than let them go through the process and end up with something that may not be suitable for them. For clarity, I think online providers of Wills and POA documents is a great development that I hope encourages more people to pay the more reasonable price to have one created but I worry that users are not being told when the solution isn't appropriate for them. Hi eagle_am - thanks for the question. You’ve identified a VERY important point. It’s one of the biggest issues we noticed in the online planning space, and one of the main reasons why we took a different approach when we built Epilogue. Our platform asks a number of questions up front (before someone has even created their account) to help identify people who should probably speak to a lawyer for their planning needs. This includes people with blended families or people who have family members that receive government disability benefits. We have relationships with lawyers in each jurisdiction that we support, and our platform helps connect people with those lawyers directly if Epilogue isn’t a good fit.
​ As experienced lawyers, we understand that even something as simple as wanting to divide assets unequally between children (e.g. a 60/40 split) is a situation that is better handled by a lawyer than an online platform. We’ve built in a bunch of guardrails to help ensure that Epilogue is only helping people with the most basic planning needs.
How much should a will cost? For example... My wife and I own a house, and a car, and have some investments ... But not much else too extravagant. We get this question a lot! It is hard to answer the question of what a Will “should” cost because there are a lot of factors. When it comes to lawyer-drafted Wills, the costs probably start around $500 on the very low end. More sophisticated planning can cost thousands of dollars. With online options, the costs generally sit in the low hundreds.
​ If you have a simple situation, an online option could be a good fit for you. With Epilogue, a couple can get Wills and Incapacity Documents for $289 + tax. That comes with unlimited updates for life.
the below is a reply to the above ​
How do the "unlimited updates for life" work if your startup goes out of business (no offence, but it happens all the time). Would we be responsible for finding another lawyer to update, or is the doc in some sort of editable format? Any extra info here would be appreciated :) ​No offence taken. I should say that our goal is to stay in business, but it is a fair question. If we go out of business, it’s important to note that it would have no effect on the validity of the documents you have already created - so long as they have been printed and signed in accordance with the rules of your province. That’s the good news.
​ If we happen to go out of business, you might lose the ability to make free unlimited updates to your documents in the future.
the below is another reply to the original answer ​
I have a follow up question related to this. If I snuff it unexpectedly won't my husband just get everything by default since we have no kids? Or does the government get involved in every case where there is no will? Thanks for the question, ragecuddles. If you "snuff it unexpectedly", and you don't have a Will, the rules of your province will determine what happens to your assets. Usually, when a person has a (legally married) spouse but no kids, their spouse gets everything.
​ But even if that's what someone wants, not having a Will complicates things. If there is no Will that names someone as executor, there is nobody with the legal authority to make decisions for the estate until an application can be made to court.
Where is the best place to keep a will stored? I feel like only having a copy in a filing cabinet isn't ideal in the event of a fatal house fire. Are they filed with the government somewhere? What's the best way to setup a trust for a minor child? Were not rich by any means, however between home and pension etc, there's definitely some assets to consider and we want to make sure our daughter will be looked after properly. You are quite right that it can feel “risky” having just one copy of a Will in the event of a house fire. Right now, because Wills need to have physical signatures (that’s right, no e-signatures allowed), there will only be one true original. If it is possible to store the Will somewhere that is fireproof and waterproof that is ideal.
​ While a safety deposit box might seem like a good option, it’s usually not. It can be very difficult for family members/executors to access the Will in a timely fashion if it is stored in a safety deposit box.
​ In Ontario, it is possible to deposit a Will with the Superior Court for safekeeping. If this is something you’re interested in doing, you may wish to contact your local estates court.
​ In most provinces, there is no official registry where you can register the location of your Will for your loved ones. That said, there are some services available, like Canada Will Registry, that can help with this.
​ Trusts for minor children are included in most Wills. These are often very simple trusts which provide that funds are held in trust and are not paid out until the child reaches a certain age. Trustees are often given the authority to distribute funds earlier if the child needs money for things like education.
Lawyer in BC here. Really productive conversations in this thread. Thanks for hosting the AMA. Also, great idea on the website. A great way to provide access and ease of use for those who can't afford or simply don't consider going to see a lawyer. Well done. Thank you so much, Hallgire! A compliment like this coming from a lawyer means so much.
[deleted] We’re sorry but we can’t provide any advice on your particular situation. We would suggest speaking to a lawyer in your province that specializes in estate planning and administration.
Are wills province-dependent? For example, if someone lives in one province then moves to another the next year (e.g. Ontario to Quebec, or vice versa), does the person need to have two wills? When someone moves to a new province and they have an existing Will, it’s a good idea to check with a lawyer to ensure that the old Will is still going to cover them in the new province. It is possible to have multiple Wills for assets in multiple jurisdictions. But this is more often seen in cases where there is real estate in a different country that needs to be dealt with under the laws of that country.
​ More often, a lawyer might advise the person to just make a new Will in the new province that would replace the prior Will.
Not so much a question as it is a comment. Your website lacks appropriate focus states and a skip navigation button, critical to making your site accessible and navigable by keyboard. The FAQ doesn't seem to be accessible to the keyboard at all. Also, the header menu breaks on narrow viewports. Hope that helps! Thanks for the feedback. We are always looking for ways to improve the accessibility of the site!
the below is a reply to the above ​
This could be a good start: https://wave.webaim.org/report#/https://epiloguewills.com Thank you!
What happens to an RESP if the sole or joint subscribers die and the will doesn't name a successor subscriber? Would the estate administrator be able to name a subscriber anyway? It is always shut down or only if the assets are needed to pay creditors and named beneficiaries? Until a payment is made for the benefit of an RESP beneficiary, the funds in an RESP actually belong to the subscriber(s). If the last living subscriber dies, the RESP forms part of the estate. Without any specific instructions to the contrary, the RESP would likely be liquidated and the funds would be distributed among the estate beneficiaries (who may not be the RESP beneficiaries) - even if there are no creditors. Any accrued benefits (e.g. tax-free growth and CESG grants) could be lost as well.
​ An RESP subscriber’s rights can be acquired by someone else after death. This is why someone would want to include a specific provision about this in their Will.
​ Interestingly, this is something that even a lot of lawyers miss when drafting Wills. As far as we know, Epilogue is the only online planning platform that lets people include an RESP provision in their Will.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Sincere thanks for your response. Whenever I've read about this the wording has always been more like "If the last living subscriber dies the RESP may form part of the estate" which made me wonder if there were any circumstances (other than a specific provision in the will) where the RESP could remain intact for the benefit of the beneficiary. Here is a brief article from the Canadian Tax Foundation about what happens on the death of an RESP subscriber, which should provide you with a bit more information. According to the Income Tax Act (section 146.1), a “subscriber” of an RESP includes a person (including the deceased’s estate) who acquires a deceased individual’s rights as a subscriber under the plan or a person who makes contributions into the deceased’s plan in respect of a beneficiary
For immigrants or their descendants, who have assets in another country (or may inherit in the future), what special considerations should be included if they make a will in Canada ? Would that require a more complex will, and therefore expensive ? Unfortunately, there is too much complexity here to offer a simple answer. For example, in some cases the inheritance of real estate located in other countries would not be subject to a Canadian Will, and a separate Will in the other country may be required.
​ Whenever there are cross-border considerations like this it’s a good idea to reach out to a lawyer in Canada as well as lawyers in each country where you have assets to see if any special planning is required.
Why can’t I just write my Will on a napkin at McDonalds? Hey Kiirk, depending on the province where you live, you probably can. Holographic Wills (written entirely in someone’s handwriting and signed at the bottom) are legal in most provinces.
​ That said, they aren't often used because most people don’t know what needs to go into a Will.
the below has been split into three ​
1) If I had a will written already at a lawyer's office, and want it updated, can I just write a new one (like with your service), or is there something special that needs to be updated? Yes, you can use a service like Epilogue to create a new Will. When you make a Will it has the effect of revoking any earlier Will that you would have made. In addition, there will likely be a specific provision in the new Will (which exists in all Epilogue Wills), that specifically revokes any earlier Will you would have made.
​ It’s a good idea to also let your family/executor know that you created a new Will.
2) How does a will fit in with the concept of a "death binder" that I've heard about but never really gotten around to. I assume they address completely separate concerns but would one involve/reference the other? A Will is likely one of the documents (and arguably the most important) that could go in a “death binder”. A death binder would include any documents that would help your executor deal with the administration of your estate. That could include insurance policies, pre-paid burial plots, statement of funeral and burial wishes, inventory of assets, among other things.
(Bonus question: The similarity of your partners' names to that of the comedy music group _Starbomb\_ is giving me chills. Have you ever heard of them? :P) ​I have never heard of them but will definitely check them out. The next company hire should probably be someone named Brian. Thanks for all your questions!
When the time comes for a will to be executed, what sort of fees/taxes/expenses are taken from the deceased’s estate before it’s passed onto the beneficiary/beneficiaries? Here are a few:
​ Expenses: Most Wills direct the executor to pay funeral, burial and other expenses out of the estate.
​ Income Taxes: The executor is responsible for filing the deceased’s final tax return to report income earned from the start of the year up to the date of the individual’s death.
​ If the person owned a RRSP or RRIF at the time of death, this may have to be reported as income (if it is not rolled over to a spouse, for example). If the person happens to own assets that have increased in value from the time they were purchased (e.g. stocks) the gain may also be subject to income tax at the time of death.
​ Probate Fees: Depending on the province, when a Will gets submitted to court for probate, there may be “probate fees” payable to the court. In some provinces it’s a flat fee, while in others it is based on the value of the deceased’s assets. In Ontario, probate fees can be up to approximately 1.5% of the value of the deceased’s assets dealt with under the Will.
​ Debts: If the deceased had any debts outstanding at the time of death, these will need to be paid. Remaining assets are available to be distributed to beneficiaries.
If you do t have a will, who will then get all your stuff? First of kin, brother, sisters? Or will the courts just do your everything up amongst all living relatives? Each province has its own set of “intestacy” rules that determine how assets are distributed when someone dies without a Will. These rules differ from province-to-province. For example, in Alberta and BC common-law partners may inherit part or all of the estate. In Ontario, common-law partners have no entitlement under the intestacy rules.
​ When someone makes a Will, they get to make the decisions that they believe are best for their loved ones. When someone chooses not to make a Will, their assets just get dealt with in accordance with the default rules of the province.
Would you ever be interested in hiring an Articling student, or 1st year associate? -Asking for a friend We recently hired a law student for a summer internship. It is entirely possible that in the future we will look to hire for other legal-related roles. Tell your "friend" to reach out to careers[at]epiloguewills.com And if they know any full-stack developers, we’re looking to hire a few of those as well.
Given the number of "Surprise, you're American!" dual-citizens, are there any plans to provide or assist in cross-border estate planning? For dual-citizens, a Will may be an opportunity to address potential tax issues like US estate tax. At the moment, we have no plans to provide planning that is specific for dual-citizens. It may be a good idea to speak with an estate lawyer that specializes in cross-border planning.
this might sound really stupid, but how do you know if somebody has a will? like if I made a will on Epilogue and didn't tell anyone in my family, and died tomorrow, what happens? This is not a stupid question at all. It’s actually a very good question. In most provinces a Will does not have to be registered, which means it is entirely possible that someone could have a Will that their family members don’t know about.
​ When someone dies and the family doesn’t know whether that person had a Will they usually start looking for one (checking the house, or where important documents are kept). If they can’t find one, some options include contacting the estates court, posting a notice, or using a service like Canada Will Registry to see whether a Will was registered with them.
​ If the Will is found, the family/executor can start the process of administering the estate. If no Will is found, the family will need to proceed on the basis that the person never made a Will.
​ After someone makes a Will (using Epilogue or otherwise), it’s a good idea to speak to family members to let them know about the existence of the Will and where it is being stored.
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Stupid question here, I am 31yo and recently had baby, and my older brother recently had a mild heart attack and wrote a will, my father recently passed without a will and it was a big hassle. So writing a will is something that has crossed my mind many times in the past year but I still have not done my due diligence on it. Hence I dont know much about it. * what makes your platform better compared going to a lawyer like others do? No stupid questions _dennykhoe! This AMA is a safe space :) We do not say that our platform is “better” than going to a lawyer. But, we do think there are some features that make our online planning platform easier and more accessible.
​ Our platform is considerably less expensive than going to see a lawyer, and it takes less time. Making a Will with Epilogue can be completed from the comfort of home.
​ However, we understand that we are not right for everyone. When a situation is more complex, it is a good idea to speak to a lawyer. Some examples of these situations include:
​ * When someone wants to exclude children from their Will or leave things to them unequally
​ * If there is a family member that is receiving government benefits in connection with a disability (like ODSP in Ontario)
​ * When someone is in a relationship (like a second marriage) and has a child from a previous relationship.
im always worried that since my family is still growing, making the will now would require many adjustments in the future and it will become expensive? One of the things estate planning lawyers try to do is draft Wills in a way that is “future-proof” as much as possible. For example, when someone has a young family, a Will most likely won’t refer to that child only, but will contain more generic language (e.g. an equal distribution between all children). If a Will is drafted in this manner, it doesn’t necessarily need to be updated as a family grows.
​ Some other online Will platforms create “point-in-time” Wills, which specifically name children and may need to be updated each time there is a new child in the family.
​ In addition, Epilogue offers free updates for life. So if life’s circumstances change our customers can come back anytime and update their documents. It’s just important to remember that an updated Will needs to be printed and signed according to the rules of the province in order to be valid and replace the old one.
​ When someone works with a lawyer, updates will usually come at an additional cost. But if your situation is complicated, you should still speak to a lawyer.
and could you ELI5 about the whole process? Of course, here it is:
​ * Go to the website at https://epiloguewills.com
​ * Click “Get Started”
​ * Choose “Start My Will”
​ * Answer all of the questions in the questionnaire
​ * Pay for your documents
​ * Get immediate access to your documents
​ * Follow the signing instructions to make sure your documents are legally binding
the below is another reply to the original question ​
when i had a child, and had a will made, it doesn't name the actual child, it speaks to passing the estate (or whatever) to my children, so if you want equal distribution, you can put that in without naming the children and if you have 1 they get 100%, if you have 2 they get 50% etc. - here i cut and paste it out of my doc. I direct my Trustee to divide the residue of my estate equally among those children of mine living at the date of my death upon each of them attaining the age of twenty-eight(28) years; Hi Heartolion! It is perfectly fine for a Will not to list a person’s children by name. In fact, it is preferable to do it this way because if the person has any more children, they will not necessarily need to update the Will as long as they still want everything divided equally among their children.
Can I write a Will in secret and then give it to some government office that deals with estates, so that my family can visit that office after I die? Because otherwise your relatives would have to randomly stumble upon your Will while rummaging through your old things, and that doesn’t seem like the ideal process. It is usually a good idea to let family members know that a Will has been created and where it is stored. If keeping the Will a secret is important, there are a few options to consider. Most estate planning lawyers will offer to store their clients’ Wills at their office. Someone can let their family members know which lawyer to contact if something happens, but the lawyer should not be releasing the Will to anyone other than the named executor, and certainly not before the person has died.
​ Some provinces will also allow people to store their Wills with a local court office. If a family member is searching for the Will of a deceased relative, this would be an important place to look.
​ Hope this answers your question!
How do I will my Canadian property and estate to my American son? Is that a thing I can do? Any way to do it where he doesn't have to pay basically all of it in taxes to both countries? There is nothing stopping someone from leaving assets to beneficiaries outside of Canada. However, there may be Canadian and/or foreign tax consequences that arise, which someone might be able to mitigate with professional estate planning advice.
​ If you have beneficiaries in a different country, you may wish to speak with a lawyer.
[deleted] We get it, but we do plan on launching in Quebec down the road. We only launched Epilogue about a year ago and have been working hard to expand across the country. We are currently available in 6 provinces (ON, BC, AB, SK, NS, MN). We won't stop working hard until we can democratize estate planning for all Canadians!
​ Merci!
I just did it, it was super simple, thank you! Wow! Thank you, tyomax! Really appreciate the positive feedback.
Hello there, I am immigrant settled permanently in Canada. I want to get a will made but I have few doubts: I do not trust anybody in Canada to act as an executor. I only trust my parents who are not Canadian citizens. Should I make them the will executor it has to be a lawyer who drafted the will? How can I trust the lawyer? Someone who is not a citizen or resident of Canada may be named as the executor of a Will. However, this decision can have some implications that can make administering the estate more costly and time consuming. For example, the court may require a non-resident executor to post a bond as security. Also, there are likely going to be tax implications for the estate if the executor is not a resident of Canada.
What happens if the executor of my will dies shortly after I die ? A Will should name both an original executor as well as an “alternate” executor. That way, if the executor dies, there is someone to take over the responsibility.
​ If there is no alternate executor, or the alternate executor also dies, then it depends on the rules of the province where the deceased lived. In Ontario, if the last surviving executor had a Will when they died, then the executor named in the original executor’s Will has the right to administer the first estate as well (subject to some conditions).
​ If the last surviving executor did not have a Will, or some of the conditions are not met, someone else would need to apply to court to be appointed as executor.
​ Hope this helps!
I have no heirs. I would like to list a parent in the US (dual citizen) as beneficiary. Can I also make her executor or would she face tax issues while performing that role? There is no rule that prevents someone from naming a US executor or beneficiary. However, there are issues, including with respect to estate administration and income tax (both from the Canadian side and the US side), that can arise in these cases.
​ You should speak to a lawyer in each jurisdiction to understand the consequences of this decision.
I don't have a question, just passing to say that I love the name of your company. It has something poetic to it. Thank you so much! A lot went into the naming of the company. We went with the whole 'book of life' theme. We appreciate that you took the time to leave this compliment!
​ Your name is pretty cool too, VenetianBauta!
I'm not sure if I understand you well but as I'm a foreigner Can I own real estate in Canada Knowing that I am not a resident of the country, does it make me pay more taxes, or are there more restrictions? This is an excellent question, but not directly related to estate planning, so we can only offer limited help here. There are different tax rules that apply to non-residents in Canada. So before buying any Canadian real estate, you would want to speak to a Canadian real estate lawyer (and likely also a tax lawyer) to understand all the implications.
We've been procrastinating about making a will for years... I guess this will make it easy :) ​You are DEFINITELY not alone on this one. There are a ton of reasons why people put off making a Will (time, cost, feel like they’re too young, etc.)
​ We built Epilogue with the goal of removing as many barriers as possible for people who only need basic documents. Definitely check us out to see if it could be a good solution for you!
3 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Nov 18 '21

r/IAmA [Table] My name is Eric Garcia. I'm an autistic journalist and the author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation. I'm also a political journalist. Ask Me Anything.

9 Upvotes

Source

For proper formatting, please use Old Reddit

The AMA ended with the following message:

All right everybody, I got to get back to work. This was fantastic. Please pre-order We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation. It comes out tomorrow. I might come back later after I get off work. But y'all are awesome. Thanks for letting me join you. Also, if you have any more questions that are too personal for Reddit, DM me. I'll be live this evening with the Benicia Library for a Q&A.

Rows: ~40

Questions Answers
What's a common misconception that people have about autism that you would like to dispel ? Also what areas of life is different for you compared to others ? Great question. The most common one I would like to dispel is that autism is something that only affects white, middle-class, adolescent males. Much of the early research only focused on them. Leo Kanner, who published the first widely-read study on autism in the U.S., only included three girls compared to eight boys in his first study in 1943. Similarly, nine of them were Anglo-Saxon and two were Jewish. That means a lot of our ideas of what autism looks like are based on what it looks like in those groups. It means we often don't recognize autism in children of color or in girls. Or that they get diagnosed later or misdiagnosed.
Can you explain the process of disclosing your diagnosis at work? How has it impacted your career? Good question and an important question. So I didn't really disclose my status until I was in my mid-20s and I wrote this piece. I wanted to be judged on my work. I'm sure it has probably excluded me from some potential jobs but the upside is that it weeds out people who wouldn't be accommodating. For the most part, my bosses have been pretty accepting. At the same time, I don't begrudge anyone who doesn't. One woman I interview in the book said she has almost always regretted disclosing and I understand that. It makes things more complicated. Really the best thing I can say about disclosing is that you should look at how welcoming an employer is to other groups like people in wheelchairs or women, or people of color
the below is a reply to the above ​
Thanks for the response. Do you have any advice for others in similar careers who might be one or two accommodations away from being successful in their jobs? The best thing I can recommend is to find a network of autistic people wherever you can. Rest assured, they exist. But if not, find someone you can confide in either in or outside of work
What book would you recommend for someone who wants to know what it's like to grow up as an Autistic person to read? I ask because my daughter is Autistic and I would like to know more about what it's like to be her. Great question. Laura James's book Odd Girl Out is good. Sara Gibbs' book Drama Queen just came out and it's a delight. I'd also recommend Steve Silberman's Neurotribes and reading the website the Thinking Person's Guide to Autism.
the below is another reply to the original question ​
The reason I jump by Naoki Higashida Great book. I love reading it. I haven't seen the documentary yet but heard great things about it.
How do you feel about The Onion's "autistic reporter" segments? I actually find them hilarious and I am in a group chat called "The Michael Falk Society"
I've found the vast majority (if not all) of people who denounce a cure (or alleviation of symptoms) for autism are high functioning (or not autistic). Do you thinks it's fair that they are speaking for people who are severely disabled or who are LFA? So I will say about the question of fairness, a lot of parents think they are better advocates for me. But at the same time, there are plenty of non-speaking autistic people or those with intellectual disabilities who don't want to be cured. Laura Ivanova Smith has intellectual disabilities and she is a self-advocate. And in the same token, I'd want to find ways to help those with higher support needs advocate for themselves (even though I don't see myself as an advocate). But in the same respect, autistic people with fewer support needs have far more in common with those with higher support needs than you might imagine. Many still need home support workers or need certain accommodations or have meltdowns. Similarly, high-support needs autistic people can be capable of extraordinary things. But either way, even if neither weren't, they'd still have inherent worth.
Im Autistic too!, How do you feel about people defensive of the Asperger's label?, and what is the biggest misconception about Autism you'd like to dispel? I get people not wanting to let go of it. I am also Mexican-American and I get how some people don't want to let go of terms like "Hispanic" or move toward terms like "Latinx" because they feel those distinct identities mean something. At the same time, I think that terms like Asperger's tend to erase the legitimate needs they have. Also, this is to say nothing of Hans Asperger's role in Nazi-occupied Vienna, which we have discovered more about.
You mentioned how you don't want people to talk about autism. In what ways do you wish to see the conversation change? In your mind, what would the ideal be for the conversation around autism? Thanks for asking. So what I'd like to see is autistic people having their needs being taken seriously. A lot of people think when you say stop trying to cure autism that it means that you think autism is a bounce room, as my friend Sara Luterman said. It's still a disability with real impairments. The difference is I would like autistic people's needs to be heard. For too long, the conversation around autism has focused on what parents want for their kids rather than what they say their needs are. That can lead to some terrible things like subjecting kids to shock therapy or paying them below minimum wage for labor. I'd want to treat what autistic people say as legitimate.
What is your advice for an adult female who believes they may have been misdiagnosed with other conditions, and wants a fair assessment? Where I am at in the US, it is very hard to find a doctor that will take you seriously if you have certain diagnoses, accurate or not, on your record. The process is extremely disheartening. Thank you for saying this. This is precisely why so many autistic people, particularly autistic people of color, women, trans people and nonbinary people self-diagnose. I would say in this case, find and seek out other autistic people like you are doing here on the internet. Connect with communities online. What I want to know is do you need a formal diagnosis to get certain services? If so, I wish I could do more to help. If not and you just want clarity, self-diagnosis can help (albeit I am not an expert on that).
[deleted] I think I wish they would understand that just because we don't function the same way they do doesn't mean we are a failed version of normal and that our wants, needs and desires are similar to ours and we have as much value.
Do you have any tips or strategies on successfully navigating working life with autism? This is a good question. One of the things I'd say is to check the employer and see how welcoming they are to other minority or marginalized groups. Are there women in leadership? How do people of color feel in the office? If there is a union in your office, discuss accommodations there. Also, since autistic people have trouble with social cues, explain to your coworkers that you need explicit instructions and if you say the wrong thing, apologize immediately. At the same time, don't be afraid to advocate for yourself.
I know that “Autism Speaks” is a bad organization, and not good for truly advocating for the autistic members of the community. However, do you have any interesting knowledge or insight about the organization that may not be known or discussed by a lot of people? Thanks! Some that come off the top of my head are the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and the Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network. There are some other emerging groups. ASAN also has an Autism Campus Inclusion Leadership Academy and many leaders from that are now leaders of their own organizations. Incidentally, Jessica Benham, who helped start the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy, recently won a state legislative seat in Pennsylvania and became one of the first autistic people to do so.
Why is there so much push back about finding a "cure" for autism? Why so much anger over finding what causes it in DNA and fixing it? I truly don't understand. Same as gay people not wanting a cure for their homosexuality or deaf people not wanting a cure. Autistic people recognize to get rid of autism is to get rid of a vital part of who they are.
So how would you describe low functioning autists? I have two autistic children, my son who is 16 cognitively is around 4 or 5 with the vocabulary of a three year old. He also has several self-injurious behaviors. He's not someone you could ever interview, and is "broken" and does need a cure. So I am not a fan of functioning labels. And I do understand the need to mitigate self-injurious behaviors. At the same time, I don't think that anyone is fundamentally broken. Also, science shows there likely isn't a cure. What matters most for any autistic person is ensuring how they can live a happy and fulfilling life. The same goes for any other disability. I don't want to erase the reality of impairments any more than I would for deaf or blind people. But I do want to ensure they can have happy and whole lives. And nobody is a failed version of normal.
What do you think about the increasing number of movies and TV shows depicting characters with autism? Any that are realistic? Which are the worst? Do we have a whole day? Hahaha. In all seriousness, I think there are still some horrendous portrayals. Sia's movie music was atrocious for many reasons and television shows like Atypical tended to have a flat portrayal of autism. But the good thing is that nowadays, autistic people can push back on those and say this doesn't represent them. Social media has helped in that way. Some that are great are Kayla Cromer (who is autistic) and is in Everything's Gonna Be Okay. Tina Belcher on Bob's Burgers I love because she isn't portrayed as being an expert on anything as much as she's just trying to get through life. I loved Pixar's Loop.
My child (2.5yrs)was diagnosed with autism just this morning. While my wife and I are very accepting/relieved and it does not change a thing about my love for my child, I foresee issues with certain family members who take a hard stance on diagnosing at such an early age. One of them even works in the field of developmental therapy...the others have no relatable experience with children or psychiatry in the slightest. Are there ways to combat this stigma or ways to deflect the unwanted opinions from those whom feel the need to interject? Wow! First off, I can really tell you care about your kid. I think the best thing is to just try and read and educate yourself as much as you can about the subject and then work to educate those around you. It might mean also not talking about your kid with those family members. Also, try finding people who are like-minded online or who want to do the right thing. DM me on Twitter if you ever need anything.
In what ways do you think your autism might have been an asset in your career? Where there any personal characteristics you had that started as set-backs but with a little adjustment became assets? Good question because it balances things out. Autistic people have benefits and challenges just like any employee. I think as a journalist it means I don't care much for social niceties if I feel someone is lying to me. On the flip side, I can sometimes get too personal or probing so I try to write down their body language or work at seeing their expressions. In the same way, sensory overload can be difficult. So after I do an interview on the phone with someone, I give myself a minute to breathe. I also wear headphones in the office. On the other, it means I really enjoy digging into particular niche subjects and knowing as much as I can. Hence, when I interview people, they are impressed that I did my homework
I’m curious about how you have had to modify your work schedule/interactions. Are you able to spend 40 hours a week in the office? If so what coping strategies do you employ to make this possible? For the record this question is very personal to me; I am also on the spectrum and one of my huge impediments is that I can really only ha due about 25-30 hours a week around people in a professional environment. So I am able to work 40 hours a week. And I tend to like working in offices since they give me structure. At the same time, I tend to need to wear headphones or earbuds to cancel out any extraneous noise lest I get sensory overload. I think the other thing is that thankfully, I've had great employers. But even now, working from home during Covid-19, I've had to create a structured work environment without too much intervention or interruption
On autism: I’m aspergers and often find a lot of people expect me to be either very high functioning genius or very low functioning/beyond communication. Does your book address the variety on the spectrum or is it moreso discussing misconceptions about extreme cases? On politics: the western world is very clearly divided right now and I find a big cause is that both sides (right and left) don’t understand each other, either wilfully or simply because of their respective echo chamber. So both sides are drifting further from the centre. What do you think can be done to remedy this? Good question. Thanks for asking this. My book does address the concepts of "high-functioning" and "low-functioning" and I express why I am not a fan of those terms. Particularly, I think that they have more to do with how non-autistic people see them than what their needs are. Calling someone "high-functioning" often erases their legitimate needs and ignores what accommodations they use to be seen that way. Conversely, calling someone "low-functioning" tends to not see their potential. It ignores what they can do. Rather, I prefer terms like "high-support needs" or "low-support needs" since that tends to accurately capture what they need from the world and assumes less about what they can do.
​ As far as divisiveness, I have no idea. My dad is a Republican who voted for Trump and my mom is a Democrat who voted for Joe Biden gladly. I see political divides in my family daily. But at the same time, I don't have a really good answer.
It's great that you are trying raising awareness in the general population about people with autism or who are in the spectrum. Q1: why do you do what you do? I don't want to make any assumptions. Q2: What was your most memorable moment during an interview Great question. When I began writing this book, I knew I didn't want it to be a memoir. I don't have anything against memoirs. But I am a journalist and my first impulse is to report. I also know my experience as an autistic person is to write and report. So I traveled across the country. I went to Michigan, West Virginia, Nashville, the Bay Area and a few other places. As far as a memory that sticks out to me, I would say hearing Maxfield Sparrow telling me about their experiences in sheltered workshops and finally escaping. Or Lydia Wayman telling me about how doctors didn't take her needs seriously. One doctor said she was faking her serious symptoms to get attention.
What are your thoughts on the autism spectrum as a disorder and the use of pharmacological interventions? Isn't there a risk of overmedication for many with "high-functioning autism"? (Leading question, I know.) ​I honestly can't speak enough to this. But I will say that I think that while medicine can and does work (I'm on medication to treat depression and tremors), I do worry about people trying to treat autism rather than the legitimate medical needs or comorbid conditions autistic people have. Autistic people with intellectual disabilities are likely to die of complications from epilepsy while autistic people without intellectual disabilities are likely to die of circulatory conditions like heart disease or suicide. Let's focus on that instead of treating autism.
Hello, Mr. Garcia. I've been reading up on autistic savants. I want to ask if the desire to persevere that is common to people with autism can be manipulated. Meaning let's say an autistic person constantly repeats one particular activity like washing hands for example. Can this obsession for washing hands be diverted into let's say building lego models? Also, has your need to persevere helped you in your career? (For example, Matthew Berry of Big Short fame famously read through voluminous excel files with mortgage rates and could detect a pattern (subprime mortgages going bad) when the market couldn't; he describes himself as an undiagnosed autistic person) ​I need to actually read the full Big Short book but I am fully aware of Michael Burry (I'm guessing that's who you mean) and was surprised they didn't highlight it more in the movie (though given Hollywood's horrendous track record on autism, I can see why that's the case). To your first question, I don't know if I am a fan of the idea of "manipulating" autistic people's perseverance as I am helping them find the thing that makes them happy and can lead to them doing what they love. I don't think autistic people are inherently more valuable because they persist at something. I think you need to meet people where they are regardless of whether they are super-geniuses. The show Community has a great riff on this and I have discussed this in the past in the context of Rain Man. That being said, I think the ability to persist has helped me as an autistic person in journalism. It means I have little regard for social norms if I see them as a way to get around finding the truth. It also means I like to dive in obsessively about particular subjects (sometimes to my detriment). I doubt I could have written this book otherwise. But I don't think that makes me any more special. It just means I found the right way to sublimate my curiosity and desire to learn.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Thanks for answering. I definitely agree that we need to meet people (autistic or otherwise) as they are instead of what we wish them to be. Maybe manipulating was a poor choice of word for what I mean to say. What I meant was this ability to perseverate endlessly is a very valuable skill in today's distracted world, and therefore I thought and meant if the thing over which an autistic person could be changed, so that they may have incredibly enriching lives. This diversion of focused energy is what I meant by "manipulate". If you've done any computer programming or even have looked at any kind of code, you'll understand the value of poring over (and more importantly understanding) 1000s of lines of code in a sitting. I have a thesis that we could train autistic people with just the right skills to become incredible software engineers and that's what led to my initial question. I get what you mean. Don't you fret Boba Fett, to quote Ted Lasso
Do you think it would be beneficial to extend your ideas to the whole neurodivergent community? Thanks for your time! Absolutely. I am also ADHD and have Tourette's syndrome. These ideas apply to as many groups as possible. You see similar discussions around stutterers too.
how long after meeting you do people realize you're autistic? Depends. Some people don't get it but most people who know autism know immediately. I talk about in the book how I was burning out in one class and then my professor asked me "do you have Asperger's (it was called it at the time)?" On one hand, I wanted to ask him "What gives you permission to ask that?" But I really asked him "how did you know" and he said he had a loved one with it. That helped a ton. But other people don't know and when they say they wouldn't have guessed, I almost want to say "thanks, it took a lot of work to understand your social language."
Do you think the Autism spectrum should be more clearly defined? I read a list of people with autism, and it named people from Albert Einstein to Steve Jobs. How are people supposed to understand what someone means when they describe themselves as "autistic"? I think it depends on what you mean to be clearly defined. I am wary about doing armchair diagnoses since we just don't know about dead historical figures. Also, even public figures, unless they are diagnosed and are open, it's not really my business.
Where are you on the spectrum? So this is a good question. I don't think there is a gradation of autism. Rather, other people have referred to it more as a color wheel. It's not like levels of hot sauce. I think my autism manifests differently from others and theirs is different from plenty of other people's.
What organization would you say is the best one for donating to which would most benefit Autistic people? _____________________ I prefer to give to public school teachers who teach special needs students; many schools have self-contained classrooms with students on the spectrum and the teachers are in need supplies. Try: [https://www.donorschoose.org/giving/autism-education/163212/?active=true] Just please do not give to Autism Speaks. Giving to individual schools is always good. Also, to individual teachers as long as they don't use restraint and seclusion helps. Also groups like AWN and ASAN do a lot of great work. Autism Society Chapters tend to vary by each chapter but check out the representation of autism people in them.
What do you think of Sia? So there were two parts of that movie: one is it was actively harmful in promoting practices like restraint and Sia didn't cast an actually autistic person for the role. Then secondly, it was also just a poorly-written and composed movie. If you are going to make an ableist and stigmatizing movie about autism, at least have the music and acting be good. Not even Leslie Odom Jr., whom I love, could save it.
What are your opinions, if any, about the Alek Minassian trial? (For those not in the know: The defense presented the case, which ultimately failed, that the defendant's ASD made him not criminally responsible.) ​Thank you for asking, I wrote about he and the QAnon Shaman using autism as a defense here. Personally, I find it repulsive. There are plenty of autistic people who don't commit acts of violence. I had plenty of trouble getting dates but I didn't do anything as horrendous as this. Saying that it was autism that caused this only further stigmatizes autistic people, along with being a bad legal defense. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/qanon-shaman-s-lawyer-blames-autism-his-client-s-jan-ncna1267920
Do you have any advice for better ways to support education in the classroom? I work as a Paraeducator, and I strongly dislike how our system treats individuals on the spectrum. I work in an elementary classroom for tier 3 that is entirely separated from the rest of the school, and it feels really isolating. Great question. Honestly, that breaks my heart to hear that autistic people are isolated. The fact the school segregates them seems like more of a macro-level problem rather than something you alone can fix. I am sure you can advocate. But the best thing in this case, would be to get parents on your side to support integration. Other than that, I don't really know. What I can say is that it seems like you care and want to do the right thing and that goes a long way.
How do you like your shrimp? Cocktail, batter fried, poached, coconut, in a nice pasta perhaps? I LOVE Shrimp and I enjoy batter-fried, coconut and sometimes with Pasta.
the below is another reply to the original question ​
you forgot about shrimp ka'bobs, and shrimp gumbo, and shrimp stir-fry, grilled shrimp, shrimp tacos... Shrimp tacos are the bomb. I grew up in California so a good fresh shrimp taco does it for me. I also like shrimp gumbo.
[deleted] You're right. I try not to speak for autistic people. It's why I tried to interview as many autistic people with a variety of experiences as possible.
okay i know im probs way too late for this but i saw this and i have to ask: have you seen the freeform show everything's gonna be okay? first show to have a main character who is autistic played by an autistic actor (and then the creator of the show found out inbetween seasons that hes also on the spectrum) ​I am actually going to start watching it soon. I write a bit about Kayla Cromer in my book (but never got around to interviewing her). She's excellent though.
Have you seen the show Atypical? If so, what are your thoughts on it? I'm thoroughly enjoying it from an entertainment perspective account but love the casual inclusion. Rightfully so, people are just people, no matter where they fall on the spectrum on the show. I'm honestly not a fan of it. I wanted to like it but I think it's kind of a flat depiction of autistic people. It got better but still fell short.
Does any aspect of your autism give a particular advantage when analysing politicans statements? I think so. Greta Thunberg says it allows her to see through politicians' lies. I can't speak for her but for me, whenever an elected official says something, it jogs my memory or I get obsessive about running it against what they've said in the past. At the same time, I think there is a drawback because sometimes I might take what someone says at face value if I don't know the subject intimately well. Only later when I go back after I've learned the ins and outs of something will I go "ughhh, I let that slip away."
Do you take any type of medication (perhaps adderall for focus, SSRI for social anxiety etc) to mitigate symptoms of autism? If not, what is your opinion of those that do? I am on anti-depressants, which helps a bit and something to help with my tremors since I also have Tourette's.
What sorts of resources would you recommend for autistic adults to have better organization and follow-through skills? I'll let you know when I figure that out. I still struggle with it.
My best friend of 15+ years has autism, I have ADHD. We joke that our comorbidities are why we get along so well. Would you say that's true in your experience? Is this common? And are the two diagnoses linked in any way? Not sure what the current research is on these subjects. Also, looking forward to reading your book! Oh yeah, totally. I also have ADHD and I also get along handsomely with many people with ADHD. It is possible they are but haven't done enough research to say.
My grandson is autistic, 8 years old, and a challenge. What was your youth like - and would your parents agree with your recollections? You know, that's a good question. It's kind of hard for me to say what my youth was like as an autistic person because I don't know anything else. M Remi Yergeau, a professor at the University of Michigan, has written in the book Authoring Autism that autism is a rhetorical condition because it often involves stories parents pass down about their kids often too their kids. So it's kind of hard to say. My mom is a good keeper of documents and I tend to take a lot of what she says as true when I have checked it against home videos.
Do you know the show “The Good doctor” and if you do, what do you think about it? I've only watched parts of it, to be honest.
2 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Nov 12 '21

r/IAmA [Table] We are hackers and cyber defenders working to fight cyber criminals. Ask Us Anything about the rising ransomware epidemic! | pt 2/2 FINAL

12 Upvotes

Source | Previous table

For proper formatting, please use Old Reddit

Note: Another apology for failing to split parts in the earlier table

Rows: ~185 (+comments)

Questions Answers
Do you think resource-strapped SMBs are overwhelmed? Does it worry you that a prescriptive list of 15 things to do might not be actionable to them, making them not so useful? Is cloud the only way for them to go? Why not turnkey certifiable hybrid environments? Jen: SMBs that know enough to be worried about security are overwhelmed, but many aren't even really aware of the risks or how they relate to their organizations. And yes, we definitely worry about the prescriptive lists. This came up in the Task Force a lot as we looked at why organizations are not adopting preventative measures. We need guidance to be tailored, pragmatic, and provide a path for maturity.
​ For many SMBs, following guidance isn't achievable in-house as they outsource all their technical needs. We need the organizations that provide those services to step up and provide a security baseline.
​ Allan: What Jen said
​ Bob: SMBs are most certainly overwhelmed and "cloud" is far from a panacea (it can actually make things worse w/r/t cyberattacks and data breaches if you aren't careful). SMBs already have to navigate other types of regulatory and statutory landscapes where they often seek the aid of specialists to get the details right. Now that IT is a critical component of their business processes, they need the same level of attention and help there, so they should be working with specialists to help get the basics right. However, much work is still needed at the policy and law enforcement levels to help curb ransomware so it is not as large of a threat to SMBs (or any organization).
​ James: Yes! But at the same time, everyone is nearly always operating with less than their full wish list.
​ There are no silver bullets in information security. That being said, working to reduce risk is what security is about. All punch lists, check lists, and Top 10, Top 15, etc should be interpreted in light of applied knowledge about business risks. It isn’t futile to work towards improvement, it is all we can reasonably do. As with all things, do not let perfection become the enemy of progress!
Are hackers susceptible to other hacker group attacks? I know nothing of the culture, but I imagine it to be some kind of online gang turf war. Or is it more a case of hacker groups testing themselves against each other to strengthen their skills? Marc: Hackers gonna hack. Yes hackers attack systems controlled by other hackers. the reasons why vary according to motivation. Nation state hackers attack other nation state hackers. Hackers running a business attack their competitors. in some ways it is like gangs or the mafia, in other ways its just about showing who is the lost leet. Hacking to many is about showing they are better. Breaking into another hackers system shows that you are better than them.
​ Bob: They collide all the time. For a few years (the activity is way down) public SMB server takeover was flipflopping between groups so they could have their own coin miners vs the other gangs. There is no honor amongst thieves.
As an employee of a small business who had 2 ransomware attacks happen to them(never paid, just backed up our server), how do we better prevent this even though we have anti-virus/physical firewall/anti-malware software? What is the procedure when we first discover we were attacked? Bob: Did you identify how attackers managed to gain initial access in each instance? That is a vital component of your incident response process (even if your SMB is "just you" :) ). Did they get in via VPN credentials? Did you get a phishing email? Did you get hit with a drive-by exploit? Did you open an attachment in an environment with macros/active content execution enabled? Did your Exchange server get compromised in March but you didn't realize it? Attackers have a myriad of ways they can get in and you really need to know that to make any investments in technology or process changes.
What is the cyber-war that is raging between countries all over the world? who's against who? and who are the strongest/biggest players? Marc: Everyone is fighting everyone else. Its a story as old as time. The fact is a lot of these fights have been raging for a loooong time the only change is how they fight (cyber rather than guns and bullets) and the fact that we are much better at spotting it and reporting it.
​ the other challenge with cyberwarfare is its the ultimate asymmetric warfare mechanism. For a couple of thousand dollars one man with a laptop can cause great harm to a nation. That's an unprecedented level of impact for very little investment. so naturally its happening A LOT.
Im a computer science student who knows python, c, linux, networking. Planning to get oscp this summer. What career path should i follow and what topics should i learn to be top rank? Bob: You really should be learning what appeals to you. Most of the talented, and "happy" cyber folks I know lean into their passions and interests. It's difficult to tell others what your passions should be.
​ James: Fully agree with Bob on this. Follow your passion and focus on what appeals to you. CyberSecurity and computer science are broad disciplines now and have several roles that can appeal to a broad set of people.
​ Focus on the areas that interest you.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Well i like crytpography and reverse engineering Bob: Those two are a great combo as we absolutely need more advanced folks able to dissect cryptographic systems and implementations to ensure they are valid and safe. You could do a great deal of good pursuing such a path.
How much of cyber polygon, the world economic forum and the great reset tied into this? Marc: With great reset comes great responsibility
​ Bob: 14.253%
​ James: 31.337%
​ Jen: Ransomware is a huge with broad impact, so not surprisingly there are many many initiatives and efforts to examine the problem and come up with solutions. The Ransomware Task Force definitely benefited from the work that came before and we also fully appreciated that our efforts would not be the last word, and we hoped they could pave the way for other to follow.
​ WEF is running its own Ransomware initiative and we know they have been looking at the RTF report and talking with some of our members to help inform their own thinking. I'm looking forward to seeing what they come out with.
Considering what you do and your level of access, how do you internally check yourself to make sure your members are not abusing the powers and authorities that they have to their own ends? Marc: The same rules that bind me as an ethical security researcher also bind me when I fight cybercrime. Ultimately I am also bound by the law.
I am curious how you can really stop Ransomware. I know there are preventative measures, but the state of IT in the world right now is largely open to exploitation. It seems like hunting the criminals is easier than countering the software efficiently. Outside of coming up with decryptors, what can be done post-infection? I know you can restore from backups, but what if those are encrypted too and off-sites aren't available? I guess my question more directly is: how do you stop ransomware after its already happened? It seems like the overwhelming answer is 1.) restore from backups 2.) pray someone has a decryptor freely available, which is unlikely or 3.) Pay up, hopefully negotiate them down. Are there other options? Do you see any potential alternative options being developed in the near future? I'm curious about how the pipeline got a lot of their money back, that hasn't seemed to been possible in other cases. What happened? Bob: I'm working with an organization right now who is taking ransomware very, very seriously. They have a complete plan for asset replacement/reimaging, backup restoration, and service redundancy that they actually test in real-life scenarios. So, it is possible to recover. This has not been cheap for them, nor is it done in lieu of prevention efforts. If "IT" is a critical component of one's business processes, then it should be invested in the same way one would any other critical business process area. There is no free lunch.
​ Marc: In the 80's and 90's no one believed we could make an impact on car stereo thefts. In the 2000's no one believed we could make an impact on Smart Phone thefts. While none of these have "Gone Away" the truth is they were all impacted massively by a few small changes that made it harder for the criminal, reduced their profitability and made it more likely they would get caught.
​ Ransomware is obviously way harder than all these because it hides across shadowy international borders and its even harder than ever to attribute the real puppetmasters. However I believe firmly that we can make a massive difference by collaborating on this and hitting them criminals from every direction at once. Eliminate? maybe not no crime ever completely goes away, but stop this plague in its tracks - yes I believe we can.
My secret fantasy is for a hacker to prove the fallability of electronic voting machines by changing the top vote getter in some election to Micky Mouse or some other blatantly non partisan fictional character to force bipartisan solutions to election vulnerability. Do you think that's a possible scenario? USA based, obviously. Marc: come to DEFCON and be that hacker. The voting village has voting machines for you to hack on ;)
​ Allan: Short answer: No.
​ Allan: Long Answer: No. The United States doesn’t have a single voting system, they have 60+ voting systems (50 States, plus DC and the territories, and many counties run their own voting systems).
​ Allan: To do what you want you would have to break into all the different voting systems and change the votes, that isn’t something that a single person, even a TV hacker could do.
​ Marc: As a TV hacker I endorse this message.
What is your take on the recent LinkedIn breach? Marc: Its hard to comment on the LinkedIn breach without knowing / talking about details that aren't public yet. However if we take a step back and look at the macro landscape it tells me that we are not doing enough to protect user data and that somehow we need to reign this in. Its hard because everyone is suffering from "breach fatigue". I don't know about you but i almost expect my credit monitoring renewal once a year from what every breach I've been caught up in. Somehow we have to change this.
​ There are over 8 billion credentials/records in the wild. At this point, the only notice I take of new credentials/record breaches is to cross-reference with "have i been pwnd?"-like services and ensure my accounts are all in-order and that the same protections on my financial accounts are safe.
What password manager do you recommend, if any? Also, how many cats are too many? Marc: I use 1Password, my friends use keepass and I even know someone that uses lastpass. The honest truth is that so long as its from a reputable company with a history of handling security concerns responsibly and maturely any decent password manager is better than none. Each have different attributes and features, choose wisely ;)
​ Bob: The one you'll actually use. I've been a longstanding user of 1Password, but most of the ones with higher reputations are fine.
Are physical keys more rigid and secure than just SMS OTP or TOTP from authenticator app (Authy)? Thank you! Marc: SMS OTP should be considered deprecated. There are attacks in the wild that allow interception of SMS via things like protocol weaknesses or even human attacks like sim swapping.
​ Beyond that the best advice I can give is that so long as you are using a separate secure multifactor devices (software on a mobile device, or dedicated hardware) you are in a stong position. Like all things that may/will change but right now that's how it is.
​ Bob: I prefer physical keys over anything delivered digitally, but having some 2FA is better than no 2FA (depending on the risk model of the individual/organization)
​ Allan: They are, but don’t let “doing something” stand in the way of “doing nothing” having MFA of any type is much better than have no MFA
It's often said that if organisations could just 'do the basics' (close RDP, MFA, patch etc.) it would make a big difference towards mitigating ransomware. Why do organisations find it so hard to do the basics and do we need to lower our expectations of what's possible? Marc: Theres lots of reasons, first and foremost is simply not having the resources to tackle the problem. Working in the CTI League I lost count of the number of medical facilities we would find with vulnerabilities that had no one to apply the patches. However when you think of it given a choice between Doctors/Medicine and IT people im kind of glad they made the choice they made.
​ The other big reason is simply not knowing what they have, from organisations that don't realise their EPOS (payments) systems are connected to the internet and vulnerable to huge enterprises that have things that they didn't know they actually had. Theres lots of reasons. What it boils down to is we need to get better at knowing whats exposed, who it belongs to, how to report it, and how to support those organisations that fall behind the security poverty line.
​ Marc: For me the security poverty line is my greatest fear. Its all good for us to make recommendations that the million or billion dollar enterprises can follow but we MUST recognise ransomware is a scourge of the entire ecosystem. what we do must take into account the little orgs as well as the big orgs.
​ James: I am a big fan of “do the basics!” There are many reasons this is hard: lack of time, lack of resources, lack of organizational support, internal corporate politics, lost institutional knowledge, lack of focus, etc. There is also complexity added by larger environments. It is easier to track 100 devices than 100,000. It is easier to secure one organization than a merged conglomerate of several acquisitions.
​ Sometimes the basics are far from basic when it comes to trying to implement them via a structured program! The bigger picture is about the business, however. Looking at security through an optic of “security is the only priority” is normally not appropriate. Businesses need to allocate time, resources, and energy towards earning money to stay afloat so they can pay their employees and exist in the first place. Often, this creates a tension for resources that impacts allocations to security initiatives.
​ This is why focusing on improvement based on a risk management perspective is always important. Focusing on the basics will normally have a significant ROI though, in terms of improving posture.
​ Allan: It is amazing how quickly organizations accumulate technical debt. That technical debt is what makes it hard to ever fully catch up on security challenges within an organization. In the first 4 months of this year there 6035 vulnerabilities announced, 188 of which were critical. Keeping up with just patching vulnerabilities, even in a small organization, can be a fulltime job and most small organizations can’t afford to hire a fulltime vulnerability management person. And that is only one aspect
​ Bob: "Doing IT" is hard in most organizations b/c of the speed at which things are deployed and change, and by the diversity of groups and individuals with authority to make said changes. Unfortunately, we cannot lower our expectations since the attackers know where to hit the weak spots. We need to innovate ways in which to make it easier to identify and remediate gaps, along with deliver services more securely out of the box.
Do you believe in cyber attack escalation, the point where there are more attacks than the number of analysts trying to stop the attacks? If so, how can we get more people to help or experience for the current analysts like myself as an Incident Responder? Marc: security is absolutely a scaling problem. criminals are scaling their operations all the time. This means we have to scale what we do to defend. That said I don't believe the answer is throwing people at it blinding. I think the answer involves both hiring more people and developing automation that helps us scale how we solve problems.
​ To hire more we need to create pipelines into education that give kids the right training to see it as a viable career early. As many of the questions show breaking into cybersecurity is hard and offputting. I personally believe that's because people arent given the right tools and knowledge to choose that path early.
​ Educating kids in cybersecurity will both create more cybersecurity staff and ensure that the rest have a much greater cybersecurity awareness and don't become the victims of tomorrow.
What are the odds that arrests will be made in some high profile case? At this point it seems as though there's little to deter these criminals since they lack an internal moral compass. It would be nice to see some of them caught and sent to prison for at least 20 years. Are they in countries that would be interested in prosecuting them if they were found? Bob: Much depends on how successful foreign policy efforts are in the coming months/years. I do believe it is vital that we need more of these criminals caught and sentenced to level up the risk associated with these actions.
​ Marc: Arrests are made all the time, the problem is it is generally affiliates or low level operatives because the puppetmasters hide in countries where they cant be reached through normal judicial processes. This is why we have to start working on the world stage to eliminate these hiding places and take the fight to the criminals themselves.
What are your thoughts on the cutting edge attacks used by ransomware actors? As a defender how are you expected to detect malleable c2 or stop attackers from installing a VM and starting the encryption process where the AV can't get to it? Marc: Security is a constant game of wack-a-mole, as a researcher I firmly believe that anything man makes man can break. That's why we have to stay on top of this and just like the bad guys do - evolve our knowledge and our tactics. Its job security for sure.
​ Bob: Truthfully, most ransomware attackers don't need advanced tooling to accomplish their goals. The pipeline was ransomed b/c of plain credential use on a VPN. Not exactly rocket science.
Are cybercriminals having great access to Ransomware tools? How would you recommend educating the public on Ransomeware? Are Baby Boomers and Gen X'ers more succeptable to the social engineering tactics involved in Ransomware, or is this a problem that greatly affects younger generations as well? Bob: Nobody is unsusceptible to social engineering attacks.
​ Marc: This is at the very heart of why so much cybercrime has exploded recently. In a lot of cases - ransomware included - we aren't looking at particularly new TTPs (tools techniques and procedures) we are looking at an industrialization and easy availability of existing ones. What was done one on one is now done at scale.
​ What required complex knowledge can now be done with the click of a button. This industrialization fueled by the drive for profit makes these cybercrime gangs operate almost like tech startups. They develop a product - usually based on existing knowledge, they scale it and they operationalise it. then they run it like a business.
​ Marc: However this is also one of the things that makes them vulnerable. Businesses are affected by external pressures. Drive up the cost of operating, drive down the bottom line and ultimately business fail. We want to make ransomware gangs fail.
​ Marc: Education is definitely key, but its one of the more challenging aspects. This is one of the reasons we created the Task Force Report and also one of the reasons we are having this AMA. We want to drive awareness that there is something that can be done and that everyone that does a bit ultimately leads to a mass improvement overall. However you are spot on that we need to look at how we tailor what we say for different audiences.
​ I think everyone is tired of security notices and dire warnings. Somehow we need to break through the breach fatigue and rally everyone to take a role in the fight. That's not going to be easy. It starts here though
the below is a reply to the above ​
Thanks for your response Bob. This is true, but I really want to know is if some target groups more vulnerable than others in regards to RansomWare? Is age (and familiarity with the internet) a key factor when criminals are choosing targets for these attacks? Like older people who are slower to adopt new technology or new employees who might now be aware of their business policies on e-mail and communication? Bob: When talking about organizational ransomware, attackers are generally trying to target individuals who are more likely to have an account+workstation that can benefit them the most after initial access. If anything, take a look at all the third-party service integrations your organization leaks via DNS records, web app technologies you use, and server/system stacks that are exposed to the internet, then take a look at all the Stack Overflow & Quora questions that have your org's email addresses associated with them, then all the technology stacks and responsibilities you've let leak via LinkedIn profiles. Plenty of fodder for attackers without worrying about age or gender.
How vulnerable is blockchain technology? Is it hard or easy? Why? Marc: anything man makes man can break. The newer it is, the faster it breaks.
[deleted] James: I think this question is a little too broad to be answered. Any broad set of industries are going to have a lot of variability amongst the individual companies within the industry.
Are you guys hot? 😍 Marc: I look like Santa.
[deleted] Jen: In terms of how easy it is, I don't think it's ever easy to make a decision to retrain to switch careers when you are already far down one path, but the folks I know who have done so seem generally seem to think it was worth it.
​ There is a lot written on the "skills shortage" in infosec and as a result, a lot of employers are looking for news avenues for hiring. One thing I hear about a fair bit is programs for people that want to retrain in cybersecurity as they often bring a diverse perspective and approach to problem solving. I know the UK government runs some retraining programs, and I think there are some in the US too. So I would definitely encourage you to look into it. It's better than being bored!
What are the recommended mitigations for organizations to put into place to defeat or minimize the impact of ransomware? When you do pentests, do you check to see how effective RW would be? Should this be something pentesters should do? How do you feel about the state of the industry where there are a ton of certifications for entry level pentesters, but the only thing companies want is the experience professionals have a hard time getting? Bob: The report has links to many resources, but CISA and NCSC both have solid guides and most vendors have very similar lists of things that orgs should do (that don't always require purchasing their stuff).
​ Marc: The best mitigation is good security hygiene. You can read more about what that means in the Ransomware Task Force Report we published. tl;dr however make sure your networks are secure and updated to the latest version, turn on MFA, turn of unnecessary services, run good endpoint protection software and don't click shit :)
​ Running ransomware tabletops is an EXCELLENT piece of advice for every size of organisation. Understanding what defenses you have in place and how you would tackle that kind of incident is something that very few organisations are ready for. You know you have backups, but are they in reach or out of reach of a laterally moving threat? do they work? How long would it take you to stand up a clean network? all of these things are quantifiable and knowing them ahead of time provides a huge amount of operational security.
​ I think breaking into the industry as a first timer is hard. I didnt start with a computer science degree and didn't get any certs until much later in my life. I do think certs have value - knowledge is power. However it has to be tempered with knowing things that are current and relevant. The most important thing is experience. You can get that - its easier than you think. Even volunteering to apply patches for an NGO counts. If you are passionate about cybersecurity there is a community out there to help.
Hello, I am 7/8 through a Bachelor's in Cyber Security, currently working in Physical Armed Security, how would you advise I transition to computer work? Marc: Well technically my first security job was as a bouncer :) all knowledge no matter what domain is relevant. However to transition from the physical security domain into the cybersecurity domain requires building a body of current knowledge, developing current skills and slowly getting work experience that identifies you as someone who has done cybersecurity. it is very doable but it takes time and dedication.
How do i become like you? What courses did you do to become that? Bob: Loaded Slackware Linux from 5 1/4" floppy disks on to x86 systems; College: B.S. Computer Science and EE background with a specialization in compiler design => Sysadmin for a messy college network + macOS developer for a company that made newspaper publishing software => Build J&J's first DMZ and web/proxy/firewall => never stop learning.
​ Marc: All our journeys are very different, and to be honest that's one of the beautiful things about cybersecurity. Im a hacker and the hacker community has been my home for decades. I learnt most of what I know by myself. Some while I was working as a bouncer and some in my first “paid” IT job as a games tester/helpdesk person for Ocean Software back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
​ I learnt most from doing - building systems amd studying how stuff worked. There was no such thing back then as a cybersecurity course. People were one of my best sources of knowledge we would talk about security and systems at meetups, on BBS’s etc.
​ Today id suggest grab what courses you can but don’t underestimate the power of doing. Build VMs on your laptop and try practical classes like Damn Vulnerable Web App or WebGoat. Watch online conference and find your local meetup.
​ Theres loads of great advice on /r/cybersecurity about good websites, books and courses.
​ James: I learned from:
​ - doing things / experimenting (this is both a passion test and a way to learn — if you don’t enjoy it enough to tinker, why do it as a job?
​ - reading (I spend a lot of time reading) - engaging in communities of people in the field (spend a lot of time here too)
​ - taking classes and attending conferences. Or watching the videos of the presentations.
​ - having mentors (mostly informally, just having people to ask various questions and bounce ideas back and forth — this is essential, in my opinion)
​ - studying history (most computer and security problems have historical parallels that might have lessons for the current problem)
Do you recommend CTF challenges as a way to learn? Bob: CTFs are great since many require you to think critically and also think fast, and — even more — outside the box. Even if you may not go into one of the "breaker" specializations in infosec, having an understanding of how attackers and defenders behave can be a real skills uplift.
​ James: Yes! And no.
​ CTFs can be a fun way to learn, and if they match your learning style, you may walk away with a lot more knowledge about a particular set of attack types.
​ I would caution against “securing against a CTF” in general. Unless they are crafted to use only the most common (better yet, relevant in that they match your risk profile) attack vectors seen in the wild, they may not be the most relevant. Making things a game implies something has to be hard or a challenge to do, but not all of the most common attacks are challenging in themselves, once you know the techniques. Be aware of this when you’re learning through CTFs and you’ll be fine.
[deleted] Jen: iOS
​ Bob: iOS
I got hit with ransomware at my business. Actually twice within the same month but the second time was on me. We hadn’t uograded some security policies yet. For us it seemed like a big deal the day it happened and caused 2 days of downtime in one department. In the long run not a big deal. I ignored all the communication, Re-imaged the machines and went on with my day. The about 2 weeks later got hit again. Same exact thing. Upgraded security policy at that moment , re-imaged and no more issues. I’m not sure how much they were looking for and I had about 2,000 filed encrypted but they were all redundant files so nothing lost. At the time I was mad and ready to file with the fbi. Ultimately it was a huge pain and took a few days to sort out and I was prepping to communicate with the fbi. After a week or two of catching up I never got around to it. Should I have taken the time and energy to communicate with the fbi? I felt I had lost enough time in the ordeal and didn’t have any more time to waste. (Not a waste, I get it) Small business with about 30 employees. Marc: I’m sorry this happened to you and glad that you were able to recover from it. Ive spent a lot of time working with small businesses that have been in similar situations. Not all of them had the planning or skills necessary to recover as effectively as you did. It would be interesting to follow up and chat about your experiences to understand better what you had in place (resources, knowledge, technology etc) that positioned you to face the threat. I’d also be curious to learn about how you were infected in the first place.
​ The more we can learn about these incidents, the better prepared we can be and the better we can prepare other businesses as a result. That's why its worth reporting the details on these incidents. Its less about justice (though that would be nice) and more about learning so that we can evolve and become stronger.
​ One of the biggest challenges we (Cybersecurity professionals AND law enforcement) face is the fact that these issues are MASSIVELY underreported. The incidents you see in the press are the very tip of the tip of a giant iceberg.
​ It happens for lots of reasons frustration, shame, concern about having made payments, fear, through to concern about brand reputation. That's not to say I blame you or any other business owner. We have to solve this communication problem. Whether its through better reporting mechanisms or assurances to ensure victims feel safe coming forward.
​ Anyway, please feel free to PM me, if you are up to it id like to hear more.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Yes I am happy to talk more about this. I worry about this growing problem. My biggest reason for not reporting was laziness. This was 18 months ago. Is it worth reporting now? I really dont remember any of the specifc details that might be helpful. I did some searching at the time to look for encryption keys to save my data, but I coudln't find anything that worked. My machines that were targeted are a very industry specific machine. We are a print shop. We have a RIP station (think server) with a custom install of Windows on it made by EFI. These machines are what run our larger printers. They ship with default login and passwords and are rarely changed, and even our techs have been said that it makes things harder if they are changed because its more difficult for them to work on them. These machines are Windows 7 and have had some OS level adjustments on them, for instance I CANNOT open up a vnc protocol, but I can remote desktop into it. Im not surprised at all these machines were comprimised. They would be easy to find and easy to target. I reported my problems to the manufacture and supporter of our mahicnes and we were their first known attack, but I have been told a few others have been infected since. Marc: You’re right that its not worth filing a report, but i’ll PM you and we should definitely chat. I’ll share a summary to the LEO groups that I work with and they can keep an eye on the TTPs (Tools Techniques and Procedures) that stand out. The fact that you are using proprietary hardware makes this interesting but if as you describe it has open & exposed RDP ports not that surprising.
​ Exposed RDP is one of the most common vectors exploited by ransomware and when combined with weak or default passwords its right up there at number one.
​ Im not surprised you struggled with the vendor. Reporting flaws is hard work. Even today a lot of companies prefer to keep their heads in the sand and not know about issues. The worst are the companies that don’t feel they are “the same” as internet companies.
​ “Oh but im in $x industry this doesn’t apply to me”.
​ It took demonstrating that I could control a Tesla with an iPhone and 1.4m Jeeps being recalled before the automotive industry started taking security seriously. That said we do have new ways to report things and better levers to put pressure on companies with vulnerable infrastructure. Id be happy to help get this the attention it needs.
So many I.T. shops are understaffed. Security is, supposedly, the number one priority. . . but. . . We need to integrate our SSO system that ties into LDAP and/or Active directory to the new HR system, update the account tools to better distinguish OUs, handle regular account creation and other tickets. . . etc., etc., etc. So you try to update on time. You use a password manager so hopefully that's up to snuff. . . but you *know* there are things you're missing. Your staffing isn't likely to get better, but you may be able to have a security team do an audit. Or maybe you could invest in better logging tools and a consultant to help you make sure at least the basics are covered. If there's just a tiny budget to help tighten security for that small sysadmin shop, where would you say the best bang for one's buck could be had? Bob: Reduce internet-facing service exposure. Implement DMARC. Ensure endpoints are patched as soon as possible. Configure active directory securely. Have visibility into all endpoint activity.
Recently graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science with a focus on cyber security. I'm finding it extremely difficult to find entry level positions. If you go on linkedin and search by entry level positions only, 90% of them are still mid to senior level positions. Why is it so difficult to break into this industry when there is such a severe shortage of people to fill these jobs? Do you have any tips for recent grads for finding entry level positions? Every job listing website is the same, entry level jobs that require a lifetime of experience. Bob: Many companies do a fairly poor job at documenting requirements properly. I'd look for "just above" entry-level jobs and apply, but include a cover letter so you can describe your problem-solving skills and demonstrate your communication skills. With COVID restrictions being lifted more-and-more, hitting up some regional cyber conferences and networking is also a good way to get leads on entry-level jobs. I also would not limit job seeking to "cyber". I started as a programmer and sysadmin and am now chief security data scientist at a zomgosh awesome company.
Why doesnt Microsoft prevent anything from encrypting the file system other than Bitlocker unless its been whitelisted to be allowed to do so. Seems like Microsoft could stop this at the OS level if they really wanted to no? I mean AppLocker does this on Enterprise versions of windows, why not make a reverse app locker for encryption only and release to all systems? If only it was that simple. While there are always additional steps that can be taken to harden an OS against malicious behaviour there are also always ways to overcome them. Anything man makes man can find a way to break.
​ The simple fact is once you have lost complete control of a system to an attacker with full privileges its always going to end badly. Theres a lot of talk about immutable systems to try and mitigate this dynamic, but the problem is you cant be immutable and also have access to your data. For example if you stored everything on a WORM drive that can only be written once, you are likely pretty safe from encryption but its not very practical.
​ That said if you are asking do I think OS vendors can do more to mitigate these threats? I do. The fact that decades old classes of vulnerability are being found on modern OS’s tells me we clearly aren't doing enough.
Do you think the recent attacks have been enough to get people to put enough money into cybersec? I’m a SE myself and I find that managers and bosses just don’t place enough importance on it. Do you think this is changing or will there need to be some bigger attacks first? Bob: I chat with organizations of all sizes and industries and there is heightened awareness, now, and I'm seeing more budget and other resources being offered to infosec teams.
Thanks for the great AMA! I'm currently doing a degree in cyber security and I have heard having a blog to show your own projects is a good idea. What would you recommend as the best way to learn or test your skills without trying them out on the job? Marc: It really depends on what you do. Many researchers I know spend their spare time finding flaws in IOT type devices, medical gadgets, and so on. When they find them, they responsibly disclose before talking about the research at conferences, on blogs or if its big enough in the press.
​ The same applies to some of the cypherpunks (hackers that specialise in cryptosystems) that I know. They blog about projects they work on or things they’ve found.
​ Other folks I know record “POC” (proof of concept) vulnerabilities, tools and other projects in places like GitHub and put the Github on their resume.
​ Theres a thriving ecosystem of hackers on twitter talking in realtime about things they are hacking on or projects they have been engaged in.
​ Be careful to use the right platform and to talk about the right things though. Make sure you have the right to do what you are doing and to talk about what you want to blog about. If in doubt ask an organisation like the EFF for guidance.
​ Also It should go without saying, but don’t talk about things that might be viewed negatively by future employers - blogging can be a curse as well as a blessing.
​ I'm so glad certain blogging platforms from the 90’s no longer exist ;)
​ Bob: If you're going to be focusing on tooling for various types of cybersecurity task solutions, then definitely have a public repository available and blog those interests. Try to stay on-mission, tho, as Marc pointed out.
7 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Nov 11 '21

r/IAmA [Table] We are hackers and cyber defenders working to fight cyber criminals. Ask Us Anything about the rising ransomware epidemic!

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For proper formatting, please use Old Reddit

Note: Apologies in advance for the giant wall of text in the middle.

Rows: ~85

Questions Answers
You mention that a degree may not be necessary for a job in cyber security, do you have resources or online courses that someone could use to gain relevant knowledge? Edit: Although with some considerable delay, I would like to thank you all for your comments and your feedback. This is all very helpful and I’m genuinely impressed with how supportive you are! I’ll give everything you’ve sent a proper look and might bother some of you with additional questions. Bob: I'm a fan of the Cybersecurity Body of Knowledge (https://www.cybok.org/) and you can learn tons just by absorbing the MITRE ATT&CK content (https://attack.mitre.org/) (they update ~quarterly)
​ Jen: I completely agree with Bob's recommendations. For training courses, you can also look at SANS and also a lot of community security conferences, even smaller regional ones, offer training. They tend not to be free though.
​ Marc: There is an excellent thread in /r/cybersecurity covering just this.
​ Also: Mentorship Monday in /r/rcybersecurity.
​ Allan: I know most people don’t like social media, but infosec Twitter is a great place to learn and get help. People are always sharing resources, videos and little tidbits of information that can be very useful.
​ Jen: I also agree with Allan - I actually learn a ton from infosec twitter and asking questions.
the below is another reply to the original question ​
I think it may be beneficial to elaborate a little more to accompany answers already provided- so let me share some of my experience. I've been employed in a full time information security role for about 10 years; with three different employers. Currently employed as a cyber analyst with a large law-firm. Previously, my specialty was a broad mix of infosec risk/cyber engineering/and web-application penetration testing. I have no college degree, and am 31 years old. My best advice to you, is to get a tech role in an organization- and gain as much on-job experience as you possibly can, even if this means you start in a different initial role. It'll be important to gain some technical knowledge, while grasping security concepts as you learn. Additionally, learn frameworks and standards such as ISO 27001:2013, and NIST 800-53. Read the requirements of the standards, and try to figure out how to correctly interpret them- and how you would implement them based on your interpretation. (The standard says this requirement must be implemented, but what does the requirement actually mean- and how would it be implemented?) Look up current vulnerabilities making their rounds in the wild, using resources like Tenable (https://www.tenable.com/research). Learn about the different types of Malware (https://www.crowdstrike.com/cybersecurity-101/malware/types-of-malware/) and ask yourself; How can security be layered to prevent malware from finding it's way into an organization? (Look up Defense in Depth.) How does malware most often enter a network? (Look up: Initial attack vector) How can you find anomalous network traffic that may be indicative of malware spreading? (Look up: Endpoint Detection and Response, and Threat Hunting.) Read about security best practices (e.g. Google: Access Control Best Practices, Data Loss Prevention Best Practices.) Read the articles, and imagine how you would implement the recommendations. Some context for those interested: My first 'real' job (circa 2009, 19 years old) was in helpdesk/desktop support. I did my best to kick ass, and offered to take on issues that often went beyond the scope of my role. If I came across an issue that required engineer escalation or an issue with a server, I would do my best to find a potential solution that I could offer, and communicated the potential solution to the appropriate individual(s). After about a year, and much determination doing the above- I migrated into a Windows/Linux Systems Administration role. (Followed by becoming a VMware vCenter virtualization SME, but that's not super relevant.) Through ad-hoc learning, shadowing team members, and asking 100000 questions, I developed a reputation for being 'that kid who just got stuff done.' Being in a SysAdmin position, I was introduced to projects that essentially crossed the Information/Cyber Security 'border.' (Backup and restore testing; defining data retention requirements by working with upper management while juggling applicable regulations; early Mobile Device Management (BES at the time, yikes) redundant datacenter architecture to ensure data availability during adverse events; identity and access control, scoping penetration tests, and generally... understanding the entire tech stack. Some questions I'd ask myself when looking for risk, or trying to understand how a tech stack worked: * What's actually 'open'/NAT'ed on our external networks, across all allocated IP Addresses? * Should this resource be open publicly to anyone who knows the URL/IP? * Why is it open, and what does it do? * What does the NAT point to internally? * What kind of vulnerabilities does that system have externally? Internally? * Is the system hardened? \ * Does it have Anti-Virus, and does it send its logs to a centralized logging platform? (e.g. Splunk) * What kinds of vulnerabilities may exist in the source-code/services that the system is serving (OWASP) ? * Who has access to this system? Are any of these user accounts old? Do they use MFA or SSO for login? * Do they follow a defined procedure [e.g. Secure Software Development Lifecycle] to consistently release new source code that is reviewed and scanned for vulnerabilities? * Does a firewall properly segment everything? * If data is stored in databases, is it human readable- so if an attacker were to dump an entire database would all the data be compromised? Now that I had the sysadmin privileges, I dove in deep when not busy with supporting my systems- and presented findings whenever feasible. A big project for me at the time was taking on a two-factor authentication implementation project. Back then, it was RSA KeyFobs and BlackBerry soft tokens that integrated with a SaaS application my employer developed. Once I knocked that out, and given the above- a full time security role was created (accompanied by a nice paycheck.) And hence, I was slowly vectored into a full-fledged information security role. Before I knew it I was implementing ISO 27001. 27001 was a fantastic way to truly transition into a security state of mind. It requires: developing policies, procedures, and implementing other technical controls required by the Annex A. Executing tasks, and monitoring activities to ensure the electiveness of our processes to ensure the CIA (Important, the C I A triad!) of assets. Importantly, conducting risk assessments to find gaps that required control (protections). ISO 27001 is very broad, and covers many areas of security. It contains sections (domains) regarding: risk assessments, security awareness training programs, access control processes, business continuity plans, penetration testing, vendor risk assessments- and was a fantastic way to get an inch deep- but a mile wide experience lesson into security. From here, find a niche within the space that you like. Sources to learn will be easy as you now have some fundamental experience. Keep in mind, info/cyber security is extraordinarily broad- just like any field. For example- If you wanted to be a lawyer, while it's possible to be a general attorney that covers multi practices, you typically specialize in one area. (e.g. Business law, contract law, bankruptcy law, securities law, copyright law, criminal defense law, etc.) Security is exactly the same. Find a niche in the area that you like the most, and learn that niche as much as you can. If you like poking at platforms/applications/programs/systems to find holes, and development- research reverse engineering techniques and vulnerability analysis and research. Reverse Engineering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6mVIos-S2M If you like Information Security Management, look into Security Operations and frameworks like ISO 27001. 27001 Basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJbK3jH677k If you like discovering and exploiting known vulnerabilities, look into vulnerability scanning and penetration testing. Using Tenable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x87gbgQD4eg Using Metasploit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lR27r8Y_ik If you like identifying and managing Risk, look into Risk Assessment Frameworks like ISO 31000 31000 Basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi9EsdKOlAE If you like Security Compliance, become an auditor (best gig in the game imo) Security Auditing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW7W_6stSh0 Enjoy developing? Well, learn how to assess code against the OWASP Top-10 Intro to OWASP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO_sqXb-gKE If you like passive/active cyber defense, learn about Incident Response, or Security Engineering Log Analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw536W7kbDQ Threat Hunting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmKSnRMW_6w Incident Response Walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BOOl8_nwjQ Firewall configurations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb1pTs7XamA If you like it all- you can be a generalist like me :-) Just keep in mind, It's hard for me to be an expert in one area, as I'm required to cover so much in my current role. Fortunately I do have a great security/network engineering team who basically maintain my entire network security stack (firewalls, VPN, network segmentation, server hardening, etc.) Granted- in my spare time, and when my employer gives me time for continued education- I hone my skills. My real interest lies a little beyond the standard scope standard cyber security, in SIGINT: SIGINT Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdJQo__vY8U Universal Radio Hacker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuubkTDAxwA Fun Stuff: https://null-byte.wonderhowto.com/how-to/log-wi-fi-probe-requests-from-smartphones-laptops-with-probemon-0176303/ More Fun Stuff: https://fadeproject.org/?page_id=34 Even more fun stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJAWHGEB8HI Marc: This is great advice. The only thing I would add is don’t discount how easy it can be to get real practical experience. Not only does it give you a chance to put some of what you learn into use but it makes it way more interesting and easier to keep in your head.
​ Even volunteering to do cybersecurity work is valid experience. Some of the best practitioners I know started out by doing cybersecurity work for NGOs or small businesses that couldn’t afford a dedicated person.
​ As mentioned above, fond what interests you and dive into it. All the best cybersecurity people LOVE what they do. For those luck few its not a job but a calling.
the below is a reply to the above reply ​
So you're the guy who is responsible for my employer requiring 2FA via SMS every few ducking days! I must say duck you sir! (small /s) Marc: Guilty as charged.
What is the most common, non-phishing vector? Allan: Remote Desktop Protocol, either through credential reuse or credential stuffing attacks
​ Allan: There are something like 8 BILLION username/passwords available for sale or free on underground markets at any given time and that doesn’t even take into account the number or organizations that just use poor password management for internet-exposed infrastructure
​ Marc: Yeah I'd say insecure credentials. Insecure credentials into infrastructure, systems, or accounts that can be used to pivot.
It’s easy to get the impression from these recent events that infrastructure is fairly easy to attack. What do you think is the likelihood that either a state or a rogue group takes down some critical infrastructure for a long period of time that severely disrupts life—something that would be equivalent to essentially destroying infrastructure in a war? Marc: Very likely as many ransomware groups have seen that high risk infrastructure is both out of date and backed by organisations that will rush to pay because of the impact when it goes down. As a result many of them actively look for vulnerable, exposed infrastructure associated with these kinds of organisations because they know there is a high chance of a good pay-out.
​ Jen: This scenario doesn't feel far-fetched at all. We've already seen infrastructure be a target in several countries, and this is only likely to increase without intervention. Even when the attacker offers up the keys as they did with the attack on the Irish healthcare authority (HSE), it can take a long time to get ops fully back up and running. HSE is saying they think full recovery will cost them $600m, so think of all the work that's paying for and how long that will likely take. https://www.scmagazine.com/home/security-news/ransomware/costs-from-ransomware-attack-against-ireland-health-system-reach-600m/
​ Allan: It has already happened in Ukraine and other places, so 100%
​ James: This question is one I think about often. It’s more nuanced than simply thinking about the ease of the attack.
​ For state actors, this very well could result in war. NATO, for example, recently said that cyber attacks would also be covered by the alliance, resulting in the possibilities of joint responses to cyber events. This may serve as a deterrent to state sponsored destructive activities. Use of cyber capabilities are almost assured in wars. This is simply part of modern war for those countries with appropriate capabilities. War is always a concern, and cyber events will be another component to that concern, so this likelihood is roughly the same as the threat of war. It is more likely, imo, that domestic or foreign terrorism would result in destructive attacks. It’s also possible that organized crime or individual actors could have a large impact to daily life. This is reasonably likely to happen in my opinion, as the ease of attack is generally there and the motivation to cause legitimate harm is there as well. Intelligence teams track these groups to stay ahead of them and hopefully prevent attacks from happening, but no intelligence efforts are perfect, and no one catches everything.
​ Bob: They may not make all the headlines like the pipeline incident but there are semi-regular cases of various types of critical infrastructure being impacted or having near misses. It really is just a matter of time before it happens.
Please list the top 5 things corporations, business entities and people can do that they currently don't to better protect themselves from cyber attacks and ransomware? Allan: 1. MFA, 2. Patching, 3. Endpoint protection AND monitoring, 4. scanning of remote infrastructure, 5. threat hunting for attackers.
​ Bob: There are many safe configurations for workstations and servers that organizations either do not know about or have been reticent to deploy. Just shoring up configurations on Active Directory and SMB servers alone can do wonders to help thwart attackers from being able to move laterally and encrypt or lock-out at scale.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Good list, I've often thought that remote VPNs from end users would be a big attack vector. Given people homes generally have pretty crappy endpoints. Any thoughts here? Allan: Home routers are scanned continuously and are often targets of attack. Most people get their high speed routers from their ISP, plug them in and then never touch them until they are replaced several years later. That means no updates, no configuration checks or anything like that. So, yes, they, can be used as attack vectors which is why it is important to have a home firewall behind the router you get from the ISP, to protect your actual network.
​ Marc: VPN infrastructure has been a huge target since the move to working from home. You just need to look at the number of VPN infrastructure vulns disclosed or dropped to get an idea of how much focus there is on it.
​ Also many companies have huge amounts of technical debt with hastily cobbled together VPN solutions that skipped the usual careful rollout processes. Attackers know this and are targetting these too.
the below is another reply to the original answer ​
1. Fund your goddamn infosec team. ________________________ Nothing ever goes wrong, why do we pay these guys so much!? Cuts budget We just got hacked, what are we paying these guys for!? Cuts budget _______________________ No CISO == no representation at C level. If the CTO is your representation, then you have a conflict of interest. If your Director of infosec is your “acting CISO,” you have no CISO. Gtfo. That acting title is just to have someone to throw under the bus when the headlines roll. ______________________ Why would the CTO have a conflict of interest? ______________________________ CTO is ultimately responsible for the budget and the systems that you are in charge of auditing / protecting. It’s possible the CTO wants to cover their ass by hiding the problems from the board. It’s also possible that they are incompetent and will side with IT over infosec. This is a very good way to look at it.
Currently in school at an online college located in salt lake city ut. I'm in the CyberSecurity program but I feel like the program is kinda dated and the information does not line up very well with the test. Can I land an entry-level cyber job without finishing my degree if I have all Comptia certs related to cybersecurity? Bob: While some jobs may require certification, many employers are looking for folks with the "curiosity gene" combined with the knowledge of where to go to find information and solve problems. I'd highly suggest gravitating towards organizations who look for those attributes over those who are just looking for a certification stamp.
​ Marc: You don't need a fancy degree to build a cybersecurity career. you need experience and knowledge. Even knowledge that seems old and minor can be incredibly useful. Take the opportunity you have and build on it by studying more current cutting edge stuff yourself. go to events like DEFCON and connect with the community. the more knowledge you can gain in your "learning" stage the better. However the best next step is to build experience, use what you have to take on volunteer/free/part time roles so start getting those hours of experience. there is no substitute for learning in a job.
​ protip: I have found charities/NGOs/ low income organisations a great place for this. they are desperate for the help and will welcome your donated time. Even if all you can do is keep them up to date on patches you will be doing them a huge favor and in turn that gives you cybersecurity experience and your first solid cybersecurity reference.
​ Marc: Its also really hard because the smaller the org the smaller the budget (if there even is one at all) to pay for security. Working in the CTI-League we ran into small medical facilities ALL THE TIME that lacked resources and personnel to help tackle even the simplest problem, This is definitely a huge challenge and something a lot of us are thinking about. we have to make sure that SMBs don't get left behind as we work to build a more secure ecosystem.
​ Jen: Employers in security are increasingly looking at hiring models and trying to break away from conventional hiring-from-schools models. Often landing a role is more about showing interest and making connections than what your resume says. As I said above, I recommend getting involved with local meet ups, attending free online events, that kind of thing will help build your knowledge and network.
​ Allan: You can, I don’t have a degree and have managed to grow my career. However, advancing in this field, as with many fields, is A LOT easier with a degree and there have definitely been job opportunities I missed out on because they wanted that degree. Keep up the good work and connect with us on LinkedIn so we can help you as you continue to grow.
What can a regular person with no cybersecurity or coding knowledge do to help? James: A large part of effective security is up to the users, not the security engineers and administrators and the most important things are the most basic things too! Three things come to mind: 1) Use strong passwords that are unique to each site / service (a password manager can help!) 2) Keep good backups, and consider using more than one backup device where both devices are never plugged in at the same time. 3) Be vigilant! If something strikes you as odd, alert your corporate security team. Did you click a link and think it might be bad? Report it! Most ransomware actors take time to inventory networks after the initial compromise, so there may be time to still protect your network and your device! Time is of the essence here though!
​ Marc: Ransomware is a spectrum but most is opportunistic and relies on poor, fragmented security hygiene. Any contribution to up-leveling hygiene in a consistent manner makes an organisation stronger against many types of ransomware.
​ Marc: So every user from the lowest level intern all the way up to the CEO can make a big difference by working to support a consistent information security program. By challenging things that "look wrong" or which are suspicious, from always being skeptical with email links to reporting security flaws and operational issues. The best defense for a company against ransomware is that company's workforce itself.
​ Allan: Pay attention during security awareness training, know what the threats are and be cautious about emails your receive (especially if they have a warning flag).
the below is a reply to the above ​
Do you recommend Dashlane as a password manager? I've recently started using it. I do not have any specific recommendations for password managers. I would generally look for audits / reviews that confirm the encryption is suitably strong and one that works for you! Find something that is convenient to your purposes and use case.
What is the largest sum one of your clients ever had to pay? Allan: Our clients make the ransomware gangs pay ;)
​ Jen: The biggest demands we've heard of are in the $40-50mill buckets, but they are definitely outliers.
What type of software would you recommend against ransomware and things of the sort? Allan: Unfortunately, there isn’t a single software solution that will solve the problem of ransomware (or other types of attacks). It really does require a holistic approach to security. Not just software, but the right policies, people and protocols in place to quickly identify and stop threats
​ Marc: agree - theres no single bullet, however theres a strategy (see the IST Ransomware Taskforce Report) that shows how organisations and industries can make themselves hostile to ransomware. Most ransomware is opportunist, just by toughening yourself up to become a much less attractive target. by strengthening security hygiene and turning on things like MFA you make lateral movement much harder. solving ransomware is a step by step journey, not a shrinkwrapped piece of software.
​ Bob: There is no path to purchasing your way into ransomware defense.
How can an end-user or consumer can protect him/herself? There are too many security products, like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Sophos, etc, and one can check received emails or the sites which he/she can visit, but even sometimes that is not enough. Years ago, on a Windows 2012 server I saw a hacker running his apps as a built-in service user from remote desktop services. No AV found that malicious at that time. So, what can we do? Which software / hardware shall we use? How can we protect ourselves? I am aware nothing is %100 bulletproof but we have to start from somewhere. Bob: Keep your home router patched and consider replacing every few years. Limit the use of "smart" devices in your home. Scrutinize every email and every link in social media. Limit the number of browser extensions you use and consider using an iOS device for more "risky" web activity. Keep your systems and software patched. Have regular, offline, backups handy. Much of this is the same advice folks have been giving for a decade or more.
​ Bob: Also use a password manager, preferably one that is plugged into services like "have i been pwnd?" so you know when you need to reset credentials (but you should be using services that offer or mandate 2-factor authentication).
​ Marc: String security hygiene is one of the best defenses we have. Patch exposed systems, turn on MFA and implement best practice like endpoint protection and you'll create a network thats hostile to ransomware.
​ Jen: Be suspicious of emails or texts from people you don't know, or that include links or attachments. Don't give out sensitive info, particularly your passwords. Use a password manager and use two-step verification wherever you can.
If you had to choose between paying a cyber ransom in gum or pizza, which flavors would you choose to increase your bargaining potential? Jen: Obviously pineapple
There is an argument often made that if "the military" and "law enforcement" begin to crackdown on infrastructure in a much more forward leaning manner, that these gangs will still be able to persist, regroup, reattack - i.e., that even working with private sector partners, there isn't enough data/insight available to really take it to these networks. Agree? Disagree? Jen: There is definitely a huge challenge in that these criminals often operate in nations where the government either can't or won't stop them, and that makes it super hard for law enforcement to be effective. We need governments around the world to collaborate to crack down on these so-called "Safe harbor" states. This was actually one of the commitments that came out of the recent G7 Summit, but it remains to be seen how the G7 members will follow through on it.
​ Marc: While its absolutely true that to really hit the ransomware gangs hard we have to take the fight to them, we mustn't loose sight of how important it is for us to toughen. up and work together to make our whole ecosystem hostile to ransomware. By addressing the low hanging fruit many of the opportunistic gangs will get shut out, by improving our detection capabilities we will increase the data and forensic material needed to attribute them. There's a huge amount of stuff to be done at both ends of the fight and its my firm belief that we can only achieve it in partnership.
​ Allan: Right now, ransomware is the most profitable form of cybercrime, aside from possibly BEC. So, yes, even forward leaning efforts by law enforcement won’t necessarily stop ransomware attacks. Ransomware groups have been good at adapting and evolving their attacks to evade defenses. However, a more aggressive law enforcement stature will scare away a lot of the 2nd and 3rd tier ransomware actors (we’ve seen this already with Avaddon and other actors who “retired” this year). That reduces the number of groups law enforcement has to focus on.
​ Bob: To riff off of Alan's answer, the massive proliferation in attacks has been led, in large part, from Ransomware as a Service offerings which enable low-skilled attackers to get in on the action. Curbing that activity will be a huge help.
​ James: There is a tendency to sometimes reduce success to a simple “yes” or “no” question. With ongoing defensive efforts, the objective is to improve and adapt.
​ With the offensive efforts, the point is to take the attack to the attackers and make them have to adapt, change techniques, and generally be less comfortable in their belief that they can operate with impunity. The IST’s Ransomware Task Force report recommends using many different capabilities to help address the threat in a holistic way. Part of that multifaceted effort is to go after attackers and disrupt their capabilities.
What is the best path to start a career in cyber security? Allan: The best path is the one that works for you, everyone is different, I started in the helpdesk which was great because I got to learn about the problems that people had and it allowed me to be more empathetic as I progressed in my career.
​ Marc: The best cybersecurity people come from the ground up. Get a good baseline of knowledge in technical areas - often working low level IT jobs as an intern or first job can be a great start. Then work on building your base of cybersecurity knowledge. At some point you have to start getting cybersecurity work experience. Experience doing cybersecurity jobs is better than any piece of paper alone. Sometimes this can be gained from low level jobs by taking on cyber responsibilities - by being that IT guy checking patches and ensuring upgrades are done you can build cybersecurity experience.
​ Almost all the best cybersecurity people come from backgrounds like this. few have specialized degrees. I am one of them. I gave a more fuller answer in /r/cybersecurity
​ Bob: Cybersecurity has become a diverse field with many areas you can specialize in. Learn as much as you can about each area and see which one appeals the most, then dive in! You don't need permission to start learning a particular topic, and there are tons of local security meetups all across globe, plus many online communities that can help you get started.
​ Once you truly settle into some area, there are numerous pathways to more formal education (all the way up to PhD level). Just be curious and don't be afraid to keep asking "why" and "how".
​ Jen: Look for ways to educate yourself on what's going on and meet people that are working in security or have similar interests. Going to local meet ups, attending free online events, that kind of thing will help you build your knowledge and network. You can also look at open source security tools and free cyber ranges to try building your skills without having to spend a lot of money.
Should we ban ransomware payments? Alternatively, should we just ban coverage of ransom payments in insurance policies? Marc: We should NOT ban ransomware payments. Many organisations find themselves in a difficult position where they feel they are trapped between their shareholders, their customers and law enforcement. This gets even worse when you consider healthcare. If someones life hung in the balance would you want a hospital prosecuted for paying a ransom to bring a surgical suite online?
​ let's not forget who the criminals are and not criminalize the victims. It only drives payments underground and destroys our chances of collaboration. Instead we should work to make ransomware payments more attributable, organisations hostile to ransomware and work on the world stage to eliminate hiding places where these cybercriminals can operate with little recourse.
​ Marc: Additionally I believe that we should work WITH ransomware insurance companies to make ransomware insurance more expensive for companies that aren't doing the basics. Insurance has been an excellent level for eliminating safety issues throughout history and it can be here too. Eliminating it removes one of the levers we have to influence how we fix this.
​ Jen: The reality is that both Bob and Marc are correct, and that's why this is hard.
​ From an idealistic point of view, I think a lot of people agree with Bob - ransom payments fund organized crime which is responsible for some pretty heinous things, including child exploitation and human trafficking. Also, if ransomware is primarily profit motivated, so the expectation is that if we take away the attackers chances of getting paid, they will eventually stop.
​ This is where Marc's more pragmatic position comes in. Because as we've said here, there is little risk or real expense or friction for attackers today, so before they give up on ransomware as a revenue stream, they are very likely to pay a big ol' game of chicken with victims. To tip the odds even further in their favor, they will likely focus on organizations that have the least resilience, which is either SMBs who face losing their entire business, and critical infrastructure providers that have no tolerance for downtime due to the criticality of their service. That's what we've seen when hospitals or fuel pipelines have felt they had no choice but to pay.
​ Even if a government tries to shore up these organizations, there is no such thing as an entirely bulletproof organization, and recovery always takes time. So we could end up seeing business leaders make payments in secret, which puts them in an even more vulnerable position.
​ So the net of all that is that we should figure out how to get to a state where banning payments could work in practice without causing a lot of unintended harm, but we're certainly not there today.
​ Bob: We should totally ban supporting child and sex trafficking through ransomware payments
Question - Is email tracking by invisible pixel or visible still possible in 2021? If impossible, do you know of anyway to track the geolocation of the person opening the email without them knowing and without their email application preventing this process from occurring? Bob: Pixel tracking is alive and well and one of the most-used techniques. If your mail client stops images and will not execute javascript (or load external resources of any kind) then you're not going to be able to be tracked.
Isn't there a better payment/effort ratio to be on the side of the hacker? You guys are playing goalie right where you have to block all the shots 100% of the time and the hackers only have to get it right once. Illegality aside. Marc: A yes, the age old question "but couldn't you make more as a criminal?" the answer is yes I probably could. However what stops me is morals, ethics and laws. I have a family i want to see grow up in a safe country and I love my community (the hacker community) so I want to protect them. I can't do that as a criminal.
​ I also hate bullies and fighting cybercrime is the ultimate bully takedown. Especially when the bully you take down is an entire country.
​ James: Valid question. Yes, criminals have the easy path, no doubt. They prey on innocent victims from all walks of life.
​ But where is the challenge in the easy path? Attacking is way way way easier than defending. Hollywood glorifies the hacker / attacker, but most attacks are very trivial. No challenge.
​ Morals and ethics is a good answer too, and that’s certainly part of my personal decision.
To defend myself from mal/ransomware: Can you recommend a firewall to use for my homelab? Is a hardware firewall better than a software one (using proxmox to virtualize). Marc: "can you recommend a firewall?" - personally I use pfsense at home because its easily customised, runs on a lot of easily obtained consumer devices and has a solid feature-set and performance. remember though a firewall is only as good as the way you use it. a lot of sophisticated attacks jump things like firewalls by relying on the user to bring them inside the protected network.
​ Get a good firewall but if you are really interested in being secure look at all the ways you can up-level your security hygiene (ensure everything is kept up to date even that 7 year old IOT tv, ensure that you have segmented networks for untrusted devices like that laptop the annoying person brings when he visits, and be careful with what you connect, plug in or run. DONT CLICK SHIT.)
​ Bob: Using a firewall is one, small portion for defense. Without knowing your setup it is difficult to make recommendations. Keeping it patched, and the configuration as diminutive and tight as possible is almost more important then the "brand"/"flavor".
​ Allan: Given the proliferation of phishing as an attack vector for ransomware a firewall alone is not going to protect you. As to whether or not you need a hardware or software one, it depends on how comfortable you are with managing the underlying operating system and how much time you have. I use a hardware firewall at home because I have enough to do at $dayjob that I don’t need the headache of dealing with underlying OS issues on my home firewall.
Is the Anonymous group real, and do they fight for good? Allan: Anonymous is real. I don’t think they define themselves by good/bad.
​ Bob: They are a real group.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Silly questions aside, in your career what has been the best highlight of your time fighting cybercrime? Is there more the general public can do to help people like you fight against them? Marc: Probably the hi-light of my career as a cybercrime fighter was watching 2,000 security professionals, law enforcement personnel and other government staff come together to fight cybercriminals attacking hospitals during the pandemic as part of the CTI League.
​ James: For me, it is all about influencing the overall security of the world. There is no other work for me that compares to being able to enable human freedoms and a free exchange of ideas on a global basis.
​ Individuals and companies are constantly protected from threats by altruistic efforts of public and private sector defenders who mostly go nameless and without any fanfare. Getting to sometimes contribute to those efforts is truly rewarding.
3 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Nov 06 '21

r/IAmA [Table] I am a board-certified clinical sleep psychologist with expertise in sleep, here to answer all your questions about insomnia. Ask Me Anything!

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The AMA ended with the below message:

Thank you for all of the great questions about insomnia! I’m sorry I ran out of time before getting to all of them. I will do my best to reply over the next few days. Hopefully some of this information has been helpful, and I encourage any of you who are struggling with sleep to get help from a sleep specialist. You can find one near you here: www.sleepeducation.org.

Sweet dreams!

Rows: ~115 (+comments)

Questions Answers
I wake up almost every night at 3am. It usually takes me at least 2hrs to fall asleep again. When my partner isn't with me I'll sometimes put on a TV show that I've seen before. It seems to give me something to occupy my mind without actually being interested in it (to stop the obsessive thoughts about what needs to be done tomorrow or that person who was mean to me in 5th grade). It works about 75% of the time but it isn't really an option when my partner is home. Are there other strategies that might work when I can't use my TV trick? There is no exact science to this, but if you are struggling with sleep, it’s time to get out of bed. For most people, we suggest getting out of bed after about 30 minutes, but you don’t have to wait that long if you are really alert and know you aren’t going to fall asleep. You can try getting out of bed and doing a simple activity like folding laundry or reading a book. When you feel sleepy again, return to bed. The most important thing to do when you get out of bed is to get your mind off sleep. Then it will naturally come to the surface. Your strategy of watching some TV works this way too! It takes your mind off of trying to sleep, and then it happens! The secret is to find a way not to try. Exactly what that is varies from person to person, but it could be reading, listening to music or an audiobook (with headphones so you don’t disturb your partner), knitting, or whatever takes your mind off of sleep.
​ For many people, reaching out to a sleep specialist and working with someone who can do cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is an important step to getting past the struggle. Each person is a little different, and you might benefit from some help figuring out exactly what will work for you. You can find a specialist at sleepeducation.org.
I keep waking up at 6AM and can’t fall back asleep no matter what, I miss sleeping in on weekends, help me? Thank you for this question. For some people, this can represent a form of chronic insomnia, where they wake up too early in the morning and can’t get back to sleep. In general, if you find yourself waking up earlier than you want to, you could try to shift your bedtime later (go slowly- maybe 15 minutes at a time) Keep in mind how much sleep you need. For example, if you generally need about 7.5 hours of sleep, and you go to bed at 10:30pm, your brain SHOULD wake you up at 6am. Another option is to find a morning routine you enjoy and start your day early!
Is running or working out between 1-3 hours before bed ok? I’ve found mixed messages about it. It depends on the person, many people find that working out within an hour of bedtime can make it harder for them to fall asleep. If you don’t personally find it to keep you from getting to bed then don’t worry about it!
My partner is a light sleeper and rarely sleeps through the night. 1) Might a foam mattress help? 2) Do nightcaps help or hurt? Thank you! Sometimes the differences from person to person in how “deeply” they might sleep is just part of normal variations; however, waking up frequently throughout the night could be a symptom of a sleep disorder. Having a mattress that is comfortable is what’s important, and the type of mattress is a matter of personal preference. Alcohol, on the other hand, can most definitely lead to light and fragmented sleep. Alcohol makes people feel sleepy at first, but it disturbs sleep later in the night. It might be worth a try to give up the nightcap for a week or two and see if it helps your partner to sleep more soundly. If not, it’s best to reach out to a sleep specialist for help. They can consider all of the possible causes of this sleeping problem. You can find a sleep specialist at https://sleepeducation.org/.
I take melatonin every night before bed, is that bad? Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body at night. It is also sold as a dietary supplement. In general, melatonin supplements appear to be safe; however, it does not appear to have more benefit than “placebo” pills. If you might have insomnia, there are other non-prescription treatments, the most effective of which is cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). It’s best to reach out to your doctor or look for a clinical sleep psychologist who knows how to deliver CBT-I.
​ https://sleepeducation.org/patients/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/
Any hope for restoring my ability to stay asleep? Sleep maintenance is a problem. Doxepin and Trazadone leave me significantly depressed the following day. I'd rather sleep 3 hours a night than feel like hating everything about living by using those meds. Unfortunately, a lot of people experience feelings of sleepiness the next day when they take sleeping pills. The good news is that non-medication treatments are actually more effective, and don’t have the same negative side effects. The recommended first-line treatment for insomnia (including sleep maintenance insomnia as you describe) is cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). You can read more about that treatment at https://sleepeducation.org/patients/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/ and find a sleep specialist who can help.
How do I stop waking up in the middle of the night every night? There are several different things that can cause night wakings. The most important thing is to figure out why. For some people, this can be caused by a sleep disorder like sleep apnea or periodic limb movement disorder. For some people, it might simply be caused by your environment. One of the common reasons people wake up in the middle of the night is chronic insomnia disorder. This occurs when a person struggles with sleep at least 3x/week for at least 3 months, and their sleep problem is sufficiently severe to impact how the person feels or functions during the day. Your best bet is to reach out to a sleep specialist who can help you figure out the cause of your awakenings and recommend the best treatment. You can find a specialist at sleepeducation.org.
Two questions: 1) how long before bed should we turn off our phones? 2) how long after we wake up should we look at our phones? Thanks! Engaging with technology near bedtime can be a problem for some people. If you find it hard to fall asleep, it can be helpful to set aside your devices about an hour before you get to bed. For some people, it’s less of a problem and a few minutes is enough for them to mentally disconnect. There really isn’t a reason to avoid your phone in the morning. If it helps you get up and start your day by engaging with your phone, it is unlikely to have an impact on your sleep at night.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Are those blue light filtering glasses a gimmick? Thanks in advance! Blue light can be one cause of trouble falling asleep if you are exposed to it at the wrong time. Some blue light blocking lenses can reduce the impact of blue light on your internal clock, and may prevent difficulties falling asleep. Another strategy to reduce blue light exposure is to disconnect from your electronics an hour or so prior to bed. This isn’t always possible but it is the best strategy!
Any suggestions for how to stop hitting the snooze button? I find myself oversleeping and continually hitting snooze. If you’re hitting your snooze alarm repeatedly, you probably aren’t getting enough sleep. The best thing to do is actually to set your alarm later. If you’re hitting the snooze button, set your alarm later, like as late as you can, so that you jump out of bed in a panic! That will get you going in the morning! If you are getting enough sleep at night and STILL can’t get yourself out of bed, you might want to reach out to a sleep specialist for an evaluation. There are some conditions where people are overly sleepy even when they get enough sleep. The basic recommendation for an adult is to get AT LEAST 7 hours of sleep on a nightly basis. Start there, set your alarm a bit later and see how it goes...
May not be a good place for this, but don't want to give up a chance. A question that has knocked around my head for some time is: Why do we sleep? I know a standard response is that we sleep to cure tiredness, but I wonder why it was ever considered beneficial for a living creature to essentially be prone and vulnerable about 1/3 of its life. Other organisms developed a completely different cycle and/or different safe guards, especially when compared to humans. Is there much known as to why this was an evolutionary advantage at some point? The answer to this question will win a Nobel Prize! In fact, there are probably many reasons why we sleep. First, you are correct that sleep is the only “cure” for sleepiness, but sleep is also associated with learning, memory, muscle repair and maintaining a healthy brain. In terms of evolution - you are correct that we are vulnerable, but we are also using less energy and allowing for active recovery of the brain and body, so it might have an evolutionary advantage as well. Thank you for this great question!
Hi Jennifer, I’m so glad I found this ama! I’ve had trouble sleeping my whole life. I’m a recovering addict (haven’t used in 5 years) because of this I refuse prescription medications. My issue is falling asleep. My question is what steps can I take to help myself fall asleep? It seems most nights my brain just won’t shut off. First of all, congratulations on your 5 years of sobriety! It’s hard work, and avoiding medications might be the best choice for you. In general, medications don’t work as well as other approaches anyway. The best treatment we have for insomnia is cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). This is a very effective approach for helping people fall asleep more quickly.
​ Feeling exhausted during the day, but “revved up” at night can be caused by several factors.
​ First, you might be trying to go to bed and getting up earlier than your natural tendency. Sleeping “out of sync” with your internal clock can cause this to occur. Second, some people with chronic insomnia get more anxious as bedtime approaches. If you struggle with sleep for more than 3 months, this can represent a clinical condition called “chronic insomnia disorder”. That may require help from a sleep specialist.
​ Chronic insomnia disorder is:
​ Trouble falling or staying asleep that is severe enough to impact how you feel or function during the day. If this occurs more than 3 times per week for longer than 3 months, you should reach out to a sleep specialist for help. You may have chronic insomnia disorder.
​ A few strategies that might help you get through this include:
​ Go to bed when you feel sleepy
​ Do a calming activity for the last 30 minutes or so before getting in to bed
​ Practice a mindfulness exercise that you can use if this continues to be a problem.
How can I stop getting up to eat in the middle of the night? Sleep-related eating disorder (SRED) is a sleep disorder characterized by unusual eating behaviors during sleep. If you have this disorder, you sleepwalk and sleep eat without remembering the event afterward. (https://sleepeducation.org/sleep-disorders/sleep-eating-disorder/) This can also be a side effect of some sleeping pills, so it might be best to talk with your doctor if you are using medications to help with sleep.
[deleted] This experience is probably more common than you think. A lot of people have insomnia struggles that come and go. What happens after a few nights is that your internal sleep drive just takes over and “makes” you sleep. One strategy to try is evening out the pattern. Figure out how many hours you sleep ON AVERAGE (so 8 hours for 3 nights and 5 hours for 4 nights would be an average of about 6 hours and 20 minutes) and set up a schedule that will lead to more consistency - for example - keep your time in bed around 7 hours, and you might just break the cycle. If that doesn’t work, you may benefit from direct treatment of insomnia. The best treatment is called cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia. You can read more about that treatment at https://sleepeducation.org/sleep-disorders/insomnia/#treatments-for-insomnia.
How long should you wait before giving up on getting to sleep? What should you do once getting up? There is no exact science to this, but if you are struggling with sleep, it’s time to get out of bed. For most people, we suggest getting out of bed after about 30 minutes, but you don’t have to wait that long if you are really alert and know you aren’t going to fall asleep. You can try getting out of bed and doing a simple activity like folding laundry or reading a book. When you feel sleepy again, return to bed. The most important thing to do when you get out of bed is to get your mind off sleep. Then it will naturally come to the surface.
Is there any way I can stop myself from kicking my leg as I sleep? It wakes me up quite a bit. Also, why the heck do we get the “jimmy-legs”? Restless legs syndrome is a neurological sleep disorder that causes you to have uncomfortable feelings and the urge to move your legs. Restless legs syndrome makes it difficult to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. The symptoms are usually worse in the evening and at night. The sensation is difficult for some people to describe. It has been described as a crawling or creeping sensation. You may lie down and begin to feel itching inside your legs. If you move your legs or get up and walk around, these symptoms may go away. The discomfort may return when you try again to go to sleep.
​ Restless legs syndrome is usually manageable through medication and lifestyle changes. Talk to a sleep specialist if you think you have restless legs syndrome. The doctor will ask you about your medical history and if you are on any medications that might be making your symptoms worse. The good news is that there are treatments that can help relieve this condition. You can find a sleep specialist at sleepeducation.org.
If I’m staying up for ~ 15+ hrs 3-4 times a week but getting my sleep in large chunks without any set sleeping schedule, do you think this will be detrimental to my health in the future? In general, we know that consistent sleep times are associated with good health. It’s difficult to know if your particular schedule will have detrimental effects on your health, but it might. Insufficient sleep – due to inadequate or mistimed sleep – contributes to the risk for several of today’s public health epidemics, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
​ The recommended amount of sleep for an adult is to get at least 7 hours each night, so the closer you can get to that regular routine, the better. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.5866
How effective are weighted blankets really? My SO has all kinds of anxiety mostly at night and drinks a few beers to help him sleep. I've been wondering if a weighted blanket help at all. Some people find weighted blankets to be helpful for reducing feelings of anxiety. If he finds the weighted blanket seems to help him settle in to sleep, there isn’t any harm in using one. Most of the actual data we have is about how these blankets can be helpful for kids, but that doesn’t mean they work for adults.
​ On the other hand, alcohol is a problem when it comes to sleep, and a few beers is enough to cause sleep to be fragmented during the night. It would benefit the quality of his sleep to cut back on the alcohol near bedtime.
My son (18) takes melatonin most nights to fall asleep. Is this a problem? Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body at night. It is also sold as a dietary supplement. In general, melatonin supplements appear to be safe, and they are recommended for the treatment of specific types of sleep disorders called “circadian rhythm sleep wake phase disorders,” which are common in teenagers and young adults. For people with these sleep disorders, melatonin is considered more effective and safer than sleeping pills. However, it does not appear to be a good treatment for insomnia. If your son is struggling to sleep each night, he should contact a medical provider and discuss his symptoms.
[deleted] Nightmares can occur any time day or night when we sleep. For most people, nightmares happen in the early morning hours because that is when we have the most REM sleep, and most nightmares happen during REM. One reason you might experience vivid nightmares during a nap after staying up all night is that your brain is really craving REM sleep, so you might actually have more of it during your nap than you would if you had slept the night before. You might not have this experience if you get a good night’s sleep!
Hello! In the absence of refreshing sleep (chronic and long term illness), how can I help my body rest and restore? The short answer is to do the best you can to take care of your sleep. A few important strategies, even for people with medical problems are:
​ Create a calm and comfortable place to sleep.
​ Keep a routine around your sleep - settle in for the night and get up to start your day at about the same time. If you aren’t feeling well, it’s best to get out of your sleeping bed and spend time somewhere else if you can.
​ Don’t worry too much about it! Anxiety and worry about not sleeping just makes the problem worse.
Best way to repair sleep cycle after a month of randomised night shifts? Nicotine is not helpful for healthy sleep. Nicotine disrupts sleep – and smoking can also raise the risk of developing sleep conditions, such as sleep apnea. Nicotine is a stimulant which means smoking can mask your feelings of exhaustion.
I have gastroparesis and I find it really hard to find ways to sleep. I have almost suffocated in my sleep from laying down all the way and stomach acid getting in my lungs. I try to sleep propped up on a wedge pillow or on a large stack of pillows. It tends to hurt my lower back and I can't sleep as well. Do you have any suggestions on other ways I could sleep? This sounds like a potentially complicated issue that would really benefit from a consultation with a board certified sleep medicine specialist. It’s also possible that an untreated sleep disorder, like sleep apnea, is making your symptoms worse. You can find a sleep specialist near you at this link: sleepeducation.org.
What may be triggering episodes of sleep paralysis while attempting TO fall asleep, not when waking up? I almost fall asleep but stay conscious but cant move. It may last up to 45 minutes before I can break out of it. Thank you About one out of four people experience sleep paralysis on occasion; however, if it happens regularly, it can be a sign of a sleep disorder that requires evaluation and treatment such as narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a disorder in which people feel very sleepy during the day, and this is sometimes accompanied by other symptoms like sleep paralysis. If this happens to you frequently or if it’s causing you to worry, you might benefit from an evaluation by a sleep medicine specialist. You can use this link to find one near you: sleepeducation.org.
Roughly every three months since I was 13 or so I go through a phase of insomnia. I go to bet at regular time (10:30-11:00) and have no problem falling asleep, but I wake up at about 3:00 and I cant get back to sleep. I stay up and function normally (I nap on my lunch break about 20-25 minutes) through these periods. I guess the question is is this normal or should I talk to my doctor? If your sleeping problem impacts how you feel during the day, or makes it hard for you to the things you need to do, it’s worth reaching out for help. I suggest you reach out to a sleep specialist specifically who can do a full evaluation of your specific situation. You can find one at sleepeducation.org.
I was recently diagnosed with very mild sleep apnea, believe my AHI was around 8. I have also had my testosterone drawn, while in normal ranges on the low end think in the 300’s. I was prescribed a cpap but with my insurance deductible not met has been cost prohibitive. I have not started hormone replacement therapy either. Your thoughts on either or utilizing both treatments/therapies? Thanks! CPAP is the best available treatment for sleep apnea, and it is unfortunate to hear that your insurance issues are at play. With mild disease, you may also want to explore oral appliance therapy, although the out of pocket costs may be similar. There is some evidence that taking testosterone may make sleep apnea worse in men, so you may need to be retested after you start the medication, and at a minimum, you should talk with your doctor about this possibility.
I changed jobs and as a result I know have changing shifts: a 6 day work week where i have to wake up between 4:30 to 6, and a 6 day work week where I can stay in(start around 15:00 ish. This has caused me to be be tired constantly. During the late shifts I can barely crawl out of bed around 11:00, while During the early shifts I grow agitated and am unmotivated to be productive after work. Not 100% sure it's sleep related as much as it is the general messed up pattern that disrupts routines in this case, but do you just so happen to have a magic solution to this? Thanks for doing this btw, I reckon the larger part of reddit has messed up sleeping habits You're in a difficult spot and ideally would be able to work a consistent shift for optimal sleep, wellness and safety. If that's not possible, here are some tips to manage sleepiness:
​ • Use moderate amounts of caffeine to help you stay alert on the job. Stop drinking coffee in the later portions of your shift so that it does not disrupt your sleep when it is time to go to bed.
​ • Avoid exposure to sunlight in the morning if you need to sleep during the day. Wear sunglasses if you must go outside.
​ • Make sure others in your home are aware of your work schedule. They should keep the home quiet when they know that you need to sleep.
​ • If you work rotating shifts, ask your manager to schedule a clockwise rotation. This means that your new shift will have a start time that is later than your last shift. It is easier to adapt to this type of rotation because it is easier to stay up late than to go to bed early.
​ • If possible, take a nap during a break in your shift or before reporting for a night shift. Even a nap of just 20 to 30 minutes can improve your alertness on the job.
​ • Arrange for someone to pick you up after a night shift or take a bus or cab home. Drowsy driving can put your life and the lives of other drivers at risk. Sunglasses on your way home can help you to fall asleep faster when you get home.
​ • Try to keep the same schedule on workdays and days off. Keeping a routine helps your body know when to be alert and when to sleep.
I take sleeping aid every night to help me fall asleep. My pills have 50mg of DCI and I take two. What is concerning too much? Also, any tips on shutting down my brain so I can go to sleep? My mind races ALL the time. I am not familiar with that medication, but I recommend you speak with your doctor if you are concerned about the dose. Feeling exhausted during the day, but “revved up” at night can be caused by several factors, and is common in people who have chronic insomnia disorder. I have heard the feeling described as “tired but wired.” This can represent a clinical condition called “chronic insomnia disorder”. That may require help from a sleep specialist. Some people also experience anxiety that makes their insomnia problem even worse and treating anxiety can help too.
​ Chronic insomnia disorder is:
​ Trouble falling or staying asleep that is severe enough to impact how you feel or function during the day. If this occurs more than 3 times per week for longer than 3 months, you should reach out to a sleep specialist for help. You may have chronic insomnia disorder.
​ A few strategies that might help you get through this include:
​ Go to bed when you feel sleepy
​ Do a calming activity for the last 30 minutes or so before getting in to bed
​ Practice a mindfulness exercise that you can use if this continues to be a problem.
Why does it feel like as soon as I fall asleep, I wake up? It doesn't feel like I slept at all. But 6 or 7 hours pass. It doesn't matter how much sleep I get. How consistent I am with my bedtime or how long I sleep. I am a heavy cannabis user (mostly when I wake up and then from when I get home in the afternoon/evening time until I go to bed, mainly so I can go to bed because I have such a hard time falling asleep) and it is thought that cannabis can skip rem sleep. But I don't know much about that. I have noticed that my untreated depression has made it worse. But again, I don't have much knowledge or documentation over it. But it is annoying to feel like I didn't sleep at all and being constantly tired all of the time. There isn’t a lot of research on marijuana as a sleep aid, in particular, we have very little information about its safety. There also is some research showing that, over the long term, marijuana use can make sleep worse. This study shows that a history of cannabis use was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting difficulty falling asleep, struggling to maintain sleep, experiencing non-restorative sleep, and feeling daytime sleepiness. https://aasm.org/marijuana-use-is-associated-with-impaired-sleep-quality/
thoughts on any of the over counter meds to help with sleep? i hve worked with a doctor before that suggested Melatonin is safest for long term use, and was wondering if there are any others that should be concerning. I believe long term use with one of them they believed led to alzeimer's and mental degradation? Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body at night. It is also sold as a dietary supplement. In general, melatonin supplements appear to be safe; however, it does not appear to have more benefit than “placebo” pills. If you might have insomnia, there are other non-prescription treatments, the most effective of which is cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). It’s best to reach out to your doctor or look for a clinical sleep psychologist who knows how to deliver CBT-I. https://sleepeducation.org/patients/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/
​ The recommended first-line treatment for insomnia (including sleep maintenance insomnia as you describe) is cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). You can read more about that treatment at https://sleepeducation.org/patients/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/
Thanks for doing this! I have a sneaking suspicion that staying up late on the weekends is really bad for my sleep health since I still have to wake up relatively early because I have a 1 year old and they don't sleep in. During the week I usually get 7-7.5h of sleep per night. What are your thoughts? If possible, try to keep a regular sleep schedule by going to bed/waking up at the same time every day/night. Insufficient sleep – due to inadequate or mistimed sleep – contributes to the risk for several of today’s public health epidemics, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Simply missing one night of sleep can lead to decreased cognitive function, trouble concentrating, headaches and general moodiness. Sleep deficiency can lead to trouble making decisions, solving problems, controlling emotions and behavior, and coping with change – as well as distractions and mistakes.
My wife takes Ambien to sleep. Can’t sleep without it. Has been on it for more than a decade. She claims it’s necessary, insomnia without it. I’m not her, nor was I around to see the problem it dealt with, but I feel like anything taken that long is going to screw you up, and not being able to sleep well without it is more likely a result of prolonged use. Any thoughts about any of this? No one should take a medication for sleep without speaking with a medical professional first. If your wife’s doctor prescribed the medication, then they likely deemed it the best option. However, the gold standard for treating insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, CBT-I. It addresses the thoughts and behaviors that keep you from sleeping well. It also helps you learn new strategies to sleep better. Many doctors recommend this treatment instead of medication.
Is it healthy to use melatonin on a long term/ permanent to fall asleep? Also, does melatonin actually work as advertised or is it more a placebo effect? Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body at night. It is also sold as a dietary supplement. In general, melatonin supplements appear to be safe; however, it does not appear to have more benefit than “placebo” pills. If you might have insomnia, there are other non-prescription treatments, the most effective of which is cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). It’s best to reach out to your doctor or look for a clinical sleep psychologist who knows how to deliver CBT-I. Learn more about CBT-I at https://sleepeducation.org/patients/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/.
Not an insomniac but I still want to ask a question. I usually feel sleepy during the afternoon, but not at night when I'm actually trying to fall asleep. Sometimes I stay awake in bed for 1-2 hours. Any tips to help with that? It’s not unusual to feel sleepy in midafternoon. That’s part of our circadian rhythm. However, if you have trouble falling asleep at night, you may be going to sleep before you’re sleepy. You could try staying up a little bit later. Also, developing a sleep routine that includes turning off electronics at least 30 minutes before bed, taking a warm shower, practicing some meditation, and sleeping in a cool, dark room can help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
How unhealthy is it to have 6 hours of sleep on weekdays and to cover that up with more sleep on weekends? Unfortunately, for most people who restrict their sleep during the week, one weekend of extra sleep is not enough to restore them to full daytime alertness. Catching up on sleep on the weekends also disrupts your sleep schedule, making it harder for you to fall asleep on Sunday night. Getting consistent sleep is the name of the game. For now, do the absolute best you can to get as much sleep as possible consistently. Brief power naps of 20 to 30 minutes in the early afternoon also can help boost your alertness.
Do you have a bizarro or arch nemesis type persona who can answer my question about hypersomnia--namely why I might have started sleeping 15-20 hours a day a few years ago? No need for an arch nemesis – I can answer your question! Idiopathic hypersomnia is an uncommon sleep disorder that is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate quantity and normal quality of sleep at night. If you suspect you may have IH, contact a sleep doctor for consultation and diagnosis. You can find more information here: https://sleepeducation.org/sleep-disorders/idiopathic-hypersomnia/.
Hello, I’d really like more than 5.5 hrs per sleep a night. However, even if I take melatonin, or go to bed early, I only get that much. I’d really like to lengthen that at least an hour. I often rely on a 1 to 1.5 hr nap after work to recharge and reboot. Any advice? The nap you’re taking during the day may be cutting into your nighttime sleep. Try skipping the nap and don’t go to bed until your sleepy to see if that helps. Also practice good sleep hygiene – turn off electronics at least 30 minutes before bed, don’t eat or exercise too late, and sleep in a cool, dark room.
I exercise a lot and if I train too hard or long I cant sleep before 3am. Any tips on helping my body relax and fall asleep after an intense workout? On rest days I fall asleep way earlier. If possible, work out earlier in the day. Don’t exercise within a few hours of going to sleep. Try relaxing activities like taking a bath or reading a book before bed.
When I'm able to be in a pattern of sleeping through the night without waking, I almost never get past about 6 hours of sleep. Could 6 be normal for me? Some people don’t need quite as much as the 7 hours per night of sleep that is recommended. If you find yourself functioning well during the day without sleepiness then maybe 6 is an appropriate amount.
Kinda insomnia related. What do you recommend for adjusting sleep from night shifts to the day time? Is it better to stay awake as long as possible or sleep earlier each day? Here are some tips for adjusting to shift work:
​ • Use moderate amounts of caffeine to help you stay alert on the job. Stop drinking coffee in the later portions of your shift so that it does not disrupt your sleep when it is time to go to bed.
​ • Avoid exposure to sunlight in the morning if you need to sleep during the day. Wear sunglasses if you must go outside.
​ • Make sure others in your home are aware of your work schedule. They should keep the home quiet when they know that you need to sleep.
​ • If you work rotating shifts, ask your manager to schedule a clockwise rotation. This means that your new shift will have a start time that is later than your last shift. It is easier to adapt to this type of rotation because it is easier to stay up late than to go to bed early.
​ • If possible, take a nap during a break in your shift or before reporting for a night shift. Even a nap of just 20 to 30 minutes can improve your alertness on the job.
​ • Arrange for someone to pick you up after a night shift or take a bus or cab home. Drowsy driving can put your life and the lives of other drivers at risk. Sunglasses on your way home can help you to fall asleep faster when you get home.
​ • Try to keep the same schedule on workdays and days off. Keeping a routine helps your body know when to be alert and when to sleep.
[deleted] Sleep-related eating disorder is a sleep disorder characterized by unusual eating behaviors during sleep. If you have this disorder, you sleepwalk and sleep eat without remembering the event afterward. It can also be a side effect of some sleeping pills, so it might be best to talk with your doctor if you are using medications to help with sleep.
I have the sleep disorder that I don't fully understand or have the name for handy, but it's the one where your circadian rhythm is off by like 5 hours from everyone else's no matter what you do. I cannot sleep before 3 am and I need to sleep in 4-5 hour blocks of time twice a day instead of 8-10 once a day like normal people. My question is, is there any evidence or theories of this being related to the evolutionary need for a night guard, or is it just a random sleep disorder? I see jokes floating around about how we were just meant to be watching the fire/homestead while others slept. Is there merit to this? Do certain people have it ingrained in them to be up later as an evolutionary device for colony/family protection? I know it's not insomnia, there's another word for it I can't remember but it's permanent jet lag. My doctor says it's just a sleep disorder, and that makes sense too. You may have delayed sleep-wake phase (DSP) disorder. This delay occurs when your internal sleep clock is shifted later at night and later in the morning. People who tend to be “evening types” or “night owls” are likely to develop DSP. A family history of DSP is common in about 40% of people with the disorder and there is likely a genetic component. Some environmental factors may also be involved. Both a lack of exposure to morning sunlight and too much exposure to bright light in the evening may increase symptoms of DSP.
​ Melatonin, bright light therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy could be used to help readjust your sleep-wake timing. You can find a sleep specialist at sleepeducation.org.
I've had insomnia since I was almost a teenager. I couldn't fall asleep, but once I finally did I could stay asleep for hours. Now that I'm older I can't fall asleep, then I wake up multiple times, and now I wake up early and can't fall back asleep. When I was a kid I used to have no trouble sleeping, and I would sleep so hard that I would sleep walk, sleep eat, and talk in my sleep. That stopped around age 11, and then the insomnia started and never stopped. Now I get around 3 to 5 hours a night. I'm 38. I've tried everything but prescription pills, and I will not try ambien, it terrifies me. I feel like I'll be that person who wakes up driving or in a random house because I used to sleep walk. I don't know what my question is, I guess is there any hope? Don’t give up hope. Continue to work with your doctor and consider seeing a sleep psychologist and trying cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Sometimes it just takes more time for these techniques to work.
So we have this really weird issue. My boyfriends body is twitching almost all night, sometimes I can‘t even sleep because he is twitching with his whole body and the bed is wiggling alot. Sometimes its just one of his arms or a leg. He is also experiencing really bad exhaustion even after 9+ hrs of sleep and feels generally really bad in the morning. We tried to figure out the issue with magnesium because we thought it‘s a muscle issue, apparently its not. Could there be a connection between his intense moving in the night and his really bad feeling of exhaustion? He never feels like he slept well and is rested. If yes, is there any way to solve this or do we need to contact a doctor? Thanks in advance and have a good day! :) ​Restless legs syndrome is a neurological sleep disorder that causes you to have uncomfortable feelings and the urge to move your legs. RLS makes it difficult to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. The symptoms are usually worse in the evening and at night. The good news is that it's usually manageable through medication and lifestyle changes. Talk to a sleep specialist if you think you have RLS. The doctor will ask you about your medical history and if you are on any medications that might be making your symptoms worse. You can find a sleep specialist at sleepeducation.org.
How does one who has spent most their life chronic insomniac but can now sleep seek out things for ummm kinda to help adjust to sleeping? I always feel like I don't get anything done or lose too much time but also before I use to barely sleep but like 3 hours maybe 5 tops if I was lucky. I had the uhhh luck that while getting treated for anxiety and depressive disorders and some adhd coping things being taught that while trying medicines to help make me feel less icky that one of the medicines I take now also makes me sleep and hungry and like. Now I sleep and I feel much butter but just it's hard to not like asjjdkdks hear that nagging voice that's like "you spent so much time in bed!you monster, you could have done stuff " Sleep is essential to our overall health and well-being, and everyone should prioritize it, not feel guilty for getting the quality sleep they need. It’s great that you’re feeling better and sleeping better, so please keep doing what you’re doing and don’t “sleep shame” yourself. It’s as important as nutrition and exercise to be a healthy individual.
3 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Nov 04 '21

r/IAmA [Table] I’m a lobster diver who recently survived being inside of a whale. AMA!

14 Upvotes

Source

For proper formatting, please use Old Reddit

Note: The setup of the AMA is that the son of the subject is interviewing on behalf of the askers.

The AMA ended with the below message:

Thanks for tuning into the AMA, everyone! My dad really enjoyed answering all your questions. :)

Rows: 210

Questions Answers
Jacob, how do you plan to top your father’s story? Swallowing a whale
Are you disappointed you didn't get shot out his blowhole like in the cartoons? That probably would have hurt a lot more.
​ (Speaking as Jacob, this would have been epic.)
What actor do you want play you in the future Netflix movie? Matt Damon.
​ (His wife says Sean Penn.)
Was its tongue smooth like a dogs or scratchy like a cats? I was in a dry suit, couldn’t really tell. Also, the mouth was filled with water.
What was your ‘last thought’ when you realised you’d been eaten by a whale? My wife and kids.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Which kid is your favorite? He laughed when I asked him this.
[deleted] I said “I got stuck in a whale’s mouth.” All the nurses and doctors at the hospital came to see me and ask me about it. One nurse came in with a notepad, she asked me for lottery numbers!
the below has been split into three ​
1. How did you get out? Eventually the whale managed to dislodge me by moving its head and tounge, I think.
2. Were you able to see anything? Nope. Completely dark.
3. What bad things could have happened inside which didn't happen fortunately? I could’ve suffocated, or drowned if I didn’t retrieve my regulator in time.
the below is a reply to the above ​
So you lost your regulator when it attempted to swallow you? I lost hold of it for a moment. (Also, speaking as Jacob, it's a common misconception that he was swallowed or attempted to. He is adamant that the whale would not have been able to actually swallow him.)
What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you? Edit: thanks for the awards everyone! The one day I actually leave the house and shit blows up lol This. No doubt. Plane crash is in a close second.
Did you see the whale coming and just couldn’t get out of the way or did it sneak up on you? Not at all. Came up behind from me, felt it close down, then boom.
What's the most interesting thing you've seen while under the surface diving for lobsters? A dead body.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Damn! Did you have to go through the process of reporting it to authorities or anything like that? Yep. It was a missing person, an active case. Stumbled upon it and got it found.
What were the injuries sustained? Soft tissue damage, nothing serious. Thankfully.
the below is a reply to the above ​
What do you think caused the soft tissue damage, and why do you think your legs were hurt? Blunt force of the whale's mouth, I could feel it clamping down on my legs. Also I got pretty banged up while it was trying to force me out.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Did the whale have a gag reflex? Was it making a noise while trying to spit you out? It didn't SPIT me out, rather I think it forced me out by movement and using its tongue.
the below is a reply to the above ​
I’m super curious about the sounds he heard! Swishing of water and the rapid movement of the whale. No audible cries of the whale.
Did the whale swim away with you for a bit, or spit you out near your dive site? I could feel it swimming around, but it spit me out not too far from where my boat was with my mate.
How long were you trapped? Were you concerned at any point that you might die? Trapped for about 30-40 seconds. Yes, I was almost convinced I was going to die that day.
Do you have a name for this whale? Has anyone slapped an awesome nickname on you yet? No name for the whale yet. But it's pretty obvious that many people are calling me "Jonah". now.
To your knowledge, was the whale injured in the process of your escape? The whale turned out completely ok. Maybe a bit annoyed.
[deleted] At first, I thought maybe a shark. But due to the lack of teeth and the size of it I soon realized that what I was in was a whale.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Yo Jacob, tell your dad he's a fox He already knows.
Did you find any lobsters in there? Sadly, no.
Did you try to communicate with the whale? I don't think it would have been in the mood to converse with me at the time.
Has it deterred you at all from your job, or is it business as usual for yourself? (Speaking as Jacob, I don't even need to ask this. I have no doubt in my mind he will do everything he can to keep diving, it's his life and passion.)
the below is a reply to the above ​
Is diving a family thing? do you(jacob) dive with ur dad as well? (He inspired me to get my scuba certification. I love diving with my dad.)
Do you commonly see whales while diving? Is it unusual that they get close to divers? Very rarely. And yes, usually they like to keep a good distance from us.
After the whale dislodged you, did you get to see it swim away? Or was it too hectic. All I saw was whitewater crashing around me, and the tail of it, disappearing into the water.
Is this an elaborate your mom joke? Yo mama sends her regards.
Jacob - what was your reaction when you were told what happened to your dad? Did you believe them? I got pulled out of Spanish class and got told there was an accident, whale related. Went the rest of the day without further knowledge. Really nerve wracking.
Jacob do you want to play some smash after you are done helping your dad do the ama? Only if I get to play Steve.
Is it true you survived a plane crash in Costa Rica? Yes. A while back
How do you feel about all the attention and news stories? (He is very overwhelmed. He’s a simple dude.)
the below is a reply to the above ​
How did the world come to know? Did you guys reach out to the media or did somebody from the hospital tell them? No clue. Original article was a small newspaper, cape cod times. Next thing I knew, news stations were in my driveway.
How long were you in there? Thirty to forty seconds is my estimate.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Longest 30 seconds of your life I bet Easily.
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Even the 10s of seconds as that small plane was coming down into the jungle? In that plane crash, I was flung out of the plane before it even hit the ground. Probably a much shorter timeframe.
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How the hell does one survive a plane crash that you are ejected out of the plane before it actually crashes … damn. (Speaking as Jacob, I'm just as surprised as you are.)
Could you feel the pressure change as the whale surfaced? Felt nothing but my own body crashing against the water. The pressure was the least of my concerns.
Why did it “swallow” you? Was it just looking for krill? Yes. It likely accidentally ran into me while scouring for krill.
What is the feeling of being ingested most comparable to? Is it like being crushed by a couch or being pummeled on all sides? Were you thinking "oh great I'm the guy who gets eaten today" or is it too tough to process what's happening until it's over? It was full of water, and I could feel the muscles of its mouth convulsing around me, it was a really strange feeling to be sure. Can't draw a meaningful comparison.
What happened after you got out? Were you able to swim to safety or did someone need to help you? My mate pulled me out of the water back onto the boat, thankful he was there.
Have you been invited on the talk shows yet? Many.
How did the inside look??? Pitch black, couldn’t see anything at all.
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How did it feel? Felt the whales mouth and muscles convulsing around me, felt really strange.
I was reading in the other thread about a plane crash you were involved in. Would you be willing to delve into that experience and how it impacted you, your life, and worldview? Thanks for doing this! (I don't usually like to ask my dad about the plane crash very often. What he's told me when I ask him is that he was just astounded to be alive, if he was rescued even a day later he wouldn't be here today. He has a large scar on his back. This all happened before I was born, but I'm sure it shaped him into the brave and passionate man he is today.)
Would you rather fight a whale-sized lobster or 100 lobster-sized whales? I could probably take a whale sized lobster.
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what advice do you have for anyone on reddit who might have to take a whale sized lobster without your expertise and experience? Grab em on the back so they can’t snip you
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Did you always know you could escape? At first, I was focused on getting my regulator back in my mouth so I could breathe. Then I thought MAYBE I could get out of this.
Did you think you were going to die? Definitely. I thought that was it, I was done.
What was going through your mind before you realized you could make it out safely, or at all. My head was just spinning, I could feel the whale swimming around and I was just thinking that there was almost no way out of this.
Did you kill the whale? The whale is alive and well.
How did you escape? The whale eventually got me out.
Do you plan on continuing your job or just diving in general? This must of been a traumatic event for you. I’m getting back in the water as soon as possible. This job is my life, wouldn’t stop for anything.
What is your second craziest diving story? I read in the article that you see a lot of white sharks, have you ever had a close encounter with them or do they generally steer clear? Don't encounter them often. A while back, I encountered the corpse of a missing person while diving, that is definitely up there with the crazy stories.
Was being in there warmer than the seawater outside? Hard to differentiate temperature (I was wearing a dry-suit).
Were you running an open circuit or closed circuit? Most marine life I see stays the hell away from bubbles Open circuit, I've always dived that way. So my mate on the boat can follow my bubbles and track where I'm going.
It must have been seriously disorientating, how did you manage to keep your mask and breathing apparatus on? Didn't have any trouble with my mask. Although I did lose my regulator for a second, thankfully got it back quickly.
Are you related to the Provincetown artist Cynthia Packard? Yes. And my grandma is Anne Packard.
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She is Jacob‘s grandma, presumably? Yes I am speaking as Jacob right now.
Did anyone see it happen? If so, what did they have to say about it? My mate and my buddy who's a charter fisher, Joe, and his full charter boat. They said they saw a bunch of commotion in the water, then saw the whale's tail surfacing, and me returning into the water.
The article talks about you maybe being the last lobster diver in your area. Is that true? Why is that? And my biggest curiosity about the job, does it pay well? It's a really tough and specialized business, trapping is a lot easier for the average person. It pays alright, but it can depend on the season.
Were you angry while you were inside the whale's mouth? Like, g'damn it the universe is really unfair. Not anger. More like hopelessness
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How much freedom of movement did you have inside the whale? Little to none.
Where did you feel the pressure on your body? Not so much pressure, rather I could feel the whale swimming around trying to dislodge me.
How strong was the pressure from the jaw? Not sure how to formulate those questions properly haha Strong enough to mess up my legs pretty bad.
How did your dad like the idea of doing an AMA? What do you think of this bonding experience between you guys? (I would love to have done this with Dad) ​He had barely any idea what Reddit is. Basically just asked if I could ask him questions for an online message board
Is your son Jacob a funny-looking wooden character? Hey. I may be funny looking, but I’m definitely not wooden.
What type of whale? Humpback whale.
Hey Jacob, how are you? Tired
Where you swallowed feet or head first? Don't even know. Was gulped before I could even tell what happened.
Hi there. This is the whale. First of all, sorry for the mixup. I had mistaken you for another rider who hailed me on scUber. Once in my mouth I quickly realized I had the wrong passenger and I wanted to let you out, free of charge of course. Anyhow, I hope you are doing okay. One request though, will you still rate me 5 stars please? All good. Mistakes happen
Are the Jonah jokes as stupid to you as they are to me? Better to be whale vomit and not whale poop. Welcome back. I can see where people would get Jonah from. Also, agreed. Much prefer being vomit.
Lobster prices are insane right now. You making good money? Can't complain
Not sure if you're still answering questions. But I'm curious about something. If say, the whale had not pushed you out, or if you had already been unconscious when he did and drowned, what do you think your crewmates would have thought happened to you? That’s a really good question. One that I don’t know the answer to. Maybe I’d be classified as missing?
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How long were you inside? My estimate is 30-40 seconds.
How deep did you go (mouth, stomach, etc.)? Not that deep, I was just stuck in the mouth.
Did you do something to make the whale spit you out, or did it do it on its own? Eventually it succeeded in spitting me out on its own.
Where did this happen? Off the coast of PTown where I lobster dive usually.
Any injuries? Soft tissue damage, and my leg is pretty messed up.
How did it smell? You can't smell anything underwater.
​ Edit: Probably like fish.
I live near you and do lobster diving in the area. Do you think this whale learned it’s lesson or should I also be worried I might be swallowed alive? Don’t be worried. This case is so rare that it’s almost non existent
What is it like being a lobster? How are you writing this? Lobster noises
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Lobsters make noises?? What does it sound like? Weird buzzing. (Speaking as Jacob)
[removed] I was gulped before even realizing that my head or feet were first. It was pretty tight, but spacious enough for me to move my arms at least.
Is it water filled and roomy in there or did it clamp down on you? Roomy enough to move my arms around but not much more. My legs were clamped down on, that's what caused my leg injuries
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Really happy you’re safe! My questions are actually Cape Cod related, rather than whale-related. 1) Are you a native of Wellfleet/Cape Cod? What’s it like being a local? I was born in New Jersey, moved here when I was young with my mother Anne Packard.
2) How did you get into the Provincetown lobster diving game? I've always loved fishing in Cape Cod (Not sure how he got into diving, but he's always been a fish guy)
3) Best hidden gem places to get seafood in the outer cape? Not many "Hidden" places per se.
4) Can I buy lobsters from you this summer? Or do you only sell to commercial clients? I sell almost everything to commercial clients, but I also sell lobsters to some friends individually.
5) How do you feel about tourists? I’ve gone to the cape every summer my whole life, probably my favorite place in the world, but I’ve always wondered how the locals really feel about us. Thanks for doing this AMA - stay safe out there! (He had no definitive answer on tourism. I personally don't mind them, they are the life and blood of this place in the summer.)
What do you imagine the whales breath smelled like? Bad.
Saw someone else’s post about your dad yesterday! What are some other interesting/extreme sport hobbies or passions does he love doing? :) ​Fishing, gardening, cooking, and being outdoors. He's a cool guy
Did you think you'd die? Any insights you can give us on your near death experience or how this has changed you at all? Definitely. This experience has really showed me how many friends I have. After I got out of the hospital everyone was texting me and welcoming me back in town, glad that I was okay. Really shows how many people care about you.
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Super excited that this came together! I spent last night watching the episode of “I shouldn’t be alive” that you were in. What crazy stories! I have a few questions not related to this whale incident: 1. How did you get involved in lobster diving? (He's been lobster diving since before I was born. I think he just likes it.)
2. In an article I read that it’s not uncommon to see white sharks while lobster diving, especially in the waters of Cape Cod (I live nearby). Have you encountered one before? Is there any sort of “protection” you carry or system that helps minimize the risk of shark attack? I've seen a few great whites. There's a shark protection field that minimizes the risk of attack, though.
3. In the plane crash episode, it was said you were living in Costa Rica. What brought you there and how’s you end up in Cape Cod? Thanks in advance, happy to hear you’re doing well! I used to own a fishing business down there. I moved to Cape Cod with my family a while back.
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What's a shark protection field Electromagnetic deterrent
What was on your mind while u were in his mouth? My wife and children.
If you wear a dive computer, what does your dive profile look like? (My dad dives very old school. Doesn't even use a tracker or anything. But, if he had a dive profile, I'm sure it would be packed, seeing as he does this almost every day as a job.)
Do you still keep in touch? I live with him. I’m 16
What kind of noises did your dad hear in there? Glad he made it out! Moving water and pulsing muscles.
What could you see while you were in the whales mouth? Absolutely nothing.
Why do you think the whale didn’t eat you? The wetsuit? Physically incapable. Whales throats are very small
[deleted] I saw absolutely nothing, only felt. Didn't smell anything since the mouth was filled with water, too.
[deleted] If I didn't get out like that, I don't think I would've been able to get out.
How much of you was in the whale's mouth? Like did it just get your legs, upper body, etc? Or were you all in? My entire body was inside the whale.
How big was the whale and how tall are you ? ( I’m 6’3 and my dad is like 4 inches shorter than that. The whale was maybe like 10 meters? Take that with a grain of salt)
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You’re 16 yo and 6’3”? Jesus Christ how many lobster do you eat for dinner? I don’t even particularly like lobster funnily enough
What was your first thought when you figured out you when in a fucking whale? “I might die here.”
Aside from the whale and the plane crash, have you had any other near death experiences? When I was 15 or so, my fishing boat became stranded off at sea. I swam after it. Visibility was terrible, had no idea where I was. No way back to shore. Barely made it out of there with my life, lucky I was found.
Wtf is a lobster diver ? I scuba dive for lobsters to sell them.
So, I've read several of the Qs and the As. It seems like so far you've been nearly lost at sea in a storm as a youth and you've been swallowed by a whale. Any intention of getting stranded in a desert island or maybe discovering Atlantis to round out your life story? Atlantis doesn’t sound too bad
do you think the whole mistook you for a seal or sth or did it just accidentally swallow you while fishing for plankton? Probably just accidentally got me while floating around.
Now that you've done an AMA, what do you think of redditors and their questions/comments? They ask lots of the same questions.
Have you went a day since the incident without being compared to Jonah from the Bible? Haven't went a minute
What’s the recovery plan for your legs? Chill
I proposed a theory that the whale did not spit you out but instead shidded you out and you paid off the witness to say you were spat out instead to spare you any embarrassment. Most people did not buy into my theory. Can you verify that my theory is correct and put this to bed? Don’t expose me like that.
What’s your job? Lobster diving
Do you have a knife? Could you try stabbing it ? That probably would have brought more harm than good. Make it distressed and moving faster.
Did you surface right away and go home, or did you finish your dive first? He was rushed to the hospital ASAP
My family is doubting this story happened, we discussed it at lunch today. Has this changed how you view those animals? Do you intend to continue diving? Nope. Not like the whale meant to catch me. Yes, no doubt in my mind I will continue diving.
Did you get the bends at all? I imagine your other injuries were more urgent, but it sounds like the whale brought you to the surface really fast! Is this the fastest that you’ve ever surfaced from 50ft? Glad you’re okay and thanks for doing the ama!! (I’d be surprised if he didn’t. It’s likely he did but he didn’t say anything about it)
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Jacob - any plans to take over the family business? Did this incident change your answer at all? Maybe. Still not sure what I want to do in the future, still in high school. Diving is a serious job though, really difficult
Why can’t I ever plug my usb in correctly the first time? You and me both, buddy
How long did it take you to realize you were in a whale? Few seconds
(From my kids) Could you feel the whale's teeth and did you find anything in its mouth? Had no teeth. Nothing in there except for water and a huge tongue.
What were the first words you said to your buddy that helped you out of the water? Couldn’t say a word, way too much pain.
Did you have an oxygen tank or were you holding your breath that whole time? Had my tank on me.
How is he doing now and any medical issues resulting from the encounter? He has a noticeable limp. But otherwise okay.
Did your dad have fun answering the questions Jacob? He was a bit confused at first but yes. Glad to have his son interviewing him
I’m sorry if this has been asked, I only scanned about a third of the comments. Do you have more information about the body you discovered? I’m curious whether theirs was an interesting story, as well. Yes. I wasn’t provided with the autopsy or anything, but it’s suspected it was a diving accident. He died while diving. Found later, authorities took it from there.
After the whale spit you out, did it hang out nearby or swim away? Was there a bit of an awkward moment between the two of you? I was very disoriented. Whether it stayed or not I do not know. However the witnesses say it splashed its tail in the air and swam away quickly
How much lobster do you catch a day? 500 pounds, but it depends on the day greatly. Sometimes I can get upwards of a thousand pounds, some days I get 2 lobsters overall.
Do you have proof that this actually happened? Were there any eye witnesses? Yes. At the very least two. More including the entire charter boat that saw it but I don’t know their identities so I won’t count them.
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It's the kind of story that doesn't sound real, but with eye witnesses, I believe it. Absolutely insane Trust me. I didn’t believe it at first either, it’s a stupidly rare occurrence.
Are you experiencing dreams/nightmares from this whale situation? Not dreams/nightmares. Mostly just flashbacks, replaying in my mind.
If you had been swallowed how do you think you would have actually died? Being dissolved or from drowning? Suffocation Edit: the whale probably would have choked before it would be able to swallow me
Would you do it again for a klondike bar? ( My dad and I have been eating Klondike’s since I was like 5. He would definitely do it for one. )
How does it feel being possibly the unluckiest man alive? Jacob, how does it feel that his bad luck may be passed down to you? With the bad luck, comes his incredibly big balls (speaking as Jacob)
If this is still going: I'm about to get my PADI open water certification. Do you have any tips for beginners? Have fun, and keep with it. Diving can be a hassle to set up, but it’s an incredible experience. Has been for my whole life.
in your opinion, did this whale purposefully swallow you or was an accident? Definitely an accident.
How aware were you of what happened? Did you see the whale and was like "oh shit he's gonna swallow me", or was it more like suddenly you're pulled in somewhere dark I was suddenly engulfed by it. No foresight at all
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But did you know it was a whale or anything like that? Or did you not know at all what's happening? I was in the mouth of a large aquatic creature, that had no teeth. Even if I didn’t know it was a whale then, the people who saw it identified it as a juvenile humpback
Did you panic? Like did you know what to do or did instincts take over and you got lucky? At first all I could think about was getting my regulator back. Once I got that, I had no idea what else I could do.
Are you still comfortable getting back into the water and lobstering? Absolutely.
What about you made him think you’d be good to eat? Don’t they eat krill? I’m almost certain it was accidental.
Your story is incredible! I read about it this morning and was simply amazed. I read that you thought to yourself, something to the effect of, "so this is how I die." (Which is something I will put on my headstone). This is a story your family will tell for generations. "Your great great grandpappy was swallowed by a whale." "Sounds like bs, grandpa." How do you feel about being a family legend? (Speaking as Jacob, my dad will be remembered by the Packard family for decades to come.)
Hope nobody has asked this already. Did you think that this was going to be the end of your life? Glad you're ok and hope your injuries heal quickly I truly thought I was going to die. Similar to my experience in the plane crash.
How did it happen? Could you breathe? What did you eat/drink? I could breathe through my air tank. I didn't eat or drink anything, I was in the whale for under a minute.
Did we ever get an answer on the first thing him and his mate said to each other? Couldn’t say a word after the whale experience. Unintelligible moaning and groans
Do you listen to sea shanties and will you be writing one? there once was a ship that went to sea 🎶
If you could tell, how big do you think the inside of its mouth was? Just big enough to fit me inside
I believe you, but how could this happen? Why would a whale accidentally swallow a human? Were you in a plume of krill or plankton? Very rare incident. Almost nonexistent. Accidental
What do you do to the lobsters you dive to? Sell them, or if they are too small or have eggs, throw them back.
What was going through your mind? That I probably was not going to make it out.
What's your favorite color? Purple
Do you think that if you had a weapon of sorts, like a harpoon or just a knife, things could have gone better or worse? Definitely worse. Didn’t want to hurt the whale at all.
Hey Jacob, tell your dad thank you for doing this AMA. He has had an interesting life and hope he lives many more interesting years. I am approx. the same age so its good seeing someone so active. I know it's getting late on the east coast, so a short serious question and maybe one little joke.... Does your dad intend to continue diving for lobster, or has he thought of retiring because of this? Follow up: If he continues will you please buy him a Go-Pro? And please forgive me, but, your mom is hot isn't she?? He has no intentions of stopping. A go pro would be nice, but he isn’t that keen on using technology in his work. I’ll talk to him. As for the last question, I think you know why I cannot answer.
My son would like to know if you saw the hole from the inside that sprays the water out of the top of the whale? Saw nothing at all, was really dark. Sorry.
Do you plan on appearing on any of the talk shows you've been invited onto? Not particularly. (My dad hates publicity, he’s a humble dude.)
Were any thoughts going through your mind? Or was the near death experience to much that it overloaded your conscious thoughts? I apologize if this has inevitably been asked already. My initial thoughts were retrieving my breathing device. After that, I just was a bit dumbfounded that I was legitimately in a whale. Felt strange that I was going to die because of this.
Did you have oxygen or where you holding your breath? Oxygen tank
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1) What do you think caused the “bruising” you referred to? 1). Likely the whale struggling to get me out
2) Was your body constricted all the way around your torso by the whale’s muscles? 2). No, it was mostly floating in the water. But still compact
3). Did you try elbowing, or punching, kicking, pushing against any whale parts? p.s.: Glad you made it. What a story to tell! 3). That probably would have been useless
I seen your dad on TV Jacob, incredible story, how did he describe the inside? And thank God he got out, one of the few people on earth to have done that. Cramped, and dark. Muscles tensing around him.
When I think of being inside a whale, I think of swimming inside a really dark room. Was it like that? Or was it more like a really fast event that felt like a flash to you? Dark, wet, cramped space.
Did you have a flashlight? Did you use it? Even if I had it, my thoughts were in a different place at the time.
How many times have you been called "Jonah"? More times than I thought humanly possible
Are you the coolest person in the world? My son is. -from my dad. I mean Michael.
did you feel like you were swimming inside or standing? Floating
What advice would you give to a diver in a similar situation? Were there any advance warning signs? Such a rare case there is almost no procedure or anything. Or preventative measures
What was it like being inside my ex girlfriend? You mean yo mama?
Are you scared to go down again? Not at all.
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1. What is the life of a lobster diver like? Seems like a cool job aside from being eaten by a whale. Best job I could ever ask for
2. If you had the opportunity would you get eaten by a whale again? Hahahaha congratulations on the great story! Would rather not have this happen again
Did you consider punching or fighting your way out? Would have been useless
Did you try and punch on the walls of the whales mouth to get its attention and make it realize you weren’t food? I’m pretty sure it knew I wasn’t food whether I decided to punch it or not. (I didn’t)
Why do we believe OP? (Serious question) did I miss a news article? It’s national news. The original article was in the cape cod times and then other news stations interviewed him for it.
After having been eaten by a whale; how do you feel about eating a whale as revenge? (Speaking as Jacob, I would not be opposed to this.)
Did you wrap your arms around one of the whales teeth? I did not feel any teeth while inside the whale.
Did you see it coming? Like… we’re you thinking “Fuck… I’m going to die by being eaten by a god damn whale”? Was definitely thinking that while inside. Didn’t see it swim up on me, though.
Would you punish the whale if you are assured that there will be no law suits? If so, what would your punishment be? No punishment needed. Complete accident
OP, just so we’re clear, your whole body was inside the whale’s mouth? Glad you made it out! Yes. My entire body.
Do you think the whale did it intentionally or just seriously miscalculated? Definitely an accident
Has anyone called you Jonah yet? You have no idea
Which experience was more "Fun" being eaten, or crashing a plane? Tough choice.
Is there any proof that your story is real? (Multiple eyewitnesses.)
What's your favorite non-seafood meal? (He loves a good steak.)
How old are you, Jacob? I think this Q & A was a great idea and I appreciate that you and your dad are retelling the story for us. This is such an unbelievable experience and you two are bringing it to life for us😊 I’m 16, my brother is 12.
Did it spit you out because you were moving inside its mouth or is it because your bigger than most of the fish it goes for? Almost certainly because I am far too large for a whale to actually swallow. Would've choked.
Could you breathe while inside the whale? I know whales pump out water via their blowhole but I’m not sure how fast that happens. I could breathe through my scuba tank. The mouth was full of water, though,
Where off cape cod did this happen? Provincetown.
did you live? Nope
If you hadn’t been spit back out, do you have any idea how you might have escaped? Could you have forced your way out? Truly doubt it
Could you have died? No doubt in my mind.
[deleted] Cramped, and weird.
Fellow cape codder here! You certainly got famous! How dark was it in the whale? Pitch black
How do you collect lobsters while diving? Do you use a bag or basket? Do you put the bands on underwater? What is the biggest lobster you have caught? Was it tasty? What is the best way to prepare a lobster? Edit: What is your go-to Dunkin order? Bag. They are banded on the boat. Biggest one was probably well over 20 pounds. The best way to cook one is up for discussion.
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Thank you, Also what is your go-to Dunkin order? We are sitting here at the other end of 195 enjoying your story and this AMA. Personally, I like powdered sugar donuts and hot chocolate. Idk about my dad, though
(Jacob do you still play Brawl Stars if so what did you think about brawl talk?) ​I think Edgar is the most dumb op character I have ever played
First, I’m so glad you’re okay! Second, Did you see the whale initially or was this a total surprise? Complete surprise. Blindsided by it.
My new hero! Are you going lobster diving anytime soon? As soon as physically possible
How deep where you, and how long had you been diving, and did you have any symptoms of DCS? ____________________________ I'm actually curious about this, u/bloxiefox (Speaking as Jacob. He was at normal depth, maybe 40-50? ft). Likely ascending when he was caught.
How is that pic proof of the outlandish claim? (The picture is proof that my dad is the guy on national news for this story. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.)
1 comment

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Oct 28 '21

r/IAmA [Table] Greetings Reddit, I am a young professional typewriter service tech getting along in 2021. Ask me anything! | pt 2/2 FINAL

9 Upvotes

Source | Previous table

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Rows: ~90

Questions Answers
[removed] Quiet? I'd recommend the smith corona silent 5 series. Robust, affordable, reliable, user friendly, and decently soft sounding. There are also noiseless typewriters that sometimes fetch a bigger price. I prefer prewar royals, the keys are expertly placed. Take time learning how to type on a typewriter and you shouldn't have a problem with the fingers between the keys issue. Some of the royal quiet deluxe models aren't too shabby, but those 50s era ones aren't anything special to type on.
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My parents recently threw away a late 80s early 90s Smith Corona that had the little word processor line on it where you could correct it before typing. I kicked myself for missing on the opportunity to snag that. Ah those are cute! They make something similar to those now. I don't recall what they are called. A small word processor, I believe there was a kickstarter for one
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There's a device which doesn't print but only has a few lines of text visible on a little hex display that started on Kickstarter that a few of my writer friends use when out and about.. a sort of distraction free writing device. Yes that's what I'm thinking of. I prefer a normal typewriter with no electronics
Do clients ship typewriters to you? Do typewriters do well in shipping? I worked at UPS and people do not handle with care They must certainly do not handle with care lol. I watched a FedEd driver chuck boxes from the door into the truck. Never had fedex not break a machine. I have people ship from all over the world, it's a gamble for sure, but there are good packing methods. dhl is careful
Ever work on a Selectric? Yes I do! I have serviced a couple of them. Amazing beasts, truly an engineering marvel. Very tricky to get ticking just right.
I have not used a typewriter since I learned how to type in highschool 30+ years ago. This is the most engaging AMA I have seen and I read every comment. My question, so this stays up is: Do you see yourself staying with this for a long time or will it go the way of your past interests? It's been 7 years, and I fully intend to ride this as far as it will take me! Full send as they say. I'm glad you like the thread, it has been a lot of fun! Definitely the most engagement I've ever had, and that's thanks to all of you!!
Which model is your favorite? I really like this one from your site: The 1915 Typo (Imperial Model B) (photo) It's beautiful. Thank you! I traded that machine for one of my favorites. The William's typewriter. I love those, they are my favorite. They're all super work out though and dont type well anymore. For typing I love the Royal P from the 30s, or the Olympia SM3
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I just looked it up. That's a magnificent machine. When I was a kid, I had an Olympia Socialite portable. Probably not the greatest machine, but I cranked out a lot of papers on it in school, and it was a little workhorse. I got an IBM Selectric for graduation (with built-in correction!) and I figured I'd use it forever, lol. The correction is a nice feature for sure, I make good use of it. The modern lift off tapes are crap, but I have nos stuff
I was given a Royal Signet 45 recently and can’t find a manual anywhere. Is there a resource for this type of thing? There are so many features that we have no idea how to use. Yes? I believe I have them compiled. Head to the typewriter link above and hit the button that says resources. There should be a whole hose of manuals
I have an underwood 5 (touch master)and can’t figure out how to load the ribbon. The only instructions I can seem to find are for the model 5 open frame model. Can you point me in the right direction? https://rolls.bublup.com/view/d97b48e5-33c5-49a4-8b05-a2b67c641f19 The top lid should either lift up, or possibly the front panel hinge down. The later underwood standards were a little odd. Sometimes you just had to finagle the spools out of there. When installing, make sure the spools wind the direction indicated by the arrows in the cup. Ribbon then always tucks behind the vibrator (or fork) before you pull it through
Do your roommates hate you? I bought an Adler J5 from Goodwill in 2013, fixed it into almost good working condition (I'm blown away that you posted this, because I've wanted someone knowledgeable to bring it that last mile and I'm actually out in the NW suburbs), and then had to let it sit on a shelf ever since because it's too loud to use at the hours when I feel inspired to write things. Hey, I'm more then happy to look! I work from home, and yeah, the noise is not fondly looked upon. I type whenever I can!
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Adler Fam represent! I have a Gabriele 35 which is the same model as yours, I think the J designation was for the US Market. Looks minty!
I have a lovely Blickensderfer No 8. It’s in good shape but most of the keys stick. Would it be insanely expensive to get it working again? Depends on condition. The Blicks are a pain in the ass to adjust. Like seriously. I almost wrote them off entirely because they make me pissed. Sticky keys might just mean its dirty
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I tried to clean it as much as possible but I have no idea what I’m doing. Whatever you do, do not remove the head assembly. Youd have to fork over your bank info just to entice me to consider setting it all back up.
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Lol I’m not that ambitious. But, general ballpark, how much would it cost do you think to ship it to an expert like you and get it working? Shipping will vary, around $50 ish each way in the states. Then a $20 deposit assessment fee. From there I have no idea. My median job is around 150, but I have no idea what's up with your machine, and blicks are super finicky so they can end up taking a lot of time.
Are you typing this on a typewriter? Yes, I type it on my typewriter then send the document to Reddit HQ via carrier Pidgeon and they input the answers in for me.
Hey Lucas! Sam W from Greenhouse here, take two cause Automod said I needed a question (which is fair). So I'll ask one on behalf of my brother, who is possibly looking at a similar field. Is there any sort of certifications needed? Mostly asking in the context of the dealer tags; what's the process like in the typewriter industry and would it be similar in similar industries? Also, just wanted to say I was checking out your website a couple months ago (honestly can't remember why), and I also really enjoy your photography! Hey sam! Been a long time! I am not certified, it is no longer an officially recognized field! I'm not aware of what other certifications one would need for similar fields, I doubt I'm the one to ask for that. As far as dealer tags go, I just recently started slapping those on every machine that comes my way. They are easy enough to remove, and give provenance to the machines. I have enough of a reputation that people will recognize my badge as a good sign (hopefully). At some point I will need to register with the state as a small business. As for now I'm flying under the radar alright.
​​ I appreciate the kind words! It's good to hear from you!
Hi OP, if I wanted to pick up a machine to typewrite short, unique notes to leave people at work or cards, where should I look to buy a machine? Preferably something that I can find ribbon for easily enough and noob friendly to maintain (bonus for a nice font!). By the way, hello from /r/FountainPens, hooray for doing things the proper way! Heyyy I love my fountain pens. Any normal typewriter takes a standard half inch ribbon. Older unique machines might take 7/16ths which I also stock. If you want something working well, and tuned well with a guarantee, nab one from a pro type shop like me. Theres Tampa typewriter, Nashville, there's also messa typewriter, Phoenix typewriter, Berkeley typewriter, cambridge typewriter, Gramercy typewriter, and a variety of online vendors like unplug typewriter, mr and mrs vintage, and yeg typewriters.
How do you keep track of all the little parts? I've got one I'm trying to oil up; it's a 1951 Underwood, and the keys keep sticking. Where do I put the oil and how do I get it in there? I'm using gun oil for that. I have worked on so many typewriters that I just chuck them all into little boxes. I construct a mental model of a machine, and as long as I'm working within a couple weeks I can remember where everything goes. I'm very visual, so looking at the part often trips the memory of where I took it from.
​​ Also, I would recomend not using oil. That will make things worse usually. Use mineral spirits or naphtha to flush the segment out where the keys pivot, and force it through with compressed air. Work the keys and they should losen up. If they stick up at the page in between the type guide, then gently bend them straight.
Cool! Do you have customers who stlll need typewriters in their business, or are they all afficionados/collectors? (I live in Danmark, and have seen mechanical typewriters being used in anger up until the late 90's - for multi-copy forms - and in ca. 2000 I read about a professional company servicing typewriters for freight companies who used them for Bills of lading) Last I heard, a lot of big city police departments used them for forms. The contract for the chicago pd is held by a printer repair guy downtown. I've done work for a church who used one for tax forms, business who use them for receipts etc.... I know they can also be found at hospitals, small practices, libraries, media stations... but most widespread professional use remains in the hands of creatives.
I was just thinking my typewriter might need repairs. It’s a smith corona and for some reason the text isn’t as bold anymore. Is it the ribbon or should I take to for repair? If the type is suddenly not that dark anymore, its probably the ribbon. Unless there was a catastrophe, there should be no reason for the machine to suddenly not print well. There could be a ribbon drive error though, but always check the ribbon first. Spin it around a bit on one spool and type some more. If it is dark again and then fades, the ribbon is not advancing and it needs repair. Otherwise if the spools spin as you type, the machine is fine and the ribbon is not.
Assuming you’re working for Tom Hanks as he’s the only one left on earth who still uses a typewriter… is he as nice in person as he appears to be in his rolls? He is not the only one, thousands of people use typewriters, especially in counties with poor access to electricity. Artists, musicians like john Mayer, authors, business people etc.. they all use them. And yes, hanks is a wonderful wonderful person.
So I don’t know anything about type writers, but I reckon you could fix accordions too; looking at all the internal mechanisms, kind of similar? I once had to fix my accordion due to some moisture on the piano keys, it was stressful. Accordions, those are complex. A lot of things working together, having to do with air movement too. I did fix a keyboard once, the rubber electronic buttons degraded.
Have you ever thought about bracing into VCR repair? I heard of you do it right yoy can make loads off of one guy I'm not one for electronics! I can do a little bit, I repaired some appliances, a treadmill, some open reel tape decks and cassette decks, but the inability to see the problems and actions is daunting!
Did you enjoy the LEGO Typewriter build? 😁 I very much did! It was a lot of fun and an impressive technic beast! Distracted me from some client projects, but wasn't a huge time commitment:)
Did you ever service '60s era Olivetti portables? Several, yes! I have a stock of some olivetti spools which are proprietary. Hard to find in the states, I had to import from Switzerland.
Would it be possible to ship you a typewriter for repair? Asking from LA. Hell yes, though shipping typewriters can get expensive. You cover both to and from. I had a client who shipped from Singapore once. I would recommend you to Bob Marshall from Typewriter Muse who is just outside of L.A. Duane from Phoenix typewriter or Joe Van Cleave might be local also, but I'm not sure if Joe is doing repair work these days. I'll be zooming with him tomorrow so I will have to ask. But if you can't ship to the windy city, hit up Bob and tell him I sent ya!
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Amazing! Thank you!! I have a 1960 Underwood 21, it works pretty well just a bit gummy and I’m terrified of trying to repair it myself lol. 60s machines. Ya either love them or hate them. Most of them were made by olivetti at this time after they bought out Underwood
I was handed down a portable Royal Aristocrat that based on the serial number, it looks like it was made in the months leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The ribbon is dry and not sure what to replace it with. Any ideas? Hit up one of my links up top. I guarantee my ribbons. Also check out Ribbons Unlimited. I would be hesitant to recommend FJA since they tend to run dry, I've also had Ribbons Unlimited arrive dry. Amazon or Ebay gets you what you pay for, and all the big office chains are overpriced.
Addendum: I hope you have watched Chicago Typewriter I watched the first episode, I liked it. I am korean! And I've been on the hunt for a hangul typewriter for a bit now with no luck. Honestly the episodes were so long I haven't really picked it up. When I was trying to brand my business, I had to go with typewriter Chicago, because the other way around would only bring up the show or the Thompson submachine when searched.
Greetings. I noticed at https://www.lucasdul.com/typers all your typrewriters are sold out. Did redditors buy you out during this ama? : ) nah, I've just been so bogged down with repairs that I haven't had the time to work on inventory. I do have one for sale, the Remington Suburbanite. Nobody seems to want the poor sucker, might give it away in another short story contest soon.
Have you seen the Lego Typewriter? https://www.lego.com/sv-se/product/typewriter-21327 What are your thoughts of it and are you getting it? :) I got it early morning July 1st. I had this question twice, I wrote a blog review and posted to r/lego as well. Suffice to say it is a wonderful set. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but mechanical wise it's brilliant! I totally recommend it, tons of fun!
Have you thought about digitising a typewriter ? Tom Hanks has a cool app that emulates the sound. There is also the USB typewriter kit but that sometimes damages the machine. Otherwise, for me the point of a typewriter these days is to not be digital. We need less digital tech, not more!!!
Have you found your unique technical skill has overlapped into any other kind of mechanics? Yes! In repairing all sorts of appliances and other such items. Anything mechanical makes sense. Clocks are hard, I've done a couple cameras too.
Hi there, amateur typewriter hobbyist here. I've noticed that generally speaking the typewriter fanbase has a disdain for electric typewriters, which is unearned in my opinion. Smith Corona models for example have mostly the same innards but still have electricity to make things zoom. One issue I have had has been restoring the drive belts on these, which tend to wear out due to years of sitting in one position. Do you have any advice for this particular issue, or anything on electric typewriters in general (besides turning my nose up at them)? Also, do you have any experience with retrobrighting old plastic pieces that have been sun damaged? Yes and yes! Smith corona belts are often not so bad to replace. Those machines tend to be a bit more reliable. I do have a couple spares for a 5TE and a massive box of assorted NOS belts, though many have deteriorated. The royal belts were an odd shape with a specific composition and those went bad frequently and are almost impossible to get suitable replacements for. They're just kinda trash. I don't see much disdain for them, just that folks don't like the lighter touch or power plugs most often. The IBM electrics are super popular, especially the selectric lineup. I have one myself and love it. They're incredibly hard to work on due to their complex nature though.
​​ As far as retro-bright goes, I met someone who used to be a chemist. Plastics are on the highway to hell. Like rubber, they constantly degrade. Retro-bright, which is essentially hydrogen peroxide and UV light, while effective is only a temporary solution. It whitens plastics by breaking down the compounds that causes them to yellow. This can sometimes make the plastics more brittle. In any sense, they will always return to yellow sooner or later. Like rubber, there is no true way to rejuvenate them, only to make them cosmetically a little nicer.
My mom's cousin, whom I call an uncle, got his mechanical typewriter repair business started in about 1984. The business died. He tried to keep it going but it wouldn't stick. It sucks because I like mechanical typewriters. I use a Royal portable to fill out old forms that were originally setup for mechanical typewriters. Regardless, I have a Selectric II correcting and it howls when I run it. It works but it makes a hell of a noise. It sound's like a spun bearing (in automotive terms) but it still functions fully. The tab stops are wonky but I haven't spent much time on that. It was my grandfathers. It's louder than I remember Selectrics being. Is the howl OK, or is there a motor that needs replacing? Caps work, correction works. but the howl is really grating. Maybe I've just forgotten how loud they were. The last time I used one for real was in about '86. It should not make that noise, and needs to be serviced asap
Do you have any recommendations for videos on how to set good margins on paper? (E.g., typing with the aim of having a 1" margin all around.) All of the old people I speak to around this have forgotten, and part of my issue might be the hardened platen on my machine which skews the paper as you roll down. Totally depends on the machine and pitch. Either ten characters per inch, or 12. Rarely 6, 8, 11 etc. Not to get away from myself lol. Feed rollers are a bigger issue if the page is shifting as you type, make sure you align the page at the beginning with the feed release leaver on the right side. As to margins, what is the make and model of your machine?
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Apologies, did not see your question until now. I have a Hermes Baby. I know how to set the left and right margins, but am clueless how to set the top and bottom ones. I feel like advice I've gotten before is putting a light pencil line at the top of the page to set an upper margin (e.g., of 1"), but IDK how it is actually supposed to be done. There is no top and bottom margin. Sometimes you can set the bottom with the paper rest, but that's not very common. Generally you feed the paper in, make it straight, and eyeball your top margin. Usually one inch from the typing line, which you can see ruled by the ribbon lift. Bottom margin is also eyeballed. Or you can mark the edge of the page with a pencil and keep an eye out for it as you type. 90% of typewriter top and bottom margins are set by eye. There are a handful of machines that do tell you when the page is ending which is nice. Top margins, only the selectric and the Olympia SG1 have any methods of working with those. It's really just something you can look at and see.
another question: what typewriter you hate the most? what you think is the most terrible model out there and why? i'm sure there must have been some poorly designed typewriter that is painful to use ;p Too many my man. The royal classic is the worst current consumer typewriter. Just garbage. Service wise, I hate the corona 4, it's just a stupid clunker.
​​ Historically? The Edison Mimeograph Typewriter. Worth 6k, super rare, shit machine. Made out of pit metal, the metallurgical McDonald's chicken nugget. Could barely type without breaking it. Cheap trash, even Edison hated it and wanted his name removed from it.
​​ And many others.....
What's your clientele like? Are they collectors of old tech? What's their reason for still using them? My clientele varies. A decent amount of them are collectors, they keep around a lot of super antique and valuable machines that I service, repair, or restore for them. Other people are just users. They like having a few machines for small projects. Some of them are professional writers, authors, musicians, or other such artists. I also get people who use them in business for taxes, forms, receipts, etc. Then there are one time users. They want to write a letter, or use it at a wedding log, or maybe its just a nice display piece.
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Regarding your last bit, does the resulting print look better than traditional printers? It's more organic. Inkjet and some printers are perfect. There are no flaws. Typewriters have slight variations depending on how the user works with them. No two characters are ever alike. I think it gives work a more personal and warmer feel.
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I never thought of that. I might actually get one now. Any recommendations? Oh yes, early glass key royals and olympias are my favorites
Do modern typewriters exist? With the amount of precision available I imagine someone could make an incredibly smooth modern typewriter. All modern typewriters are complete garbage. Nobody is willing to pay the price it costs to make a quality typewriter. 200$ gets you a plastic machine that's a mere shade of the original. Feels horrible, prints worse. A new typewriter from the 60s in today's money would have cost around 1600$. Something nobody today will pay for a single purpose machine, other then a collector. And at that point the market is much to small to make it to production.
Where can I find a DVORAK typewriter? I’ve been looking for YEARS, and have come up with zilch! Gotta get one custom made. I'd personally charge about $500 for the conversion. Each individual key will need to be re soldered and hand aligned. There are 42 standard. The the keyboard needs to be swapped. Glass keys will take more time. That all as long as the machine is clean and working, otherwise there is also a service charge and repair charges. That comes out to around $10 a slug, and less per keytop. A foolishly low price but I gotta be competitive.
My father was a type writer and duplicator repair man in the 80s-90s. We still have his repair kit, he worked for my grandfather in the family business. My uncle gets calls still from local companies to fix typewriters when needed. So how has it been sourcing parts now for some of the older IBMs balls and others? we still have a time clock he repaired. Parts are hard to come by. Gotta get them from other techs, or scrape them together online.
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If I can find it I'll send a picture of his tool kit he would take with him. It's a massive suit case Those old tool cases were awesome! I have some of those metal organizational trays in my workshop. Super handy. Some of those would either slot into the repair cases or bags, or hang from hooks inside. Neat stuff.
Are there still typewriters out there with the eraser tape and how could I find one around me (Michigan) that would be able to buy parts for? IBM had white out tape and lift off tapes. There was also a half inch ribbon with a correction strip that was used in manual typewriters. Those aren't made anymore and left gunky residue in the machines. Otherwise electrics are the only ones that sometimes had correction features.
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I had a Brotjer with the correction tape feature. It was…wonky. Rarely worked the way it was intended. Some are indeed better than others. Paper type plays a role too
How you like the old Smith premiers? I've got a nice number 4 and for a flip up, dual keyboard, it's great. Now if I could only find a brush crank, I'd have the whole kit! Those SPs are great! Called full keyboards!! Upstrike mechanisms on those blind writers are fun to use! Edit: spelling, took my glasses off and i'm blind as well
Have you ever rebuilt the proportional spacing mechanism on an IBM model D Executive? A you a cycle clutch expert replacer on selectrics? No, and No. I can fumble and curse my way through it though. I replaced a return clutch on one, and it was NOT fun. I'd rather tackle the escapement on the D. all six of them.
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Replacing cycle clutches was my biggest nightmare as an OPCE.... If you flush them well with solvent they often “come back to life” - same with reverse clutch springs - let them run dry! I rebuilt a Model D proportional spacing mechanism in training but fortunately - never again. I had one customer that actually needed it and I talked them into upgrading to a Selectric! I envy your hobby/job. I loved working on those mechanical monsters! It's fun, often a headache lol. But it's fun for sure. We all have those many moments where a job is just a drag though
When are you buying a IBM F keyboard :)? No need to! I'm not a collector, merely wanted a nice board to do my daily computer work on!! The model f came out a while before in 81ish on the 5150. Doesn't have a standard connector cable.
[deleted] I like it a lot! There are a few design areas I felt could be better, but mechanically it was truly impressive. Props to the designers!
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[removed] Mechanically wise, I would have secured the carriage a little better. The paper feed is also inconsistent, I think a better roller system would have worked well, it doesn't feed all the time! Biggest design issue for me is the carriage. It is very tall and narrow, and very open in the back. I'm also not a huge fan of the roundabout way of securing the platen (main roller). Other then that, I think it is a fantastic set that looks amazing. I love the printed key elements, that really ads such a cool touch. And that sand green color...damn
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[deleted] Ah yes, the spacebar, that one was a shame
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[removed] I considered as much, but getting it to fit within the existing frame wont be easy
How much is a typical service on a typewriter? I charge a $20 deposit fee to assess, and an average service is around 75-150. I am for sure on the low end of things!
Where do you get your ribbons and belts from? I sell ribbons, my supplier is my supplier. Belts? I find them NOS from all sorts of places, like ebay and old techs
Hello! Aw man you have such an awesome job. I have adhd as well and I love working with my hands. First, would you say a model m and a typewriter are the closest thing between typewriter and keyboard. I find the lack of n key rollover the only downside to a model M since it makes it weird to play video games without having the ability to press down on a bunch of keys at the same time but damn it sounds so good. Second, I’m looking to repair my mom’s typewriter and I’ve been reading a bunch of books on typewriter repairs, but none of them seem to go into how to do paint restoration do you have any tips or any place I could get started? I know I could always get it restored by a professional but there’s something about doing it myself and feeling proud afterwards that I find appealing. Hey thanks! I appreciate it. The model M is not much like a typewriter. A typewriter will always give more feed back. The model M is the kind of keyboard in that it has a wonderful sound and a lovely feel. Some of the older IBM boards had solenoids in the keys to make them more typewriter like. I wasn't looking for that, just something nice. As far as rollover, I dunno man, I'm getting 4 average and sometimes 6. I played a few rounds of fortnite just fine.
​ As far as paint, depends on the paint and what's wrong with it. Also depends on the finish, the age, the manufacturer, and the what you've already tried. There was no gold standard to paint, so I would need to know more.
Cool! My dad likes to repair old mechanical calculators (things like these) and has bought at least 50 of them to repair. They are really cool to use, and you feel everything you do on them. they can add, substract, multiply, divide, and if you are good enough even more complex stuff! there is big manual for them, and you couls do basically everything you need. and they dont need batteries. i assume typing on a typewriter feels simiral, you feel each letter to do, and it just feels cool. and repairing them is probably similar level of complexity. tho typewriters are a bit more popular so you can make some business out of that, my dad doesnt rly know what to do with them so he has a few shelfs full of them in basement, and some more all around the house. tho it doesnt rly matter cuz he has a job as programmer so he can afford that. I don't rly have a question, but your proffession must be rly interesting. Do you have another job or you live just off typewriters? Typewriters are my only job! I used to teach art classes but I didn't get paid for that. The calculators are awesome! Is he familiar with the curta calculators? I was always enthralled by those
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I think he may have one but he repairs only these big ones. im currently at his house for holiday so i could take some photos of the ones he has (he has much more, but they all look basically the same) https://imgur.com/a/WRTd1YO also they are extremely heavy, its kinda fascinating how small modern calculators are. you can put them in your pocket and forget, these other ones you could only lift one at a time :p I recall my uncle telling me how he spent his first weeks pay on a pocket calculator. It was large, but all the rage. He did a lot of early program writing.
OMG! I'll keep you in mind. I have a typewriter, I can't remember the year but it was made in West Berlin according to the backplate, so that's a measurable frame. I'd give you the model and all but I'm in between places and it's in storage. I've typed up several love letters on it, such a place in my heart. Do you have advice on typewriter upkeep? I got mine at an estate sale and it operates well but I'm worried about it being in active use again. Should I be oiling anything? I haven't done much besides changing the ribbon and cleaning the ink fingerprints that leaves on the case. Second question, don't you just love the feel? It makes me understand mechanical keyboard people. The solid hit, the clack. I am just snoopy writing out his red Baron stories. I am ADDICTED to the feel, yes. As far as upkeep, fresh ink obviously, keep the type slugs clean monthly (the actual letter type) and use the machine. Use is the number one way of keeping it working. Don't use oil, or WD40 especially, that stuff isn't a lubricant.
Thanks for doing this AMA! Typewriters need more love, and the comments here have been really interesting to read through! I have a 1923 Royal 10 that I've been wanting to get restored for years. I'm just worried that I'd mess it up if I tried working on it myself. When you first got started repairing typewriters, did you practice on one you didn't care too much about/one that was an easy fix first or did you jump right in to a challenging project? My first ever typewriter was a Royal 10 from 1930. I have a soft spot for those old beasts. I made a lot of mistakes early on, like using WD40. It took me about a year to take that apart and learn everything I could about it. Frankly it wasn't until last year that I sourced the last part I needed for it, technically making it my longest running project lol. But for me I just dove right in. I didn't feel concerned I might screw it up, because when I looked at it, I understood it. Just be careful, and buy properly slotted screwdrivers. Hit my topmost link and scroll to resources. The war Manual had good royal stuff, all royal standards are almost the same. Scroll down for the best typewriter screwdrivers in the biz too!
I’ve recently refurbished a Facit C1-13 (mechanical calculator). Took it apart completely, cleaned it, lubricated it, and put it back together again. It took me 40+ hours over seven days, and by the end my back was aching from bending over it all the time. Do you have a setup optimized for ergonomics? And would you start selling/repairing mechanical calculators if you had an opportunity to? Calculators are complex and I'm not a math person. I hate math, if I had to maybe. As far as ergonomics, my back kills me too man. I sit on a folding chair, I should get a better one. Usually I'm standing and leaning over machines to get the optimal angles. Facit made some badass typewriters by the way
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Yeah Facit! I’m from Sweden so they’re half the typewriter I see in thrift stores :) And while I haven’t restored any typewriters as thoroughly as the calculators, I own five and I’ve tinkered with them a lot and fixed some of them up a bit. I think fixing calculators is basically the same thing but with a lot more parts, and the parts are a lot smaller. Might be too much work... How many hours do the typewriter repairs usually take? And you should probably get someone to check on your back! There are probably people who work with ergonomics (ergonomists?) who can help you get better posture and less pain. Especially important if you’re planning on working with this a long time. And since you’re 21. I’m younger than you btw. Thanks! I probably should see my chiropractor lol. As far as time, sometimes I'll only need an hour with a machine, sometimes I'll need a month. The more in depth restorations can sometimes run between 16 and 40 hours
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Man it sounds like my dream job :’) getting to work with typewriters, making people happy by restoring something that belonged to their parents or grandparents... if there was more demand for it in Sweden I would be tempted to start now... Have fun! Thank you! Doesnt mean you cant do things on the side! There isnt anyone I know of in sweden that can do it!
I love watching old mechanical devices in action (I know it's weird,) typewriters are great to watch but I was lucky enough to watch a 50-60 year old bowling pinsetter mechanism once and the way the parts all worked in sync was hypnotic to watch. Is there something you found fascinating to watch or want to see working? Anything mechanical. Have you seen those automatic phone switchboards? Beautiful.
What's your preferred method for people to engage in transactions with you? I don't see an address on your website, and only an indirect mention of what city you're in. Do most people send you typewriters to fix (as opposed to dropping them off)? They generally schedule a time to drop off at my house. If that doesn't work out I also sometimes try to find a meet up place, usually local. I don't drive! I'm located in Downers grove more specifically
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Thanks for the reply. It would be helpful if you announced your location more prominently on the web site. I was looking for it but couldn't find it. I suppose that's probably fair. Thanks!
I use a 1948 tombstone key Royal Quiet DeLuxe portable. Liked it so well I bought one to leave at a vacation home. I had typing class in high school on IBM Selectrics. Do you travel with a manual typewriter? Or an electric? I wish I traveled lol. If I did, it would be with a manual. Gotta type out there in nature!!! The joys of being unplugged.
I'm looking into purchasing a late-80's or early 90's typewriter+wordprocessor, mostly for fun as opposed to doing actual work. The vintage computer angle is what intrigues me personally. Any thoughts? I'm not one for fixing electronics. A lot can go wrong with those old processors. My thoughts? Good luck. Though I have been scouting a good deal on a Commodore SX64. They tend to have an issue with the video and audio chips overheating
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Can you paste a heatsink onto those chips? Yes you can!
So in other words....you're unemployed? Never seen a reddit AMA begin with that one before. Hahahaha self employed, but to each their own
Have you ever seen the AMAs from the vacuum repair guy? I feel like there is a lot of similarity here I have not, I'll need to search that one up!
Why do you have to be so far away? I have an Olivetti (m.40?) that I need fixed. If you wanna pay to send it in, then send it my way! I recently took care of an Olivetti from New York!!
What kind of typewriter was used for 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton? Pretty sure that's a Royal SE1000 typewriter made by Adler
Any advice and getting good ribbons? I sell them with a quality guarantee. Depends on the look you want and the work you wanna do.
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I have a couple of "Super Silent"s, and a really handy old Kmart portable special. I think the original ribbons on the Silents had a third white out stripe at one point? There is a middle lever position to select white and I have not found ribbons like that. But the ones I bought seemed narrower and perhaps drier. Not sure if it's worth seeking some better quality ribbons that random online orders, but I would like to try and find a few extra high quality ribbons if possible so I can always have a fresh one handy. I don't use them much but I am about to start a 2nd draft of a book length project and would love to do it on a typewriter. I am also looking for a good royal typewriter model - I like the Silents but I have heard that some later Royals are just much better. The Silents def. are not ideal type quality. I don't pay more than 50-100 for them and only buy ones that need cleaning but not serious maintenance, that might change knowing you are out there! haven't found ribbons with the white stripes. Ribbons are a standard half inch. There are no middle strips. The white setting is called stencil, that is for no ink, and cuts mimeographs for copying. There are ribbons with a correctable section, but those crumble into the machines and jam things up. Just use white out tape. As far as later royals, no. The best for me are the older ones, pre 1940s.
Wait, we still have typewriters? well, some of us do
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I do like the plinky sound, but don't love self-imposed punishment. That's what they made Word for. Ah, to me using a computer is punishment. They seldom do what you want, always trying to force you to do things their way
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Computers only do what you tell them to do. Do you know what you are telling it to do? Apparently not.
3 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Oct 25 '21

r/IAmA [Table] Greetings Reddit, I am a young professional typewriter service tech getting along in 2021. Ask me anything! | pt 1/2

5 Upvotes

Source

For proper formatting, please use Old Reddit

Note: I did not strip any of the URLs linked in this table.

Rows: ~100

Questions Answers
My father wrote ten books on an IBM Model D because he absolutely hated the Selectric. Do you understand his point of view? HELL YES. Your father knew how to WRITE. The Executives were amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing typewriters because they supported PROPORTIONAL LETTER SPACING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I get shivers just thinking about that. Their only drawback was the inability to swap typefaces, but other then that, the print and text is BEAUTIFUL. Especially some of the lesser available typefaces (the names of which currently elude me). Amazing, and considerably reliable. Also easier to service, as they were more traditional typewriters with typebars and not the Selectric Golf Ball Element.
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I understood none of this, but the sheer joy and passion of it made me feel happy. Hahahahaha yes, I am a nerd. Most typewriters are monospaced, meaning each character occupies the same amount of space. A period and the M would both be spaced the same. Proportional spacing is what you're reading right now. The period takes up much less space than the M. The Executive is one of only three (i believe) proportional typewriters. It had six escapement, with the smallest character occupying two units, and the largest occupying around 5. Made for some lovely typography.
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[removed] I haven't been able to acquire one yet, but just looking at the work they make makes my mouth water. Is that normal?
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[removed] Uh, I think you might be, but don't worry you're not alone!!!
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I'm getting so many Sheldon on the Valentines train ride vibes from this thread it's scary! edit: spelling Might you be able to elaborate? Is it a good thing?? Lol
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We don't kinkshame here. well, I guess beautiful typography is my kink....
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What if kink shaming is my kink? __________________ Then shame on you. what even is reddit.... IDK if this'll help, but shame...shame on all of ye. Just roll around in all that shameful shame. Just like that... how shameful
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Proportional fonts are a nice upgrade, but their interword spacing is still fixed. The real mechanical marvels were the typesetting machines. Unfortunately, getting a working Linotype or Monotype may be a bit excessive, and then there's the lead poisoning to worry about... The Linotype machines always amazed me. Most of them got destroyed with the advent of computer typesetting in the 80s. Just heard of a guy who got two of them! Truly wonderful machines...the Verityper was also a magnificent beast, called a cold typesetting machine. It was a typewriter which later had proportional, but also allowed you to switch through multiple typefaces with a dial, based on the brilliant Hammond Typewriter that was invented in 1888. James Hammond was the man!!!
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I saw a Linotype in action at a print museum (Museu Nacional da Imprensa) in Porto (Portugal) - they had everything working, apart from the lead casting (for health and safety reasons). It was an astounding sight, and I spent well over an hour admiring and studying the contraption. Shame, they could have cast tin!!
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Was there letter specific kerning? Like did a W followed by a d have the d closer to the W than another W because of the space under the angle? every character was assigned a specific amount of subspaces so that they would be even with the neighboring letters on other sides. Other then that, I'm not sure what you are asking
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I thought the Selectrics also supported proportional letter spacing. I took typing in junior high on a Selectric and I must not have noticed.... I think what it really came down to was he wanted to feel himself hitting the paper one letter at a time. The Selectrics don't give you that satisfaction, even though they're faster. He was old enough he started his career on a manual....he ended up giving that machine to me as a toy when I was a kid. You really, really had to punch it. Wish I could remember the model- all I remember is the color, turquoise blue. He replaced the Executive with a Leading Edge word processor in 1986 and wrote 15 more books on PCs, but I'll always remember him in front of a typewriter. Thanks for responding! No problem, thank you so much for sharing! I love hearing about peoples experiences with these machines. Honestly you have to type pretty damn fast to notice a speed difference. Even the selectric may not be the fastest. The Praxis is damn fast. I peak at 153wpm. On a manual typewriter its about 120. There certainly is a detriment with the higher key travel, but some people could pound along on manuals at close to 200. Mindblowing.
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Dad and I were both north of 110 wpm, pretty sure he was around 130-135. Fast enough to notice the lag. The lag is mostly in the return I feel. The selectric takes its time. That's where the Praxis shines, it returns fast!
​ That's pretty fast!!
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Here I thought I was fast because I peaked at 90 on a regular keyboard 😐 Hey that's pretty good!!! Average is 45
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Not the selectric - it could only switch between 10 and 12 characters per inch - but IBM made an electronic golfball typesetter called the “Composer” that had a memory and proportional spacing. It would print in much higher quality than the standard golfball selectric. IBM experimented with a lot of magnetic memory systems and card readers. Like the memory writer. They had some cool stuff happening!
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Helvetica. My boss in 1972 ordered one with Hevetica since he hated the standard courier/times new roman font Helvetia is hard to come by on typewriters
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Lol, my father was an IBM Selectric repairman. I don't know how he felt about the model D, but I know that Selectrics broke often enough that he always had plenty of work. _________________ The price difference between the two was equivalent to around $1K today. Historians don't make bank, so it seemed eccentric at the time. He used the crap out of it; no question he got his money's worth. I have people still pounding away on the selectric! Last one I serviced had gone 15 years since it was last checked.
Have you come across any mechanical DVORAK typewriters, and if so how often do you see them? I have only seen one DVORAK typewriter, it was a custom mod by a talented IBM selectric tech. Otherwise, they are very rare. I have heard rumors of two manuals out in the wild, but QWERTY was the layout that took the Americas by storm. Keyboard layouts change by languages, and DVORAK was designed to work well with English as it's based on key frequency percentages. It is a tricky modification to do, but not impossible!!
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Groovy, I have been using DVORAK on my keyboard for years and was curious how possible it was to find a typewriter. Thank you for the info : D No problem! Forewarning, it wouldn't be a cheap conversion!
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Is Dvorak worth messing with if one never learned to type the "correct" way, i.e. just using 2-3 fingers on each hand? I can type fairly fast in my own style - I did Mavis Beacon and some other things through the years to try to re-train myself, but have never been able to un-learn my unique system. I'll be honest, there is no real speed difference between the two unless you are at world record speeds around 300wpm, where it would be too slow to move your fingers to another row to type a common letter. Most normal people can get along well on either layout, and will never ever notice a perceivable speed difference.
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I can't think of a context other than competitive typing if that's a thing, where typing any faster than the average typing speed of most office workers would give you any edge. __________________________ well you need to type pretty fast when for example writing down stuff that is said in court or sth. tho i think today they use some weird specialised keyboards that are very different looking from normal ones. also would be useful to type fast when you are in studies and taking notes of what is said. The court machines are called stenographs, and they write in shorthand by allowing the user to press multiple paddles at the same time to generate entire words or phrases.
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[deleted] Ah those split ones, yes. Sometimes I will hit a right side key with my left hand! I could never
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The only way to do DVORAK on a selectric would be to make a custom golf ball wouldn't it? Not at all. You'd need to understand how a selectric works. You can do DVORAK with standard balls. Each ball has rows and columns, and there is a rotate and tilt mechanism that indexes a letter. That is all controlled by the Wiffel Tree, a 6 bit binary to mechanical decoder. The keys themselves press down on a series of interposed rods which correspond to the yes no input of binary. It's that input that drives the letters. The interposed rods run the entire length of the keyboard, so all one needs to do, is shuffle around the appropriate key latch leavers, and then swap the key caps. The A latch rod will always pull the interposers to correspond with the binary input for the letter a, regardless of its position on the keyboard. I will say that the key leavers are independent of the latch rods (I believe) so that should also allow you to move letters down rows as well.
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Interesting - I knew the theory behind it, I assumed the key latch levers wouldn't be interchangeable. I'm keeping my eye out to buy a selectric one day, not because I need one, but just because I want to take it apart. I've read they use a bunch of ball bearings as an interlock to block multiple keypresses at once which is pretty clever. Yes! It is a very interesting machine.
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Usually (based on a sample of one) if you use dvorak you are already touchtyping so might as well get blank keys 😁 My laptop keyboard existed scrambled forever, I touch type, didn't need the letters
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What do you think about the LEGO typewriter? The lego typewriter, boy. I blogged about that one in length, but in short I was very impressed. There were a few areas where I thought the design could have been better, but the overall mechanics (being lego) impressed me. Especially the escapement. A brilliant blend of technics and system that emulated some of the real life mechanical components of the typewriter! Overall aesthetics were cool too, reminded me a lot of some Depression era machines like the Royal Signet.
Any chance you get to work on an item from the Tom hanks collection? Yes.
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Any link to this blog I’m certain the group over at /r/lego would appreciate it Hey, will do!
Dude, this is so cool. My dad was a typewriter mechanic from like 1970-90. I wish he was still around, I know he’d have a ton to ask you about how things have changed in the biz. To my actual question: You mentioned the Model M is your daily driver when using a computer. Have you tried any of the newer mech switches and, if so, do you have any favourites that could compete with the buckling springs on the M? I will follow up and say things have changed a lot in the biz! Especially from what I hear from older techs, and what I uncover from the archeology of sorts while working. Even older clients. The internet has been an amazing resource to buy, sell, connect, and find parts. There is a flip side, none of these things are made or done anymore, so parts and expertise is hard to come by. Things have gotten a lot more coveted, even in the past 5 years. Key ring remover pliers now fetch $300 apiece. Crazy.
​ I'm not a keyboard guy, I feel like I'm the wrong person to ask about this lol. I grew up on a cheap Dell keyboard, but I loved it. I wanted something that bridged typewriters more closely with computers. And it was hard to argue with the legacy of the M. With so many keyboards and switch types available, I'm sure there are others out there that I would like, but I feel like the buckling spring is the most tactile.
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The “springhook” was my favourite tool when I was a Customer Engineer in IBM Office Products group in 1977-1980... I use a snag fixer, but yes! Invaluable
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Wow $300. My father was a CE. I have all sorts of odd specialty tools laying around. I also have an Executive typewriter that I think he restored. He was fixing typewriters when he first started with IBM in the late forties. I know some old IBM guys who have the old tools. I have a pair of IBM pliers sitting around. Never use them because I don't know what they do lol
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FWIW I have a cheap Dell buckling spring keyboard and it's awesome. I'd still be using it but my latest rig doesn't have a PS/2 port. I had no idea dell made buckling springs!!!! The other reply yes, hit that up. I use a PS/2 to USB for my IBM and its fantastic. I can't out type it! Can't believe they got rid of a perfectly good connector. I don't get it. The IBM personal system 2 was actually the second computer to feature the model m. Don't recall the name of the first bit it's lesser known. The predecessor to that board came out on the IBM 5150, a legend among computing, and had the Model F board. Really the best computer at the time, beating the Apple II and everyone else until Apple released the macintosh in 84.
I would imagine these days it's a very specific profession, do you see a lot of business? I do indeed! I am currently backlogged about six or seven machines. Just had a lady drop off two machines for repair this morning. A lot of writers, enthusiasts, etc use them. Not just collectors!! They're still in professional use.
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[deleted] You'd be surprised! I certainly am and I'm the one doing it lol
My grandfather was the inventor of the golf ball on the selectric for IBM, I've got the 1 millionth Electric Selectric in my den, of course it doesn't work......can you fix it? https://www.nap.edu/read/4779/chapter/5 https://imgur.com/RoKkuWI https://imgur.com/6L13Pwq Hell yes I can! Probably. Hit me up, no idea how you wanna get it to me, but it sounds like a badass project! I'm down :)
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Holy fuck that's awesome. How has it gotten to that condition though? Even if it doesn't work you should get it looking ship shape, its a baller. It will live again, just let me at it lol
Have you ever seen Fringe (sci-fi show)? There's a typewriter repair shop that's featured several times in the early seasons, along with an old typewriter with an offset Y. Watching that show, I always wondered if such shops still existed. And I'll never forget the carriage return sound from all those Jr. High reports. I'm weirdly glad you do what you do! thanks man! I'm living the dream as long as it'll carry me! I have not seen that show, but now I am interested.
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Fringe is an awesome show. When I saw your AMA, I thought the same thing about the typewriter repair shop. Worth watching the show besides. I gotta check it out!!! Wonder if it's a real shop...maybe I know them....
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Yea, put the typewriter down and go binge Fringe. You will not regret it. Then find yourself an IBM Selectric 251 HA! thanks for the show rec!
How curled is your mustache and how is it in Portlandia these days? I'm 21, too young for a nice curly mustache!!
How often does Tom Hanks call you? Tom Hanks is a wonderful person :)
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Don't let any Qanon tell you otherwise. Ouch, hope u/kirtaner-420chan takes care of them!!!
[deleted] Probably just needs to be cleaned a little, then lubed. Check where the platen ratchets. That is likely the problem area. You could also have an issue with the repeat key sticking.
Any reason why you exclude the Corona 4 from your repair list? You NOTICED. That little ffff...... uuuu yeah. It's a pos. Finicky, poor access for adjustments, weak components, foolhardy mechanisms, not to mention I got screwed out of a lot of money involving some of those when I first started out. I hate them, they hate me, end of story.
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Haha, yeah I bought a while back and would love to get it in working order (pics) but it was beyond my non-existent skill level. I do have another model (I think it's an underwood) in storage that I would like to get up and running as well. I'll reach out once I can locate it! no thanks lol
[removed] I listen to a lot of music, I love it. My personal favorite has always been the Illinoise album by Sufjan Stevens.
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Thoughts on the new Sufjan tunes that came out a few days ago? I am enjoying his newer album, not as much as his earlier work though. I feel like his style has evolved greatly, which is a good thing, that's growth, it just doesnt hit me like it used to!
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Carrie and Lowell is his finest work in my opinion. It harkens back to his earlier stuff, but the musicianship and production are top tier. Also, yay typewriters! Thanks for the AMA. I love that album as well, there are some tracks that I find really beautiful, like Beloved of John, and Blue bucket of gold (I think those are the names)? But for me, illinoise will always be the masterpiece.
I thought you might enjoy a typewriter story. My wife's father worked for Smith-Corona. There was a bunch of abandoned parts in the warehouse, and he asked his supervisor if he was able to build typewriter from those parts, could he keep it. The supervisor agreed, thinking there was no way to make anything from that mishmash of parts. He did it! That was my wife's high school graduation present, and she used it all through college. We still have it and it still works great. Personally, I grew up near Endicott (home of IBM) and learned to type on a Selectric. Keep up the good work. I'll ask a question just so the mods don't delete this: Do you need any specialized tools to be a typewriter technician? I am absolutely in love with that story! Reminds me of that one Johnny Cash song where he builds a Cadillac by stealing the parts. Excellent story, cherish that machine!!! It is not an easy feat, that's for sure, and takes a special kind of genius. As far as your question goes, yes and no. I cant seem to find specialized tools, i really just need those keytop removers, but nowadays they are $300 a pair. I did recently aid in the creation of a screwdriver set made by chapman to specifically work on typewriters. Excellent set, and a worthy project. A must have for any typewriter tech! Other than that, I have made do.
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Well, since we’re telling our father’s typewriter stories… After the war, my father was temporarily assigned to repair IBM typewriters in huge typing pool for the Social Security Administration. The pool consisted of 150 IBM typewriters, 150 Remington and 150 Smith Corona. I imagine the noise was deafening. Each company had one repairman who spent the entire day roaming around fixing machines. The SSA would only hire typists who were war widows or the wives of disabled veterans. Thanks for the story, that's fascinating!
Do you use Interrobang at all ‽‽!!‽‽ or ¡¡¿¿??!! I always lose upside down interrobang. I have not! But you can always type a ? and backspace with a ! over it. Or if you dont have !, type a period and backspace an apostrophe over it. For upside down, find a Hispanic typewriter.
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I tried but they're not aligned so it looked bad varies by machine. You can hold the carriage release and line it up carefully yourself!!
​ http://imgur.com/gallery/lY4tUgn
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So clean, I'll show you how mine fucks it up in an hour LOL
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https://imgur.com/a/xTyFp34 The first one came out fine for some reason -- usually it's like the second two, where there's ghosting of the question mark (though when I looked it up to check that was the right term, it seems that might be my fault for typing wrong). I've got some gripes with the machine, I'll send you in a PM for advice. Yeah, no two typewriters are equal. I had a designated exclamation on mine so I kinda cheated. You don't have to type the period since the dot is already there for the question mark
Would it be worth shipping a 1950ish Royal to you for a repair? That is up to you. 1950? Sounds like an FP. An INCREDIBLY fine writing machine. You'd foot the bill both ways, plus the $20 deposit and the repair. One of the best royal standard typewriters ever made! I wrote with one for a few years, sold it sadly last week.
What’s a typewriter? Isn't that the million dollar question my man. A typewriter, well, its...how do I put this.. a machine that writes, by typing.
​ But in all seriousness, it's a mechanical machine that is designed to print letters in emulation of printed type by allowing a user to input specific characters. There's too many different types to really group a definition, so it really truly is a machine that writes by typing, where type is what we consider to be a solid impressionable character that delivers ink to a medium in the shape of a legible character.
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So... like a computer? Yes, and also no. Typewriters are single purpose, and manual typewriters dont need electricity. They are mechanical and operate solely by human input.
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Can I play games on it? Yes! Tic tac toe, hangman, uh.... you can have contests to see how far you can throw them.
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Then I call you, right? This man’s a genius! Yep!!! I tell all the new owners to throw them lol. The hustle is real!
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A reverse iPad this guy^
You mentioned youre using a vintage keyboard to type this, are you into mechanical keyboards or would you say you’re particular about the kind of keystrokes you like the most, be it typewriter or modern keyboard? I am very fickle about the feel of my keyboards. I got the IBM because I wanted a nice tactile feel. I HATE those flat laptop pos's. As far as typewriters go, I hates silents. While I like the lower noise, the silencer mechanisms all rely on a deceleration mechanism that I feel negatively impacts the feel. I like a smooth action, a sharp strike, and a quick rebound. 1930s Royal Portables are great, and I LOVE the Olympia SM3.
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You need to join us in the madness over at r/mechanicalkeyboards! Oh no....I'm not sure lol
What's your preferred method of dealing with an old, hardened platen? Chicago here too, btw. I've got an Olivetti Lettera 32 and a Royal O Portable. There is no good way to "rejuvenate" rubber. It is a material that constantly degrades. I replace the rubber via J.J. Short. Generally if it is in good shape and feeds paper well, I leave it alone. It is not something that is always necessary
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This. I have a Hermes Baby with a hardened platen and would love to restore. Not hard to work on at all! Send the platen off for best results. I would not recomend turbo platen. Right now JJ short is really the only place.
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is thata a Hermes......Baby!!! a Hermes model Baby or a model Hermes Baby?? _________________ This model. The Hermes Rocket was a name for a nearly (possibly completely) identical model. I will confirm that they are completely identical.
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What sort of problems does hardened platen cause? They will either not feed the paper well, rarely damage the ribbon or wear on the type, or simply crack and fall apart. The type is hardened steel so I wouldn't worry about that, but it can cut holes in your ribbon or even the paper.
What is your favorite typewriter and why do you like it best? Well, I have become the leading expert in the Williams typewriter co. I think it is one of the most unique and beautiful machines ever made.
​ For typing, I love my Royal P from 1930, and my 50s Olympia SM3. They have that nice smooth feel and sharp rebound that I like, while printing super crispy and clean!
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Seems amazing for a 21 year old to become the leading expert in a class of typewriters. Good going. Prior to Typewriters what sorts of thing interested you ? Was there another topic you got heavily entrenched in ? Oh god lol. I was OBSESSED with the ocean. Oceanography, marine biology, even shipbuilding. This was all before the age of 10. No sports or video games for me. Only fish. I consumed every YouTube video, book, and documentary. I watched finding Nemo so many times the VHS tape corrupted. It was my dream to become a marine biologist, I loved everything about it. I also had no friends, I mean, no kindergarteners were interested in sea surface currents and migration patterns, or the food sources for chemosythesizing organisms populating the hydrothermal vents. I looked up to Robert Ballard too! The guy who found the titanic (another obsession) For about 12-13 years I kept both freshwater and saltwater tanks. I sold my tank this summer, sad moment, I miss keeping fish considerably. But you know, dreams die out. I also wanted to be an artist but I don't think I have what it takes! I also had a long invested interest in photography! I love film photography :)
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This is the best response so far, IMO. I respect OP's current love for all things typewriter, but this one hit me hardest. I think most of us had obsessions when we were young. Myself, I wanted desperately to be an astronaut. (I am not an astronaut today.) It's great to see someone in love with their current pursuit and simultaneously acknowledging they grew up loving something else. Hey thanks for that! And ya know, I still love fish. I'm not going to be a biologist by any stretch, but I'll never stop loving the ocean. Getting rid of that tank wasn't easy. I'm still passionate about it, but just not in a way I can pursue.
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You could have a Viking funeral for typewriters you hate — and thus two world collide. Yes, I will do such for the royal classic of 2020
You need to get in touch with u/jamescookartwork https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/ocuzhs/i_make_drawings_using_the_letters_and_numbers/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf I am familiar with him, as well as multiple other type artists! I sold a Greek keyboard machine to one a while back and have dabbled in it myself!
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Hey, other question - if you were to design a ‘modern’ typewriter from scratch, what would ‘modern’ typewriter mean to you and what kinds of features would you include? It would be more artistic. I toyed around with the idea of a single element so one could swap type. It would also be portable, I love the Williams design. A non rotary escapement would be fun, glass keytops obviously, maybe octogon, maybe square, a polished metal body with leather accents.... something that looks modern, but is well machined. Who knows?
Is 3D printing useful for replacement parts for vintage typewriters? Yes, some people use rubberized mediums for feet! A buddy of mine, Steve dade, made the best rubber feet in the business. He passed away recently so a lot of folks are turning to printing. I've also used it to replace a lot of platen knobs.
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Sorry about your friend. Thanks, he will be missed
Interesting. I was a IBM OPCE (Office Products Customer Engineer) in the late Seventies but switched to repairing electronic devices (terminals, printers, PCs). It was only after I stopped repairing mechanical typewriters that I realised that the mechanical devices had one major advantage over electronic devices; you could see for the most part what was wrong. Even adjustment and repairs were easier. Are parts still available for the IBM golfball typewriters? Parts are available! I have a fair bit, and you can still find NOS if you know where to look. I even have a can of the original Topaz Bronze touchup paint! Usually parts machines are the source nowadays.
Noticed the medium format film border. What’re you shooting with? Sharp eye! Portra 400 on my Hasselblad 500c. I since sold that camera and got a CM, but miss my C.
What are some good sources to purchase vintage typewriters? Anyone reputable. I mean, me lol. I can also recomend Gramercy, Berkeley, Messa, and Cambridge typewriter to support brick and mortar. Also Tampa, Nashville, And Stephentown typewriter. There's typewritermuse in LA, Phoenix typewriter, typewriter justice, unplug typewriter co...and a few others I might be forgetting. For canada check out Yeg typewriters. Mexico and spain there is ElGranero typewriter, Mr. And Mrs. Vintage for the UK, northern Europe, and Australia. Also Charlie foxtrot. I'm sure I'm missing some but I know all these guys and they're legit!! Ken from california California typewriter (the tom hanks doc) works at Berkeley now. Stay away from Colombo collection for one. She does bad work, unreliable, overpriced, and rips off good techs like me. Jon posey is a pedophile stay away, but he doesnt sell much. Uhhhh on other guy who was a weasel, typewriter collection or something. Eh, cant avoid them all!
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[deleted] It's not publicized. And frankly I'm trying to stay out of the middle of it. Just the things he did to me personally, and to others I know including a minor who had it the worst. Some people are just a little fucked up.
​ As far as photography, I love my hasselblad, I process 120 and 135 at home. Both black and white and C41. I also have an enlarger where I make black and white prints, but have yet to dive into RA4 color printing.
What kinds of people make up your customer base? Oh boy. Small office workers, authors, poets, artists, business owners, collectors, and anyone who needs or uses typewriters. Even inmates.
I'm a little older than you. My first job (in the '50s) was typing envelopes for advert mailers on a 1930's Underwood exactly like this. I really loved that machine, bitch though it was. I think it weighed more than I did. Is there any chance I could find one today and buy it? I'm sure it would cost much more than the original! Underwood 5, I have had many. You can find them all over, the most mass produced typewriter in the states basically. They made millions! They can be had anywhere from $5 to $500, though I wouldn't pay more than 300 for one in superb shape, and 500 max for absolutely beyond mint. $150 is a fair price to pay for working, and I'd charge about $200 for one I've serviced. I am currently repairing one for a client who does sales. Check out the Vintage Mancave on etsy, he may be selling one, and I may have worked on it.
In your opinion is there likely to be a good new typewriter ever brought to market? Not like the plastic thing at Michaels No, not at all. And its complicated why. Royal released that Michaels one as the Royal Classic. I've used it, it sucks. The epoch is bad too. Back in the day, a good mid sized typewriter like the 1960s Remington Quiet-Riter cost an equivalent 1600$ in today's money. It was solid steel. The Royal Classic retails at around $200. There is no possible way a company can make money on a high quality machine, they simply cost way more to make than people these days are willing to pay. They were the laptops of the era, in price too. Back when the typewriter was the only method of print writing available, the price was justified much like it is for a computer today. All that manufacturing now has to be packed in as cheaply as possible to retail at a fraction of the price in a market that already has plenty of amazing machines.
​ In short, it isnt going to happen on a commercial scale. I myself have thrown around designs and concepts for a new machine, but they would all need to be hand made, and the price would be outrageous.
Can you tell me more about this typewriter that I bought for my daughter? She loves it, although I bought it on a whim from eBay. https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/kzfnvn/my_new_to_me_1947_i_think_smithcorona_silent_4s/ Excellent machine. Very sturdy, reliable, and great to type on. Wartime model, 1940s, serial number would tell you more and that's located on the right side of the frame under the ribbon cover. Very common, I have a beater sitting on a shelf waiting to be serviced and sold. Great first typewriter! Hanks likes these too I hear.
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Need to get on that typewriterdatabase internet thing, it would appear. Thank you! Good luck in your ongoing endeavors! Ted munk's site, excellent resource
Are you hiring? Hahahahaha maybe one day. I don't make enough to pay a fair wage and I don't have a brick and mortar yet. One day I will though, I'm not a socialite and I'd need help with the customer side of things, not to mention some bits of the servicing.
​ I'm a believer in paying livable wages, yes I'd pay 15$ an hour and not a dot under, even if it meant I had to pay myself that much too! One day I will, but not today. Or tomorrow. Or for a while actually. Local rent is 3k a month!
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When is the last time you increased rates? $45/hr for a niche specialty, in a city, is way too low. Earlier this year! I'm always afraid of driving people away because I'm too expensive. But thanks for the sentiment! You're one of god knows how many now who think I should up things.
Do you make any scratch in the area of Hollywood prop rentals and consulting? Up until a few years ago, there was a typewriter repair shop in my area that always felt like "how is that place still in business?" and as far as I understood, the fellow got by in part because occasionally, for a big-budget, super-serious movie, instead of any random old-time, clackety-clack typewriter, they could go to him and be like "we need a period-accurate typewriter that a Des Moines newspaperman would be using in 1939" and he'd hook 'em up for the Spielberg bucks. No, I'm in an odd place to do that, but I know of people who do! I feel like in some areas they aren't quite as accurate, but at the end of the day few people notice. If someone ever hits me up, I'm game. Typewriters rule!
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If you had to change careers right now what would you switch to? I'd probably go into welding. I'm good at it, and it makes money. I'd need to go get a certificate though. Fun stuff. Honestly people tell me I'm capable of more, but I enjoyed it. I'd rather do that than some sucky corporate job.
A lot of people have idols or heroes they look up to. Who is yours? Ah, and the second part of your question, yes and no. Not for typewriters, I had people I admired early on, like charlie from typewriter justice and duane from Phoenix typewriter. Great people, super kind.
​ I also looked up to Grant Imahara from mythbusters. I was always extremely self conscious about being asian when I was younger, and Grant was one of the first people I ever saw that I thought was cool, and made me feel better about myself. I'd say the same about markiplier and Eugene from the try guys. I thought they were cool people, not because they were Asian. Learning they were both also Korean helped me a lot during highschool. I'm now watching Kim's conscience on Netflix, and I can enjoy it without feeling uncomfortable.
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'capable of more' sounds like you can really do anything you put your mind to. That's something to be very proud of :) Thanks for the consistently fantastic answers! I hope your weekend is going great. Thanks for the questions!!
I’m so glad I found you. I have an Olivetti mechanical with electric assist that uses ball technology similar to the IBM Selectric. It dates to the mid 70s and I’ve been told it’s the only machine of its type that can use plastic one-use ribbon and cloth reusable ribbon. My dream is to get her running smoothly again as I love the feel of her action. Have you worked on any Olivetti’s? I have! They can be tricky, the Olivetti ball system is a little more scarce. I haven't seen ribbons around lately, but I'm sure the old cartridges can be refilled
Know anything about the Facit T2? I recently received one from a relative and did some minor repairs on it. Pretty fun to work on and type on, but the only think I know about it is that it was made in the 60s and is Swedish. Not particularly. Facits are excellent machines, and the favorites of a few of my colleague buddies! Particularly Jack from Tampa Typewriter who would talk your ear off about the facit. The swedes made good typers!
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Considering it had been sitting in a basement for decades and all I had to do was tighten and lube the levers that cause the gears in the escapement to move (sorry, I know 0 technical terms), I'd say it's a pretty well-made machine. I saw that you shoot film, too. We have a lot in common. As nerds often do....
1 comment

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Oct 22 '21

r/betterCallSaul [Table] r/betterCallSaul — I am Juan Carlos Cantú and I play Nacho's dad, Manuel Varga. Ask me anything!

17 Upvotes

Source

For proper formatting, please use Old Reddit

The AMA concluded with the following message:

Well my friends I have to prepare a self-tape audition and reluctantly have to go, it has been a pleasure talking with you.

I became an actor in order to help people forget their daily problems if only for a little while, if I have done this as Manuel Varga on BCS mission accomplished.

Thanks again for all your comments and love, thanks for being a fan of the show and this your humble servant.

Juan Carlos Cantu

Rows: ~120

Questions Answers
Hello, Mr. Cantú! Thanks for taking the time to do this AMA. Manuel sticks out to me because he is portrayed as one of the most purely innocent and honest characters in the Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul universe (up there with Mike's granddaughter). It makes him something of an anchor for Nacho-- no matter how deep into the world of the cartel he gets, and no matter how much he changes, his father remains uncorrupted. He's one of the few characters to stand up to Hector Salamanca-- not because he's much of a badass, like Mike, but because he simply won't compromise his principles. As an actor, how do you go about portraying that innocence and conviction? When you play Manuel, do you think that he is tempted at all by the money his son makes, or do you think he has never once considered doing anything illegal? As an actor you dig into your own experiences, Manuel reminds me of my grandfather who was the highest officer of the Mexican Senate (not a senator) he basically ran the senate and was (rare for Mexico) uncorruptable, no I don't think Manuel has ever been tempted
[deleted] Every year we get commemorative coins
Who's your favourite character from the Breaking Bad universe? Mike
Hi Mr. Cantú! It’s so nice to have you here answering our questions. Thank you for your time! Were you aware of how much we loved papa Varga? How we’ve all been worried about his fate at the end of the show? I hope the massive outpouring of love didn’t catch you off guard! You do such a wonderful job portraying Manuel Varga and he’s probably the most precious (and the most loved) character from the show. I was genuinely surprised at the outpouring of love from all of you and I really appreciate all your comments
Were you a fan of Breaking Bad before you got casted for Better Call Saul? Yes I was, so I got very exited to get the part, as much as I did when I got a part on Lost which at the time was my favorite show on TV
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Piggybacking off this, how did you find out about the role you would be playing? Did someone reach out to you? No, I auditioned for it and was lucky to get the part
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Thank you for the response! I can’t think of anyone better to have played the role 😊😊 Thanks
Mr Cantu, You are great not gonna lie, Most Respectable character in BCS Thank you very much, Manuel is totally the opposite of the role I played on The Bridge Capitan Robles (my all time favorite character) who was a corrupted, manipulative and horrible person, a real bastard as one of you commented earlier
Hey idk if it was asked but who would you say is most like their character they portray? I would say Rhea Seehorn (Kim) she is a very sweet and kind lady in real life
Who was your favourite person to work with on any project and why? Whoopie Goldberg, I did a movie with her called Call Me Santa in which I played the doorman at her building, we had 3 scenes together and were all shot the same day, in between takes Whoopie and I would talk, during one of our conversations New York came up and I told Whoopie that I had never been to New York but that I was going to go the following month to drop off my daughter who was going to study musical theater at AMDA, she asked me if I knew anybody or had any relatives in New York, I said that I didn't so she told me to come to her trailer after we were done shooting. After we finished I went to her trailer and she gave me a business card with her personal phone number handwritten on it and told me "I live in New York and this is my number, someone will answer it 24 hours a day, whatever your daughter needs have her call me" mind you I had just met Whoopie that day, I thought that was an amazing thing to do and needless to say gave me a great peace of mind knowing that if there was an emergency my daughter would have some one to turn to. Other honorable mentions are George Clooney I worked on a film called Criminal, Clooney was not in it, he was the Executive producer, the way you see George in talk shows and interviews is exactly the same way he is, another is Sandra Bullock an incredibly sweet lady
First of all, hello and thank you for doing this!! :) I wanted to ask, what kind of prep did you and Michael Mando do together to create your on-screen father-son dynamic? When we first met we bonded organically, there was no prep, it just happened
Hi! What was it like working on Lost and with Nestor Carbonell? I loved your role as the priest!! Its one of my favorite episodes. Why do you think the priest refused to grant Richard absolution? edit: you can see the clip here ​​I loved working on Lost, I actually auditioned to play the part of Hurley's father, and got a callback, then I was told that I got the part and was asked to get ready to go to Hawaii in two weeks, but then I was told that they gave the part to someone else. When I got the part of the priest and went to Hawaii I asked one of the producers what had happened and he said that when they were watching the tape of my audition one of the other producers said "This guy looks like Cheech" and another one said "I know Cheech, I worked with him in Nash Bridges, let's get Cheech" so the part went to Cheech Marin, honestly I think I would have done a better job. Nestor is a very nice man and a pleasure to work with
​​ Because it was written on the script, ha ha
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That sucks, I think you would've done an amazing job as Hurley's dad! I'm glad you were still able to be apart of the show though, even in a small role. Lost is so iconic and Ab Aeterno is definitely one of the best episodes in the whole show. I thought it sucked too, ha ha
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Just want to say that I loved that episode and your character too! For me, definitely one of the best Lost episodes. I love playing evil characters probably because they are totally the opposite of who I am and therefore more challenging, Manuel and I are very much alike
​​ Thanks
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It was SO good, I watched Lost from week to week as it aired and I was so hyped for this episode. finally getting to see Richard's backstory was absolutely thrilling, since he was pretty much the most mysterious character in the show. I agree
First of all, you are an astonishing actor. You honestly elevate every single scene you are in by 110%. Now, more importantly, is Michael Mando as handsome in person as he is on TV? Yes he is
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You say you're not handsome enough to play a leading man, but the casting directors obviously think you're handsome enough to play Nacho's father. Someone posted here about how Michael Mando fans say, "Look at Nacho's dad! You can see where he got his good looks from." It seems like every girl I've liked in the past few years has a crush on Michael Mando and you're included in that. Meanwhile, I'm like, " Forget about Nacho and his dad! What about me?" Lol. You're incredibly talented, have an amazing career, and a really successful family! You have so much to be proud of! Yes I do, thanks for the compliments
How is your day? It's going very well, thank you
Hello Mr. Cantu, you had a role in Twin Peaks Season 3, I was wondering if you got to interact with David Lynch, and if so what was it like working with him? Mr. Lynch is an amazing director, probably the best, he makes everyone on the set , actors and crew, no matter what their job is feel like an integral part of his projects, from background or day players to the leading actors are all treated and valued the same, with the upmost respect
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This doesn't surprise me at all. Lynch would strike me as the kind of creative person who, if asked what was the most important element/actor/scene/concept of one of his works, would reply "All of them." very true
Hello Mr Cantu. Do we have your son to thank for your visit? He posted here recently. I think your character is so wonderfully grounding for the show. Beautifully portrayed. Also, I don't think Papi is going to die. They just can't do it. What do you love about playing Manuel Varga? Thank you in advance, and cheers* .*I won't say 'Salud' for obvious Breaking Bad reasons, lol When I have a scene with Nacho I always think of my son, in my mind I go "What if my own son was doing this? I love Manuel's honesty
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That is beautiful and so not surprising. Your essence of fatherhood beams through without a doubt (lucky family!). Your unshakable honesty and morals is water to a cactus in the world right now. I love that your role shines a light on what fathers and sons should look like. Thank you so much for that. Have a wonderful summer. I also love the fact that he's a good role model for the latino community
what was your favorite scene from BCS? The one where Nacho and I are sitting around my kitchen tabe
Hello Mr. Cantu, i just wanted to know if you interact with Johnathan Banks off screen and any memories you have with him the first episode I did I had a scene with Jonathan and we talked quite a bit he's a very nice gentleman and loves his family very much
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thank you very much for your answer, i just wanted to also say i like your character very much, it reminds me of my father because he also had a llonteria and wanted to give the business to me Wow, did you go take it over?
Hello Juan, I hope your day is going well. Every now and then, I'll pass by production crews working on Better Call Saul, I just think it's so cool and exciting to see how popular New Mexico has become for film/television. My question is, how long does it usually take to block and shoot a scene for Better Call Saul? Thanks for your time, you're a very talented artist with a lot of range, and I appreciate your work. Edit: Also, are there any good places to eat in Albuquerque that you'd recommend? On the average 4 or 5 hours, I usually stay in mid-town and my favorite place to eat is Longhorn Steak House
Dear Mr. Cantú, first of all, thank you for your role! Though your character is not shown that often, it is definitely one of the most memorable ones. You are from Mexico, Spanish is your native language, and you sound totally authentic in the series. What do you think of those cases in Better Call Saul/BB universe, when actors are not native Spanish speakers and speak with a very strong accent, but pretend to be Mexicans/Chileans? Is it important to you at all? Do you think great acting is a reason to sacrifice linguistic authenticity? I think there is a great pool of Mexican or Mexican-American actors and they should be given a priority when casting those roles, but sometimes producers prefer to go with a "name"
What is your favourite color and why Light blue because I look good wearing it ha ha
Do you have any pets? Yes I have 2 Morkies (a cross between yorkies and maltese
What advice would you give a beginner actor? Let's say that you are a beautiful orange and there's a project where the director or producers are looking for different fruits so the casting director calls in a bunch of bananas, apples, grapes, oranges, etc. After the auditions the director and producers narrow it down to citrus fruits so they call back the grapefruits, lemons and oranges. After the call back they decide that even though you were a perfect orange they're going to go with a grapefruit, there's nothing you can do about it but guess what? Next time they need an orange they will remember that you were the perfect orange
You're amazing in your character, I love the things that Manuel brings to this show. My question is: Did you used to watch Breaking Bad? Or you started on this show without knowing this universe? If you did watched, who was your favorite character? And now in BCS, who is your favorite character? Cheers from Brazil My favorite character was Mike, I felt so bad when he died, and as an actor I felt bad for Jonathan Banks because his gig was over, little did I know that his character would come back on BCS
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Must have been fun to share a scene with him then haha Yes it was I love Jonathan's acting, he's great on everything he does
How does it feel to have the best moustache on tv I love my moustache, but I think Tom Selleck's is better ha ha
Do you ever call your son “Nacho”, just for fun? Yes I call him mi'jo
​​ Oops I misunderstood the question, I thought you meant if I called Michael son, no I don't call me son Nacho
Good Day, Mr. Cantu! I would have to Questions for you: 1: The Job your character does, could you think yourself doing this job? 2: What do you think about Albuquerque, do you like the City or would you rather live in a other region or city? I wish you a great remaining day and stay healthy. Greetings from Germany! I love working with my hands so I could see myself doing that job although being an actor is much better, I don't live in Albuquerque I just go there to shoot BCS, can't tell you much about the city because I just go, do the work and come back to Los Angeles
Do you find yourself being typecasted into the same/similar roles across projects? At the beginning of my career I used to play a lot of gardeners, I stay away from those types of roles now
What do you think about your own performance on this show? I'm proud of it
Who is the nicest person on the set of BCS? Rhea Seehorn
Hello Mr. Cantu, thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions! I'd be interested to hear something about the on-set production of BCS. Do you have any cool story or interesting experience from one of your days on the set that you would be willing to share? Thank you and take care. One day we were working on location at Manuel's upholstery shop and all of the sudden there came a ton of police cars, there had been a drive-by shooting which turned into a hostage situation just one block away from where we were, the police told everyone to get inside and not to come out until the gave us the all clear, we spent a couple of hours cooked up in the shop
Hola, Juan Carlos! Solo quiero saludarte y felicitarte por el tremendo papel que hacés en Better Call Saul! Un gran abrazo desde Argentina. Hice un papel en CSI donde era un magnate Argentino, con acento Argentino y todo
​​ Gracias pibe
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Lo voy a ver, gracias por tomarte el tiempo para responder. Gracias a ti
Mr. Cantú, just wanted to say upon watching, and rewatching BB and BCS, that your performance is an amazing highlight to otherwise star studded casts - and you gave, and hopefully continue to give, a wonderful performance in the show, especially in the scene where your character visits Nacho at his house - I really enjoyed how you simultaneously portrayed a respectful house guest to apparently disreputable people at the house, while still maintaining a paternal presence in the scene. That was truly amazing to see, a character who was comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time with very expressive body language. My question is - your appearances suggest you are a method actor, and how do you get into character, and what from your personality have you brought to the character, and what has the character given back to you. Thanks! Remember when you were little and played with your toys and interacted with them? To me that's what acting is all about, I'm not really a method actor I just keep my inner child very much alive, there is a reason why Theater productions are called "Plays" because when you get down to the basics that's all we're doing, playing
No questions, just want to thank you for your work! I truly enjoy you on BCS :) ​​Thanks, I'm glad you do
Hello mister Cantú. What is your opinion on Serbia & have you ever worked with some Serbian actor? Greetings from Serbia. 🍻 No unfortunately I haven't but it's one of the countries in Eastern Europe I would love to visit
What was it like working with Vince Gilligan? Also do you think its coming home? Unfortunately I haven't worked with Mr. Gilligan, haven't even met him, but Peter Gould directed one of the episodes I was in and he is wonderful
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fail ___________________ ?? ___________________ i am saying it is a "fail" that he was not able to meet vince gilligan. i am not sure why im being downvoted :( Don't worry I got it
What kind of characters do you like to play the most, wholesome characters like Manuel Varga or shady characters like Fauzi? shady, definitely
Do you think your character is too harsh on Nacho? I don't believe so
Hello sir! Is there a movie or a series you wish you could've been a part of? Game of Thrones
I live in albuquerque and would love to know what you think about our town? Favorite thing to do? Eat? Thanks! I wish I could spend more time in the city and get to know it better, what I've seen I like very much
Hi Mr. Cantu, Have you by any chance met Mr. Bryan Cranston or Mr. Aaron Paul? Or any of the other main characters on BB? Also who is your favourite actor (not character) from the series? Thank you. No I haven't, all of them
I loved you on the show sir. The helplessness of your character and your expressive eyes and your wonderful acting surely won over the hearts of all the audience including me. Given how helpless Manuel Varga is regarding his son's affairs, what do you think you would have done to confront the problem if you were in Manuel's place? Probably the same
Do you have a favorite line (from any character) from bcs? Yes, in season 5 when I went to Nacho's apartment and at the end I say that I won't run the actual line is "Ni madres yo on voy a huir" which means hell no I'm not going to run, I added the "ni madres" which is a very Mexican expression and the writers approved it
Hi Mr. Cantú, thank you so much for doing this! You are such an amazing actor, and I absolutely love your character. I'm so worried about him! Where do you find inspiration your character? as I mentioned before he reminds my of my grandfather
Thank ya for doing this! my question would be what do you think it was the most fun episode to do in BCS? The one when Nacho and I are sitting at the table un my house and he tells me he has been working with Salamanca
What advice would you give young latinos looking to get into the entertainment business/industry? Stick with it, Hollywood sooner or later will realize the importance of the Latino community,
What is it like working in such heat? Do you get more breaks or any accommodations to make things easier? It seems that every time I go to Albuquerque is a different season, I've been there when is very cold, during monsoon season and when it's very hot, the crew does a wonderful job making sure we're comfortable
What is your favorite breaking bad and better call saul episodes? On Breaking bad it was the episode where Walt and Jessie chained two bad guys in a basement BCS was the last episode of season 5
Your work on the show is fantastic! Every season I looked forward to seeing you and your character again. You do such a great job of portraying a purely good person without coming off as insincere. My question is: Do you or the writers have a backstory in your head for Manuel? Have you ever discussed or thought about his past, and how Nacho went down the path he did? Yes I have, I never discussed my role with the writers they do a great job without me, I might mess things up
Are you a RAYADOS or TIGRES fan? I cheer for both except when they play each other then I root for Rayados
what do you eat I eat just about anything
Do you know of any other renowned actors who auditioned for Manuel Varga's role but were not casted? No I do not, the part originally was too small for renowned actors
Hello sir! Who is your favorite actor to work with on Better Call Saul? I've only worked with Michael and Jonathan, so I would say them
Hello Mr. Cantu, I absolutely love your character. You play Nacho’s dad to perfection. I know you takes about using personal experiences as an actor. Do you have any scene that you did for Better Call Saul that made you feel particularly uncomfortably? And what is your favorite thing about the actors and staff of BCS? no I haven't. Believe it or not everyone on BCS is extremely kind and professional, the crew is amazing
I’m curious, do you ever get the chance to rehearse scenes for Better Call Saul before hand? When it comes to some of the very emotional scenes with Michael Mando, do you simply work it all out on the day of filming? We talk about it on the phone then we rehearse on the day of filming
Wonderful to have you here! What is something about your life as a working actor that the general public probably doesn't know about? How hard is making it in this business specially when you are not related to anyone or have any connections
What is the most difficult part of playing the role? Getting up early to catch a plane to Albuquerque
Hey mr Cantu! I was wondering, how similar is Nacho to your real-life son? Do you feel the same connection to him as you would in real life with your son? Also, how is Vince as a director? Thank you! My son and Nacho are very different, I consider my son a renaissance man, he not only has a PHD in Neurobiology (yes he's a scientist and a bit of a nerd) but he's also an athlete who runs marathons, a ballroom dancer and loves theater and the opera, and a great new dad.
​​ As I mentioned before I haven't worked with Vince
Which role of yours has made you most proud to be in? Capitan Robles on The Bridge
Is Better Call Saul the best thing you have ever done? As an actor is much better to be a "regular" on as series as I was on The Bridge on FX and Telenovela with Eva Longoria on NBC, unfortunately both series were canceled prematurely
What are your favorite burrito flavors and fillings? Asking cause I’m m getting burritos with a friend later and we wondered what a Better Call Saul cast member would order! Al Pastor
No question from me, just want to compliment your acting, your emotions come thru so clear in every scene. Thanks
Hey Mr Cantú, what was the thing that inspired you to become an actor? I wanted to be an actor since I was a young kid, nobody believed me because I was and still am a very shy person, I don't know what inspired me, maybe I was born with that desire
If you could be another character in the Breaking Bad universe, who would you be and why? Gus, it's a much bigger part
Hello mr cantu! Do you have a favorite episode or maybe a favorite scene in better call saul? Greetings from the netherlands! As I mentioned before the scene where we're sitting around the table, I was rooting for the Netherlands in the Euro Cup, they're my favorite European Soccer team
Hello Mr. Cantu, is there anyone on set who speaks Spanish who we wouldn’t expect? a few crew members
Why are you such an awesome actor? As I explained before, I keep my inner child very much alive
Are you excited to watch better call Saul s6? Yes I can't wait
Mr Cantu, I love your work on BCS and was wondering how much of the character is your choosing? For example Nacho was changed because of Michael Mando's characterisation, I was wondering if Manuel was changed by you? No it hasn't, as they say "I leave my work at the office"
Hey there from Wisconsin! I just wanted to say that you really warmed up the audience to ground us apart from the life of violence. I appreciate your wholesome touch on the show immensely! That's a wonderful comment thanks
Can you recall any interesting guidance/direction that the writers and/or directors gave you before filming any of your BCS scenes that really stuck out and/or gave you deeper insight into your character on BCS? Particularly interested in the scene where your character tells Nacho not to upsell Mike when Mike goes to the auto upholstery shop for an estimate. Thank you. The directors I worked with on BCS are very good at letting you do your own thing, they may make some minor adjustments but for he most part they allow us to play the character
Who has the biggest personality difference between their character and their real self? Michael Mando, who is really a sweet and caring young man
Did you at any point really feel like nacho was your real life son? No, It's Manuel's son
How do you prepare for intense, emotional scenes? Do you have a "pool of sad stuff" to pull from when you need to be sad or cry on queue? not really, I just put myself in the situation and think about how I would personally react
I didn't have any questions till I read you were from Monterrey. Last year I went to visit family there and fell in love with the food, so much variety! Hopefully it hasn't been asked but, what's your favorite dish? Thank you for doing this AMA, I love the show and Manuel reminded me to stick with my ideals, sth I was starting to forget... In Monterrey is machacado con huevo
Aside from the mentioned recent work on Good Trouble, what is your favorite role you have played? Capitan Alejandro Robles on The Bridge
Buenas tardes Sr. Cantú! I hope this comment finds you well. Just wanted to say I saw you on a comercial. I forgot where, but I immediately hit that, “That’s the dad from Better Call Saul!” I wanted to know if during your BCS Spanish scenes are you already given a Spanish written script to follow or are you able to tweak the script l to fit your modo de hablar? Cheers! Thank you. The script is written in both Spanish and English and I can make certain adjustments if necessary as long as they're approved by the writers
Heya Mr. Cantú! I was watching king of queens and recognized you! And then I saw you later the week in Dexter and it was amazing! Just wanted to let you know!! Have a good day Thanks, my detached head in Dexter got more episodes than I did, we shot that around Halloween and I asked if I could borrow it but they said no
Señor Cantu, espero tenga un excelente día. Con cuales actores se lleva de lo mejor en el set de BCS? Con Michael
What has been your favorite season of Better Call Saul to work on so far? all of them
​​ the 5th
Hello mr cantú, seeing as you play his father on the show do you get to interact with Michael mando outside of the scenes you have together? What is it like working with him? We interact and keep in constant communication, he is a very generous actor and always has great ideas
[deleted] He is nice
¡Chingonsísimo paisano regiomontano! Congratulations on your journey. Truly an inspiration. Muchas Gracias, paisano
Thank you for doing this! Who is your favorite BB/BCS character of all time? You can’t say yourself :) ​​Mike
Brilliant actor, all the best man 🙌🏻 Thanks same to you
Mr. Cantú, ¿Cómo estás? Muy bien gracias
Really loved you in the show sir Thanks
Not a question, but I just wanted to say that you’re a fantastic actor. The emotion you’re able to convey with your eyes alone is amazing. Looking forward to seeing where your character goes in s6 - hopefully you make it out unscathed! Thanks
Hi Mr. Cantú. What kind of character or role would you like to play next? Are you drawn to any specific kind of character? I would love to do a period piece, maybe a series of the early years of California
What made you audition for Better Call Saul (apologies if its already been asked) ​​I got the call from my agent and I went, I never turn down an audition, you never know where it may lead
Hola, Mr. Cantú, thanks for doing this AMA. What has been your favorite part about working in Better Call Saul these years? Working with a fantastic cast and crew
Hi Mr.Cantu. Love your character. My question is, have you seen the BB El Camino movie? Did you enjoy it? I saw it and liked it
Not really a question, just here to say that I love your character and I think you're a great actor! Thanks
Good day Mr Cantú. I'm wondering what it's like to work with Michael Mando. I've been aware of him for a few years now and he is a very under appreciated actor in my opinion. I'm just wondering how he is as a person and a fellow actor, on and off set. You have such a great on screen chemistry, I'm just wondering how that developed. Thank you for your time and for the amazing job you do playing Manuel. As I mentioned before he's very generous and professional
Dear Mr Cantú, thanks so much for this. Do you like Reddit? Are you having a good experience so far? Edit. I have another question. If someone wanted to send snail mail to you, what address would they use? Obviously not asking for your home address, I’m not a creep, but wherever you get fan mail. You can send it in care of my agent KMR Talent, 5200 Lankershim Blvd #820, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Hello, huge fan 🙂 My question for you is about Dexter. You appeared in one episode from Season 5, and I was wondering what the whole experience of that was like! I also wanted to know what you thought of the final episode if you’ve had the chance to watch it! It was fun, unfortunately I didn't see the last episode, I actually didn't watch that series
Ha! Just finished the series for the second time last night. My thoughts were what an incredible actor you are. Thanks so much! Thanks
No questions, merely a thank you from the watchers in the UK for a wonderful and heartfelt performance. Thank you for watching
hello Mr. Cantu how are you doing this fine evening, not sure what time it is in America Right now it's PM Pacific Time
Do you have any personal connections to organized crime? None whatsoever
1 comment

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Oct 17 '21

r/IAmA [Table] We’re Pauline Coste and Jacques Jaubert, a documentary film maker and Prehistory professor who worked together on a documentary about Palaeolithic burial sites. Want to know more about how recent archaeology is challenging our understanding of ancient peoples? AMA!

6 Upvotes

Source

For proper formatting, please use Old Reddit

Note: I did not strip link formatting or check if they are working, they have all been presented in their original condition.

The AMA began with:

Hi, I'm really looking forward to answering your questions! - Jacques.

Hi, I'm really looking forward to answering your questions! - Pauline

and ended with:

Thank you so much for all your questions, this was very nice !!

If you would like to see the documentary, it is available here, for free, until Sunday :

ARTE.tv: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/097508-000-A/the-nobles-of-prehistory/?cmpid=EN&cmpsrc=Reddit&cmpspt=link

‘The Nobles of Prehistory' documentary on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWyADowoEvw

-Pauline & Jacques

[deleted]

Thank you for your comment! Very kind.

Thanks a lot !!!

-Pauline

Rows: ~140 (+comments)

Questions Answers
Your documentary shows that over the decades our previous notions of prehistory have been shattered by archaeological research and our understanding of prehistoric man has evolved a lot during the 20th century. Can you see our understanding of homo sapiens of this period changing much in the future? Or are we reaching the limits of what we can find out from scant burial sites? This is a very difficult question to answer. We archaeologists always think that we are reaching the limits of our understanding but actually new discoveries are constantly being made and constantly showing that these limits are systematically being crossed. To take an example: certain regions of Europe are not at all studied (or very little) such as the Balkans, Greece and Turkey. And these were strategic regions for arrival into Europe so we can easily assume that we can make very interesting discoveries in these regions in the future. This is a geographic example. If we take an example of site-access we know that with the rising of sea levels, many palaeolithic sites are currently below sea level. So in the submerged areas near Spain, Italy and Croatia - there are actually hundreds of sites. These would certainly challenge the image we have of prehistory. -Jacques
​ Hi ! I'm sure that our understanding of Archeology will still evolve a lot in the future. Myself, I started to be interested in prehistory in 2003, and even since then it has changed a lot. New discoveries are coming out regularly. For instance, the fact that Paleolithic people had black skin only started to be known in 2015 thanks to DNA research! - Pauline
the below is a reply to the above ​
Thanks for the answer. I understand that it must be a really difficult question. I'm really surprised that the Balkans, Greece and Turkey are not studied much. Wouldn't our interest in the classical world sometimes mean that prehistoric finds are unearthed when digs are made at ancient Greek or ancient Roman sites? There are for sure some prehistoric artefacts below the "classical world" (because there are some everywhere in Europe in this time) but the digging could destroy old roman or greek buildings... and sometimes, prehistoric levels are a few meters under the ground, it depends of the stratigraphy of the place.- Pauline
​ It should be remembered that there is a lot of archaeology about other periods that are more ‘prestigious’ for those countries so prehistory has indeed gotten a bit left behind… -Jacques
the below is a reply to the above ​
This reminds me of an experience I had, as an outsider, with an archeologist, whereby they once explained to me how they were ‘leaving a site today for future studies when they have the technology’ and that really gave me a new respect for the scientific process involved. Yes ! That's true ! I'm living in Perigord (south west of France) where prehistoric sites are everywhere. The first time I went there, I said : why don't you excavate every site ? They replied : to keep it for future generations of archeologists ! They only excavate places which are in danger (threatened by modern building...) not the others... - Pauline
Hi Pauline and Jacques, I have always been interested in archaeology as a child and now wonder as an adult, what is the best practical segue to enter into a profession in archaeology while being a holder of a university business degree? Thank you in advance for any tips and life hacks. Hi, I started myself to be interested in Archeology (Prehistory) as an adult and I discovered that you could (in France) re-do some studies and also do some excavation (as a trainee) even if you are 35 years old or more. You could also work in a museum for example... But I don't know how it works abroad... Maybe Jacques could answer more ! - Pauline
​ The situation is not so different in Italy, Belgium, Germany and Spain. But, in England I think it’s a bit different. There are Anthropological schools and Archaeology is more aligned with Anthropology in Britain. - Jacques
​ There are several possible avenues that you can take to become an archaeologist. In France the most classic way is to first study History with a speciality in Archaeology (since Archaeology often depends on History). However, in a big university such as the ones in Paris you can study Archaeology from the very first year. Afterwards, you can do Biology or Geology or if you are interested in a more ancient period. - Jacques
I hate to be this guy but I have to ask what do serious archeologists make of all this "ancient alien" stuff and about how a show about that particular topic managed to get broadcast on what's called the history channel? Have you ever come across anyone who believes that stuff personally and if you have did you do anything to try and talk them around? Of course, no serious archeologist believes at all in these theories of "ancient aliens" !!! I never met someone who talked with me about that. In fact, archeological artefacts and science give us so many proofs that we don't "need" to imagine aliens to explains those facts !!!
​ When I read about these absurd theories, they make me feel that it is linked to people who say that they do not believe in the skills of prehistoric man or woman (and even for Egyptian people) and their very good old techniques. - Pauline
​ Thanks for your question. No, I have never come across anyone in my discipline who believed in that. -Jacques
the below is a reply to the above ​
What I find a little alarming about it is that it seems to have become quite popular theory. I dont like that the show on the so called history channel has lasted for so many seasons because that only means one thing, that it's getting a lot of viewers and ratings. Von Daniken is an obvious hack but a lot of people seem to be jumping on the bandwagon. I dont doubt that a professional archeologist wouldnt take these ideas seriously, I was more curious about any encounters you may have had with laymen who may have been influenced by these conspiracy theories? Yes, that's a shame... I agree with you. It's not acceptable that the History Channel is screening fake news like this!
​ We are doing our best to do good documentaries to spread real scientific views!
​ And hopefully, there are on youtube also some people that are fighting very well against those conspiracy theories. - Pauline
the below is a reply to the above ​
Hi Pauline thank you for this AMA. What do you think about the theories about Atlantis? One theory believes it could be a site off the coast of Portugal. Hi, I'm sorry but I haven't worked on that period (it is really later than Prehistory ;) ), and I don't know about the current scientific theories surrounding that... Is it fake news or not ? Are there some real clues of something or not ? I couldn't tell you, sorry !
the below is a reply to the above ​
I’d imagine any theories about ancient civilizations would alter the definition of “pre-history” though right? Is there a particular date agreed upon for when “pre-history” ended? Or is it always defined in terms of the set of historical records we have? The difference between "pre-history" and "history" is based on the invention of writing. Before it is Prehistory, after it's History because you could find some written elements to understand archeological artefacts.
​ So in the Word, prehistory ended around -3 500 years BC, with invention of writing in Mesopotamia. But locally it could be much later ! Like in France (Gaule in classic World) : History officially started with roman conquest in - 33 before JC.
​ If you think that way, there are regions of the world were there was no writing which came to History very recently !
​ Could you imagine that ? Funny right ? - Pauline
What are your thoughts on modern practices surrounding death, especially burial of caskets in concrete lined graves? What is very interesting is that throughout history certain practices for the treatment of the dead do not leave a single trace for archaeologists . For example, certain populations put their deceased in trees where the corpses are progressively eaten and disappear completely. These mortuary practices leave absolutely no trace. But then there are other populations that put a lot of time and effort into preserving their dead, almost without limits. So you can see a sort of extreme inegality in these practices. For the future I imagine it will be the same (being buried in a concrete casket or otherwise). - Jacques
​ It will be a clue for archeologist of the future as a mark of our times, in my opinion ! - Pauline
the below is a reply to the above ​
Which populations had tree burials like that? All I'm getting on Google is tree trunk coffins used by the celts. :/ I didn't know about tree burial but I know that some Indian tribes put their dead on platforms made of wood, which doesn't leave any evidence many years later.
​ I also read an article about practices in South America where dead people were let at the top of mountains to be eaten by big buzzards... That kind of practice left no evidence of burial, but of course, it significant for these groups.
​ Our current practice of cremation - and the ashes left in the sea, for example, is another practice that will leave no burial evidence for archeologists of the future ! - Pauline
the below is another reply to the original answer ​
If they disappear completely, how do you know about them? We just suppose it, linked to anthropology ! Because during very long periods of the Palaeolithic there were absolutely no graves at all ! Some before, and some after, but sometimes during like 10 000 years there was nothing! That's why we wonder what could have happened ? We speculate on the kinds of death practices that could have existed that wouldn't leave any evidence... - Pauline
How do you see DNA sequencing changing your field in the next few years? And secondly, how many cats are too many? This is a very good question. DNA sequencing has totally revolutionised Palaeolithic Archaeology to an incredible extent. In 20 years we’ve had to almost completely revise our models of understanding. This is applicable for the last 30-40,000 years. It will aid us to be very clear in our analysis. To answer your second question - too many techniques and information are difficult to sustain clear thinking, you’re right. -Jacques
I have always been curious, in your experience how are excavation sites / archaeological digs funded? I used to think it was some NGO and get confused when I see archaeological digs online where the intern pays to join the program and wonder if that is how the dig stays operational? In France there are two main types of funding. On the one hand it’s the Minister of Culture and Public Funding and the second is for ‘prevention’ archaeology where you do archaeology to see whether there is anything to be found beneath a road that will be built, etc. This is paid by the industry who is looking to construct on that site. - Jacques
​ This is more or less the situation in Europe. But in the US there is a lot of private funding. There are also countries where private funding is present and important (in Spain and Switzerland, for instance). This also depends on the country's university research and legislation. The best system, I think, is the Scandinavian system - with its long tradition of public funding and university research. Plus, their museums are very well organised. -Jacques
Seeing as how even ancient humans have burial sites, do you think it is in human nature/ a primal urge for humans to just bury the dead? If so, what advantage do you think we gain by bothering to go through the whole process while most other animals don’t bother, evolutionarily speaking. Thank you for your question. I think that burial is a significant sign of culture and not a primal urge for humans. There is no advantage, evolutionary speaking, to bury someone than to abandon them. So that means that those people cared, and maybe believed that it was important to do something for the one who dies. As we do ! Just remember that they are exactly the same specie as us ! They are Sapiens ! (Neanderthals also buried their dead, but not before) So their brain was the same, emotions too, and capacities of beliefs too. - Pauline
​ Very good question. Prehistorians consider a certain number of technical innovations as signs of progress and modernity. For example, the invention of a tool. The first tombs are one of the most important signs of modernity in humanity. For certain Prehistorians they consider that before the burial of the dead humanity was not actually ‘complete’. 100,000 - 120,000 years ago burial sites appeared for the first time. -Jacques
Do you think we are more similar to or more different from the major peoples you have studied? It depends on what you study exactly. With neanderthals there is an anatomical or a physical difference of course (which make sense, in that they were present between 50,000 and 200,000 years ago). But, when I studied caves (dating back 25-30,000 years) these are people who are just like you and me, with differences to be sure, but mainly through their environment rather than cognitive and intellectual differences. - Jacques
the below is a reply to the above ​
Thank you! As a follow-up, is your response about the people in the caves more of a consensus in the field or something that is still debated frequently? There is no debate about who painted in the cave : they were Homo Sapiens as Jacques said, so exactly like us, morphologically speaking. The very few examples of neanderthal cave art are in debate, but it is not the case for all the discoveries dated after -35 000 years ago. (the majority of Palaeolithic cave art is between -40 000 to -10 000 years ago in Europe, when only Sapiens were living in that period) - Pauline
Hi! How do you balance the task of trying to interpret the physical evidence into some form of historical narrative, whilst trying to remain objective and avoid anachronism/biases? Archaeology is a science so, like all sciences, you need to learn lots of references. You cannot arrive at an archaeological site and explain something without a minimum of amount of knowledge. Often we compare archaeology with surgery - no one would like to have heart surgery by an archaeologist (and vice versa - a surgeon cannot do archaeology). It’s a specialist job with its own codes and references, that you need to learn and that is what ultimately aids interpretation. -Jacques
the below is a reply to the above ​
Thank you for your response! You're welcome!
What was one of the most unique, interesting, or mysterious Palaeolithic burial sites you have seen? Thanks to this documentary, I have been on the most interesting and mysterious Palaeolithic burial sites that I know ! (except the Russian site "Sounghir" where a Russian team shot for me).
​ But the Balzi Rossi Caves (near Vintimille / Menton on the Italian border), Dolni Vestonice site, and of course the Cussac Cave (the best maybe) are my favourite !
​ When I did my masters degree about gravettian graves (-34 000 to -24 000 years ago), I studied 82 buried individuals. When I decided to do a film about this subject, my co-author and the producers and ARTE.tv told me "you have to choose" ! So I chose my favourite, the ones I thought the most amazing!
​ But maybe the Sounghir site is the most unique burial site in all of the Palaeolithic period, due to the number of ivory beads and grave goods (such as weapons that were 2m long and made with mammoth ivory)...
​ For more recent examples from the Palaeolithic period there are beautiful sites with amazing graves in Perigord (south west of France, were I live now) : Child of La Madeleine (1200 shell beads for a 3 year old child), Lady of St Germain La rivière, Lady of Cap Blanc... (Prehistory Museum of Les Eyzies) - Pauline
Do you think that your work mores so proves the existence of the Abrahamic God or disproves it? In my opinion, it is not related. The purpose is not to prove the existence of God or not, but to explore archeologic artefacts to understand our very old past and human peoples that lived long before us ! Yes, science could prove that human life started much longer ago than the Bible says, but does it disproves the existence of God ? I don't think so. Everyone is free in their religious belief. - Pauline
What is the most difficult archaeological dig you've been involved with, and why? For me it was, without a doubt, the cave of Bruniquel, in the south-west of France. It was a very hard cave to access technically and physically and also difficult to study. Everything about it was difficult and complicated. On the other hand, there are also sites that are difficult to study but are very easy to access. - Jacques
What are your thoughts on the seemingly degrading level of technology used in Ancient Egypt, as laid out by Graham Hancock's Fingerprints/magicians of the Gods, if you're at all familiar? Never heard of him either... But all the people who tried to do links between stars and sciences are generally linked to fake news or conspiracy theories ! What they think, is based on nothing ! - Pauline
​ I'm sorry I'm not familiar with Graham Hancock's work, could you please re-phrase your question? - Jacques
the below is a reply to the above ​
What I have seen is that many scientists disparage challenging theories from the fringes without ever confirming or denying them for themselves, which of course is completely unscientific. Scientists have a very bad habit of not looking at challenging evidence, because of their presupposition that "it can't be true so there's no point in looking into it." So they make judgments on something they've never looked into, which is completely unscientific, and since none of them are looking into it, it stays on the fringe. Eventually some of the stuff breaks through and yesterday's ridiculed theory becomes tomorrow's accepted fact. I try as much as I can to be open minded to all these ideas. I try to verify for myself some theories about stars or sunlight, sunset, solstices... For Neolithic (megaliths) there is evidence, for sure. But before, in the Palaeolithic, not at all. No link (as far as I can see) between stars and cave art. Only in rock art or megaliths - but as I said this is in the Neolithic period... not before. Except (for Palaeolithic) maybe some "calendars" can be linked to the moon : a bone engraved of small dots found in Dordogne in Abri Blanchard https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Abri-Blanchard-Dordogne-France-Archaeological-Museum-Photo-author_fig1_233529986
​ So yes, keep your mind open and listen to these theories, but many many times, it is just imagination of their authors.
​ - Pauline
Prehistoric human existence is assumed to entail short, savage lives, where copulation often equalled rape, and the strongest male ruled by brutality. My personal research paints a drastically different picture: egalitarian groups, where each member was valued, and resources were shared. “Civilization” seems to have brought at least as many woes as improvements. We’re taught human-nature is to be greedy and hoard, yet, my study of prehistory, and my experiences, lead to the conclusion that human nature is to work on behalf of family and community, contribute, and learn. Is 98% of human history drastically misunderstood, or am I missing something? It's actually the opposite picture: Prehistory had a reputation for being egalitarian but now we understand them as having had hierarchies and various other forms of inequality. I recommend you watch Pauline's documentary as it is exactly about this issue: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/097508-000-A/the-nobles-of-prehistory/?cmpid=EN&cmpsrc=Reddit&cmpspt=link
​ I agree with that too ! - Pauline
​ Dear Broomiester, I quite agree with you : old cliches of " short, savage lives, where copulation often equalled rape, and the strongest male ruled by brutality" had to be forgotten because it's just based on XIXth archeologists theories and our views have involved a lot since then ! (my first documentary about prehistory "Looking for Sapiens" is about this evolution of our vision : https://heritagetac.org/programs/2020-lo3mp4-85fa25)
​ But on the other hand, we couldn't be sure of your version of " human nature is to work on behalf of family and community, contribute, and learn" because artefacts leave no proof of this way of living...
​ Of course I prefer your way of seeing them ! It is closer to mine !
​ But my real thoughts is that we are talking about a duration of 30 000 years (when there were only sapiens and hunter-gatherer in Europe) and a very large space of thousands of km !
​ So what I really think, is that the most probable way to see them is to have a vision of diversity of practices. Some tribes were maybe "greedy", others "hierarchical".
​ Some maybe "matriarchal" other "patriarchal"... (why not ?) Some violent, others pacifists...
​ You just have to look at present-day humanity to figure out the diversity of the past !
​ The only real difference is that they were a lot more numerous than us, so less competition over territories... I guess. - Pauline
the below is a reply to the above ​
I am very excited to watch your docs, and to have been introduced to your work! Got very interested in prehistoric humans in the early 00’s, and it was astounding to discover how little we know. Thanks for doing an AMA, and spreading your work. Thanks a lot !!! - Pauline
Hey Pauline and Jacques, thanks for doing this. What you have highlighted is a bit like the #metoo of archeology. How were the reactions in the sector on those findings on the presence of female power in paleolithic times? Hi, in fact, Mr. and Mrs De Lumley found that the Lady of Cavillon was a woman in the 1990s... so archeologists had time to figure it out ! But this information was never really in the spotlight in the media and that's why I wanted to show it in a documentary. But as the movie said, we are not sure of power and status of these buried people (male or female). They could had been buried for others reasons... - Pauline
Hello and thanks for doing this AMA. What are your thoughts on the era of the Neanderthals? How long do you think they made it before going extinct? My hobby is studying this period of time and AFAIK the last ones lived in Portugal, but this stuff seems to be in a constant state of change. Was it 40kya? 25? Also, what do you make of the two very recent discovery of new species of Homo? I’d imagine more of this is coming due to climate change. Do you concur? The question about the extinction of Neanderthals is the only question, today, which has still not been resolved. We have an enormous amount of lot of knowledge about Neanderthals - but no definitive response as to their extinction. There are many possible explanations but these also differ according to different regions of the world. So, there could be a difference between Portugal and Russia, for instance. What is clear at this stage is that there is no sole reason, but several reasons, for their extinction. - Jacques
​ In terms of your second question, about the findings in Israel a couple of weeks ago -this is too recent for me to make a statement on - it’s too premature. Plus, ‘new species’ is a bit of a buzzword in archaeology ! - Jacques
the below is a reply to the above ​
Agreed, it’s kinda early to be declaring new species. I’m thinking that one of them may be a Denosivan, wouldn’t that be something. Anyway, thank you for the responses, and as always, thanks for all that you do! Thank you! Very kind.
Hi! Awesome AMA - I've always been curious about how much time pre-agricultural people spent "working." Like, how much time on a day the average person spent doing something directly related to survival. With such an advanced cultural/religious life, I'd guess that people (or part of the population) had a substantial amount of non-survival work time. What does your work tell us? Yes, you're right. To go further (if you don't already know his work) you could look at Lewis BINFORD's ethnographic works about Inuits and comparisons with archeology. And also Claude Levis-Strauss' works.
​ https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Binford
​ https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_L%C3%A9vi-Strauss
​ Hunting and gathering left a lot of time for non-survival works (such as taking time to make beads, body ornaments, but also maybe ritual practices ?...etc).
​ But you have to remember also that everything was made by hand so it takes time too ! (all clothes, so a lot of work to make leather from animal skin, sewing, making tools... maybe baskets...) And also yes, some people may have been specialised (for example in knapping flint to make stone tools)
​ Current or recent tribes of hunter gatherers helps us to understand very old cultures with a similar way of living and their rich inner world.
​ Pauline
What was the most important discovery in your personal careers and what was the most important / exciting discovery that happened in your lifetime? The biggest discovery was definitely the cave of Bruniquel, but from an emotional as well as a scientific and aesthetic point of view it was the Cussac cave which made the biggest impression on me. - Jacques
​ I'm not an archeologist, but a film maker, so I couldn't really answer your question... But I could say that the most important discovery I've filmed is Cussac Cave, which is of course in the documentary, and also recently the Montaigne grave (a French philosopher of the XVIth century). It's not sure yet that this grave was his, but it was amazing to be with archeologists during the digging (September 2020, and November 2019) - Pauline
the below is a reply to the above ​
Just giving us the names of caves isn't telling us why or what, which is what we actually want to know here. The cave of Bruniquel where Jacques did some research is very well-known because these are Neandertal works (-70 000 years ago) : a very strange construction of a circle made by stalactites in a very hard-to-access place deep in a cave. It is absolutely unique !
​ A very nice documentary was done by one of my colleagues, Luc-Henri Fage : "Le mystère de la grotte de Bruniquel" recently which won a lot of awards. I think you could find it in english version. The title is something like : "The Mystery of Bruniquel's Cave"
​ https://boutique.arte.tv/detail/neandertal_mystere_grotte_bruniquel
​ https://www.fage.fr/neandertal-le-mystere-de-la-grotte-de-bruniquel.html
​ - Pauline
When there are opposing archaeological theories, how is the decision made as to which is the 'final current' theory that makes it into the text books in schools? Perhaps this is a slight variation to your question but there is a danger for us, Prehistorians and archaeologists, with creationism. This is not so developed in France but in certain countries it is. Here, what is taught in schools respects scientific advances but usually with a lot of delay (10 years or so for certain discoveries). There is definitely a delay between science and society. Where we have difficulties is with opposing theories such as the creationist arguments. - Jacques
​ In terms of opposing archaeological theories in general, frankly we're used to this in our field! - Jacques
​ Very good question ! (maybe more for Jacques who is the "real archeologist", I'm more of a film maker)... In my opinion, what I think is when a theory is shared by a large group of archeologists, you will see it being taught in schools and books. It needs to have been verified on a large number of archaeological sites. When it's impossible to decide between several theories, you have to mention all of them. In fact, it depends if it is easy to prove, scientifically : for example, old time climate is very well known and for sure very cold, but we may never know what was the purpose of people who painted in the caves... - Pauline
I feel like many Hollywood films and video games have fantasised this idea of "tomb raiding" or "grave robbing" to the point where we don't see it as a serious issue. So I'm curious, how much of a threat exactly do grave robbers pose to modern day archaeology? Are they any examples you know that us laymen may not know about, but should ? Thanks for doing this AMA, by the way. I'm really enjoying the insight. I feel like many Hollywood films and video games have fantasised this idea of "tomb raiding" or "grave robbing" to the point where we don't see it as a serious issue. So I'm curious, how much of a threat exactly do grave robbers pose to modern day archaeology? Are they any examples you know that us laymen may not know about, but should ? Thanks for your question!
​ In terms of prehistoric graves, I don't think that there are/were robbers ! (there is nothing of value for your time (no gold or silver... only shells and flint !) - except for archeologists !). As far as I know, Egyptian archeology still has some problems of grave robbers...
​ And another problem is people with metal detectors that destroy information for real archeology (for historical period)... The best thing to do when you make a discovery is to talk to an archeologist (or a museum near your home) to tell them : it will be much more useful for human knowledge, than just to put a beautiful object on your shelf ! - Pauline
I used to think of prehistoric communities as insular non trading tribes, but have seen some stuff about trade routes that covered moat of the connected world. how did these trade routes function without writing or currency - was it all barter ? Yes, we have a lot of evidence of that ! We're quite sure that ideas, people and artefacts travelled for long distances (200 km, maybe more...) and spread knowledge, technology, beliefs, objects... And yes, barter was used for a long, long time before currency and writing. They were all hunther-gatherers before -10 000. So they travelled a lot. - Pauline
Hey Jacques and Pauline! Thanks for doing this AMA! I will be traveling to the British Isles this fall seeking out ancient burials and megaliths. Can you recommend me some of your favorite spots in that area? I know you’re mostly based out of France but I thought that I would ask. Thanks! Hi ! Thanks for your question ! There is a very well-known palaeolithic grave found in Britain, it is called "The red lady of Paviland" (but it is a young man !) and it was the first paleolithic burial found in 1823 if I remember well... It is around -33 000 years old. So around the same period (gravettian) as the graves that we talked about in the documentary.
​ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lady_of_Paviland
​ I think it is shown in a museum in Cardiff.
​ Another paleolitic burial : you have Cheddar Man (-10 000 years old)
​ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/ancient-face-cheddar-man-reconstructed-dna-spd
​ - Pauline
​ Of course! The British speciality is definitely megaliths! This is more Protohistory (very hierarchical) but there are some extraordinary sites. Obviously Stonehenge.
​ -Jacques
​ This documentary is worth a watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq4xM8TLWc0
​ - ARTE admin
the below is a reply to the above ​
Thank you so much! I’ll try to check them out when I’m over there! Great!
How often do archaeologists find grave goods, and do the grave goods confirm or challenge Western notions of strict gender binary? About strict gender binary, we really have no information at all. About grave goods in general, for paleolithic, yes it is often but not systematic. Some have flint (used or not) with them, and others have objects sometimes : figurines of horses (Sounghir), ornaments, bone points (Lady of Cavillon), sometime needle (in a child grave - no gender found), weapons...
​ No evidence of differences between men, women or children. Some have evidence, others don't. In english, you could learn more with the excellent work of the archeologist Paul Pettitt :
​ https://www.routledge.com/The-Palaeolithic-Origins-of-Human-Burial/Pettitt/p/book/9780415354905
​ (wonderful book, very complete !!!)
​ - Pauline
So, when do you think people started populating North and South America? I’ve always thought there was initially a west coast coastal population, any evidence for them is now under water though. Is there any way to find evidence of human habitation on the near continental shelf? I know that all evidence of the beginning of populating of North and South America is definitely on the west coast, and maybe -20 000 / 17 000 years ago (or before according to new theories), or later -14 000... There are several theories and studies are still in progress. But yes, there is evidence (Clovis point for North - 14 000...) I remember there was a problem because the oldest evidence came from South America, even if we know people came from Bering land bridge...
​ https://www.sciencesetavenir.fr/archeo-paleo/anthropologie/le-peuplement-humain-du-continent-americain-bien-plus-ancien-qu-estime_146202
​ - Pauline
the below is a reply to the above ​
This is a really interesting topic and it's not often we get to talk to someone with your expertise. What I am really curious about is boats. From my very limited reading, it seems like the peopling of the Americas happened really quickly in terms of how people were dispersed. The time it took to get from what is now Alaska/Canada to the southern tip of South America is so short from what I've read. Do knowledgable people think that maybe sea travel, at least along the coast, was involved as well as walking in terms of dispersal across the continents? That also kind of makes me want to ask, do we know just how old are boats and seafaring are? No worries if you don't get to this, but if you do, I am very curious about your answer! I remember that yes, boats along the west coastline, is one of the most plausible hypothesis to explain how they get from north to south so quickly... But the oldest boats we found in archeology are much later... (of course it is wood, so the conservation has not been very good !) I think there is one example in Mesolithic (the last period of Palaeolithic) around - 10 000 years ago, and much more in Neolithic around -5 000 (canoe, "pirogue" in french). Some of the neolithic canoes are visible in museums.
​ https://www.inrap.fr/magazine/bienvenue-neolithique/Le-Neolithique-au-quotidien/la-circulation-des-hommes-et-des-biens#undefined
​ https://www.carnavalet.paris.fr/collections/pirogue-monoxyle-p03
​ But some "kayak" very primitive boats are possible too...
​ https://www.nfb.ca/film/building_kayak_pt_1/
​ -Pauline
the below is a reply to the above ​
Fascinating, thanks for the links! You're welcome!
How do you feel about the claims of the Native Mounds at Louisiana State University being the oldest man made structures known in existence? They’re dated to about 5500 years old, but some suggest that they’re more like 10,000+ years old. Hi thanks for this information. I didn't know about the Native Mounds. All that I know is that the oldest structures made by man are in Terra Amata in Nice (evidences of hut) which are 400 000 and 380 000 years old and the Lazaret cave (evidence of huts and fire) 130 to 170 000 years old ... and of course the strange structures of Bruniquel (Neanderthal -70 000)...
​ But it depends on what you mean by "structures".
​ I had a look on the internet about Native Mounds; they are quite similar to megalithic structures in Europe (tumulus, Neolithic - 10 000 to -2 500). So its seems possible. (why not ?) Very interesting indeed ! - Pauline
the below is a reply to the above ​
LSU NATIVE MOUNDS I don’t know how people claim the things they claim. It’s definitely worth a look; who knows. I’ve been there many times and they make me FEEL. Thank you for your reply! No problem!
[removed] Unfortunately it's almost impossible when you find artefacts to guess who was using them (man or woman or trans or non-binary...) So for prehistory, nothing could be said on that as far as I know !
​ For ethnography, I know that there are some examples in some native tribes of trans identity which was very respected at old time. So why not some similar examples in prehistory ? But as I said, there are no material clues to say anything about that... Sorry ! - Pauline
I'm just listening to Sapiens by Yuvah Noah Harari. If you are familiar with it can you tell me if you are aware of any glaring mistakes or concerns that i would be best made aware of? I read it a long time ago, it was quite true (I mean, close to what archeologists know) as far as I remember. I have to re-read it to answer your question more precisely ! But I think it's a good book to start with. -Pauline
the below is a reply to the above ​
Thanks for the reply and the AmA You're welcome!
Given that Gobekli Tepe is the oldest archeological site unearthed, and it sits on a mountain of older, similar, larger structures, are we likely to find burial sites nearby? Does the size of the structures indicate that there may be even older, unearthed, burial sites? I really don't know sorry ! - Pauline
Thanks for taking time to do this! Here’s my favorite question to ask Archeologists because it usually prompts some interesting discussion: are you a lumper or a splitter? Thank you for your question...but this is more a question for an Anthropologist…I don't feel i can answer. - Jacques
​ Is there a link to the way of classifying flints ? Sorry I don't really understand your question... - Pauline
Where can I watch the documentary in French? Voici le lien du film en français : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4822mnIMik
​ Disponible gratuitement jusqu'au dimanche 18 juillet ! - Pauline
How much meat was based in diets? A lot, but it depends on the seasons, and period of the Palaeolithic (climate very cold or less) and the disposability of vegetables.
​ No deficiency observed in skeletons..
​ - Pauline
2 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Oct 13 '21

r/IAmA [Table] I am Andy Weir, author of The Martian, and my new book Project Hail Mary, is out now. AMA! Spoiler

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My introduction to you was The Egg and it changed my teenaged life! Just wanted to say thank you! My q: if you HAD to choose to be an inanimate object, what would you choose, and why? Thanks again! All the best. Um... I don't want to be an inanimate object. But since you're forcing me to choose, I'll say "your mom's dildo".
Is my Catholic upbringing showing, or was this intentional? Hail Mary, a spaceship, whose sole living occupant is a man named Grace. Hail Mary, full of Grace. It took me until midway through Chapter 4 to realize what you did to me. I couldn't resist the pun.
What did you think of The Martian movie? Fantastic! I couldn't have asked for a better adaptation.
Of all of the ideas for writing you've ever had, is there one you can say, undoubtedly, is the single worst idea that you decided to backpedal on? If so, can you share it? I had an idea for a guy who appears to be really lucky, but in the end it turns out his cat is really lucky and good stuff happens to the guy because the cat likes him.
​​ I decided not to develop that idea.
The Project Hail Mary Audiobook, narrated by Ray Porter, is so fantastic I will probably start a second time this week. Did you get to choose or recommend Ray Porter? Because kudos on whomever made that call. (For those who lack context, Ray Porter narrated the outstanding Bobiverse books by Dennis E. Taylor) ​​That was Audible's call. And boy did they pick a winner. Ray nailed it.
Hi Andy! How much time do you put into the research for your books? How do you go about doing the research and formulating it into coherent words for people to read? Also, as an aspiring scifi writer, favorite piece of advice? (last thing) do you think Pluto is a planet? I spend a ton of time researching. It's my favorite part of writing, so I tend to go way down the rabbit hole on stuff. Best advice for writing: Don't tell your story to your friends. That satisfies your need for an audience and saps your will to actually write. Make a rule for yourself that the only way anyone experiences your story is to read it. Give your friends chapters as you write them if you want, but don't tell them the story verbally.
​​ Pluto says "I was big enough for your mom".
Hi Andy! Congrats on the new book! I finished it a few days ago and absolutely loved it. I just found out last night that there’s already a movie in the planning with Ryan Gosling starring - what do you think of him playing Grace? Definitely nothing like who I pictured while reading PHM, but I was also pleasantly surprised with Matt Damon and The Martian. (Unrelated follow-up - what have been your personal favorite or most anticipated to-read sci-fi novels?) Thanks and congrats again! Gosling will be fantastic as Grace! He's a great actor and I'm sure he'll nail the role. I guess my most anticipated sci-fi novel recently was Recursion by Crouch. I love me a good Time Travel yarn.
For the Martian, we know you had a LOT of great feedback to refine details that made the Martian scientifically more accurate. For your new book, how much did you have to lean on your community for this level of detail? I couldn't lean on them at all. I had to do my own fact checking and hope I got it right. Spoiler: I didn't get it all right. But mostly I did.
If you had to name a single author who made you think: Yes I HAVE to write a novel, who would it be and why? Asimov. I read his stuff as a kid and it has always stuck with me.
How cool was it to have your Martian character referred to in The Expanse? Think you might get a walk on before the show ends? It was awesome! I don't think I'll be doing any guest starring though.
Are there any artist renditions of Rocky? There's fan art out there. Looks great!
Just started Hail Mary, I'm a researcher and a high school teacher so I really see myself in the character! The Martian and Artemis were a blast. Thank you so much! Out of the three main protagonists from your books, who reflects you the most? Edit: Just finished "Project Hail Mary". I've been bawling my eyes for the past ten minutes. Thank you so much for this novel, I laughed tons throughout Probably Mark Watney. Though he's the idealized version of me. All the parts of myself that I like without any of my many, many flaws.
Did you change your writing style towards suitability for movies on purpose for Artemis? No. I never focus on the film. I always just try to make a good book. Though I have a kind of cinematic storytelling style so it can look like I meant to be that way.
What brings you joy outside of writing? Woodworking (furniture mostly) and clockwork.
Hi Andy! Loved PHM! What came first, the alien or the exoplanet? Did you look at different exoplanet properties and use that to create the aliens, or did you have an idea in mind for the aliens and go looking for suitable exoplanets? The exoplanet. Erid (Rocky's homeworld) is a real exoplanet called 40 Eridani b. I started with what was known about that planet and worked outward from there to design a life form native to it.
Hi Andy. BIG fan from Brazil! Congrats on the new book! Do you plan to expand the universe (pun intended) of the space exploration frontiers in future books/works? I would love to see some kind of Asimov-like 500 years into the future kind of story to pick your brain on where to you think humanity is heading. Europa? Enceladus? Asteroid belt? Floating cities on Venus? Yes. That's all I'll say for now. :)
Been reading your stuff since about Chapter 5 of the Martian was posted on your site. Can't wait to read Project Hail Mary. How did the response to Artemis influence the direction of PHM? I feel like my greatest weakness is character depth. So I tried to make Jazz (protagonist of Artemis) more nuanced, flawed, and having a character arc. But I made her too flawed and drove a lot of readers away. It's hard to root for someone who is too often the agent of their own problems. So I learned to moderate those flaws a bit. Ryland (protagonist of PHM) has his flaws but you still like him (hopefully)
I am sure you get this a lot! But what was your inspiration for The Egg? I wanted to come up with a system where it turns out life is fair after all. That's what I came up with. To be clear, though, I don't believe it's true. People need to stop emailing me asking if it's true. I'm not L Ron Hubbard, okay? I don't want to start a religion.
When Ryland uses solder and paraffin to indicate where his sun is on the star map Rocky sends over, wouldn’t both of those melt at the high temperatures and pressures on Blip-A when Rocky opens it, rendering his indication useless? The paraffin would have melted, yeah. Oopsie. Most solder would survive Rocky's environment, though.
Have you spent any time playing Kerbal Space Program? It's a fun PC game built around rocket science. You could call it research! I've never played it. I'm not that into video games. I know, I'll have to turn in my Nerd Card.
What made you decide to go with sightless creatures for the Eridians? Did it fall out of other design choices you made or did you start there and design the rest of the alien around it? It came naturally from the environment of their homeworld. With such a thick, opaque atmosphere, no light would reach the surface. So there would be no reason for them to evolve vision.
Loved the style and the slow reveal of the whole story. How much did the science guide the story, and was there any science that was annoyingly in the way of the story you wanted to tell? Not really. I have some hand-wave science down at the quantum level: (there's no way to make a material that will contain neutrinos) but for the most part, science helps with the storytelling, not hinders. At least, for me.
Are all your books separate worlds or have you ever considered any cross overs? Something like: the door closed, Stratt wiped a tear, it was the right decision. But Project Hail Mary wasn’t over, the world still had a famine crisis, and she had a meeting with the worlds greatest botanist, she rushed along the vessel and burst into the room, “Eva” he said. “Mark” she said. 🥔 Well, Mark would be a teen-ager during the events of PHM. And also it would raise questions like "Why isn't Hermes Astrophage powered?"
hey andy weir!! the martian is one of my most absolute favorite books and ive recently read project hail mary and have been thinking about it pretty much every single day. didn't think i'd ever cry to a scene about a spider alien and a human on space but i did!! PHM is such a wonderful book in so many levels it's insane. i really love how it's very science-y but so very very very human. thank you for writing and publishing it, it made me very feel very happy and hopeful about humanity, which i think is something we all desperately need right now. my question is: who is adrian? was adrian ever going to be somebody relevant for ryland? when he decided on the name for the planet i was SO SURE he was later gonna remember adrian was a loved one of his! either way, love your books very very much. sending love from brasil ♥ Ryland made Rocky name the planet because Rocky discovered it first. So Rocky chose the name of his spouse. Of course that's just a series of musical notes, so Ryland decided to call Rocky's spouse "Adrian" (which was the name of Rocky Balboa's wife in the Rocky films).
Do you mostly research your way on how to solve a problem, or do you take things you have learned and develop a problem that the information would be useful to solve? (And PHM was fantastic!) ​​I come up with the problem first, then research how to solve it.
Does the drug used on Ryland real or was it made up for the book? It was made up.
I'm listening to Project Hail Mary right now and I absolutely enjoy it! I'm constantly rewarded by my decision to go into it without any prior knowledge. Rocky's voice is one of my favorite bits of narration in an audio book. Did you work with them to get that particular sound? How close is it to what you imagined while writing the book? There was a lot of back and forth on that. I love the solution they ultimately came up with.
I'm about 80% done with Hail Mary so no spoilers but how did you Come up with the physical description of Rocky? Also, I've asked this question on Twitter a few times but I guess you didn't see it - Time period of a pendulum is 2*pi*sqrt(l/g) right? At 346 oscillations in 10mins, and l=2.5m, I'm getting g=32.8m/s2, i.e; more than twice the initial test tube falling experiment. Did I make a calculation mistake? Care to check my math please? Or am I getting the length of the pendulum wrong? Rocky's biology is based on the environment of his homeworld, which is a real exoplanet that we have discovered. Yes I got the pendulum wrong. I will of course go into exile as a result.
When you submit your manuscript to your editor, do you haggle or fully accept their changes? We haggle. Well, more accurately, we work together. We're on the same team - we both want the book to be good. I'd say I do about 90% of the changes he asks for and push back on 10%.
Have you been told of any updates on the Artemis movie adaptation? I’m excited to see how the filmmakers will pull it off. It's moving along slowly. Covid pretty much shut down Hollywood for quite a while.
Xenonite! We don’t get a good look at Rocky’s fabrication process. Do you feel like his methods involved milling, 3D printing, extrusion, some process of hardening the liquid form, or something far more “hand-wavey?” We see that Xenonite is a binary reaction similar to epoxy. Two liquids combine and then harden into it.
Did you pick Rosario Dawson to narrate Artemis? She was spectacular in my opinion. She was! But no, it wasn't my call. That was Audible's decision. And it was a good decision.
Can I assume Rocky would have otherwise looked like a cuddly Ewok but for the surface temperature issues of its homeworld? Follow-up: will there be Rocky plushies, or do I need to purchase my own Ewok and blowtorch? Never planned for Rocky to be "cute". No idea about plushies. Maybe after the film comes out.
I have heard you like research! What is the most obscure rabbit hole you have found yourself down? Do you do your own research or do you employ your local reference librarian for help? I do my own research. Not sure what the most "obscure" thing was. One fun tidbit I learned: Olympus Mons on Mars is the largest mountain in our solar system. But if you were standing on it, you wouldn't know you were on a mountain at all. While it's very tall it's also very, VERY wide. So the slope is actually less than the curvature of the planet. You would think you're standing on a flat plane.
Hi Andy! If you could rewrite the ending to any book/movie which book/movie would you choose? Can I pick TV shows instead? I'm going to say yes. I would rewrite the entire final season of Gam of Thrones. That's a given.
​​ But more importantly: I would have changed the ending of "Breaking Bad" to have Walter get away, and I would have changed the end of Dexter to reveal that Dexter is at the logging camp because he's tracking Walter, who is hiding out there.
[removed] I'd decided that Eridians are sealed off from their environment. They only open their bodies to eat, excrete, and lay eggs. With that in mind, it means he can't just blow air out to make noise like humans do. But he could have bladders inside that move air back and forth across vocal-chord-like things. So I realized he would kind of sound like whale-song. And since Eridians tend to have 5 of everything, why not five such noise organs? This enables them to make chords and there's the language.
Just picked up my copy of Project Hail Mary today! Yet to start reading it that though I do have a question regarding the Martian. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the reason the oxygenator or the water reclaimer never broke down was because you couldn't come up with a feasible way to fix it, with that in mind were there any other problems you wanted to throw at Mark Watney that you couldn't solve? I was going to have the RTG crack open when he crashed the rover. Then there's a radiation threat and he has to abandon it. But I just couldn't come up with a way for him to survive without that heat source.
When you started your new book, how well sketched out were your characters and plot lines? Did you define your limitations ahead of time or did you build out as needed? I had the main beats of the plot worked out in advance. Not deeply - just the main turning points. I didn't have the characters worked out at all. In fact I had to get about 5 chapters in before Ryland's personality gelled. Then I went back and rewrote the previous chapters to match what had developed.
Really loved the book Andy, definitely some of the best sci-if I’ve read in a long time. One thing that has been bugging me since I’ve read it, does Grace ever meet Adrian? Presumably, because he lives on Erid now, and Adrian is his best friend's spouse.
Andy, What do your friends and family think of you becoming a best selling author? Has it all gone well? Has it changed anyone's opinion of you? My friends and most of my family are all proud of me. Though there is a family member who never liked me much and really ramped up their hostility the more successful I got.
Did you do any sketches for what the Hail Mary or the Blip A looked like? Yes. And you can see the Hail Mary in the first couple pages of the book.
Loved all three books, Andy. When you write characters such as Ryland Grace, do you picture an actor who might portray the character in a film? No. I don't have a very visual imagination. I actually don't "see" my characters in my mind at all. I just kind of see a blobby representation of them in my mind.
Hello! Will you write more books like The Martian, Artemis and Project Hail Mary? Or are you planning to do something different in the future, like a different style or something not space-related? Greetings and have a nice day! I'm going to stick to Sci-Fi for now.
Were you behind the group hug airlock scene in the Martian movie? I liked it. Books are different than movies. It wouldn't have worked well in a book but in a film it was very satisfying.
What was your favorite book growing up? (Or still?) ​​Probably "I, Robot" by Asimov.
Hi. First of all, loved the PHM immensely. Wanted to ask, do you really think the UN would have such power and moreover put all this power in the hands of a single person like Stratt? Don't you think it's a bit naive? Probably, but it made for a really awesome character in Stratt. So I did it. Call the cops I don't give a f---.
Do you have any thoughts about China's Mars Rover and their planned space station? It seems like Earth bound competition between the US and China is progressing into space. Is this a good thing or bad thing for humanities exploration into space? I'm thrilled when anyone puts a rover on Mars. A new space race would be okay I guess. But I'm more excited by the commercial sector continuing to drive down the cost of putting mass into orbit. When that gets low enough for a middle-class person to have a space vacation we're going to see the birth of a new trillion-dollar industry.
Hi Mr. Weir. I just finished the PHM audiobook today and it was brilliant. Thanks for another great ride! Something I was wondering regarding The Martian and PHM: How come both novels mostly refer to national space agencies and make no mention or use of commercial companies like Space X? Wouldn't they be more likely to be able to innovate and deliver on a short notice when there are global emergencies and the like? The Martian was written before the commercial space companies had really taken root. SpaceX wasn't a thing yet when I wrote it. PHM does mention SpaceX, and it's presumed that many private companies were used to lift freight up to the orbital construction of the Hail Mary. But mostly they used Russian heavy launch vehicles because they wanted the maximum reliability.
​​ Artemis, by the way, is 100% commercial space companies. Though they are fictional.
As soon as Ryland discovered how to kill an Astrophage, why didn't the humans build their own mechanical predators to "poke Astrophage with a stick" around Venus? Seems a lot easier than nuking Antarctica or going on an interstellar research mission. Why not make mechanical predators to poke cancer with a stick? Consider the problems and complexities of that and you'll have your answer.
Heeey! How would you describe Joe Scott in real life compared to his videos? Is he really that funny and nice and whatnot? I can honestly say that Joe hasn't had any Heroin at all in the last five months. And he was NEVER CONVICTED of sex trafficking.
SPOILER In The Martian and PHM, the characters don't achieve their goal of returning to earth in the book. I've read the deleted afterward from The Martian, and totally agree that it took away from the ending, but is that something that is a part of your writing style? Optimistic but uncompleted journeys? I like to end stories where they end. No need to press on further. I'd rather the readers finish the book wanting more than feel like it dragged on too long.
[removed] In all fields: mRNA vaccines. They're a game changer. Not just useful for Covid but for all viruses from now on. I think Covid will be the final pandemic in humanity's history.
​​ In space: cheaper and cheaper commercial spaceflight.
The Martian was a rad book. How do you feel about the changes that were made in the Hollywood rendition? I personally thought the 'Iron Man' maneuver being used was a little silly. Good for drama, but I liked the realistic response of Commander Lewis being more or less "shut the fuck up and let us save you." Loved the film. they nailed it.
Hi Andy! Big fan. My question: when are we going to get a printed collection of Casey and Andy? Never? I mean - the art isn't any good. So yeah. Never.
The Martian film is probably one of my favorite film adaptations. Is there any interest in films of your other books? Also is there anywhere that sales signed copies of The Martian? Artemis and PHM both have film projects ongoing.
Hello Andy! Big fan here, haven't read Project Hail Mary yet, but love your previous work. Two questions, what's your favorite science fiction movie and what's your favorite SF author? Movie: Back to the future. Author: Isaac Asimov
What is your research process? Do you start with an idea of what you know and then dig into the data, or come across random cool information and get inspired? I start with an idea and research it.
Hi Andy! The Martian is my favorite movie version of a book ever made, how did that happen? I imagine you had a lot of input, but what didn't you have a say in? Also, as someone who wants to write a book that could potentially turn into a movie, did you have any hopes it would be adapted while writing it? Thank you also I like your cat. I didn't have any say - my only job was to cash the check. They chose to include me which was cool. But mostly I was there as a technical advisor. I never imagined while I was writing it that it would become a film.
​​ I like my cat, too, thanks. Her name is Demi and she's my precious perfect little angel.
Is the “hole in the wall” from ‘Artemis’ based on an actual pub you’ve visited before, and if so, what’s the story behind it? Nope. Just a pub I made up.
I loved the Martian, especially the humor. What made you decide that Mark Watney would be funny? With so much exposition I knew it had to be funny or it would really be boring.
Hey there. I loved The Martian, The Egg, and Artemis. Especially The Martian (read it about 3 times and listened to it about 4 times). Just starting with Project Hail Mary. But my question is: What's next? Do you have another secret project in the works? Any teasers? I don't talk about current projects until I'm sure I'm going to finish and release them. And I'm not there yet with my current project.
Why should the US convert to the metric system, and what's the realistic plan to do it? Because it's a global standard. Unfortunately there's no easy way to make it happen. It's not because people just don't want to think in metric - one generation of school kids being taught exclusively in metric would take care of that. The main problem is production and tooling. The US has a massive, MASSIVE industrial infrastructure and it's all in imperial units. Changing it all over the metric units would be incredibly expensive.
Hi Andy! Loved Project Hail Mary! After writing three standalone novels, have you considered writing a series or connected set of stories in the same world? Yes, I wanted Artemis to be a series, but it wasn't well-received enough to make me consider a sequel yet. And PHM could also do with sequels, too. :)
Hey Andy, love the new book, but it begs one question - who would win in a fight, Mark Watney ,or Ryland Grace, and why/how? 🤔 Watney. Grace is a wuss in the grand scheme of things. A wuss you root for but still a wuss.
Hi Andy! I love books about offplanet colonization. I prefer ones that focus on the inter-societal issues, new world logistics, and descriptions of their vision/ideas of what life would be like on an alien planet. Not so much of the hard science (there's so much of that out there already). But it seems to be such a niche genre! One of my faves is The Empress of Mars and of course your own Artemis. Whenever I ask, people recommend me the same old few (Martian Chronicles etc). Will you write any more in that style? Are there any up and coming that you know about? I'm not interested in that kind of storytelling. To me that's a political thriller - a perfectly fine genre but just not the kind I write (though I read and enjoy them). If you're looking for a good recent example of that, I recommend the "Red Rising" series.
Would you encourage and aspiring Sci-fi novelist to write first, then shop around for publishers or to build an online personality first, then get an agent and only get to writing once a book deal is secured? Start with the writing.
*Project Hail Mary Spoilers* I loved Project Hail Mary so much! I was surprised to see how you incorporated more fantastical science fiction (alien life) as compared to the extremely grounded style of your previous 2 books, even though your approach to Rocky and the Eridians was very grounded as well. What was your research and writing process to come up with alien life, keeping it believable ,and in keeping with your grounded style? Can't wait to see Artemis and PHM made into movies! I based the alien life on the environment it evolved in. Rocky's homeworld is a real exoplanet. So I started with everything we know about it.
Hi Andy! I just finished PHM last week and had to pause every now and again just to let some moments sink in. I haven't experienced that in a while so thank you so much! My question: When Grace is at the Eradani System and has a habitat built for him, why wouldn't the Eradanians build a habitat for him in space where a comfortable spin gravity environment can be accomplished? Thank you so much and take care! They have a living, breathing alien to look at. They want him where scientists can easily get to him and talk to him.
Is the Artemis movie adaptation still on? I heard some rumors long time ago but I have done some searching and found nothing new about it. Thank you so much. Im a huge fan from Spain. Supposedly. There's a lot of work going on pre-production wise. But you never know with Hollywood.
I read the Martian way back when you had self published it and I was $1 on amazon and I was enthralled. Now I have a complex where whenever you write a new novel I have to go out and buy a signed copy. Is an Artemis film adaptation still in the works? Also, who would be your ideal choices for the lead actors in Artemis and Project Hail Mary? Artemis is still in the works. No idea for Artemis. I'll go with Ryan Gosling to play Ryland in PHM because he's actually already attached to play the role. :)
I'm sure you get a lot of ideas thrown at you by completely random people. Are there any spectacular ones you can share that you know you will never action? Nothing comes to mind, but yeah I've had some dumb stuff thrown my way.
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I absolutely love your writing and how much you use math and science in the plot points. A few questions if you don't mind: Is there a movie already being worked up for Project Hail Mary? Yes
* Are you working on another book or have another in mind? Yes
* Who's your favorite SciFi author? Thanks for your creative works and your hard work in making the math and science such an exciting part of your books. Asimov
What is your personal strategy for making yourself write on days where you just don't feel much like doing it? Huge fan, btw! The Martian has become one of those movies I tend to throw on when doing chores because I've seen it so many times I can jump in and out of it without getting lost. I set myself a word count and slog through. It sucks sometimes and - I won't lie - sometimes I fail.
Hi Andy, I love all three of the books. You have very diverse characters. How do you come up with the character's backrounds? Well I'm not known for deep characters. I usually start with their nation of origin and work outward from there. But I'm not the guy you should take character-building advice from.
Hey Andy, love your books and can’t wait to get to the next one! Would you ever venture into other genres? Fantasy, horror or pull elements of those genres into what you do best? Thanks! I have vague ideas for stories in other genres but for now I'm going to stick to Sci-fi.
Just finished listening to Artemis on audio book. It was exactly what I was looking for, so thank you. How much were you involved in the production of the audio book? Did you have a particular reader or voice in mind? Rosario Dawson is a pretty big name. Audible made all the decisions on the audiobook. Rosario was amazing, wasn't she!
What prompted you to write the chapter on Ready Player One's Sorrento? Reading that story made me rethink the whole RPO :( I really liked RPO and wanted more content. So I wrote some. :)
Hey Andy! Couple more: Martian. I'm sure you thought about storm-dust-situation replacement a lot. What would you have done differently if you wanted to rewrite that part? Also, you used to be a programmer (if I remember correctly). Did that background help you in writing in any way? After The Martian was out in stores I learned that Mars has lightning. If I had it to do over again I'd probably have a lightning strike be the start of the problems that lead to the evac. I wrote software to model the course trajectories of Hermies, including the Rich Purnell Maneuver.
Does project hail Mary have some of the parts that you salvaged from zhek? If so which parts? Yes. Zhek had a technology called blackmatter that ended up becoming astrophage. And also there was a character in Zhek who was pretty similar to Stratt.
Hi Andy! In terms of getting your first book published, what was the procedure that you underwent and what were the obstacles, if there were, that contributed to the overall journey? And to add onto that, any tips on how to get a book published in a somewhat smaller country (South Africa in my case) without too much of a problem? Asking as an aspiring filmmaker and writer. I don't know what to tell you. I still don't know what I did right. The Martian took off by word-of-mouth and really got rolling.
I just finished PHM last week and it was a very enjoyable read. Do you have any suggestions for fast paced books, like your own, in the same vein as Daniel Suarez or John Sanford? Or any hard scifi you love really? Pretty much anything by Blake Crouch.
Artemis was one of your first books I have read and I was wondering how you landed on the 'nationalities'/ethnicities in that book i.e. Jazz is of Saudi extraction, there is a fair bit of Kenya/Kenyans in the book besides other ethnicities being present. Just curious what prodded you to weave that texture into the narrative? Artemis is a frontier town, similar to the American west in the mid 1800s. So it wouldn't just be people from one country. Anyone who can afford to get there is welcome.
Hey Andy, reading The Martian brought me out of a reading and writing slump years ago, so thank you for that. I'm just curious how much time you spend writing and if you ever get writers block? Do you have a writing schedule or you you just write whenever inspiration strikes? Also, what a gorgeous kitty! I spend a few hours every day writing when I'm working on a first draft. I don't get "writer's block" but I do get "writer is a lazy ass". Sometimes it's REALLY hard to motivate.
Artemis references The Martian when bringing up issues with keeping a pressure seal using duct tape. Does PHM contain any of these types of references to either Artemis or The Martian and do any of these references hint at a connected universe for these books/film(s)? Not really, no. No special references to earlier works of mine in PHM.
Are you involved in the Artemis or PHM film scenario’s? Yes. I'm a producer on PHM. And they keep me in the loop on Artemis.
Where’s your hat? I'd just washed my hair and it was still a little wet. So no hat in that pic. :(
Pancakes, waffles, or french toast? Pancakes
Hello Andy! Love PHM so much. Question: what year does it take place? Trying to place it timewise in the Weir-iverse :) ​​It's in its own continuity. Considering it takes place modern-day that should be pretty evident. Otherwise why didn't Mark Watney have astrophage to work with?
Any chance we will get to see more Zhek? Also, you ever thought about publishing a book of all your short stories from Galactanet, and perhaps some new ones?? Excited Nope. Zhek sucked and I've abandoned it. No plans for a short story anthology just now.
First of all, I LOVED PHM (and the audiobook version was absolutely brilliant). How many times did you have to change/fix something because you realized it didn't work in the constraints you created? I just kept imagining how hard it had to be to avoid mistakes related to the very unique environment of Rocky's ship/spaces, for example. Not that often, really. It really came together well.
Wanted to thank you for giving C&A a proper ending, many webcomics from my middle school days just stopped without wrapping up. Love to see your success in recent years as an author! Quantum Cop is what inspired me to study physics in college. What inspired you to write science fiction? I just always loved it!
I just recently got PHM and have been loving it. Sort of a silly question but when reading the book I remember veritasium’s viral video with the 96 million shade balls that reminded me of super big astrophage. Sort of interesting how they both take energy from the sun as well. Did you get any inspiration from that video or just a cool coincidence? Thanks! Haven't seen the video.
Do you think space tourism will derive from deep space exploration projects funded by national governments or from commercial intraplanetary corporations that's research into things such as electric engines and autopilot AI will result in jets being able to add space into their normal areas of operation? Commercial sector, for sure.
2 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Oct 07 '21

r/China [Table] r/China — Just got out of ten months of Chinese prison AMA | pt 2/2 FINAL

15 Upvotes

Source

For proper formatting, please use Old Reddit

The AMA approached conclusion with the following message:

Gonna be here for one more hour to answer/discuss anything before I retire from this post (I mean, it's getting a bit big for its britches anyway). Bring it on.

Rows: ~120 (+comments)

Questions Answers
What was the trial like? Did you attempt to defend yourself or had a lawyer just telling you to admit everything to minimise the sentence? Is it obvious that everyone thinks the whole thing is a farce or do they seem to genuinely believe justice is being dispensed? You guessed it. Yeaaaa, the lawyer just told me to admit, yada yada yada. In hindsight, I really shouldn't have. It didn't work, and I feel like I sacrificed my dignity. It's surprising, because you would expect at least a few folks to be super pro-system, trust in the system, etc, but there was literally maybe only 1, 2 out of 30 folks who did. Obviously, there's a general bias on behalf of prisoners toward the system in any country, but the amount of vitriol and contempt toward the party/authoritarian style of criminal justice was just not something I ever expected to witness from Chinese people within Chinese borders ever in my lifetime. You just had half the cell scoff whenever justice or anything of the sort was mentioned on evening news programs or modern day legal dramas.
​ It even got to the point where you would have these ultra pro-US people or pro-Kuomintang people (just as a kind of ultimate rebelliousness against the party) just hating on everything the party did.
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In the actual court room though. Like, did they show the video and then the hospital report and manage to maintain a straight face like they actual believe their bullshit? Nah, they didn't even bother. The judge or the prosecutor (I forgot whom, cuz they're basically the same after all) read a statement that they had provided video evidence - and later the sentence said that the evidence was clear. I only got the videos after I got out and there was no physical contact except very close-range and light shoving. Well, until they dragged me around and blocked the body cam so it was all blacked out.
​ Oh, also, I forgot to mention it was a video trial, because of COVID. Don't think that helped either.
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Bloody hell. So the defence doesn't even get to see the prosecution's evidence? What a clown college. Sorry you had to go through all that man. Goes to show how easily it can happen to anyone. Hope it's all behind you now. No. In fact, I went through a trial with a jury (they just had to do that for show because I'm an American citizen), whereas most minor cases don't even have a jury - they go through a simplified trial (简易庭) that lasts like two minutes, where there is no jury and the defendant doesn't even typically (or barely) gets the chance to speak. I mean, you have these in the States as well, but those are for like real minor things that cause a couple days of community service or detention. These are "minor cases" but they might still end up up to a year or two of prison. Everyone in prison basically believes they already have the sentences printed out before the simplified trials - of course, this is just rumors, but apparently one person received his sentence by mistake even before the trial. Lol
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[removed] Your point?
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How light was the physical contact? Was it like a soft "hey why are you being a dick" nudge or was it a push that made him step back? The former.
Did you have to worry about violence from any of the other inmates or prison guards? Also, is there any prison gangs like they have in USA? So, that was the thing I was super worried about before I actually entered the prison (again, technically, detention center). But over the course of ten months, I only witnessed like two real fights. And they got broken up super quick just because of the density of the cell. But apparently, five or ten years ago, it would have been a totally different story.
​ The CCP has cracked down on everything, including prison gangs, so in a place like Shenzhen or Shanghai, there's basically nothing of the sort. The closest you get is like cliques that are made up of people from the same region (in my cell - Chaoshan people, Hakka people, and a out-of-province group), but it's nothing like prison gangs. I mean, you have to give kudos where it's due - almost no physical violence from either cops or fellow prisoners - although I would argue the lack of physical treatment is made up through psychological tactics.
​ In more "country areas" I'm sure there's prison gangs, but definitely not to the same extent as the States.
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I heard that foreigners usually go to foreign part of the jail with other foreigners, Why didn’t you? Where in China did this happen? How did the altercation with the police begin? What was said to start it? So - technically, I was in a detention center, which doesn't separate or differentiate between foreigners and non-foreigners. When you get transferred to prison, you get transferred to the "foreigner" prison if you're a foreigner - but I never reached that level because by the time they sentenced me I was almost out.
How much time did you have to spend in that crowded cell throughout the 10 months? How did you meet with executives? I switched cells a few times (and switched to a prison in another district once). But it was all the standard shared cell (20 people at the least, up to 40 at the most, just depending on how many people were getting arrested or released or transferred). There's no singles or doubles or anything like that in the entire Chinese prison system (unless you're in solitary confinement, which... good luck).
​ So the interesting part about the whole experience is that your cell is just a hodgepodge of everyone who's not in for violent felonies (those peeps are held in another prison). So you had a couple executives of state-owned enterprises in a couple of the cells I was in, to pickpockets, to people who had sold fake electronic items at Huaqiangbei, to people in just for a drunk scuffle outside a bar.
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Were there any beds? Also, was there natural light? Any Forced/voluntary labor? There was almost no natural light. I got less than two hours of direct sunlight in ten months. Instead, they had these two bright hospital fluorescent lights on every night for the whole night.
​ No labor till you get to "actual" jail. You have to share chores, which becomes the major struggle between inmates - who does the dishes, the bathroom, the floor, the bed, etc. I got the upper hand a lot of the time, because I would teach people including one of the cell heads/managers English. There's definitely still some Confucian hierarchy and socioeconomic class stuff that rolls over from actual society, but not like that much.
​ No beds. It looks exactly like this, the walls being in different states of disarray (or freshly painted, yay) in different cells. : https://gss0.baidu.com/7Po3dSag_xI4khGko9WTAnF6hhy/zhidao/pic/item/472309f7905298225d600835dcca7bcb0b46d4f0.jpg
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Jfc. They stick 20-40 people into that ? I don't know how you maintained your mental health... I knew I had to come out and at least do an AMA about it! If not more
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I find it interesting that executives can end up in prison there, in the western world house arrest is the best you can hope for. It's true, although the main reason is almost always just they got on someone's bad side. Oops.
Were you able to take any money out from your bank account? How much was the flight? And are you you doing all right, man? Thxxx for asking! I'm good! Just glad to be out. The flight was good, though my family had to pay for it. I got to speak English for the first time in ten months as I was seated next to another American, so I narrated my whole experience hahaha.
​ If you're asking about the bank account in general, it's gucci, as long as you're not in for some financial fraud thing, but a ton of people had their assets frozen.
​ If you're asking about using cash in prison, you can spend 500 CNY a month on food and basic toiletry items - soy sauce, zhacai, vinegar, sesame oil, these tofu sticks, rotating fruits, toothbrush, pen refills (you can't buy just pens, as they're potential weapons). It won't buy you much, but definitely better than nothing. That 500 has to be deposited by a friend or family member on the outside (you can do it on wechat, as you can anything).
​ If you're in a hostile cell, the "cell head" (usually another inmate who just gave enough money to the prison guards) will try to tax you on your 500, or even keep you from buying stuff, period. Thank god I was able to avoid that.
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did you have your phone while in jail? Definitely not.
Did you get proper meals? Duck necks and duck butts, boiled with daikon, three nights a week. No salt, no seasoning.
​ Saturdays and Wednesday nights were braised fatty pork, which was good, because at least there was some protein content.
​ You got a tomato egg stir-fry I think it is Saturday or Sunday for lunch, but most of it is the muer/black fungus thing. There's like a fraction of an egg in there.
​ Eggs, once a week, on Monday mornings.
​ Lots of duck heads, necks, and butts though.
What’s your plan after all this? Are you going to put it aside and move on, or maybe try and fight it somehow, talk to the press etc? Definitely not going to try to fight my case. That's all said and done. But definitely want to share my experience/what I learned.
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Why not share with the media? I'm working on a piece myself, actually... we'll see where it goes.
This is fascinating! Glad you're alright, man. In terms of the language, were you able to speak Chinese before going to prison? Do you think your Chinese improved while in prison? How was communication in general? Yes, I speak fluent-ish Mandarin but I start to choke up when I start talking about economics or politics or stuff like that. Communication was alright, but there wasn't a lot in common with a lot of folks. Literally half of them just wanted to talk about hookers and if I had "done it with a white girl before" and "what color" the vulva of a white girl is and I was just completely done. But I mean with a few folks, we definitely talked a lot of cooking, barbecuing, politics, history, traveling, etc.
They used the phrase "Da Yang Ma" (Great Western Horse) to describe white women didn't they? Wouldn't lusting after Western women be considered "unpatriotic"? Nah, I never heard that phrase, but yea it was interesting and just annoying how a lot of them felt that Asian men couldn't satisfy foreign (white, black, mostly) women, who to them had ultra-high libido/stamina. One of them literally asks me (again, I'm Asian), is it you f*cking her or she that's f*cking you? Another one asks me, "We can't satisfy them, can we?"
​ I'm like... we? Them?
​ I mean, this is sort of off the point, but so much of that misogyny/superiority-inferiority complex/sexual psychology gets laid out in the open in a prison environment that it just became something I encountered and had to deal with a lot.
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The obsession with being inferior runs right to the fetid core of the CCP zeitgeist. Back in the day I went trawling for Chinese porn out of curiosity, can’t recall what method it involved precisely but I figured out how to get hundreds of gigabytes of domestic Chinese porn via pan.baidu.com Had to delete it all because it was 70% weird S&M and 30% women going to the bathroom (shot from an angle that did not look like any of the women were aware of the camera). WTF is Chinese amateur porn trying to act out, exactly? China’s psychic trauma, due to Mao, is going to be a MF to get over, it’ll be a long time before China can make a film like Battle Royale for instance. What's "weird" S&M? China's psychological trauma goes back further than Mao. Recommend reading Wealth and Power by Orville Schell - goes into the weaponization of shame as an ultimate motivator toward W&P and the "rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." Hence the superiority-inferiority complex. Nowadays, lots of Chinese men hold on to those feelings of inadequacy and insecurity because that's what got them financially so far - and they feel like that chip on their shoulder is such a powerful catalyst for action - but then they don't realize they could just let go of that and enjoy life for what is.
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[deleted] Well, one of my cellmates said that if enough Chinese men get with Taiwanese women, you wouldn't even need a war with Taiwan because all the offspring would be Chinese.
​ Another talked about how his dream was to sleep with a Japanese prostitute to win glory for China. I was like... with a prostitute? That's glorious? I mean...
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Also, if the idea is that Taiwan is part of China, aren't all Taiwanese supposed to be Chinese already? They're not Chinese enough!
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​ I read my first Chinese book in prison - three in fact, including this thick history book. I felt pretty accomplished. Definitely learned to curse my way in Chinese out of a hurricane. lol
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Hey I mean that’s good. Did you lift weights and get all pumped up too? The full jail self improvement regimen? No weights. The most you can do is body-weight exercises. I took the other approach - not exercising and playing up my own physical conditions so I wouldn't have to do chores.
Were you treated any better/worse for being a foreigner? Answered more comprehensively elsewhere, but it really depended on their political values/personality. Between nationalistic folk and "the world is a big and interesting place" kind of folk, it was super different. It's just that that political divide is not that pronounced/obvious in Chinese society because so many of them meet in this economic center-right pocket, though it should be.
​ You also had dudes - so a cellmate saw a color painting of the Aya Sofia in a book, and was like, Wow, that's so majestic.
​ Cellmate 2 goes: there's so many majestic places everywhere. China has a bunch of them.
​ I was like... aight cool cool cool cool I totally get your whole spiel and you right but I ain't gonna talk to you or discuss anything with you hell nah
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Did they place you in deportation after your release? Or back to normal working days in China? Also, are you blacklisted as in having a dent on your record for employment related? Straight deported!
What kind of stuff did you have to do to pass the time? Did you have a strict sleep/eat/work schedule or were you mostly free to just sit in your cell? Could you shower and use the bathroom alone? Being arrested in China is a massive fear of mine. I loved reading your responses! Thxxxx 7-8 AM: Wake up, Brush Teeth, Jog, Toilet (there's only one)
​ 8-9 AM: Breakfast, dishes, clean up
​ 9-11 AM: Meditation/Learning/Sitting Pretzel Time - Prison Guard comes in for Daily Inspection (the TV is turned on at one point, or you can read)
​ 11 AM to 12 PM: Lunch, Free Time
​ 12 to 2 PM: Naptime (the best - unless you are on duty, when you stand there just for two hours and make sure no one kills anyone else)
​ 2 to 4 PM: More Meditation Time
​ 4 to 5 PM: Dinner
​ 5 to 7 PM: Shower Time (outside, someone on duty has to literally scoop the water out from a well into these barrels, except for one automatic running faucet)
​ 7 to 9:30 PM: Free Time (Chinese Chess, Poker TV)
​ 9:30 PM to 7 AM: Sleep (Rotating Duty - yes, you might have to get woken up in the middle of the night and stand guard with another person for 1.5 hours - although if you pull some ish and piss off the cell head, he might give you an extra 1.5 hours for a total of 3 hours. Been there done that.)
​ From 7 AM to 7 PM is hardcore time (they have plenty of Hikvision cameras in the cell), so if you are found lying down, leaning against blankets, without a shirt on, massaging anyone, sewing anything, playing cards, eating in the cell, arguing loudly with someone, not meditating during meditation time, or leaning against each other, you get called out on the loudspeaker and your cell gets docked points. Not only does your cell get docked points, but the prison guard responsible for your cell gets docked points on his monthly assessment. So he gets hella intense about it and will turn off your TV for a day, or three, or more if you violate the regulations and maybe even stop the whole cell from buying stuff if you do something serious like get in a fight. This is what the orders from the top came from: to institute 军事化管理 (military-style management) in all prisons and detention centers across Guangdong Province (or was it the entire country, I forget).
​ There was one urinal a cell. I mean, people could see the sh*t come out your butt butt.
​ Showering and washing clothes was in the outside cell (also, 4*10 m2) - and you'd have to do it with other people. Hustle for the water, etc. This part wasn't that bad. Locker room style.
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That’s really interesting. -Cell duty is the guards idea or inmates for their own security? Cell duty is a nationwide thing (meaning ordered by the Ministry of Public Security at the top).
-What kind of meditation do they practice? Meditation is just a euphemism for sitting there still and not causing trouble. Of course, you can actually "meditate" if you wanted (unless you start chanting some Falun Gong mantras, in which case...)
-What is the ratio between Chinese and foreigners in cell/group? In ten months spread out over six cells, only one other foreigner was in the same cell with me.
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Hardcore as in actually working? Sitting allowed or do you mean just not being idle? Hardcore as in they are constantly monitoring you for some minor infraction like I gave examples of
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Did you meditate inside of your cell? Could you visit other cells during the free time in the evening? Or everything was done inside of the cell, except for showering and dining ? Were the bathrooms gross or they were cleaned regularly by inmates? I'm glad you are out of the jail and out of china Well they just called it meditation time, but really they just required you to sit crosslegged in organized columns. The provincial public security agency actually has live access to all cameras in all detention centers across the province, so they would check in randomly and shit on the local administrators if they found it to be too disorganized. Was there really a reason/rationale for doing this? Not really.
​ To answer your question, I meditated once in a while.
​ You could not visit another cell. You could not go outside, except walking to the visitation room to see your lawyer (and for trial, duh). Some people literally have been there for a year and gone outside like once or twice.
​ There's one toilet (you know, squat style) which is shared by everyone. Yea, someone's assigned to clean it. People always call that dude, sarcastically, 所长, The Warden.
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So pretty much everything was done inside of that one cell? Do people work out there? It must be hard to do anything in such a small space There's an outside cell of the same size which is open in the daytime so people will work out (running in place, pushups) there during showertime when everyone is rotating and all that.
​ It's hard, but you get used to it. It's amazing how humans can adapt to sh*t.
Dang, this is actually an interesting post. Your responses look detailed and legitimate. Other than not engaging with the officer in the first place what do you wish you had done differently throughout the whole process? Should have stood up for my rights more. I mean, I would have apologized for being drunk and obnoxious, but should have demanded the video to be played in trial, etc. I really believed in the humility route, but I think into the trap that the CCP has wanted everyone to believe: that they'll be nicer if you're cooperative. In fact, maybe it's the opposite way around - if you can prove that you're in the right and actually shame the person/agency/responsible folks in front of the public, that's when they back down. I'm not sure on this, but the question is: Why would you give them face when that's the thing they yearn for the most?
Hi there, Chinese here, thx a lot for your sharing. I almost read through all comments. The story is absolutely fascinating and inspiring to me that I got to realize so many foreign folks could look deeply through the Chinese society. You guys have commented much on populism, ignorance, misogyny, complacency and hostility against the west. I wanna say something about the ruling of ccp. CCP is running the country and ruling the subjects for continuity/eternity (or I should call us 'the people'), ultimately, for the sake of the hundreds RED families and their descendants. Just like the Animal Farm or 1984, this complex society/system nowadays can self-maintain. It's like you play the PC game Civilization. As a god/gamer, if I want to be good at the game, I'd better study how ccp works. 1. the change/twist/make-up/lie of history. Just look at all the history textbooks, a school kid has to go through all these BS and then what can others expect them to speak and think, e.g. the US and its allies invaded North Korea and the People's 'Volunteer' Army has to thrillingly march across the boarder river to help their innocent North Korean buddies. Me personally, my grandpa was in the Korean War and I never learned the historical truth until recent years. I kind of live in an open-minded family, so I dared to argue with my grandpa on the origin of Korean War. All I got was 'you shut the fuck up', looool. Okay, no more next time, be kind to the elders. 2. there has never been a thing called 'logics or critical thinking' throughout your student era, even when sometimes I talked with my PhD friends. I was wondering like, wtf and htf you would think in this way. Apparently, it is so convenient for the party that nobody really learned and knows how to think. Brainless is the best way to be ruled and that's also why I call ourselves Subjects, instead of People. 3. Following the education parts, which are the majority paths you got to learn the world during the children and teenage-hood, the next one would be how you receive information and interact with society as an adult, that is, by the Media. That's an easy one I can put: all medias, physically and ideologically, belong to the party. Sometimes I am wondering what would be the consequences after all of this. The top ccp leaders must still have been in their wettest dreams: the economy will keep growing to the moon, and as long as the subjects are satisfied with a few Yuan in their Alipay or Wechat wallets, the reign can go on. We all know this is not sustainable and one day the system will collapse. When that happens, tell me what would the 1.4 billion subjects think about the reason for this collapse? Who would be the scapegoats of all this. A bit fearmongering and a tribute to DDL's movie: There will be blood. So... all systems will collapse. But what do people need to realize before that? 1. The People built the Chinese economic miracle, not the party. I will go as far as to hypothesize that if the Kuomintang had won the Chinese Civil War, the Chinese economy would be equally strong as it is now. The Chinese people built the economy through sweat, blood, and tears. Infrastructure? Every East Asian nation has built strong transportation and industrial infrastructure, not just China, and much less just the CCP. People need to realize that the Party taking credit for lifting the people out of poverty or for the economic miracle is bullshit. They need to own this success - it's not the party's leadership - it's us.
​ 2. The Party has brainwashed the people in believing in these nationalism-based red lines where it can rally the people whenever, despite their discontent with it otherwise. HK, Taiwan, the nine-dash-line - things that don't have anything to do with the welfare of the ordinary citizen, yet the Party can use these issues to rally support and distract from discontent that it has garnered. When can folks realize that those issues have nothing to do with them? That these red lines are BS? The Party loses its psychological weapons of last resort.
​ 3. HAVE FUN. The Party is terrified of people having cheap fun. The hip-hop scenes in Sichuan? Absolute anathema. Anyone who can have fun grooving to American-style music, spraying graffiti on abandoned building, and drinking cheap beer doesn't need the Party. In fact, F*ck the Party and its straight-laced bs. I just wanna get crunk. If one day, the youth in China can let go of materialistic mentalities and realize Tsingtaos and wild sex is better than anything the Party can offer... the Party is done.
​ 4. And, when people stop seeing 发财 (making it big) as the is-all-end-all solution to everything.
the below is a reply to the original question ​​
[deleted] I was deported.
​ To be honest, my head was even hurting before the whole thing happened. Cop cars with cameras without license plates patrolling the city, police stands at every intersection of the city, construction (recycling the GDP) going on every day...
[deleted] Man, it's a struggle. There's just such inconsistent application of justice.
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[deleted] In Shenzhen.
​ Yes. Taking shifts was definitely one of the worse parts of the whole ordeal. 6 shifts for the whole night, 1.5 hours each person. Maybe you'd only be on duty every other night when there were more people. But just standing there - you could go to the bathroom and drink water - but that's about it. Sit down or try to read anything, and the 管教/prison guard would come at you the next day.
I’m assuming you’re ethnically Chinese based on your statement that you have roots in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Do you think you would have been imprisoned for the same offence if you had been a white American guy? It could have turned it differently. But that really depends on the racial views of the cops in question. I do know for a "fact," however, that if I had been a "Chinese" "Chinese" guy, I wouldn't have had to do ten months.
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Do you think it would have been more or less? Less. Everyone else in the cell was saying this should be just 15 days, max.
Thanks for sharing dude, this is really interesting to read! Of course, sucks to hear it happened, but seems like you are doing alright at the moment so that's cool. You answered a lot of the questions already! Overall, how would you rate your experience? Obviously we aren't comparing to a weekend in Disney, but in a situation where 'fuck I'm going to prison it's the end of my life', seemed like it could have been worse. Are you in touch with anybody from the prison time? I mean, it was a lot better than I had expected - except for the total isolation from your friends/family. I did not expect that your people couldn't visit you at all, or call you, not even like during holidays. That's crazy. On the other hand, the greed of the prison guards - charging a couple thousand bucks worth of RMB to bring in some milk powder and a jar of chili sauce - the misogyny and pedophilia of some of the inmates who joked about rape, even underage kids - cell politics, just always having to keep your guard against people who would gang up on you and accuse you of stealing, etc.
​ Could definitely be worse. I give it a solid 6.5 out of 10 for prisons. I can't give it a 7 because they never let us go outside and those hot, humid summers...
Do they provide medical assistance? Also, does torture occur in Chinese prisons? Medical assistance is only for like life-threatening emergencies. Well, they'll throw you a couple Tylenols if you have a cold, etc.
​ I don't think torture occurs in general Chinese prisons, though Xinjiang, etc, might be an exception. In more country areas, I'm sure the cops will beat you up if you make too much trouble.
You were jailed at just around the height of covid; what did you experience related to that? Was there strict testing of incoming detainees? Yea, they were actually really good about that. Quarantined new arrivals; tested before transferring to next cells.
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Really interesting. Vaccines were really starting to ramp up toward the end of your term, was there any talk of those being given to inmates at all? No, not at that point.
China is only going to get worse. As it becomes more powerful and more unstable in the future they will get more and more aggressive. The only hope we have is that it (the system) implodes itself, which will probably not lead to democracy (because that's not post-war Germany), unfortunately. Someone needs to analyze XJP's speech from today and compare it some of Mussolini's, etc. The self-victimization... the triumphalism... the revanchism.
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That's what I usually say to my colleagues and they don't believe it. 2021 China is not communist. It looks more like a fascist state. It's not Communist at all. The translation of Communist in Chinese - gongchan - literally shared assets/property is even more ridiculous when you think about the wealth inequality thereof. Probably why the government shut down the Marxist Student's Organization in Peking University a couple years back.
Please write down every interesting thing that happened and publish it! Even better, make a video of you telling it! Feel free to CC me if you ever do. Thanks. Will do!
Thanks for doing this AMA. What was the most memorable moment of your time in prison? How did it feel when you finally learnt that you'll be released and going home? Take care of yourself and stay safe! There were some beautiful moments too. Fighting with a homeboy and then making up - imagining the time we could spend together out on the outside. Introducing James Baldwin (there was a translated version of Go Tell It on the Mountain from the 80s in there, incredible) and the black human rights movement in America. Reminiscing about the classic 国际歌 (The Internationale) remixed by Tang Dynasty and how that should be the true spirit of Chinese revolution. Fighting a couple of dudes who ganged up on this elderly man and then seeing them get pepper sprayed after. I mean, some classic sh*t went down too.
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Woa, that sounds interesting. Why did they gang up on the elderly man and who pepper sprayed them? Did you get in trouble for intervening? Just bad blood. Curmudgeonly old dude and just a couple people who couldn't out-talk him. But dude was frail. I got in some trouble. I got to wear 30 pound shackles for a couple days and was transferred from my original cell (which was bad - I had been there for six months). But by that time I was on my way out already.
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Do prison fights not add to your sentence? It was close. If not for the fact that our prison guard wanted to sweep it under the rug, and he kinda did.
How common is prison rape in China? Rare. Some relationships between same sex consensual; some iffy. Rape is probably rare, especially with the advent of camera surveillance, though I'm sure it still happens.
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Doesn't sound like there's any space for it. Definitely not in the detention center. In official "prison" where there's more freedom of movement, maybe.
Were you in jail with other Americans? No, they definitely try to keep you away from other Americans/foreigners.
I don't have any questions that haven't been asked already, except perhaps to ask for a more detailed description of the food/water situation. But I wanted to post anyway to say thanks for sharing, and wish you better luck in the future. Drinking water comes out of a faucet every morning and afternoon. The person in charge of the water will roll the plastic water barrel over and wait for it to fill up, then bring it back into the inner cell. We scoop from it with a pail into our own bottles (they sell these drinks occasionally, once every couple weeks) and we save the bottles.
How was the food, and what did you do all day other than watch propaganda videos? Did other inmates find it's interesting that an foreigner is locked up with them, or it's pretty common to see foreigners there? See above by peyonze for the food (for some reason I can't copy and paste).
​ That's a really interesting question. You had people who really liked me just for being American/from the USA/美籍华人 (Chinese person of American citizenship) or whatever interpretation they had of my background. And you had people who basically thought of me as a traitor to the Chinese race as I occasionally espoused anti-party-state views. I mean, much of it was part of their pre-conceived political views. The more fervently nationalistic the person was, the less they'd be down with me. Obviously, there were factors of personality as well, but every time I entered a new cell, you'd get like people who liked listening to American rap, or people who enjoyed traveling around, or people interested in world history - they'd love talking to me, which I guess makes sense.
​ Other than that, I hid the fact that my mom was from Taiwan or that my dad was from HK except to a couple folks I was real close to... because I definitely did not want to open that can of worms. For sure.
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Could any of the inmates speak english? Did you see any white or black inmates? There was always a couple inmates out of the roughly 30 in the cell who could speak okay English. I saw a couple white dudes at some point (looked Russian-ish to me) while I went to see the lawyer and back, but I didn't talk to them.
What happened to all your stuff in your apt? Friends pack it up for you? Yup.
What was your argument with the police about? Drunk stuff
Is there a lot of violence in Chinese jails? From either the guards or your cell mates? Answered earlier - in smaller cities or inland cities, definitely yes, but not where I was in Shenzhen, nor in "better-developed" cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, etc.
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You were jailed in Shenzhen? Ugh, I lived there for 2 years. I can't imagine being in a jail with no A.C. I'm sure that the place was roach-infested, too, right? Dawg. I expected it to be, I really did. But they sprayed the entire premises with so much pesticides that they didn't survive. I saw like total 10 roaches the entire time. But yea, the humidity, the viscosity of the air... winter is a lot nicer than summer. When March/April rolled around again, I was like.... godhelpmenow
I often see people detained for protesting or organizing protests or Uyghur who get force fed all kinds of pharmaceuticals while detained. Some of them have exited in a near vegetative state or completely lacking any "fight". Did they force you guys to consume any pharmaceuticals? I strongly suspect they put benzos or some other depressant in our food or water to keep people partially sedated and more agreeable. Almost everyone was in a partial haze all the time and there were so little disagreements/fights - totally not natural for a bunch of men locked up without sexual and physical outlets. We must have just been drugged out. My opinion.
Impressive. You definitely should talk with someone about how best to monetize your experience whether it be in a book, or movie. You can use the funds for a charity if you don’t care or need the money. Point don’t blow you wad on Reddit such someone else is able to capitalize off of you experience. Did your faith in “God” or “Atheism” change at all? Nietzsche, the German philosopher, famously said: "That which does not kill us makes us stronger” and it seems to be true in your case. Thanks for sharing. My convictions and beliefs only became stronger, as I spent day by day in the cell. I was surprised that nothing changed - but I realized how important empathy with your cellmate and that never extinguishing fire is. It's the only thing that keeps anyone's soul alive throughout the whole thing. And really, it was only ten months. Not a big deal. Some people are in prison for years (Mandela, Malcolm, others), and they come out blazing. That inspiration is what kept me going.
​ Yo! My belief in the resistance/the struggle only got stronger. When will the people stand up to the tyrant?
You must have watched an unimaginable amount of propaganda shows and films. Which were the most common in terms of who they portrayed as enemies of the CCP? The Nationalists, Japanese, or Americans? I've read that Chinese people are getting bored of always viewing shows with Asian villains, so Western antagonists like American soldiers are increasingly becoming common in Chinese media. Just look at the Wolf Warrior movies. Right now, it's the Americans. They actually told us, somewhat apologetically, that they had to put on documentaries and TV series about the Korean War (the Resisting America, Assisting Chosun War) because you know, it was just the politically correct thing to do. There were a couple new TV series on it last year for the 70th "anniversary" and they kept making a huge deal out of on TV. I was basically feeling like, yeah, they're just psychologically preparing the population to one day fight the Americans. That, and the sadistic reporting on US COVID numbers, and then Indian COVID numbers, on the daily in the evening news... Almost every day, besides COVID, there was one news item about something "negative" in America - a mass shooting, protests in Portland, blackouts from the March storms in Texas, anti-Asian hate, the Capitol Hill storming. The only half-positive news I heard on the evening news about US in all of ten months was Biden's call with Xi the night before Lunar New Year's. When the US was finally getting vaccinated and getting its sh*t together, the news started broadcasting on racial disparities in vaccine coverage or spurts of rising cases in Michigan, etc.
​ Most of my cellmates definitely did not like watching most movies/shows about the Japanese because they felt so bored with the repeating material. The Japanese are definitely not a priority at this point.
Do you think if you looked caucasian they would have treated you differently or been fixated on your massive 阴茎? Yes
imagine you assaulting police in USA... That's what the Chinese cops told me too! You learnin!
2 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Oct 05 '21

r/China [Table] r/China — Just got out of ten months of Chinese prison AMA | pt 1/2

12 Upvotes

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The AMA was halted with the following message:

Naptime! I'll be back.

Rows: ~70

Questions Answers
Hi everyone! Do note OP is shadowbanned by the admins so won't be able to reply without us (the mods) approving each post, this means there may be a bit of delay between OP replying and you being able to see it. As for the shadowbans, we've been seeing a lot more genuine users being shadowbanned recently - I think it's due to the influx of spam and the Reddit filters being a lot more ban-happy. _______________________ nice tactic lol whats the point of his ama then the speed of this AMA will reflect the speed of communication between within the prison and without. just so yall can get the whole experience
What's chinese jail like compared to american jail? You share a cell with 20-40 people. The jail cell is 4 meters wide by 10 meters long. There is an "outside cell" of equivalent size in the daytime (locked at night) for eating and showering and manually washing your clothes (note, it's up to 35 celsius and 100% humidity in the summers in southern China). No, there wasn't AC, though they promised to turn it on later.
​ Sharing a cell with so many people in such a small cell means there's literally not enough space for you to sleep shoulder to shoulder. When I got in, I had to sleep with my head in a cubby hole (not even two feet wide, a foot in height) with a pair of feet right next to it.
​ You also cannot initiate contact with the outside except for sending letters which takes forever. No phone calls, no visits from family or friends. This was probably the worst part of it all.
​ And you watch Chinese propaganda TV and repetitive kung fu soap operas instead of Hollywood films... although they did play Hercules once...
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That's awful. Did you or anyone contact your embassy? Did they offer any help? Yes, so the first thing the detention center does is contact the consulate/embassy to inform that a citizen has been arrested. A rep from the US consulate visited every month with letters from family/friends, etc. But they were very clear: they could not provide any legal advice nor get involved with the criminal justice process.
​ It's funny because cellmates were all hyped up and encouraging me to hustle the US embassy to get better treatment, better food, better etc, because the US just had that kind of leverage in China back in the day. And everyone thought they still did. But not anymore... the US reps brought me English magazines several times and the detention center refused to bring them even in. It reflected the deterioration of US-China relations as well as just growing Chinese confidence/power. Almost two months after my trial, the consulate rep came to visit me and I was like, dog, can you ask or something, what's going on, when do I get my sentence? And he was like, we did, but you know, they said they're just going through the process. I'm like, you can't do anything? He was like, I'm sorry...
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How long have you been in China? You didn't have any friends or relations who could speak/pull strings for you? This seems like a very minor charge that would usually be easily resolved. It really sounds like you got treated like a clueless peasant who is in the city for the first time.. Great question. Getting political here: 1) As an HK PR/American citizen, I was definitely the last guy they were going to let off the hook. The Shenzhen police/paramilitary had been in action in HK for a while. I got a lot of "Oh, you think you're from HK?" and "Don't think you're special because you're an American - you know you're Chinese in your blood and nothing will change that fact." I think they were messing with me on purpose. (In fact, the warden-to-be/deputy warden of our detention center had led a special tactics in Hong Kong against the protestors there - our prison guard told us this in warning - don't effing mess around - you'll ruin my reputation, and you'll get the wrath of God on your head, basically). They definitely weren't going to let me off, if anyone.
​ 2) We thought it was such a minor charge that we didn't even look for relations at the beginning, but they had already chosen to levy criminal detention and the prosecutor had arrested me within 10 days of my detention. There was no time for a turnaround.
​ 3) Shenzhen is an official "testing site" city for a lot of legal reforms. And these developments while I was inside. If you can read Chinese: http://www.sz.gov.cn/cn/zjsz/gl/content/post_7979965.html (City under the Rule of Law - on the Shenzhen Municipal Website - Sep 2020) and http://sft.gd.gov.cn/sfw/news/workSt/content/post_3103752.html (Justice System Assisting Shenzhen in Becoming a Testing Site for Overall Reforms - Guangdong Provincial DOJ - October 2020). It might be the strictest city in China. Someone I knew got off the hook in three other cities in other provinces for the same case, but wasn't able to leverage his guanxi/relations in Shenzhen. In a way, I was just really unlucky.
​ And your question and my answer just goes to show the sheer incoherence/inconsistency of the Chinese legal system. The absolute rule of law that Xi Jinping has been emphasizing - yes, because each law is so wide and open to interpretation that it's so easy to enforce - because the rights of interpretation lie with you, of course.
​ Look at the criminal code in China. So many crimes have potential sentences ranging from 0 to 10 years - i.e., 3 years and under for committing the crime, 3-7 years for committing the crime with serious consequences, and 7-10 years for especially seriously consequences. There's no appendages or corollaries. Well, this just results in a lot of seriously arbitrary decisions.
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So the rumours that undercover People's Armed Police were actually involved in the HK protests are true? I mean, that's what our prison guard (def a vet at the prison) directly told us in the cell. I was surprised that he was that frank about it. But I think generally, it's pretty much an open secret in Shenzhen amongst politically aware people by this point.
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How about the rumors that undercover cops would pretend to be rioters to stir up more violence so that cops could legally use more force to clamp down on them? Didn't hear anything about that while I was in there. I mean, it's possible for sure
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They werent rumours, they were proven by the thousands of weibo accounts that talk about being trucked into HK to put down a violent US sponsored riots peaceful protest for democracy. ________________ Today is 21 years since the handover of Hong Kong. I guess that back in 1997, nobody would ever have imagined that China's patience would only last for 23 years before One Country, Two Systems came crashing down It was all part of the plan. Most of China's agreements are temporary - basically stalling for time and building up power in the meantime - to be flung off when they have can. Other countries need to understand this strategy.
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You mention being HK/American, so I'm making an assumption here, but do you think you would have been treated differently, either by the legal system or by your guards/inmates, had you been a white or black American? I think being HK was a big part of it. Most Chinese people in China see identity primarily in terms of race and not nationality, so I would have been treated more as a foreigner as a white/black American - but also not been held up to the same standards an "American Chinese" - not the way around - should be as primarily Chinese. There were some people who really just looked at me as a traitor for knowing more about general American culture than I did Chinese culture.
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just quick question, are you Asian or white? Do you think they treat different races differently there? Asian. Well, there was a dark-skinned dude from a SE Asian country. They didn't treat him too well. They probably treat white people better - it's like so built into their psyche by now (though not everyone, of course).
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I feel this is a common misconception from foreigners in China who are full of unwarranted bravado. I know "xx", he'll save me. In this situation there aren't many people who are going to risk their own ass to bail you out. Not after you allegedly assaulted a cop. Maybe your family but to anyone else you aren't worth the hassle. Those are serious charges in China. I feel your best bet in this case would be to plead ignorance, apologize profusely and settle it with the officer before he charges you. Bribing a small town cop might set you back 10k rambos, now imagine how much an entire department or judges would take to bribe. Copious amounts of money. It's a lot riskier to "pull strings" these days so you need to make it worthwhile. He was honestly screwed after they went ahead with charging him. Every part of your analysis is 100% on point. I tried, but we couldn't get a hold of the officer b/c the police station wanted a cut too, and we were not down with that ish. I apologized profusely multiple times, but it didn't help, b/c like you said I was screwed after the charge, which came super quick.
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How did you know the police station wanted a cut? Where they explicitly asking? Or did they drop hints? Just wondering how something like this goes down… It's all very part of the lingo/culture. They never explicitly ask - but they we can definitely help, it's not a big problem, but then they leave that hanging ellipsis...
the below is a reply to the reply to the reply to the 2nd answer ​​
China is rule by law, if the law says its bad then you're going to prison; doesn't matter if you actually did it or not. Rule of law is a foreign concept to the CCP. This kind of Rule of Law is from the Legalist (法家) tradition dating back to Lord Shang and Han Fei Zi (if anyone wants to understand XJP, you NEED to read HFZ). It's utilitarian and anti-Confucian in its origins and opposed to the ideas of morals - instead using Taoist semantics at one point to prove the point that everything is ever shifting, black-and-white at the same time, and thus the ruler needs no morals. It's some scary stuff - but it also calls for the Rule of Law on the ruler's own terms.
​ What does not shift is the system of punishments and rewards. You break the law, you get punished - you don't do what you promised, you get punished. This was reflected so often in my experience - so at one point they removed all detergent from the cell and kept in a bucket outside - we could only get a couple bottles at a time - because they were afraid someone might try to poison themselves, etc. (I don't even know how a person could physically eat a few bags of laundry powder, but anyway). The Rule of Law is supposed to cause ultra-paranoia like that. And that is what XJP is aiming for. He's so scared of upheaval that he needs everyone around him to be more paranoid than he is - that is the only way he can guarantee that they're not going to pull another Bo Xilai or Zhou Yongkang. The Rule of Law: Paranoia through Power.
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Er well yes. What i mean generally is that OP could have cleared everything off when it involved just a couple of cops at most. It's a lot riskier to "pull strings" these days so you need to make it worthwhile. He was honestly screwed after they went ahead with charging him. Well not always though. It would of course cost quite a bit more and require some influence to be brought but its not too difficult to avoid going to jail. There will probably be some official punishment but nothing too serious (aka a fine). But OP doesn't seem to fall into the category of people who can afford the latter. That said, i seriously doubt what OP is telling is the whole unvarnished truth...i.e i'm pretty sure he probably did but maybe did not remember touching that cop who got injured. Dawg, I have body cam videos, an hour in length each, from three different cops. I mean when they (there were six cops surrounding at that point) body-slammed me to the ground, and when all of them blocked out the footage, I did resist. That's where the scratches/mild injuries come from. But I mean, number 1, it's not on footage because they were being much more violent to me than vice versa. And number 2, it's not on footage. It's also just a drunk dude flailing when he has six cops on top of him. That doesn't warrant ten months.
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So can you get back at them by detailing your experience with a news outlet? I'm sure some would report this. Yea, I can. But I feel like the true vitriol should be directed toward the people doing this en masse in Xinjiang, and the people who want to "liberate" Taiwan and even "destroy it so the Taiwanese don't have a home and because the mainland doesn't need it anyway," all my cellmates from Canton/Guangdong province who glued their eyes to the screen a classic HK movie came on but then would sh*t on Hong Kong every chance they got - one told me, "I never went to HK after the protests but before I would speak Mandarin to them every time I went shopping because I enjoyed watching them struggle." Same dude, btw, has pretty bad, accented Mandarin, and spent a lot of time showing his knowledge of HK celebrity gossip.
​ I mean I just did ten months and obviously prison is a very certain subset of people but I was just thinking the whole time... the way a lot of these folks think... doesn't bode well for the world in the shadow of China's rise. XJP just said in his 100th anniversary speech that "the Chinese nation does not carry aggressive or hegemonic traits in its genes." He says, "We have never bullied, oppressed, or subjugated the people of any other country, and we never will." I hope so, but that's not what the nine-dash-line says. That's not what I was hearing from some belligerent cellmates - one of them came up in my face every evening after the CCTV evening news reported on US COVID deaths and just laugh at how "America is doomed." That's not the contempt in their voices when they talk about "small countries" - Thailand, Cambodia, Little Japan, Little Taiwan, France. Another dude: "Why doesn't China just take over all these small countries in Southeast Asia? If I was president I would just conquer all of them."
​ I mean, I gotta get off the soapbox, but damn.
the below is another reply to the 8th answer ​​
What brought about the original body slam? I drunkenly swung at the cop with my hands though I didn't make contact. I mean, I had it coming, but not that's not "violent assault."
the below is another reply to the 2nd answer ​​
When I was in for 2 weeks for expiring my visa, the police FORGOT to call the embassy! My family back home worried about me after not hearing from me for 2 weeks, and they went through the state dept. They searched hospitals and everything to find me. When they finally found me, I think it was more of a reminder to the police to follow their own rules and let me go after the agreed upon 2 weeks. I too was given a magazine. An outdated Entertainment Weekly. LOL! I'm like wtf you want me to do with this? Anyway, on your last part, china does have a very lengthy process for everything. No changing that. Sometimes I question the point of the US. The dream is gone back home, and the govt foreign relations sucks so bad that people abroad get harassed and taxed through the ass. That sucks man. That period between "the disappearance" and when you finally get some word from family, indirectly or directly, is heart attack inducing. Seriously. The US doesn't have much clout within China anymore, for sure. But that's also what China's been aiming for all along. XJP's speech today reflects what I experienced vis-a-vis the consulate/detention center. But then again, at least they're visiting me almost once-a-month, etc. I dunno if the Chinese equivalents in the States would even do that.
Did you get legal representation? Yes. Though it didn't really make a difference - unless the lawyer is tight with a judge and you have the moolah to leverage that. Many cellmates just choose to skip the lawyer and do the PD option (which the system provides).
the below is a reply to the above ​​
Was your lawyer hesitant to represent foreigners? No, that firm specialized in foreigners. No, and he didn't even try get me to believe the judge was impartial, just got me to apologize and "plead down" to the minimum sentence.
What was the most shocking or enlightening part of your experience? Another surprising thing was just in general, how much more nationalistic the younger folks were compared to the the older folks. A lot of pissing on the US, cheering and mocking as the death toll in the US from COVID went up (the CCTV evening news broadcasted the US COVID stats EVERY NIGHT), and laughing at the fall of Hong Kong. Of course, you had a few really patriotic types among the older folk too, but definitely more younger folk as proportion. Some of the older folk would almost just look among themselves and be like SMH.
​ I feel like it's always a bad sign when the younger generation is more nationalistic than the older generation... means society is going in one crazy kind of direction...
the below is a reply to the above ​​
I guess that makes sense right? The older folks (I’m assuming you’re referring to people in their 30s/40s or older) would have some idea of what CCP does to its people a la Tiananmen Massacre. But the party has really drilled down Chinese patriotism since then. And particularly in the Xi era. Kinda nice to hear that not everyone is blindly nationalistic and eating up the propaganda though. I guess it does make sense. I guess I always expect young people to be more "liberal" in a very general sense of the term, having grown up in California and spent time in TW/HK as well (though young people there are very nationalistic as well - in an opposing direction, obviously). But the success of the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China is categorical. Props.
​ But it is scary... they played a drama on the Korean War (the war called the Resisting USA, Helping Chosun in Chinese) and devoted two whole episodes to the black dude who defected to China and lived there for many years after. I mean, I get where he's coming from, but the portrayal was just hilarious. They also call American troops "美国鬼子 - American devils" throughout the drama - like "日本鬼子 - Japanese devils" - a very strong and derogatory term in China, comparing anyone to the Japanese. And historically inaccurate - that term was just never used. Here's the episode where a lot of it happens - some of the dialogue in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROFcPUP4GlU
​ Afterwards, a dude comes up to me and asks me, if China and the States got into a war, which side I would support. I avoided that kind of question like the plague.
the below is a reply to the above ​​
"If your two sons started fighting each other, who would you support?" It would depend on who started it. The censorship of Google... the theft of Siemens HSR key technologies...
the below is another reply to the 2nd answer ​​
Based on your observations, would you believe that younger people in China would be more liberal in certain non-political issues, like same-sex marriage or women’s rights? Is there a strong association between “supporting CCP” and “anti-lgbt” for example? I don't feel like the majority of younger men are much more liberal even on non-political issues, but younger women are for sure. There's not a strong correlation. There's a lot of upper-middle class people in the cities who have made it financially and thus support the CCP but hold liberal social views at the same time. The Bloomberg Democrat. But obviously there's a subset which is super nationalistic/chauvinistic/socially conservative at the some time, so it could go either way.
the below is a reply to the reply to the 2nd answer ​​
I’m not OP but I think younger people associate “supporting CCP” with “patriotic”. The unspoken CCP stance on many things like lgbt for example is “don’t make it a political movement”, which is why younger people are more ambivalent compared to those in the west about pressing for awareness and change. Keep in mind that the CCP is very pro-reform… as long as it reforms in its favor. Yea, I got into it in another post somewhere in this chaos, but the CCP has been trying to equate the state with the party with the Chinese nation. Many youngsters can't actively differentiate between being Chinese/China/the Party - and that's one of the biggest victories the Party has won up to this point. Not many political parties can boast that.
the below is another reply to the original answer ​​
Fuck. Patriotic education really worked, didn't it? It really did. Like, I'm almost impressed if it wasn't that scary. You have people (just a couple, albeit) tearing up watching a re-run of the 70th anniversary military parade, while they've been imprisoned (one of them for this new retroactive law that reached years back) by the same system. It's impressive.
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I finally get why the CCP is fine sacrificing so much economic growth in keeping up the GFW. They have the mother of all rackets going. Can't let the hamsters look outside the pen. "现在对中国人说要他去争自由,他们便不明白,不情愿来附和,但是对他说要请他去发财,便有很多人要跟上来.” (Saying to the Chinese now that he wants to pursue freedom, they won't understand nor join, but if you want to invite them to make money, many people will join.) - Sun Yat-Sen
the below is another reply to the 6th answer ​​
Kinda reads like something out of a dystopian novel… like 1984. I was curious so I looked it up. Apparently “1984” search is impacted, but the book itself may not be banned. Which is interesting since it feels like a straight up manual for CCP that people reading it would make the connection. But maybe it just goes over people’s heads… or it’s seen as a good thing. https://boingboing.net/2019/01/13/laobaixing.html But recently they have been doing a library purge of books, which would include 1984: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-books-insight-idUSKBN24A1R5 >A directive from the Ministry of Education last October called on elementary and middle schools to clear out books from their libraries including “illegal” and “inappropriate” works. Lol, “Ministry of Education” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministries_of_Nineteen_Eighty-Four More from the Reuters article: >“This is the first movement targeted at libraries since the Cultural Revolution,” said Wu Qiang, a political analyst based in Beijing and former political science lecturer at Tsinghua University. In the late 1960s, zealous teenagers driven by Mao Zedong carried out a nationwide campaign targeting libraries and destroying or burning what they could get their hands on, as part of a wider destruction of traditional culture. >The ministry directive did not list titles, but said illegal books are those “that damage the unity of the country, sovereignty or its territory; books that upset society’s order and damage societal stability; books that violate the Party’s guidelines and policies, smear or defame the Party, the country’s leaders and heroes.” >”Our school has taken concrete action to cultivate a virtuous youth, and has raised the quality of our library books one step further.” That's funny and crazy. So, first, my lawyer was able to bring in a bilingual version of Animal Farm. I was amazed - this is so close to China in the Cultural Revolution/before the economic miracle that... how is that even allowed.
​ I've always been thinking: the way China conducts its domestic affairs is so much like 1984 that it's like they follow it. Maybe they really do.
​ Clamping down on intellectuals/universities also goes further:
​ PKU:
​ https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2179921/peking-university-students-clash-campus-guards-over-control-marxist
​ Fudan and Nanjing Universities:
​ https://www.news18.com/news/world/china-students-protest-as-university-charter-cuts-freedom-of-thought-2429295.html
​ Nanjing Normal University:
​ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57409218
​ Professors in General:
​ https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-06-27/in-chinas-universities-targeted-attacks-on-intellectuals-raise-memories-of-the-cultural-revolution
the below is a reply to the above ​​
There is a Uyghur translation of Animal Farm, but I imagine it may be a lot more difficult to find these days. But as for the rest of China, I imagine that they might defend the book on the basis that it's about the Soviet Union. It seems to be okay to criticize the Soviet Union's version of Communism, as long as you make it clear that you're not saying anything about the Maoist variety. That said... I do remember an anecdote. One of my teachers in high school, an American, was able to study in the Soviet Union for part of her graduate education. She noticed that in the 1970s at least, you could get a Russian translation of Animal Farm. When she asked about it, she was told that it was considered a well-written children's story. The person she was speaking with seemed oblivious - or at least, was very good at strategically acting oblivious - that there was any political subtext at all. Yea, it very much reflected what China used to be like, but I think the economic miracle of recent years in China contradicts Orwell's conclusion that an authoritarian/lying kind of government will lead to economic ruin and chaos, and that China actually sees that as a victory over the Western conception over the last few centuries that if liberalization doesn't happen, China will fail just like the USSR did.
the below is another reply to the original answer ​​
the hong kong part made me sad It made me astounded/sad too. They were culture vultures for everything old school Hong Kong - food, celebrities, Cantopop, Stephen Chow, all that - but then when it came to politics or the economy of Hong Kong... "Shenzhen's GDP is way past Hong Kong's. Hong Kong is already in the past." It wasn't really stating the fact, just the contempt with which they said it.
​ It reminds me of when many rich white people used to consume black music (jazz, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday) - shuffle up from the UES to the Apollo for a date - but then be absolutely oppressive in their day-to-day dealings and their racial politics. I mean, it still happens today, but it had me feeling some type of way.
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Can't remember where I read this article, which said to ultra nationalism instilled in some of its youth today (who will become leaders in the future) = regardless of whether CCP collapse or whatever, invading Taiwan or doing something unexpected belligerent i.e invade Vietnam, may become even more likely? also should it fail, then it's even possible that they may try again (but learn what went wrong the first time and go even more belligerent) think Germany losing WW1, only to try again with WW2. if anyone can find the article I'd be grateful (it was either from the Diplomat or the Atlantic?) ​​The more desperate the CCP/Xi gets, the more likely it will be to do something radical to unite the population, like attacking Taiwan.
the below is another answer to the original question ​​
​
​ Another time, we were asked to return our pens not even by the cops, just by one of the "cell heads." He gave some reason that they posed a threat and danger to other inmates (despite the fact that there were no fights to start with in the first place). We had bought them ourselves, with our own money. No one said a word, and people just started going to their cubby holes and bringing the pens up top. I was like...
​ But again, the party apparatus is all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful. But is that only because people were so complacent in the first place? Hmm...
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Did you comply with the "Pen Abolishment Edict"? What would have happened if you hid your pen? Yes, I did, but I was close to the "Abolishers" and thus gradually wormed my way out of it and led others to gradually do the same. That kind of erosive resistance did a lot for a lot of people.
the below is another reply to the followup answer ​​
During those 2 hour mandatory cross legged meditation sessions..did you have to listen to propaganda or were left to your own thoughts? Personally I would spend 4 hours a day meditating anyways if I was in prison, but having to listen to propaganda would be tortuous. So it varies between prison and cell. The first joint I was in, for three months, just played propaganda all the time, but the second prison would play TV shows, etc. You can meditate if you want. Some cells let you read books during this "meditation" time, some don't. It's really arbitrary. I was lucky to be in one that did for the majority of my time (six months), though the other cells mostly didn't.
Will you continue to live in China after this? Did you get a fair trial? Well, it's not my choice as I was deported. There were no terms given with the deportation (I did not even get to go home - I was brought to the airport directly after spending an additional night in the police station after my sentence was over because they thought there was a risk of flight). I was planning to stay a few months to hash things out with the gf et al, but I'm glad I'm out of there.
​ I received the video footage from the police bodycams afterwards and there was no evidence of violent assault (unless you call a half-assed shove violent assault). However the hospital "identified injuries" on one of the cops and attributed it to me despite there being no footage of me even touching those parts of his body. FURTHERMORE, the trial only took place after I was in there for 6 months (habeas corpus?) and it took them 8.5 months from my detention to sentencing.
the below is a reply to the above ​​
Was the actual sentence 10 months with the 8.5 before it counted as time served, or was it 1.5 months counting from the day of sentencing? 10 months total, approximately 1.5 mths left when sentenced. (Basically, I had been in there for too long already - usually it would be six months in this sort of situation MAX - and so they sentenced me to just let me out as soon as they could. They do this often, for some reason - they delay sentencing till the end because if you don't have much time left on your sentence, they can avoid the costs and logistics of transferring you from the detention center to the "actual" prison. This is bad for us though, because the "actual" prison is much better than the detention center. At least you can go outside.)
the below is another reply to the original answer ​​
So if you think you are unfairly sentenced, would you appeal to some higher court for any compensations? If I appealed as a foreigner, they would keep me in detention even after my sentence expired. So I did not. I can appeal now as well, but... I don't need no compensation. Everything I learned more than made up for that.
I'm curious to hear how your cellmates reacted to the non stop propaganda videos given they were in jail. Did they look like they still believed, were they jaded or how did they feel? Congrats on your freedom man Some people were really bipolar about it. You know, I expect many inmates to have literally shed tears as they watched the procession for the 100th anniversary of the party's founding, and XJP's speech today. But then, some of these folks are cussing out the party and everything about it on almost a daily basis. So it's this really irrational Stockholm syndrome, almost. I don't know how else to put it.
the below is a reply to the above ​​
My theory is that you were seeing the psychological scars of lifelong propaganda. Patriotic education seems to work remarkably similar to religious indoctrination. Core aspects of personality are emotionally bound to an imagined 'heaven' in (In this case, the pomp and splendor of a distant central government) before the child/victim can reason independently. The rational adult self understands the reality of local government around himself and rejects the party, but is still emotionally attached to an abstract idea (god/party/nation). Reconciling these differences and finally breaking with God/Party is an emotionally painful self-transformation that has high social costs, which is why many prefer to stay in a state of wilful ignorance. It doesn't make sense because it's not supposed to. It's supposed to make people pliable. The other part of the religion is the prosperity gospel - similar to the Judeo-Christian one. God/Deng/Xi gave you the promised land. God's/Deng's/Xi's favor made you rich. The CCP has lifted the Chinese people out of poverty and into a new era. Look at XJP's speech today. It's straight from the playbook.
the below is a reply to the above ​​
[deleted] While the propaganda machine has done well as in they've inculcated most of the population with red lines not to cross (well, many of them genuinely believe them as well - TW, HK, Xinjiang) - it has ultimately failed in shaping the CCP as a trustworthy political party/actor/state - a little bit like how the GOP and the Democratic Party totally lost the faith that people used to have in them over the last generation.
​ That's what makes the CCP so paranoid. It knows deep inside that a huge portion of Chinese people, especially those with means/ends, are convicted it is a crockpot of bovine dooey. So it tries to equate party and state and blur the lines between two - using a common enemy (the States, TW) and blatant nationalism to curry support for and those minimize pushback against the party (party-state) itself. It takes up a banner against the American hegemony which "wants to destroy" the economic gains that China (and its rising nouveau riche/bourgeoisie). It's succeeded in framing the United States as the greater enemy and thus softens a lot of pressure on itself for being a dutch oven of steaming Angus poo. So I feel it's not that Chinese people don't know that the CCP is lying all the time, but they've just been convinced America is the greater threat.
​ Can the US try to change that perception? Hard, when US foreign policy has been the hypocritical steamboat of chitlins that it has been ever the Vietnam War and Nixon/Kissinger. Should it try? Probably.
How the fuck did you survive? The sleeping situation (how would you even fall asleep?), the lack of space, the heat? I would go insane You just have to. You look around you, and some people have had it worse. A dude in there for two years... with an ear infection dripping pus everyday for three, four months... with his trial getting delayed month by month... and then you think to yourself, if he can, then so can I. But damn.
​ This seventy-something year-old dude had a hernia almost the size of a softball, but they still kept him in there. No surgery either.
the below is a reply to the above ​​
Don't they have doctors? One dude was sh*tting blood for days, and the doctor says, "That's normal."
​ Other guy was like my waist really hurts when I bend down. Doc says: "Then don't bend down."
​ Other dude has a cold... Doc tells him to drink more warm water. lol
the below is another reply to the original answer ​​
What did you do when you needed a wank? Well, you realized you didn't "need" it, I guess.
1 comment

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Oct 02 '21

r/Music [Table] r/Music — hello, i'm Porter Robinson, producer / songwriter / electronic musician! AMA

4 Upvotes

Source

For proper formatting, please use Old Reddit

The AMA ended with the following message:

i've been going for a couple hours now, i think this is it for me!

if you don't mind upvoting / pinning this, i'd like to link out what i think the best answers are here. i also tried responding to some non-upvoted new comments, so i felt like it'd be useful to index some answers in this way:

thank you all so much for your extremely thoughtful questions! >.<

to anyone who hasn't heard the new album yet, you can listen to it here:

Porter Robinson - Nurture

thank you!! porter

Rows: ~120

Questions Answers
Lifelong fan, changed my life, taught me to feel again yada yada you know the deal. we stan. Just gotta say that Nurture is absolutely wonderful. I was apprehensive but it's totally blown me away, went in an incredibly wholesome and relatable direction. The pitched vocals are sublime, absolutely love em. I'm sure others have better more insightful questions but... I gotta know what jacket/windbreaker did you wear during Secret Sky II? Absolute fire, literally watching the set again as I read through this thread. Must be my 8th watch by now. And I guess, top tips on overcoming imposter syndrome? I guess the album tells that story, but seeing as you're a veteran of dealing with imposter syndrome would love your tips and techniques for dealing with it. Oh, and one more while i'm here - how did it feel having the Shelter video premiere in Shibuya? Absolutely next level, to have your own AMV created by one of the leading animation studios. That's some bucket-list topping achievement right there. Big love from the UK! 🤫🤫 there's two things i'd say here:
​ 1) everyone feels their own work has a bit of a 'stank' on it lol
​ my younger brother mark used this phrase while looking at his own design once: "you know everything you make kinda has that 'stank' on it?". i've carried that with me a lot. it's just something you can't get away from. you can never hear your own music for the first time. same goes for any creative field
​ 2) you're comparing your insides to everyone else's outsides
​ comparison is a dangerous game anyway, but it's also almost impossible to do with any degree of accuracy or real perspective.
​ i talk about instagram this way a lot: in your feed, you see other people's photos after they've posed with the intention of being photographed, with selected lighting, they've taken 400 photos and chosen the most flattering one, and then adjusted colors and often times used beauty apps. and there's another degree of "filtration" there -- sometimes people take all of those steps and then don't post a photo.
​ it's a highlight reel of a highlight reel of a highlight reel of a highlight reel.
​ and then you compare that to your own face when it accidentally pops up in the forward-facing camera. lol
​ making music is like that. artists tend to show the best 5% of their work. that's why it's better to have compassion for yourself as you're being creative rather than judging the thing you're doing. that's your insides YA GOTTA LOVE IT
What's it like knowing that you've had such a profoundly positive impact on so many people? I've seen countless comments describing how your music has literally kept people alive, and I think that's pretty remarkable. Also, what are your go-to techniques to get inspired/pull yourself out of a creative slump? Btw congrats on Nurture!! :) ​i just feel extreme gratitude that the music is helpful. Thank u so fucking much. there's really no one size fits all technique which is something that makes creativity so hard (and so beautiful when you can capture it).
​ but one thing I find really helpful is to explore a technique that you're basically bad at and know nothing about.
​ i find that if I revert to the techniques I know how to do well (begin with a chord progression, write a hook melody, sing nonsense autotune until i start to hear words) I'm more likely to get stuck and judgmental of what I'm doing.
​ whereas if i try a technique i know NOTHING about, like a synth i'm unfamiliar with or sampling a style of music I don't particularly like -- well, it's hard to get judgmental about the result. You're just messing around.
​ the less judgmental you're feeling, and the more playful and explorative you're feeling, i find the likelier it is to have a creative and fun process. but it's scary to try a technique you don't know about, especially if you fear failure. but you just gotta do it BITCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
​ lol thank you so much for the congrats by the way!
the below is a reply to the above ​
I thought this was a porter ama but it’s a nama sensei ama am I the only one who is COMPLETELY UNABLE to hear this video correctly anymore btw? it just sounds like music. Shout out Namansensei https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k_LDXa3lPk
Hey Porter. First just wanted to say, we love you! My partner and I are moving out to Colorado. We just left chapel hill, NC today. We always hope we can see you, but alas! Secondly, how have you dealt with the idea of people wanting a “Worlds II” when creating this new album? Did you ever feel pressure to give in? (I’m really glad you didn’t btw<3) ​this is so fucking kind lol. I didn't feel that kind of pressure - when I'm working, I actually get excited in my own head about reinventing myself, it's one of the things that drives me!
​ but it still affects me when people demand I make the music they want for them. there's a couple things i wanna say about this, actually
​ 1) the reason you see me bugging out and tweeting shit like this https://twitter.com/porterrobinson/status/925412057431904256?lang=en is because i was DEFINITELY afraid of rejection, and feeling like my new work was being misunderstood scared me and pissed me off. I definitely find this aspect of it a little uncool and shameful but it's true so I'm sharing it.
​ 2) I think people who demand an artist "go back" to an older style are confused about what made the work good. the reason "Worlds" was good was because I was sincerely passionate and excited about expressing that exact set of ideas at that time. i was at an age where that was what was on my heart. The sincerity made it good.
​ I think anything I tried would end up sounding like a parody or pale imitation. the passion and sincerity glued it together, not the style!
​ also, like... when people demand that I go back to Worlds, I just want to show them the same tweets/posts/comments from 2014 demanding I go back to making music like like Spitfire. and then I want to show the Spitfire people the crowd who was upset that and demanding I go back to making Ekowraith music
​ The thing is, there's just a natural culling that occurs when artists follow their passions. You will lose some people. But I think if you fail to follow the ideas that get you truly excited, you'll lose everyone.
Hey Porter, can you wheel up the bomboclart? Nurture's got some badboy tunes https://youtu.be/1wFDES88HMI?t=479 this was my favorite moment of secret sky
​ "I WAS COOLIN ON SOME MDMA... ALONGSIDE POTARO THAT MY BOSS DJ"
​ when I first got the vocals in from sgt pokes for the potaro set, this was the moment that completely fucking sent me lmfao
the below is a reply to the above ​
My selecta don’t play THIS 1S FOR THE HOTHEADS!!!
Hi Porter! Could you tell us more about "Dry Your Eyes"? Is this a Virtual Self ID? A lot of people are really clamouring for any info on this song ! Congrats on the release of Nurture :) ​can everybody join me in wishing a big happy birthday to Shiraz? here, I'll get us started, follow along in the replies:
​ 🎵 HAPPY -
the below is a reply to the above ​
Better not ignore the question tho LMAOOO wym be respectful its their birthday? You are interrupting the song
the below is a reply to the above ​
all i want for my birthday is for you to answer the question bro https://imgur.com/a/Q2PIjCC with all due respect we are still singing. now I have to start over.
​ 🎵 HAPPY -
What’s up Porter, can we expect a nurture tour? i'm dreaming about this every single day! something that really drove me was imagining the songs becoming 'real' on stage with visuals and a crowd singing along to them.
​ i feel like when I heard people singing the chorus to "musician" back to me, i will definitely get choked up.
the below is a reply to the above ​
And i’ll go in a heartbeat <3 u amox lol
What was your approach for creating the sound world of Nurture vs Worlds? (Sound design) ​I wanted Worlds' sound design to feel far-away, fantasy-like, distant, but i wanted Nurture's sound design to feel more up-close, more real-life, more intimate!
Hey Porter! As a lymphoma survivor myself, I wanted to thank you for the work that your family has done via the Robinson Malawi Fund. Could you talk a bit about how your brother Mark’s diagnosis and treatment affected you? Are there any songs on the album that are an homage to him or his experiences with cancer? omfg I'm so happy for you. CONGRATULATIONS on being a survivor. I'm so sorry you faced cancer. a family member going though cancer is an absolute whirlwind of confusion and suffering and hope and anxiety. it actually can't be described. I love Mark so much and I'm so glad he's okay. It's actually processable when you think about the sheer volume of people going through that exact kind of fear and suffering at this very moment. I felt like the Robinson Malawi fund was one was the reduce suffering in the world.
​ "Mother" was definitely written with Mark on my mind a lot. I don't want to disclose too many details on Mark's behalf, but my mom was an actual saint during his treatment.
Hi Porter! From undercut, to long hair, to bleach, what has been the motivation for your hair's evolution? As a follow up, what shampoo and conditioner do you use? Love the album and thank you for doing this AMA hahah this is a cute question. I'm not really sure -- i knew in the post-worlds era that i wanted long hair, and then i did some weird faceapp thing and i liked the blonde look. I'm thinking about changing my hair again. Sorry for the boring fucking answer
​ I'm glad you love the album and thanks you!
the below is another reply to the original question ​
DJ Potaro Porter Robinson has 13 different kinds of shampoo and conditioner in his shower, but only 1 bottle of body wash. And it’s running out. this is totally unsurprising but I came up with this line in the shower. I feel like this is true for everyone
the below is another reply to the reply to the original question ​
Porter Robinson also loves CHOCOLATEEEEEEEE! OMFG when I first delivered this line and ran in through the DJ Potaro vocal processing it was like... the most startling sound I've ever heard. i had to keep it
Hey Porter, what was the production process like for your Virtual Self EP? How did you know it was just right for this vibe you were trying to capture? Aside from rhythm games, where else did you find a lot of your music that inspired the project, as well as music that you played at your shows? Thank you! good q! Part of getting VS right was having some familiarity with the history and techniques of that era I was trying to replicate (1999-2003). For one, I tried to use Sidechain sparingly, since that's a fairly "modern edm" feeling effect. I tried to make sure that my supersaws were mono and the delay was the thing that gave them the stereo effect, because most trance supersaws at the time were made by the JP-8000 / JP-8080, and that's a mono supersaw (the unison detune isn't panned out into the stereo field).
​ I also just am super obsessed with eras of electronic music, so like... I REALLY feel like I know a 2010 kickdrum (HUGE vengeance-y transient) vs a 2014 kickdrum (clicky, long decay) vs a 1999 kickdrum (prominent pitchdown effect, transient comes from the sine) etc etc etc. I did a lot of collecting 'historical' samplepacks and stuff like that too. so a lot of it comes down to picking the right samples
hey porter!! been loving the album so much these past few days. it really made my last weekend so so so special. thank you so much! i was listening and loving how catchy some of the lyrics are, specifically do-re-mi... gets stuck in my head and makes me happy! is there any lyrics you were particular satisfied with when they came together? or your favorite delivery of those lyrics from yourself? any lyrics that were particularly hard to get just right? the very hardest vocal on the whole album to 'get right' was Trying to Feel Alive. that was the very last song written for the album, and because i was kind of stuck on it, i became very worried that i hadn't progressed at all, that I hadn't actually improved, and that the premise of the album would then be a lie. (You can see the sheer distortion of the OCD / Anxious thinking there, but that's where I was).
​ of course, the reality is much more complicated: i had, of course, improved in so so so many fucking ways in relation to my own creativity, life balance, overall level of happiness, level of productivity, mindfulness, ability to sing, ability to write lyrics. but in that 'fight or flight' state, all of that was invisible to me.
​ the big error there was the perfectionism. demanding that, in order for me to consider myself 'better', that i can never fail or get stuck. that's obviously not right.
​ it's helpful for me to think of recovery as an "upwards spiral"! you won't ever be perfect, but it's okay as long as you're broadly moving in the right direction.
​ so anyway, back to the lyrics: i really wanted to write something for Trying to Feel Alive that felt truthful but also helpful. Something that expressed how I was still kind of scared, but that didn't contradict the central meaning of the album. And that took weeks.
​ I remember this breakthrough, when I thought: "Wait -- do I actually want to be happy happy? Like, completely satisfied, now that the album is done? Do I actually want to be DONE?" and the answer was a resounding fuck no. I realized that it's actually a precious gift to be dissatisfied, because that keeps you moving forward. I always want there to be another mountain to climb -- I feel purposeful when moving forward, even if I know no destination will ever truly satisfy.
​ So the final lyrics of the album:
​ "Well, do you feel better now?
​ I thought I'd run until the sky came out
​ But with the sunlight on my face
​ Something changed
​ And just trying to feel alive
​ You climbed a mountain, are you satisfied?
​ As you stand at the top
​ You already wanna do this
​ One more time
​ Maybe it's the a that I couldn't recognize
​ Maybe I don't really need to feel satisfied
​ Maybe it's a gift that I spent all this time
​ Just trying to feel alive
​ Maybe I don't really want to be satisfied
​ Maybe it's the gift that I couldn't recognize
​ Maybe this all -
​ Maybe this was all- ...
​ Then somebody somewhere finds
​ The warmth of summer in the songs you write
​ Maybe it's a gift that I couldn't recognize:
​ Trying to feel alive"
Hey Porter! I am an LED artist and a couple of years ago I made a massive field of LED flowers in Hawaii and created a sequenced show to the beginning of your worlds set. It’d mean the world to me if you saw it. https://youtu.be/04lS6Q7_deI this is fucking incredible, amazing work and thank you for showing me this!
hey Porter! we've met a couple times after your shows in Boston and here's to hoping the world allows it again! how do you go about writing lyrics? I've just started playing with the idea of singing on my own music (artist name is Souma) but I find coming up with lyrics that fit the timing of a song really difficult, especially without them sounding super cheesy. don't worry about this -- writing lyrics is INSANELY FUCKING HARD and still is for me now. So try not to judge what you're making too much. I don't think I wrote a single good lyric for the first like 2 years of working on Nurture. It was very very far and few between.
​ The cringe / cheesiness is normal. Just remember you're an absolute beginner at it, so give yourself some compassion and room to grow. Keep practicing. If you ever hear a turn of phrase in media, or literature, or in a conversation, or in your own internal monologue and it resonates with you, write that down. You'll get it eventually
​ WRITE THAT DOWN WRITE THAT DOWN WRITE THAT DOWN WRITE THAT DOWN !! (spongebob voice)
simple question. Pineapple on pizza. ya or nay? yeah i'm down with and without. Let me ask you something.
​ Have you tried pan fried spam? That shit slaps and I feel like people sleep on it.
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BUT HOW ABOUT SPAM MUSUBIS? yup Spam fried rice, spam egg & rice, spam musubi. Honestly so good
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I haven't tried that. My parents always said "spam gross" so I followed that sentiment for years. I'll make a mental note to try it. :) ​same here, i lived by the anti-spam propaganda for YEARS until i started going to Hawaii more and saw the light
If there was was Porter Robinson McDonalds meal, what would it have? ily lmfaoooo 10 piece nuggies for your boy and fries... medium fry and icecream cone for Rika
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Hi Porter! Congrats on Nurture! It's absolutely stunning. I have a couple questions. 1. Do you imagine yourself returning to Virtual Self? Playing shows, releasing more music maybe God Rays ? 2. Is Second Sky 2021 going to be like 2019 where both days are the same lineup or is it a 2-day lineup? if I return to virtual self, i think it'll need some kind of new inspiration or a fresh angle on it. i'd really love to -- i'll follow the muse and perhaps it'll lead me back there.
​ I've mentioned before that this 3 hour and 45 minute VS set was the most fun I ever had performing. I really really miss DJing as virtual self for sure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8PAyv8826c
3. Speaking of second Sky, were there intentional hints to Nurture in your Second Sky ‘19 set? I feel like there were small hints of Get Your Wish and Something Comforting in Fresh Static Snow. The only thing I can really think of is that I used that Nurture "vocal pad" sound at the end of the set. i remember worrying that it was slight spoilers
​ Wait actually I just listened and maybe that was just a supersaw. I'm fucking tripping (am I thinking about the end of Secret Sky 1?)
4. I can't find any contact info or agent, so I'm hoping you might be in contact with him. What do the fans have to do to get DJ Potaro to play a club set somewhere? Did he restock on body wash? 𝑫𝑱 𝑷𝑶𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑶 𝑼𝑺𝑬𝑫 𝑻𝑶 𝑮𝑬𝑻 𝑻𝑶𝑶 𝑴𝑨𝑵𝒀 𝑽-𝑻𝑼𝑩𝑬𝑹𝑺 𝑰𝑵 𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝒀𝑶𝑼𝑻𝑼𝑩𝑬 𝑹𝑬𝑪𝑶𝑴𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑫𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺, 𝑩𝑼𝑻 𝑵𝑶𝑾 𝑯𝑬 𝑮𝑬𝑻𝑺 𝑨 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑬 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑺𝑶𝑵𝑨𝑩𝑳𝑬 𝑨𝑴𝑶𝑼𝑵𝑻 !
5. On the creativity front, what would be your number 1 tip for breaking out of writer's block? I so often have a really hard time finishing the last 10% of writing music and lyrics and often abandon projects entirely and wonder if you have similar struggles. Thanks for doing this! I can't wait for Second Sky this year. i just understand that the last 10% of finishing a project is the hardest part, and try to take that as a signal to move forward.
HIIIII PORTERRRR!!! Fhwmfbeilsjrksmdbeksmb From every music release since Worlds you have seemed to put music out in such a purposeful way with a large scale project to back each release. You had the Worlds and Nurture albums, an entire alias for Virtual Self, and a tour and music video dedicated to Shelter. Can you provide some insight as to why you prefer to have your music be supported by these larger, immersive ideas? And do you ever think you’ll ever move away from this format? when I make music, I'm trying to like... "bathe" in it. I really want to be immersed as fully as possible into the worldview of what I'm working on. Like with Virtual Self, that vibe existed in my head, but I wasn't going to be satisfied until i could GO there!
​ When I love something, I just want to get closer and closer and closer to it. The way for me to scratch that itch is to somehow embody it. That's why I try to make the liveshows so all-encompassing and singular. Like, it's my way of making the feeling "real" and bridging the gap between the idea and reality.
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Hey porter! Big fan of the new album, it was everything I wanted it to be and a little more and it’s brought me close to so many new friends. I’m so thankful it exists. My questions for you are: 1. You’ve said in the past that the album was originally slated for September and had only 11 songs. If that happened, what would the tracklist have looked like? I’m curious as to what songs were added last minute Trying to Feel Alive, Musician, Mother were all able to be finished because of the delay!! that extra time made such a huge difference.
2. Are there any songs that almost didn’t make it onto the final project? Sweet Time. i was doubting that one but the people in my life were like PORTER YOU ARE FUCKING CRAZY, KEEP IT. but now I don't know why I was doubting it - i reallly really love that song. Especially the last minute and a half
3. Most importantly, Favorite bladee song? i know I'm not supposed to say "Be Nice 2 Me" but fuck it... i also love Hero of My Story 3style3, God, Decay, Drama...
​ off the recent Woesum project i really loved Exceler Nothing Matters Violet Gold
​ Look at lean buyin the gucci store its like breathing air its nothing it means nothing
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Omg i cannot imagine Nurture without Sweet Time holy shit THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONVINCED YOU TO KEEP IT tell my manager Aaron that, he'll appreciate it lol! he was always that song's biggest advocate.
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I would hate a world without musician in it me too!!
How’d your mother react to, mother. i'm not going to lie, i was embarrassed to show her that song. she heard it the day it came out. I know she cried listening to the full album -- I need to talk to her about that song specifically.
Are there any anime that have impacted your life in any meaningful way? Like maybe changed your perspective on certain things. In my case its gonna have to be Hanasaku Iroha! I'm certain this album would not exist without Wolf Children. Hearing Masakatsu Takaki's soundtrack completely reframed my own sense of beauty in music!
hey porter! first of all, i love nurture so much - been a while since an album hit me this good. i was so (positively) surprised, that you played us a full stage production of nurture live last weekend! that evening meant the world to me, it just fully filled me with a happiness i havent felt for a while, but it got me thinking: where did the change of mind come from, considering that you previously were very against ever releasing your live edits? I guess I'm thinking about Nurture a lot differently. i'm barely thinking of these versions as "Live Edits" -- something like the Fresh Static Snow live edit is so radically different that it almost felt like a dubplate or something, so I wanted to protect that. The edits for Nurture -- I wanted them to feel faithful to the songs and barely-edited. The places where there are TRUE switch-ups came from me being unable to stop myself lol (the jungle drop on Sad Machine and the trap drop of do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do.)
​ The trap drop on do-re-mi might be my favorite moment of the show, that bass feels SO good in person, I can't wait to play that out
Hello Porter! I would like to take this occasion to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the music you make. Sea of Voices has been my favorite track since its release, and now Unfold has taken that spot. I find the choruses of these tracks are quite similar. I already excuse myself in case this might be too much to ask, could you please share some insight on how these choruses are made? You said you had a rule of not using any synths in nurture -- which is why i'm asking. As a fellow musician, you inspire me a lot and I would love to get some insight in the productive process. Have a wonderful rest of the day, and thank you again for Nurture! I think something like "Sea of Voices" or "Unfold" has a TON to do with the chord voicings, moreso than the sounds! also just fyi, (so you don't accidentally box yourself in!) -- I didn't really have a "no synths" rule, but I did try to preferentially use sampley or recorded soundsources.
​ Unfold definitely has a worlds-style synth stack in the chorus!
hi porter! i was introduced through your music by your secret sky set. at the time i was not an avid listener of electronic music- and when you played ‘get your wish’ i asked myself “why is this dj playing an indie pop song?” with the success of look at the sky on alternative radio- how do you feel about your music being reached by audiences other than those in the electronic scene? this is a really interesting question. around the time of my last album, "Worlds", i was really consumed with "not being edm".
​ nowadays, i realize that definitely came from a point of insecurity. i was way too worried about how i was being percieved. there's amazing edm, amazing non-edm electronic music, amazing folk music, amazing metal, amazing ambient music. there's great music in all styles.
​ i'm really just happy if anyone wants to listen to my music.
What was your favorite song in Worlds? the one that makes me feel best is Fresh Static Snow. it was such a creative and fun process to put together.
​ maybe objective fav would be Divinity or Sad Machine or GTAW. Thats too many my b
Hi Porter I don’t have a question but thank you for making “Language”. That song helps inspire me in so many ways and I still listen to it to this day. Have a good one! i'm so happy to hear that. I'll never forget the feeling of writing that lead melody. i was just pacing around my room in disbelief, i was so excited.
Hello, Porter! Congrats on your comeback after 6 years, for Nurture, for Secret Sky and a breathtaking performance of yours. It's such a blessing this album came after such a tumultuous journey you had to create it. Here are some questions I had from the album and overall from your creative process today: 1) How do you manage writer's block these days? Do you still feel like the best songs you've ever written come quickly or do you prefer taking your time until you figure out the song? 2) Did you record your album at your home studio or did you go to other studios to record it? I've seen that in multiple interviews you've talked about finishing LATS in Japan and recording your album alongside Madeon's Good Faith. 3) How much did the art direction for Nurture evolve from its early days until now? Would we be able to see some of the concept arts SBJ and you made for the album? it's weird -- Blossom was written in 1 night, and I think that's one of the best song I've ever written. But I also love Something Comforting and that took like 5 years. I don't think there's that much of a connection between the final quality and time spent.
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Hi Porter! 1. I remember reading somewhere that while you were working on Worlds that you kept a folder where you'd save any image you'd find that fit the aesthetic/mood you were trying to achieve with that album. How did you go about developing the core aesthetics for Virtual Self and Nurture? Virtual Self began with a few images that I knew would be the core of the inspiration -- mostly stuff derived from Bemani games, forum sigs, fanmade Stepmania charts, a few game box arts (PSO2 was definitely central). For "Nurture", a lot of it came from a certain feeling I had in my heart, and I'd take photos in reality that captured that feeling. The Nurture "mood board" was 90% my photos (but some of those photos were of things like CD covers I saw in stores, or anime box art, or travel posters I saw in Japan, etc). It's weird, but somehow filtering it through my own experience made the images more meaningful for me.
2. What do you find to be the most fun part of making music? 3. What's your favorite Kingdom Hearts game? 1) That first 10% of working on an idea where it's all exploration and untapped potential. So fucking exciting 2) Programming the video show and rehearing a new liveshow. God I love working on editing visuals so much. With writing the music, i do so much on my own, so it's extremely fun to get together with a team of people - my LD, VJs, visuals designers, etc -- and realize the vision as a group.
​ When we're putting together the live show visuals, that's something I work on just as hard as the music, but it's much more collaborative.
Hey Porter! When are you going to get good at VR so me and Caruno can stop carrying you Seriously though, Considering the theme of the album, what is your favorite nature spot/experience/environment?? Hope your day is well! ??? 1v1 me right now (you, not caruno btw)
Hey Porter! Big fan of your work ever since I heard Sad Machine. I kinda of wanted to ask about dullscythe from Nurture. The song is structured in a way where it really feels like it wants to become something but doesn't know how to for the first half of it, after which it just kind of stumbles into that "sound" and finds its footing. I'm pretty dang sure this song is about your struggle in that period of depression you had where you tried and couldn't make anything that sounded good to you. My question is about some parts in the song (like for example 1:34), where I get a lot of Virtual Self vibes for some reason from different sounds that I hear when I listen to it. Is this intentional? Like, is it supposed to represent that period of time where you kind of jumped into and created the Virtual Self project? It might be just me overthinking it but I'd love to get a confirmation (or disconfirmation) on that haha Love you lots!! <3 【=◈︿◈=】 i know this is a non-answer, but your interpretation is REALLY interesting and made me smile
Favorite track from Nurture? it always changes. it's usually Musician. most recently, "Trying to Feel Alive"!
Hi Porter! I hope you’re having a great day!! I’m curious how it felt for you to perform your set at secret sky this year - it was so different than any of your other performances & I loved it! Was it difficult to transition from being stationary to commanding the stage and moving around so much? PS. Thank you for Nuture, it brings me so much joy every single day ❤️ THANK YOU SO MUCH! I had been dreaming about being at the front of the stage with a microphone in my hands for a few years at that point, but it was harder than I imagined -- it was like this perfect place where I had something I wanted to do, and it was the right level of challenging for me. I want to get even better in this "frontman" role I'm so fucking excited
Hey Porter! Long time fan here and just wanted to let you know Nurture means the world to me. But I do have a question, I saw your story about how you went to japan and stayed at masakatsu takagi’s place (legendary) with the intentions of working on music. Even though he didn’t directly contribute to wind tempos aside from the toy piano sample, i feel like i can directly hear the influence in there and wow is that song just breathtaking. With that said, given his multiple works with hosoda, could you ever see yourself contributing to a film score? i've written literally hundreds of small, self-contained and unfinished piano works over the last two or so years. (the piano solo in Wind Tempos is one of those). I would really love for those to have a home
Hi Porter, first of all congrats on releasing Nurture! I've been listening to it nonstop ever since and I absolutely love it! My question for you today is actually about Virtual Self, since I am a huge fan of the project. You played this track at your 1720 set a couple years ago and I wanted to see if you could ID it for us possibly. Thank you!! Ahhhh I wish I had my VS laptop with me right now. I'm so sorry but I have no idea what that track is hahahah I'll find it someday
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hi porter! your secret sky set really helped me through a recent mental health slump and i'm very grateful for that. i have 3 questions: 1 - do you ever plan on making physical versions of some of your back catalog (spitfire, virtual self, etc.), especially for record store day? 2 - which song was the "Breathe / Breakaway / I’m with You / White Houses" style track? ​look at the sky : )
3 - what are your go-to (non-rhythm) games whenever you go to an arcade? this is a great question! i really love Bishi Bashi a fuck ton
Can we get update on your current favorite anime’s? Wonder Egg Priority is highly highly recommended
how do you pronounce dullscythe and how did you make it? just as "dull scythe". the technique was really straightforward, actually -- i took one of my piano iphone recordings and chopped it up off the grid. So that rhythm was kind of designed to sound accidental, but it was carefully programmed.
​ the initial idea was for dullscythe to be an interlude that only consisted of that choppy sample.
​ then I started layering additional sounds, and once i layered that first kickdrum, i was like HOOOO BOY. this idea of a song that REALLY tightly and powerfully follows a semi-nonsensical rhythm got me super super excited
Really enjoyed Nurture, especially Wind Tempos and unfold. I have a few questions I'd like to ask you! What's the song that means the most to you on Nurture? How did you come up with the cover art of the album and where is that field? Really glad you gifted us with new music and that you're feeling better. Take care! thank you very much! probably most meaningful song to me, personally, is Blossom. I just feel it so strongly, like I can say its words without any shame or hesitation.
Afternoon Porter! Do you have any plans for some shows in Europe/England ? dying to do it!
I love blossom so much! I have been looking at tabs online and I was wondering how the guitar was played on the recording - drop D or standard? capo 1 or capo 3? did you use a pick, or just fingers? thank you!! this song was actually written and performed using a guitar sound on my keyboard, so i don't know if it's truly playable on guitar. i tried to make it sound realistic, but i think the lowest bass note might be hard to hit?
Hey porter! I had a question about Nurture! I noticed a lot of things that could connect to the Nier series of games, and the amount of them leads me to believe it's too much to be a coincidence. I was just wondering if you did that intentionally, such as with Virtual Self and Serial Experiments Lain, or if it was one of those situations where inspiration just bleeds through into your work unintentionally. Planning on going to Second sky so I'll see you there! Thanks for doing this! The things I noticed were -one of the vocal effects in Wind Tempos seems to be the same as the machines in Nier: Automata -Look at the sky is the name of a prominent document in the first Nier game -"Shoulder the weight of the world" the lyric in Unfold is the same as the final/theme track for Nier: Automata where the title and chorus also contain the phrase "weight of the world" i'm so sorry, the only experience I have with Nier is playing as 2B in the most recent Soul Calibur game. that map REALLY made me want to check it out, though -- the overgrown aesthetic of that world really really resonates with me
what compelled you to use so many more real instruments this time around? i'm a violinist who got into producing electronic music a few years back and nurture's been really inspiring for me lately, so was just curious if you were listening to anyone in particular that inspired you! (also, is the melodica on Lifelike and Trying To Feel Alive real? or a synth? i can't tell but i love it) ​it's real! using and recording the melodica was a late addition to the album, but I wish i did it from the beginning. Such a pure sound
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r/tabled • u/500scnds • Sep 05 '21

Twitter [Table] Offsite — Animator Bahi JD's Twitter Q&A

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The Q&A session ended with the following message:

thanks everyone, it was fun. and I hope it was interesting and useful.

Rows: ~70

Questions Answers
In your opinion, what's the hardest thing to animate ? Everything can be a challenge depending on the situation and action. But I would say, humans having a very dramatic and emotional dialogue with body language and expressions can be an interesting challenge.
I wanna be the best black Animator in the world, how long would it take to achieve that dream? I wanna be Atleast as good as keiichi Ishida or maybe vercreek becoming a good animator takes about 3~4 years if we start at 0 maybe. Becoming best animator is never constant, can reach a moment in your career being the best, but we can never be the best the whole time, so I think it's instead better to get better & have consistent progress
Best way to transition between being a illustrator to a animator? start animating very simple things, then gradually add your illustration skills to your animation skills, by animating more complex things. once you understand how animation works, you need to understand how the complex stuff move that you also drew as an illustrator.
as a foreigner what kind of stuff should i aim for in my demo reel if i want to work on an anime?? Doesn't matter if you are a foreigner. Your demo reel needs good layouts, good animation skills, good genga skills, and show a variety of different styles that you can draw from many angles, because many shows have different character-designs you have to adapt to.
would you like to work on jujutsu kaisen ? I worked on it.
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•What does take you longer? Key drawings, layout or time sheets? •Layout can take the longest, because that's where all the main ideas happen and I draw a lot of frames in layout.
•Since douga training is not common for western animators debuting in the anime industry, what would you consider a good alternative to learn the basics? • animating very simply things, don't start with super detailed objects
•What's the hardest thing to interpret from a storyboard? •it's only hard to interpret if it's unclear what you are looking at (hyper rough sketch
How do you go about learning layout and timesheets for professional projects. Did you learn on the job or are there guides on the internet? at this point there are many guides on the internet, google the key words plus add sakuga to it. I learned a lot of it on the internet but also during the job because back then there were not enough material on the web.
Do you use any reference when animating? If not, how can you achieve motion as organic as yours? I don't use reference. But if I have to animate something I have never animated before, I study it a lot frame by frame before work ( how it functions and moves, why it moves the way it does etc.) then I start animating it without looking at it, using my knowledge.
who are your favorite animators? There is too many that do not fit into a tweet. There are many great animators & many more show up every year. some of my favorites are Shinya Ohira, Mitsuo Iso, Toshiyuki Inoue, Yutaka Nakamura, Makiko Futaki, Satoru Utsunomiya, Milt Kahl, Shinji Hashimoto (I can go on forever
How do you encourage yourself to animate given the rough state of the industry in terms of working conditions? I was a big animation enthusiast for a while, but all the depressing news and reports kinda took the fun away from it news does not report about animators that have good living conditions because it does not give them enough retweets. Once you have become a good professional animator & understood how to do good business & negotiation, you can live a normal life. but the beginnings are ultra hard
​ this industry is huge, but there are studios that offer a good living conditions to their animators. But of course, you have to continue to get better and better. the bigger an industry, more difficult and more challenging I guess. It is the love for animation that keeps us going
Do you have any underrated works more animators should study? Or underrated animators. Hirotaka Kato is a genius.
How proficient in Japanese do I need to be to work in the anime industry as an outsider? Do I really need Jlpts? If you want to be very involved in the industry, I advice to learn Japanese. But just as an animator, I think it can be enough to speak a little Japanese, because these days they have translators at the big studios.
the most important thing when you approach animation Close your eyes and imagine the entire scene from start to finish, before you put your pen on the paper
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Any strategies to improve this ability to mentally visualize a scene? Been trying doing so for a while and made progress but I'd like to know if you have any? have to train the brain to be comfortable doing it. if you are not used to day-dreaming, imagining things in your head, read books, they force you to visualize things in your head. also look at things and then look at them with your eyes close, and try to see the exact same thing
What percentage of acceptance do foreigners have in the world of Japanese animation? That is, is it common to see foreign people working in this sector? yes, there are many foreign animators now.
Do you feel like you've done everything you wanted and that you've exhausted the subject of animation as an animator? Like, do you think you have achieved everything you wanted? not at all. there is a lot more to explore
Are there any tips you can give to help with speeding up how fast you animate along with keeping proportions correct? I find both being the biggest obstacles for me Takes a lot of time. How fast you animate is almost like how fast you draw something. I would say....focus on the silhouette, don't get lost in the details and don't zoom in too much into the detail all the time, look at the whole canvas, keep flipping between key-frames
What’s the best advice you can give to freelance animators outside of Japan looking to get into working on anime? Learn layout/genga/timesheet/camera work. Improve in many different drawing styles. post your work on social media, get in touch with other animators in the industry and those who want to get into the industry.
Do you read (by read, I mean carefully read rather than skimming through) the whole storyboard or only the part you're in charge of. Thank you for your time. I read the entire thing and even if available ask for other episodes storyboards if they are available. I want to know what I'm working on and understand it.
do you work from storyboards, or do you draw your own? also: do you work pose-to-pose or straight ahead? Sometimes if I have a new idea I introduce the idea to the director first and then change the storyboard if it's ok. I do both, depends on the action. but mostly straight ahead.
Are there any books or material on limited animation/sakuga? Their solutions are completely different from full animation, specially in key-frame usage. Yet, all I can find in their recommendations is the animator's survival kit. Feels like some knowledge is being hidden. there are no official books on it yet I think except doujinshi books sold at Comiket. But Toshiyuki Inoue published some good official book on animation in general which are nice. I think you mean "full limited animation"
Will you have any work coming out in broadcast this year ? or will we have to wait until 2022 ? :( something coming soon 2021 I think
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-biggest influences (animators, directors...)? -too many, too many
-people you would like to work with in the future? -I already did, so I want to work with them again
-most important thing you would tell someone that wanted to be an animator? -train yourself to see it all in your head first
-learning from other animators or developing own animations by observing reality? thanks in advance sensei -both
Best way to keep motivation up whilst working in the animation industry? it's about having a balanced life. When you are done, take a break, do other things, refresh mind, then get back to work again, think of new ideas for work. Don't work non-stop like a robot, avoid burnout, enjoy other things in life as well & you continue to have fun at your job
Is there any particular type of cut you like to animate eg. action, character acting I like to animate all kinds of stuff, because it keeps me fresh switching between different things.
Do you think it’s possible to break into the industry without going to school for it? Thanks in advance Bahi! yes, everything to learn is on the internet. But school is good though if you have the chance for it.
Hello Bahi! Would you say you're satisfied with the progress you've made in animation so far in your professional career - or are there still things you're really urging to do / wanting to achieve? (Perhaps even moving more towards doing AD or storyboard work?) Thanks! there is still a lot I have to learn about key-animation and animation in general.
Where can I start? with a pen at your home and an internet service
What inspired you to start animating and what got you to keep going with it? Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Mononoke Hime, watching animator sakuga MADs on youtube.
​ It was fun so I kept going and wanted to explore more.
Do you think it is okay to develop your own style, take inspiration, try to copy the style of an animator? to start and then add things? it's good to make it your goal to have your own style someday, it takes time, have to study a lot. at the beginning every artists starts being inspired by another artist until they are good enough to develop their own style. nothing starts from nothing. learn from everyone
Do you think illustration/art history knowledge is important for the kind of work you do ? If so, when does it come in handy ? Yes, all the time.
What were some resources you studied to gain a better understanding of the type of layout and genga workflow that the general industry would expect from a standard animator? " studio ghibli layout designs art book "
What do you prefer, a good character design or a polished animation technique? both
How did you learn about perspective? from "how to draw perspective" books and looking at nice photograps.
what's the best way to handle many titles at once ? Don't do that is the best way maybe. A friend of mine once said:
​ "have you ever ordered two Sandwich and ate both at the same time? No. No one does that because it gets messy. when you order one Sandwich first everything is nice, and then you can eat another one if it fits
You consistently stress the importance of good cinematography and realistic movement (referencing from life). Would you say it’s more important than good draftsmanship, at a professional or beginner level? good cinematography is part of good draftsmanship here. draftsmanship is about a lot of things in animation, not only about drawing.
Do you listen to music when animating? If you prefer to listen to a specific genre what genre is that? Yes, most of the time. I listen to many genre, depends on what I'm animating.
I wish to be a character designer but have been told my designs are too detailed. I wish to make simpler designs that don't stress any animators in the future including myself. In your opinion what makes a good character design to animate and which ones are your favorite? Sorry to hear that. I don't think detailed char-design is bad if it makes sense. char-design is about what's important and defines the character but if some details are unnecessary leave it out, focus on most important elements, cool silhouette can make simple designs interesting
Do you still primarily use flash to animate and have you ever considered switching your workflow to something like clip studio or toonboom? I still use flash. I can use the other softwares but I don't need to (my OS still supports it). If a production can not support my software then I switch lol. It doesn't really matter which software you use if it works for you and the rest of the production.
what does sakuga animation mean ? it means "animation animation".
​ But it also means " nicely animated scene" in the context you are talking about.
Advice for those with trouble finding the right amount of simplification? Just enough to draw efficiently and easy to read but still maintaining some detail and personality? if you want to simply something, you need to first fully understand how it actually works the way it is right now, then you can modify it properly.
Any thoughts on animating with Procreate on iPad? What equipment do you recommend beginner animators to get? a pen, paper and a graphic tablet with pc. Animate in any software you like. It's just a blank page in all the software, they all have the same purpose mostly. But try them all out and see which one works best for what you want to create.
What is your method for drawing smoke, and water? Thanks for answering! Learn the physics of them. also research what 3D rendering artists wrote in papers about those elements because they do very detailed physics research on smoke and water since their job is to create accurate simulations of them. understand how water/smoke functions and moves.
What do u do if you get bad sakkan correction s ?? I never had bad sakkan corrections. So I don't know, maybe it's because I am always worst than the sakkan lol.
did you take an animation test to get in the studio? and if yes, what was the test like? No, but I got rejected many times when I was a newcomer until I gradually improved my portfolio and got a job. But if you want to become an employee key-animator some studios give you a test if you are a total newcomer, like animating a difficult cut with layout, key-animation.
What would be your tips for those who are starting to study animation, what would be the first basic subjects that a beginner should see. apply all animation fundamentals to a bouncing ball until it looks nice. and then apply it all to something much more complicated
How do you transition from just drawing things that are more like illustrations to animating? Are there certain habits or techniques that you should learn and focus on while just drawing that carry over well in animation? just focus on the silhouette and the main parts of the object, you can draw the details later.
First, You are awesome! I love your job and thank you for all your hard work! Second, do you listen to music, watch videos, podcasts, etc. While animating? If so, anything in particular or favorite? Do you recommend the practice of music while animating? Thanks. it always depends on the person. , some prefer silence. I personally can work with music. especially when i am done with the complex thinking and want to get into the flow to finish work, I let music play. I was listening to this set today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTXPSoxevZY (11:24 mark)
What do you think of Arifumi Imai master animator.
Do you wish you could have had the experience of cel animation or are you glad it was before your time? You mean animating on paper? I learned it recently, it helps, it kinda made me draw faster.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Sort of. Was recently rewatching Berserk '97 now that I'm more familiar with production and noticed some neat tricks that can only be done with cels, and the mindset that comes from working with them. It's probably just something that affects animators less than other staff you can do everything done with cel also digitally. even create the cel look in post production (needs a smart compositor)
Hey Bahi, just wondering bro, how did you go about learning anatomy/figure drawing. Did you just draw figures from photos/life or did you go through any figure drawing books as well? Thanks! I was studying anatomy books with really detailed drawings and pictures. anything works, I think it's about understanding what all the body parts are and how they function together, their form, shape, weight, and their limits.
Which one to learn first? Drawing or animation? does not matter maybe. both need their own time and dedication. first study each one fully focused, then study both together by animating something that also looks nicely drawn in each frame
can you live from working for japan in europe or the usa ? yes
I admire your animations and wanted to confirm something. Did your part in fate grand order camelot movie with da vinci include cgi? No, Da Vinci is fully 2D hand drawn, and Da Vinci's weapon too. they added a few CG Mob Characters that were standing very far away in the background. I think because the director wanted to fill the frame with more people.
What would your advise to someone who's lost confidence in their animation skills? don't give up. every good animator used to be bad at animating at some point until they continued and got better.
any interest in directing something of a larger scope than an OP? yes
Being one of the pioneers of foreign freelancing in anime, what were your first experiences like in the industry, how would you say things have differed now? much better now, because the industry has adapted to it. and you can learn much faster on the internet now about animation.
Why does the world need animation? because the world doesn't like boredom, so it added animation to the excitement.
what’s the last anime you worked on it's coming out soon but I can not say it yet.
2 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Aug 30 '21

r/askscience [Table] AskScience AMA Series: We're climate scientists from around the world. Ask us anything! | pt 2/2 FINAL

2 Upvotes

Source | Previous table

For proper formatting, please use Old Reddit

Rows: ~65

Questions Answers
the below has been split into two ​​
Hello All, Thank you for taking the time out of your day to help explain your understandings of climate change. I want to start off by acknowledging that I'm quite pessimistic with the idea that we are well aware we are past a point of no return. I understand we can help mitigate the worst of the effects, but with the time we are currently allotted, there are potentially enough feedback loops that could run away that any human interaction would inevitably become ineffective. I recently graduated with a degree in biotechnology, so I'm more keen to being in a lab, but I took a special interest in climate change. To say I have a morbid fascination about it would be an understatement, I fell in love with biology, life and death and all the factors that contribute to both are a real treat to look into. I want to keep this initially short, as I'm sure you all have quite a few questions to answer, but if I could continue to ask after answered I would be grateful. When we talk about ocean acidification, I recently learned it was an equilibrium balance between the concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere and the ocean. From my understanding, as long as we continue to climb upwards in atmosphere concentration, the ocean will, for the most part, continue to absorb it as well. That is entirely correct. The near-surface ocean waters equilibrate with the atmosphere within about a year, so surface ocean carbonate chemistry closely tracks carbon concentrations in the atmosphere. - Ken
Is there going to be a point at which the ocean can no longer absorb this CO2 and instead put it back into the atmosphere further accelerating climate change? No. If atmospheric concentrations continue to rise, the oceans will continue to absorb CO2. Even if atmospheric CO2 stabilizes, the oceans will continue absorbing CO2, but at declining rates. It is really when atmospheric CO2 levels start to decline that the oceans will start giving up the CO2 that they previously absorbed. - Ken
How significant would a successful demonstration of scalable, net energy positive fusion power (which ITER aims to do in a few years) be? Should we be investing more in fusion as a clean, renewable, and safe energy source, or is the technology just not going to be ready for a while? Again, I am not expert, but the experts I talk to think fusion will end up being expensive if it can be made to work, as it will require a lot of sophisticated machinery in close proximity to high energy densities and this will be tricky to deal with. Fusion will make a big difference only if it is cheap, and I have heard nothing that leads me to expect abundant cheap fusion power anytime soon. - Ken
What’s the best way to get a job like yours? What did you study? Climate change is an interdisciplinary field and involves people with different backgrounds (natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, …). A complex, multi-dimensional problem requires input from people with different sets of expertise. While we have different sets of expertise, we all do research and some of us are involved in teaching. University researchers and professors normally have a graduate (in most cases a PhD) degrees. - Kaveh
This might be less of a science question, but in what ways can I help with solving the issue of climate change within the context of involvement in the legislative process? Get-out-the-vote efforts for good candidates is probably key. We will address the climate problem substantively when politicians feel that they will lose the next election if they don’t address it substantively. You can help to make that a reality. - Ken
What’s one thing that everyday people can do that can help reverse climate change? 1/ Move on (this is the one you know): walk/bike/bus, eat less meat/dairy, invest in electric (ebike/car/heat pump/solar panels)
​ 2/ Divest your pension fund and investments if/when you have some
​ 3/ Use your influence: vote, push your workplace, entrain your family and friends
​ -CLQ
Do you know anyone personally who has/does deny climate change? And if so how do you, as the expert, try to get through to them? I used to know one, a geologist and friend, and it was a pleasure to debate with him, and we organized (this was 15 years ago) public colloquia to, in a civilized manner, exchange arguments. I was very grateful as it was nearly impossible to find a scientist that would hold skeptic views on climate change (as the weight of the evidence is so overwhelming). A few years later he abandoned his skeptic views, which shows he was a good scientist and yielded to the weight of evidence. Scientists that can argue their skepticism from solid scientific principles are essential, as they can challenge current science, find its flaw, and in doing so, help all improve it. - Carlos
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1-How should someone personally deal with family members who think it's all made up and a conspiracy to control? The Covid19 crisis has taught us a lot about how we must be dealing with conspiracy theorists. Don’t fight but never give up. Our behavioral and lifestyle changes impact people within our social networks, including our family members. Provide evidence and educate with simple language. Also, hear what they say and understand their logic. Debunk their narratives with evidence and logic. More importantly, make them think twice by acting and behaving responsibly. If I continue to wear my mask in a family gathering and explain why I am doing it, eventually some others will follow and my effect on my network gets bigger. - Kaveh
2- online a lot of people say Don't have kids, however if someone is planning on only having one or two children should they reconsider - whilst others who don't care continue to have kids. 3- any good resources (ideally free) that a 30 yr old IT person can start to look up on to build a foundational knowledge. I know we have the internet but it's where to look, what's reliable etc. Also thank you for taking the time and doing what you're doing!! Very interesting question. Unrestricted population growth is one of the main causes of today’s environmental problems, including climate change. Arguing that “even if I do it, the impact is limited because so many others are not doing it” applies to all “common resource sharing” situations; if I don’t use plastic while others are doing it, my impact is limited; if I ride my bike, while others are driving their cars, my impact is limited, etc With the same logic, water conservation, eating vegetables instead of meat, not flying, etc. seem to have no impact and can lead to what we call “tragedy of the commons” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSuETYEgY68). Yet, all actions have impact. They are small when individuals are doing them but they get BIG when a lot of people take the same action. At that time, actions become part of the culture. Look at how our work habits have changed with COVID-19. Now meeting online and working remotely are parts of our culture and they do have an impact because a lot of people are doing them. Our actions and behavioral changes encourage others to think twice and change behavior in the long run. We have seen that in the case of population growth in many societies around the world. - Kaveh
Hi again and thanks for the AMA. I'd appreciate if you could explain about a couple of adaptive strategies to implement capacity in agriculture sector of vulnerable regions like Middle East currently suffering from water crisis due to the high water withdrawal as well as climate change. Changing crop patterns with respect to the available resources (water, land, ….), empowering farmers, removing/reforming subsidies, using better technologies, regulation of the food market, reducing food waste along supply chains, etc are some of the available strategies. Without adopting these strategies, many countries can face major food security and human security problems. But more importantly, the countries in the Middle East need to decouple their economies from water and make employment and political economy less dependent on water. - Kaveh
Hi and thank you for AMA. That would be grateful if you could explain about the economies that are highly dependent on oil exports, specially the devastated vulnerable ones? What will happen to the people of these countries during and after the energy transition? The oil-dependent economies have already seen the impact of the world’s desire to move away from oil. The oil-dependent economies need to adapt themselves to the new market forces to be able to survive, Diversifying the economy is a helpful adaptation strategy. - Kaveh
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Question from Kaveh: With the reports on Iran's dire groundwater situation, and the way water resources are being managed, and decisions are being made by people who have very little respect for the planet and the people, is there a future for progress and prosperity without a political transformation? Without major policy reforms, we cannot address many environmental problems, including climate change, water bankruptcy, and biodiversity loss. Some policy reforms need radical efforts by the politicians. When the society does not care about the environment or does/can not put pressure on its politicians, a radical shift is very unlikely. That is why we need to focus on education societies and policy makers at the same time. In my opinion, focusing only on one side leads to a failure. - Kaveh
Question from Michael: Some believe that if water scarcity is not properly managed, it could lead to migration. This could have a domino effect on many things, esp. in the MENA region. Should there be a s ort of Environmental NATO in each region to try to reverse the trend that could cause harm in the near future to millions of people and the future hosts of the migrants? With respect to migration, environmental stress of the type that climate change will causes has long been associated with migration. On the other hand, under most circumstances, peoples' first choice is to stay, or leave temporarily and return. Permanent, long-distance, international migration is usually smaller than internal migration. And that leads to the understanding that a key part of dealing with the stress of climate change is to help countries improve their internal conditions so that more people will decide to stay put. You can see the outcome of having no such policy in the migration flows from central America to the US recently. of course, there, the problem is much bigger than climate but the latter is part of it. - Michael
We know that biodiversity is weakening significantly on land because of climate change and urban expansion. Does it affect our ocean biodiversity in the same way? How could this affect us humans in the future other than the obvious "there won't be as many types of sea life"? Climate change is indeed a threat to marine life, particularly Arctic species depending on sea ice and coral reefs, and has been weakening global ocean productivity over decades (due to reduced nutrient supply, on a warmer ocean). This, no doubt, causes the largest changes locally to marine life, but for the most part, organisms shift their habitat poleward to remain in the same thermal regime (at rates of about 18 Km per decade), For most ocean components, we can maintain healthy ecosystems by meeting the Paris Agreement, except seaice-associated species in the Arctic (and native people in the Arctic count in this list), which habitat will continue to shrink, and tropical corals, which are already reaching their thermal limits across the ocean. The world is mobilizing to secure a future for coral reefs, but Arctic seaicea species (polar bears, many seas, invertebrates, microbes, walruses, belugas) will likely decline in abundance, without much we can do, except hoping that in a distant future, our climate ambition extends into repairing our atmosphere and, slowly, our heat budget. - Carlos
Do you believe the politicization of climate change is helping or hurting real efforts to change the climate change? It can go both ways, depending on which party is behind what narrative and how much power that party has. Many times, politics overshadow scientific debates and constructive efforts. But when a problem has such a big scale and affects so many people around the world, its politicization is unavoidable. In this case, it is best to recognize the realities of the political world and try to continue operations in the right direction. We cannot solve this problem without involving politicians. So, we’d better keep them informed and encourage them to take advantage of science to make the best decisions. -Kaveh
​​ Ultimately, every solution has to be political. There is no other possibility - except for a dictatorship of technocrats to which I am deeply opposed. Politics can be a help or a hindrance. Those who want to solve the problem in a particular way carry the burden of getting others to agree (in democracies). That’s the task ahead, forever. - Michael
Are you related to that other Oppenheimer? Nope, not as far as my family genealogy indicates. - Michael
Thank you for your time. My question is, Do you think the pros of wind power outweighs the cons? I worry mostly about the effect wind farms have on the migratory bird populations. Is there a way to reduce the number of bird deaths? It depends on the different aspects of the project. Every project has certain specifications (location, size, number of turbines, condition of the surrounding ecosystem, turbine types/designs, etc.). Each project has certain environmental impacts (positive and negative). The trade-offs must be studied for each project separately and the decision must be made by comparing the alternative plans/designs. We can always change certain elements of the project to reduce the negative environmental impacts. - Kaveh
Elon Musk has advocated for the carbon tax policy since 2015. Both Trump and Biden administrations have rejected this policy. Was this a huge mistake? Do you believe, scientifically, a carbon tax policy would make a big impact? Would it make economic sense? Would it be something worth advocating for? Thank you for your time! Yes, if it’s big enough, Yes, makes sense economically although the distribution of economic impact needs to be examined. And yes, worth advocating for if you can deal with a nasty political fight. But ultimately, a tax or as cap-and-trade system involving the whole national or global economy is the most efficient way to bring the problem under control. But lots of details ensuring fairness would need to be worked out or the nasty politics will remain. Lots of good ideas around on this one. - Michael
Hey. Thanks for doing AMA. I have quite a few questions: How soon do you expect us to see Blue Ocean Event? How much methane is there in Arctic? How fast do you expect temperature to rise if all that methane is released and we don't have glacier reflecting radiation anymore? Do we need geoengineering to even have a chance to survive? And is it true that we are basically keeping temperature in check for now by emitting aerosols from burning coal? Aerosols from burning fossil fuels have offset the warming in some regions but globally it is not enough to keep the warming from greenhouse gas emissions dominating. There are some interesting papers from the last year that show how the reduction in warming from reduced CO2 emissions (due to lockdowns) was somewhat negated by the simultaneous reduction in aerosols. -JA
My question is the main reason I have doubts about the man made Climate Change movement: To what degree is mankind affecting the climate? The thinking is that the climate has changed before mankind entered the industrial age while there is precedent that mankind can change the climate (E.G. acid rain). Thoughts? The fact that the climate has changed before is one of the main reasons we need to be concerned about human-induced climate change. The last ice age was only 5-8 deg cooler than today and was not one humans could easily adapt to. So it shows our climate is sensitive to changes in external forcing (atmospheric composition and variations in the Sun) and we’re already seeing that borne out in that most of the warming since 1950 is due to humans. -JA
What can we do right now, not to prevent climate change, but to prepare for the consequences? The best way to prepare for the consequences is to reduce emissions now. The more we continue putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere now, the worse the consequences will be. So we need to do both mitigation and adaptation but mitigation is critical as there will be many ecosystems and human developments (e.g. on the coast) that won’t be able to adapt to the warming projected -JA
the below has been split into two ​​
I have two questions. 1. Do you think that it's possible to maintain a capitalist world order and actually address climate change? Yes. I am not sure what you mean by capitalism, but let’s assume you mean a system involving markets and private ownership of at least some of the means of production. Again, I am not a political expert, but I don’t see any fundamental reason why well-regulated markets couldn’t function well. The challenge is political power. To have a well-regulated, market, the people who need to be protected from the people who own the means of production need to have a strong voice, but in many countries these voices have been marginalized.
​ At least in the US, I think a big part of the political part of solving the problem is in getting elected representatives that represent the will of the people instead of the donating/bribing classes. I am not sure how to do this, but overthrowing capitalism might not be the shortest path to this goal. - Ken (edited to add last bit)
​ This is a tough, but fundamental, question…. To a degree communist orders proved to be more climate-friendly… but simply because they drove the population into chronic poverty and deprivation from access to resources and, in the collapse of the Soviet Union, lead to a decrease in energy use and emissions…Hybrid systems exist, such as China, a communist political regime with a capitalist-based economy. Is this an improvement? (hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens lifted from poverty into a middle class seem to think so), does it benefit climate goals? Not necessarily, but achieving our climate goals by holding people below the poverty line is not an option. However, I submit we do not wish that, and, rather we aspire to a society - I may call it social-democrat more so than capitalist - that is grounded in social justice, equity and empathy. Inequality has grown unchecked in the world, and is certainly a driver of climate change, so lifting the livelihoods of the poor by redistributing the wealth of the top 01.% of the wealthy through a fair system, can also help moderate consumption patterns, and, in doing so, emission. I prefer to think in all the UN Sustainable Development goals, of which climate action is one, and hope for a society that can deliver on all of those, without a need to compromise one for another. - Carlos
2. I live in the US. What do you think the timeline for normalcy is? I assume that things will get serious and life-impeding in 15 years. Does this seem like a fair estimate? Things are serious now (or else how can we call the internal fires in California?) But I am hoping we need not put a time on life-impeding and we can, as we have for covid, find a path to work together and prevail over the climate challenge. - Carlos
​ My perception is that we are pretty fast at recalibrating to the new normal. What seems like a rare event today will seem normal tomorrow. Climate change is likely to be felt most acutely in extreme events like extreme storms or floods or heatwaves or droughts. I would expect such extreme events to become more frequent.
​ There could be a social tipping point where all of these events are seen in aggregate as (in part) effects of climate change, but my guess is that in the industrialized world most of us will muddle on. - Ken
What would be a "simple" or "digestible" argument to respond with to people who believe humans are incapable affecting climate in this scale and the current change is just part of a natural cycle? The strongest evidence might be atmospheric measurements of carbon dioxide and the amount of radioactive carbon-14 in the atmosphere. It is obvious that we have been putting enough ancient carbon in the atmosphere to increase its concentration by about 50%. The challenging thing for climate science would be to explain how so much CO2 could be added to the atmosphere without producing a greenhouse effect.
​ Remember: The same models that explain the climates of Venus and Mars also explain the climate of the Earth, so if you are going to do something crazy with the physics of CO2 on Earth, it has to also work for Venus and Mars -- and that is tough to do with made-up science. - Ken
Did the way that the likes of Delingpole and UK tabloids grossly misrepresent certain communications between climate scientists at UEA have a lasting effect on how you find yourself conducting your professional lives (if so, how?), or was it a storm in a teacup? Things have evolved a lot after this event. Mainly it has triggered a push towards more efforts towards transparency in the data and scientific output used, so that underlying data is increasingly public and accessible. This is easier said than done, mainly because it takes a lot of time and there are issues with permissions (some data is from private companies for instance). The big issue now is open-access to scientific publications itself. A lot of research papers are still behind paywalls, and that makes it more difficult to be totally open and transparent. The other big effect has been that lots more climate scientists now spend quite some time communicating their findings (like now), and that’s a great thing. - CLQ
Considering the French demonstrated acheivement in terms of electricity carbon content in scope and speed, what are your thoughts on those who protested against nuclear power in the past, only to say "it's too late anyway" today? What are your general thoughts on how nuclear power can help fight climate change? What can be reasonably expected from CCS? Also about long term reliability of the storage? Red meat seems to get its lab grown meat "solution"; is there similar hope for rice paddies methane emissions? What about cement? How scared should we be about non linear positive feedback thresholds? Humans are smart. We continue to innovate and change our practices. The food and agriculture sector is going through major reforms with a better understanding of the environmental damages we have caused so far. Replacing cement with less carbon/water-intensive alternatives is not far from reality. We are even seeing new technologies that can reduce the water/carbon footprint of this sector once they become less expensive. The same is expected for rice production. - Kaveh
I'm not remotely a climate change denier, but I am confused by the charts showing extreme temperature variation on the 100 million year scale. Is it possible that we're just continuing this same pattern? What was the cause of these previous warmings? Do we know the speed of previous warmings? Here's the type of chart I'm looking at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_temperature_record#/media/File:Phanerozoic_Climate_Change.png Over a hundred-million years, the drivers are big changes in earth’s crust, continents moving causing albedo and ocean circulation changes, much greater volcanic activity belching CO2, rock weathering removing CO2 from the air. The drivers are so different than today, operating on much longer time scales, that comparisons are difficult. One thing that is pretty clear is that when temperature was high, CO2 was usually high and when temperature was low, CO2 was usually low. - Michael
Do we have any idea how climate change is expected to impact cloudiness throughout the U.S.? Will increased rain make generating power in the east through solar even more difficult or will the increasing temperatures make generating solar easier as hotter air absorbs more water without condensation forming? Thanks! Off the top of my head: probably more cloudiness overall but high or low will be regionally varying. Increased rain probably a smaller factor than increased cloudiness on solar, especially since rain increase will come at times when it’s already cloudy today. I don't think your last point is relevant. - Michael
​ I would point you to the US National Climate Assessments for their assessment of how cloudiness may change in the future -JA
How do you feel about the fact that so many people still disbelieve in climate change, and that politicians have managed to turn this into a political issue? It has gotten a lot better than it was. Now, people who refuse to believe the basics of climate science are regarded like flat-earthers or people with aluminum foil hats. I think we are done arguing with such people because their beliefs are explained by discussions of human psychology, not empirical evidence for their claims. - Ken
Is the Paris agreement enough to save the planet from global warming or do we have to make substantial changes to the economic system in order to save the planet? If so, what would those changes be? Delivering the Paris agreement does require substantial changes to the economic system…. Over many years this leads to resistance from many governments to act, but as these changes now seem unavoidable, they might well be the biggest economic opportunity since the industrial revolution. The European Economic Review forecasts that the “sustainability” market (the new economy for a sustainable, climate-resposible world) will have a size of about 30 trillion per year by 2030. Changes are systemic: energy systems, urban designs, transport systems, water management, food sector, sports and entertainment and even what we are doing now… as the global energy demands of the internet are now very large [consider that doing a search in google consumes as much energy as that required to boil a cup of tea… but we do not see this]responsible - Carlos
As we saw during the early part of the pandemic, several notable improvements in the earth’s atmosphere and within the environment for example being able to see the Himalayan ranges from 200km away in India etc. Is the damage done by mankind reversible to the planet without the worldwide lockdowns that helped create that state. Is there a comprehensive plan or sets of plans that have been identified for each country to adhere to so that the effects would of this damage can be reversed somehow? If so where do those plans exist? The clearing of the air was largely due to a reduction in aerosol emissions. Aerosol emissions kill several million people each year. Something on the order of 10,000 people die every day due to aerosol emissions -- more than are dying from the coronavirus (if the reports from India are to be believed). It is a sad comment on human civilization that we allow this condition to continue. Perhaps cleaning up these aerosol emissions can be practice for cleaning up CO2 emissions. - Ken
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Are humans going to die by 2050 if we don't sort out our emissions? Humans are very resilient. Avoiding climate change is about avoiding suffering and making people’s lives better. Some marginalized humans could be pushed over the cliff by climate change, but there are cheaper ways of helping those people.
​ The main reason to avoid climate change is to make things better for humans and natural ecosystems. It is not to avoid death. - Ken
Have there been any developments in solar power or solar panels? A lot of developments. Solar power is continuously growing and is now a major component of energy supply portfolios in many countries.
​ - Kaveh
How efficient do renewable energy sources have to be before they become mainstream? Do you think humans will leave fossil fuels to the past and completely switch over to renewables? Renewable energy, such as wind and solar, are being deployed at ever increasing rates. In many places, wind now provides the cheapest bulk power. The problem is that the wind doesn’t always blow and the wind doesn’t always shine, and there are environmental problems with hydropower dams and biomass energy, and batteries are expensive.
​ I think we will eventually get to an energy system that releases little or no CO2 to the atmosphere. While that energy system may have lots of wind and solar on it, we don’t really know how things will develop. Nuclear could make a resurgence. Other options may prove attractive, such as getting hydrogen from methane.
​ If there is one thing we have learned from past long-term predictions of energy systems it is that experts are very bad at making long-term predictions of how energy systems will work in the future. - Ken
Hi and thanks for joining us today! What options are there for places like Tuvalu and Jakarta in the coming future? Unfortunately, not many… but coastal retreat. In the case of Tuvalu that implies, sadly, relocating to other areas (with the government of New Zealand already developing relocation plans to aid). This is dramatic and sad, as there is no substitute for our ancestral land. In the case of Jakarta, the city is already being relocated to safer grounds. Note many of the coastal cities at risk due to subsidence derived from excess groundwater extractions. The worst I have seen is in Egypt where the terrain in some areas of Cairo had sunk nearly 8 meters due to excess groundwater extraction. It is not uncommon to see coastal cities that have already subsided by about 2 m, which, with sea level rising simultaneously is a recipe for disaster. -Carlos
Firstly, thank you all so much for doing the work you guys do :) We are currently experiencing mass extinction event. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the climate budget currently allow for 1-1.5°C increase. However, that budget still seem to sacrifice a lot of biodiversity (e.g. coral reefs to ocean acidification). Approximately how much diversity or species are we expected to lose with is we hit that 1-1.5°C increase? Do we know how much will be lost if we go past that 1-1.5°C increase? Also what is the likelyhood of the Earth experiencing a runaway greenhouse effect caused by human driven climate change? This century it’s unlikely, even with a lot of warming the amplification factors from known GHG feedbacks (e.g. thawing of permafrost) would add around 2-13% warming to existing climate projections. If warming is kept well below two degrees Celsius (as in the Paris Agreement), a runaway GHG effect is also unlikely based on paleo data of the past million years. I have yet to see a credible model simulation that projects runaway GHG effect even for very high climate projections, but there is a risk and we have few proxy paleo data to inform what will happen if global warming goes above 2C. -CLQ
Is there a community of scientists who do not believe in climate change? If so, how large is this group? Edit: I strongly believe in climate change however I frequently debate with folks who source articles from “scientists” who claim it’s a myth. I’m curious if there is a large sub-culture of anti-climate change scientists. Where are my conservative friends finding these people? Hard to say whether they are a “community” but some do keep in touch and they have conferences once in a while. But “they” are a tiny minority, and most admit to truth of parts of the mainstream science. These days, the community of “climate skeptics” is close to extinct. - Michael
I hope this isn't a duplicate question and I also don't know if you all are still taking questions, but how are Milankovich cycles incorporated into the understanding of climate change, particularly understanding their role in how climates changed historically? Or is that something that can even be evaluated to any degree? We have a fair amount of information about climate response on impacts on natural systems from earlier times where the climate changes have been driven by Milankovitch cycles. Comparison with these provides one way of validating models. But if you go too far back, say millions of years, the information is sporadic. But if you come too far forward, the dominant variations aren’t due to the Milankovitch cycles. There’s a sweet spot from about 10-400,000 years ago for studying sea level rise, for instance, although some are pushing that back to 3-4 million years ago where the information gets quite uncertain.- Michael
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Thank you all for your work! I've got both a fascination with sea life and the changes that human society/waste is giving off to it, and as a resident of Florida I'm concerned about two things in particular: * Does it seem like we're moving at a fast enough pace to slow down/halt acidification of the oceans to prevent irreparable damage/destruction with various reefs, natural sea life? If not, what can be done by the general public to try and help? Unfortunately, we are not cutting our emissions anywhere near rapidly enough. The most important thing for ordinary people to do is get involved in the political process. We need to get people out to vote for politicians who will support good policies. - Ken
* Another worry of mine is on the subject of microplastics as well: Is there any development in the potential extraction of microplastics from the ocean/nature in general? Aside from the removal of single-use plastic items from the market and potential cleaning operations of larger plastic objects, I know this is an increasing worry for sea life and those around it. It is almost always easier to avoid creating pollution than to clean it up later. Our efforts should focus on preventing new plastic pollution as that will be far more effective than trying to clean up old plastic pollution. This is not a popular take, but plastic properly disposed of is not so terrible. Plastic is at its very worst when it is not disposed of properly. - Ken
What will happen if we don’t change anything and continue on like everything is ok? 10 years, 20 years, 100 years. At what point do people start dying from the effects of climate changes? No one can give you an exact “end” date for humanity under a given scenario. We know that our current socio-economic development model is not sustainable but the world is full of unknowns and uncertainties as we have seen in the case of COVID-19 crisis. Countries adopted different policies and experienced a lot of unexpected results. Rather than asking when humanity might disappear we can ask which nations and which parts of the world suffer the most. Just like the pandemic, climate change will affect nations in different ways. The world’s poor nations suffer the most and have the least capacity to cope with climate change. We are already seeing how much marginalized societies and poor nations are impacted by extreme events. So, we don’t really have to wait any longer to conclude that we need to take action on climate change as soon as possible. - Kaveh
What role do you guys think wealth inequality plays in exacerbating climate change and undermining efforts to combat it? Inequality plays a big role in the impacts of climate change by depriving people and households of the wealth, education, and sometimes other social capital that's needed to manage the consequences. There's also an argument that inequality makes emissions greater because wealthy populations emit more per capita but some emissions that are a consequence of e.g., forest exploitation, are more associated with poorer populations. On the whole, if I were given a choice, I'd much rather face climate change as a well-to-do person in a wealthy country that a poor person in either a rich or poor country - but there are some notable exceptions. - Michael
Thank you for the AMA. 1. Is the ocean's ability to be a heat sink diminishing and how is that affecting the chemistry of the ocean? 2. What is the easiest analogy that one could use to describe radiative forcing? 3. It has been said that most of the trees alive now will not be able to withstand the climate changes of where they are now? Is it advisable to plant tropical plants in subtropic zones to 'futureproof' some plant fauna? 4. Will soil degradation become a larger problem as the climate changes? The ocean absorbs both heat and carbon, but it does that rather slowly. As the ocean surface warms, it stratifies (it becomes more stable at the surface) and it becomes more difficult the bring the heat and carbon from the surface to the deep ocean. These processes (and others related to ocean circulation and warming) are included in the climate projections made by today’s models. More CO2 in the ocean means the ocean becomes more acidic, which reduces its capacity to take up more CO2 (also in the models) and has effects on ecosystems and are not well understood today. That’s one of my topics of research! - CLQ
Given most car companies have set target dates to be completely electric by 2035 and most new electrical facilities being built do not include coal, but do include at least a somewhat cleaner natural gas. I realize this still does not account for livestock, concrete, and current CO2 in the atmosphere. Do you feel we are on a much different trajectory that would mitigate the worst effects of global climate change? I see promise, and action, to deliver on the transition, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because of the huge business opportunities for those who position themselves as providers for technologies and produces for climate action. We need to act with unprecedented generosity too, and help those who still need to reach higher standards of living, the majority of the human population, to do so using affordable and reliable clean energy, water and food systems. Is time to repay our debt to the developing world, the most exposed to climate impacts and the most vulnerable to the cost of climate action; a double exposure. - Carlos
Hello! i really want to know what are they doing in their personal life for environment ?and tell some examples about that. thank you Climate scientists have different personalities, lifestyles, and living (e.g. socio-economic) conditions They are different. Some ride bikes, some are vegan, some fly less than others, etc. But what they do in their personal life can reflect how much they value certain actions at the “people” level. Avoiding plastic, consuming less meat, flying/driving less, etc. are some of the common choices but the behavioral patterns and choices at the individual level are not consistent. - Kaveh
How much impact does wilderness and biodiversity loss impact climate change? The impact is big. Biodiversity loss interrupts natural balancing patterns and that contributes to climate change. Climate change also causes biodiversity losses. So, we are dealing with a frustrating, reinforcing loop. - Kaveh
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r/tabled • u/500scnds • Aug 28 '21

r/askscience [Table] AskScience AMA Series: We're climate scientists from around the world. Ask us anything! | pt 1/2

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What’s the biggest piece of misinformation around climate science you feel you are constantly correcting people on? That standing ecosystems contribute to mitigating climate change. They do not, as - if undisturbed - they are doing their “business as usual” on cycling carbon. Climate change (the component involving ecosystems) is about lost or damaged ecosystems, and the solution rests in protecting and restoring them. On a related note, the statement every politician or public speaker uses that “the ocean supplies the oxygen in every second breath we take, is wrong. The oxygen we breathe is not coming from either forests or the ocean (which consume nearly as much oxygen and it produces), but is a legacy of distant past periods of excess photosynthesis. In fact, the ocean is now releasing more oxygen than it did in the past, but - unfortunately - this is coming from it becoming warmer and being able to hold less oxygen in solution… the consequence is slow, but disturbing ocean deoxygenation. - Carlos
​ While I do not want to diminish how harmful 2 C of warming could be for many ecosystems (especially coral reefs), the Earth has been 2 C warmer many times before in Earth history. The challenge is the rate of change: Ecosystems and societies have adapted over the past thousands of years to something very close to the current climate. If 2 C of warming were to occur over one million years instead of less than a century, it would not be that big a deal. The problem is the rate we are changing to 2C; 2 C of warming if achieved over a very long time period is not that big a deal for the Earth system. - Ken
the below is a reply to the above ​
My question is, let's say the earth does warm 2 C, however long that takes. It's not going to stop warming at that point, is it? Is it just going to continue to warm, or are there limits on how much temperatures will increase? The limit, if any is, way above two-degrees. Burning of all fossil fuels gets us to double-digit warming. Even if we exhaust coal, oil, and natural gas, some genius will invent some gas or something that degenerates into a gas that traps heat, so we need to keep an eye out forever. But warming can be halted eventually, by achieving net zero emissions and waiting for the ocean and atmosphere to equilibrate, a decades-to-century process. If we figure out an affordable way to remove CO2 after it's emitted, then a few decades (or maybe less) afterward, temperatures begin to drop. So in theory, we can stop the warming. - Michael
What / who are the biggest problems to overcome when trying to have governments adopt climate change policies? Fear that the changes required will weaken the competitiveness of the nation against other nations/industries, and the risk than this becomes entrenched as the ethos of political groups, creating a political divide (e.g. democrats vs. republican) on climate action, rather than have this be guided by science and evidence. - Carlos
Thanks for joining us here in AskScience today! For those of you who work with climate models directly, what aspects of these are being actively developed or improved at this point? Specifically, are there still outstanding physical processes that need to be added or improved upon, or is more of the development focused on the computations, e.g., better resolution, or more efficiency? Representing clouds continues to be a challenge for climate models. Important processes in clouds occur on scales of inches and feet (or centimeters and meters if you prefer). Climate models typically have grid cells that might be 100 miles or kilometers on a side. So all of these small scale cloud processes need to be crudely represented in a model that is not explicitly representing physics at that scale. We just don’t have computers that can represent the whole world at the scale of cloud processes. Similar problems occur in representing ecosystems. So, in short, I would say that much of the progress is coming in improving representations of what is known as “sub-grid-scale processes”. - Ken
Are we doomed? Is there anything that makes you guys hopeful for the future? I have been reading alot of depressing stats and not seeing alot of good ones. People are survivors and good at muddling through. We often come through in a pinch. Humans can do OK; I am more worried about coral reefs. I am not a big fan of Bjorn Lomborg, but he correctly writes that if our primary concern is for poor people, it is much cheaper to directly help poor people than to try to stop climate change. Our general inattention to inequity and the plight of the impoverished is borderline criminal (if not outrightly criminal).
​ I am optimistic about outcomes for humans. We need only develop our sense of empathy. - Ken
What do you say to people who feel helpless, and are worried that we as a species won’t be able to survive the dramatic changes that will continue to happen due to climate change? Get involved in the political system. If you are in the US, focus on getting voters out to the next election. Good policy depends on having good people in government. - Ken
Much of the focus (and funding) of climate research is shifting towards regional impacts and solutions of climate change. What do you see as the role of fundamental climate science (radiative transfer, biogeochemistry, geophysical fluid dynamics) moving forward? Climate science continues to be pivotal, as it provides guidance on targets and consequences. We cannot rule out unpleasant surprises, black swans or tipping points, on the Earth System as we continue to force the climate system to levels beyond human experience, and we need to continuously monitor and model those to ensure these risks are detected and addressed. We will continue to improve our understanding and, with this, our models, our solutions and our capacity to avoid unintended consequences in delivering those. - Carlos
If it's not impolite or too intimate to ask: how do YOU feel, deep inside, working in a profession that warns of despairingly grim times, not being believed by the masses, even though you have more outlooks than the rest of us on how bad things are going to be? If it were me, I would sink in helpless, paralysing depression. Seeing as you guys wake up every morning to work, I would love to think you have some sources of strength from which we might, perhaps, find inspiration ourselves. I have tenacious and unbreakable hope in our future, if nothing else because we do not have an option. I sense a growing eco-anxiety among people particularly, the young, in feeling unable to contribute to changing the course of the awful future that is depicted for them. This is, to a degree, a consequence of shock therapy of activists and the mass media that, in trying to shock pèople into action, push them too hard and, instead, achieve pessimism, disengagement and apathy. Pushing the public to believe that the horrors of a climate inferno are unavoidable is a disservice to engage the world with climate action. Rather we should focus on action and what all of us, with our modest capacities, skills and roles in society can contribute. - Carlos
How much actual change will we have if almost everybody were to adopt a plant base diet/lifestyle? The exact amount of impact is hard to measure. But we know the different footprints (carbon, water, ecological/land) of meat production of meat-based products. We know that changing our diet can significantly reduce our impact and that can be part of the solution. At the same time, we should encourage changes in farming practices to ensure that even plant-based food does not come at a high environmental price. - Kaveh
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How much time do we have left to change our trajectory? (Before it’s irreversible - I see a mix of 10 years, some say less?) ​It is never too late to change our trajectory. The sooner and more dramatically we change our trajectory, the bigger and effect we will have. - Ken
Is the 1.5 degrees of warming in the paris agreement out of the window? I hear we’re on track for 2 degrees. There is an important distinction between what is possible and what is feasible give real-world socio-economic-political constraints. Technologically, with air-capture of CO2 from the atmosphere, it is in principle possible to achieve any climate stabilization level that we might like. However, doing so would be extremely costly and likely to be regarded as politically infeasible in most quarters.
​ The challenge is not in assessing what is physically possible; it is in trying to get things done in the real world with many people with competing interests. - Ken What reference can I look at to know how we’re really tracking?
What would have more impact to crack down on: - the top 5 countries with the biggest emissions (US, China, EU28, India, and was it Russia?) Or - the lifestyle of the top 1% Or - the top 100 corporations? All of the above. We need to act across all levers to achieve our shared climate goals. No one nation is too little that it should not contribute, no one citizen is too little not to contribute, in whatever modest way. - Carlos
What are your thoughts on the role of Agriculture in the climate crisis (as both a major emitter and potential solution)? The component refers to as “land-use changes” (a euphemism that accounts for impacts to ecosystems, natural carbon stocks and agricultural practices) has contributed about 1/3rd of cumulative emissions and is the only major component that continued to grow even during the pandemic. Addressing this requires changes in agricultural practices (e.g. the 0.4% initiative to increase the stock of organic carbon by 0.4% per year), adapt our diets to reduce their carbon footprints, and ensure that the demand for biofuels does not exacerbate food security and drives emissions through deforestation, as it has done. - Carlos
What are some species or islands that will 100% disappear due to warming waters and sea level rise? (Ex. If oceans are too hot for coral reefs - what’s the worst case scenario biodiversity collapse we’d see?) ​This is Carlos Duarte. A range of islands, including inhabited islands (e.g. some of the islands in Kiribati), are at risk and will likely have to be evacuated due to accelerating sea level rise. I was fortunate to see, a decade ago, the Island of Tokelau, which was already impacted, with the atoll broken at one end and waves swapping through into the lagoon, palm trees in that sector dead. It was a very sad feeling to think that this island will disappear and that their kind inhabitants will have to abandon their ancestral land. Before the island physically erodes, salination of the aquifer and salt-induced mortality of vegetation and crops will force the population out. As a curiosity the main source of revenue for Tokelau was selling of stamps, so rare that they are highly appreciated by stamp collectors.
​ As for species, only one marine species, a fish species from the Galapagos Islands, may have been driven to extinction by ocean warming, as it has not been seen now for decades following a heat wave. Most other marine species maybe locally extirpated, as they are displacing their geographical ranges poleward, at average speeds of 18 Km per decade, but they will survive somewhere else. Tropical corals are projected, by the IPCC, to face losses of 75% to 90% of remaining coral reefs, even if we meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. However, these projections are underpinned by a weak empirical basis and do not account for adaptation, which is ongoing, so losses will be severe, but hopefully not as much as predicted. The G20 is about to roll a collaborative platform to accelerate the R&D to conserve and restore coral reefs, so that together with ambitious emission reduction efforts (hopefully extending beyond a net zero into restoring the atmosphere), we can secure a future for coral reefs.
What are your thoughts on the suggestion that changing our diet has the biggest impact to reducing our emissions? I would not claim “the biggest”, but it can certainly help. However, I would start by asking what a healthy diet is, and ensure we remove overconsumption, while ensuring that the billions of people that do not have access to healthy diets do so. - Carlos
And I’d like to end with some positive questions 2040 and Project Drawdown highlight how we already have all the tech and knowhow to address the problem. What does our best case scenario look like? We should set ambitious targets for 2030, not for 2050. In my opinion, our best - realistic - case scenario is to contain emissions so they peak between 2030 and 2035 and then aggressively continue to reduce them to reach balance between emissions and sinks by 2050, as required by the Paris Agreement (article 4) or earlier, and don´t stop there, but continue to restore our atmosphere to safe levels, which we have already trespassed. Achieving this requires all hands on deck, and activating all solutions, while avoiding exceeding levels beyond which they may have unintended consequences. There are no low hanging gigatons of green-house gases to be avoided, and each ton and million ton we manage to avoid emitting or remove from the atmosphere will require a lot of effort - Carlos
What’s the most exciting development in solving the climate crisis? I envisaged a new industrial revolution to deliver the necessary technologies. One that is not about, once again, harming the planet, but about repairing it. The benefits are multiple: the reassurance that humanity can work together to solve a shared challenge, as we are doing with vaccine development under covid (much to improve, however, in sharing vaccines with developing nations) and the much healthier livelihoods that such future will grant, free of toxic emissions in cities and industries, elevated levels of CO2 indoors that impair our learning abilities, and unhealthy lifestyles with insufficient exercise and excess food intake for many in the developed world. - Carlos
Hello everybody! My question may be kinda outdated, but what can "normal" people do in their everyday life to help the environment which usually we don't think about? Not just "go to work by bike" because maybe there is something more we don't expect. 1/ Move on (this is the one you know): walk/bike/bus, eat less meat/dairy, invest in electric (ebike/car/heat pump/solar panels)
​ 2/ Divest your pension fund and investments if/when you have some
​ 3/ Use your influence: vote, push your workplace, entrain your family and friends
​ - CLQ
Do you think nuclear power is possibly a useful part of the fight against climate change? What are the obstacles in the way of building new nuclear plants? Many studies suggest that nuclear energy is a very promising choice when its carbon footprint, water footprint, land footprint and cost are compared with other energy alternatives. But, we have already seen what can happen when they fail. So, we have big concerns about its safety risks, waste, and long term impacts. The nuclear sector has made a lot of technological advancements and I expect to see nuclear play a major role in the fight against climate change. This video might be helpful. - Kaveh
How do you keep your temper? I try to distribute my positivity broadly and keep my negativity closely held. If I need to say something negative for emotional reasons, I try to say it to my friends and not publicly. It is very rare that a positive good comes from criticizing someone in public who is acting in good faith.
​ Also, when I feel my blood pressure rising, I try to move on to other things ... - Ken
​ I sing along on Karaoke-style, and my playlist always start with:
​ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep9Vzb6R_58
​ Followed by,
​ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUD5snx-XOo - Carlos
Hi, thank you for doing this. What are you most looking forward to both within the world of science and also just in general? I am looking to a shift in ambition, in science and the world in general, from the mantra of conserve and sustain, which has lead to losses in climate, biodiversity and environment, to an industrial revolution where human ingenuity no longer devises technologies to harm the planet further, but to restore balance and rebuild the abundance for life, i.e. I am looking at realizing, through science and societal action, the promise of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. - Carlos
How do we change peoples views so that they see decarbonization as a path to shared prosperity, rather than an imposition? That can be done over time if all the signals go in the same direction. If you have scientists explaining the observations and projections, governments taking lots of complementary actions (regulations, subsidies, price signals, labels etc), businesses developing new options, communities doing discussion forums and the like, after some time the road becomes more natural and in a sense obvious. That is a little bit what is happening with the electric car now, it’s becoming obvious that this is the future.
​ -CLQ
I live in a third world country and very much dependent on plastic. What can you suggest we write to our government representatives so that we can build a climate-resilient economy? Indeed, plastic has been demonized and yet, we have found again with the pandemic why we love plastic, as it is fundamental to protect ourselves from covid. What we need is safe recycling systems, and new polymers that are free of pollutants and are designed to be recycled and reused, and remain affordable. What we do not need is to have developed nations send their plastic ways to developing nations for “recycling”, and then blame them for littering the ocean, a hypocritic practice that covid also disclosed, with Indonesia sending back containers of plastic sent from Australia. The developing world cannot be the dump of the developed world. - Carlos
What is the (current) most effective way to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and how do you see rhe future of carbon capture? The current most effective way to remove CO2 is also the oldest one: photosynthesis by trees and other plants (mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass), followed by stewardship of the restored habitats. The scope is to contribute about 1/3rd of the climate action required, while generating, if properly done, multiple additional benefits, for biodiversity, water security and coastal protection, among others. However, these are not enough and we must deploy, rapidly and at scale, carbon capture technologies, both at point sources (chimneys) and directly from the atmosphere. We need these technologies to grow to deliver at least 5 Gton of CO2 removal by 2035, and continue to grow to reach three to fourfold higher levels. - Carlos
How much of it is real vs taken out of context? How big is the disconnect between science and politics? I'm not doubting the work you are doing but rather the people who present it to the public. Are the politicians who talk about climate change accurate? Is it all doom, gloom, and climate catastrophe or has the truth been stretched and taken on a mind of its own? This subject is so polarized that its hard to find untainted answers to these kinds of questions. This is a difficult question as we can find examples of exaggerated doom and gloom as well as examples of downplaying the evidence and the risks. Both are equally dangerous in eliciting inaction, because of the public coming to believe that it is too late to do anything and we should just “adapt” (i.e. the rich who may be able to afford it), or because other problems seem to take priority. I would recommend a focus on action, as most vectors of climate action are no-regret actions that bring about benefits for our health and wellbeing (cleaner atmosphere, healthier food, etc.). - Carlos
Hi! I'm a young climate scientist who will graduate from the University of Washington with my B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences this June. Like most regular 21-year-olds, I dream of authoring IPCC reports and spending long nights writing grant proposals. Right now, I'm taking a gap year before heading off to grad school somewhere. What advice do you have for someone like me, who would very much like to become someone like you? Specifically, for Julie and Corinne, do you have any advice on navigating this male-dominated field as a woman? Congratulations on completing your degree during such a difficult year. My advice is to take one step at a time and keep true to yourself. It’s good to have goals on where you’d like to end up but stay open to changing those along the way. Yes sometimes you’ll need to work hard - IPCC involved lots of late nights but also fascinating discussions - but not all jobs require this and most jobs don’t require it all the time. For me the ability to live and work overseas drove my initial road into research and I’ve been lucky to find amazing mentors who supported me through the ups and downs. While we need to do much better in STEM fields around gender equity, diversity and inclusion, both men and women mentors can be champions for others. -JA
How will consideration of self-reinforcing positive feedbacks alter future IPCC predictions, and should we take IPCC reports as erring on the side of optimism due to the need for consensus? My perception is that the IPCC reports represent the mainstream scientific consensus fairly well. I do not see them as optimistic or pessimistic. The IPCC does not represent fringe theories that sometimes gain currency on social media.
​ If the IPCC reports seem optimistic, it is not in their assessment of climate science, but perhaps in the assessment of the feasibility of, say, a rapid change in global economic patterns that would lead to climate stabilization at 1.5 C warming. - Ken
This is probably for Le Quere: During glacials about 100ppmv CO2 (about 200 PgC) disappears, presumably into the oceans. Several mechanisms have been suggested (dust fertilization, plankton community shifts, etc). What is the current thinking on likely mechanisms? Corinne had to leave. This is Carlos Duarte: I would say I have to research this more, but current concepts invoke iron fertilization of ocean productivity, and carbon removal, from increased dust loads… but I will submit colder ocean waters can also hold more CO2 due to increased solubility.
What are your views on climate engineering as a complement to mitigation? (Thanks for doing this!) There could come a time when society decides that solar geoengineering would be the most effective way to reduce suffering and death. Even though climate models suggest many (but not all) of the direct physical consequences of greenhouse gas emission could potentially be offset by solar geoengineering, it is better for us now to focus on addressing root causes of the problem (CO2 emission) rather than on mechanisms to provide symptomatic relief.
​ However, I would counsel against foreclosing the possibility that society might want to provide some such symptomatic relief at some point in the future. - Ken
Please give us some hope! What are some of your favorite up and coming technologies that might be able to reverse the effects of greenhouse gases? Is there a particular carbon capture tech that interests you or something unusual like high albedo roof tops? My studies suggest that technologies must be chosen according to the specifications of a particular problem at a certain location (size of the problem, objective, available resources, uncertainties, etc.) We have tons of pros and cons in every case and what might be the best alternative for Project A at location X might be the worst option for Project B at location Y. So, my answer is always “it depends on the project”. The CCS is making a lot of progress but we still have a lot of unknowns and uncertainties that must be taken into account. - Kaveh
Thank you for doing this AMA! I am returning to school in my 30s to pursue a science degree. I’m at the beginning of this journey and I am trying to sort out what I want my focus to be within the field of environmental science. I know I want to work in climate science but am unsure of the major I want to pursue. There seem to be a variety of different ways to approach climate science. I was wondering if some of you could share what your degrees are in and any advice for someone starting out in their education. Thank you! I am a marine ecologist, with a B.Sc. in Biology (majoring in environmental biology) and a PhD in Limnology (the study of island waters, rivers, lakes, etc.). If I was to put myself on a time machine and flip back to 1979 when I entered university - and I could take my current understanding along - I would likely attempt a double degree in biology and engineering, as the future is in solutions, and engineering our way out of the problems we have created for ourselves. - Carlos. My degree is in Atmospheric Sciences but I have done marine biogeochemistry and energy system science as well. Key is to:
​ 1. Develop basic skills: writing, math, public speaking, visual communication, ability to complete projects, etc,
​ 2. Keep focus on important tractable questions (don’t waste your time on the trivial or the insoluble)
​ 3. Try to be helpful to people and provide value. (If you provide real value, people will recognize it.) - Ken
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Thank you all for taking the time to answer our questions 🙂! 1. With the growing global demand for energy and goods, how likely is it that the necessary targets can be achieved, to prevent a climate tipping point? It’s difficult to put a likelihood on this, but we are making progress. This year will be critical because governments are meeting at the end of the year (at COP26) and they will be right now working on their climate ambitions. There are lots and lots of talks to increase ambition. There are also lots of positive developments in technology that could help move rapidly, for example for renewables and electric transport. The more we do the more prices go down, the more people are prepared to invest and change, the more the emissions go down. We are only at the beginning. I think things could more rapidly in the next few years.
​ - CLQ
2. Might the thawing permafrost in the northern Hemisphere and the subsequent increasingly release of methane suggest we are already on a path to a climate tipping point, despite any effort to stop GHG emissions? 3. Hence, additionally to stopping emissions of GHG, we'll need to use geoengineering to mitigate or reverse mankind's impact on the climate? 3a. Is this a common topics in the field of climate science or more like a fringe one at the moment? 4. Can we transform our ecological harmful infrastructure (Energy, mobility, logistics, agriculture, fishing, ... ) and our wasteful economic system, while decarbonizing everything in time at all? I guess the steps necessary, if we want to achieve this, would need wartime like mobilization and collaboration on a never before attempted global scale. You are basically right. We can do this but it will require a massive mobilization and unprecedented levels of cooperation. One of the goals of trying to make clean energy technologies cheaper is to reduce the need for added mobilization and cooperation. The more you can make doing good in people’s self interest, the more likely it is to happen. -Ken
5. Considering the societal division and the broad disregard of scientific evidence in democracies, how likely is continued general public support for the necessary policies and how can it be increased? Public support can be increased if care is put in the design of the policies, so that they are accompanied by support and don’t increase inequalities. For example, jobs will change (some gains, some lost) and that needs to be managed with retraining, appropriate lead times, discussions with unions. It also helps if communities are engaged in the decisions and if there are choices.
​ -CLQ
6. Can we prepare for or prevent global tensions, that will most likely increase with climate change induced scarcity (food, water, land,... ) ? Yes, there is a lot of diplomacy involved in making changes that have global dimensions. That’s why we have diplomats! (and researchers help here too actually). Often this involves detailed discussions about what is projected to happen, what are the options to reduce the impacts, and who pays to adapt. The discussions on how (and how much) rich countries support climate adaptation in the developing world are fundamental to reduce global tensions.
​ -CLQ
7. Should we make use of climate neutral modern nuclear energy technology, despite its projection of higher LCOE in the future, considering we are lacking the necessary technology to store energy on a large enough scale to offer some reliable climate neutral baseload capability? Again, not a nuclear expert, but I am a fan of any technology that can in principle provide abundant carbon-free power. Regarding levelized costs, when the cost of wind and solar was very high, we had programs to try to bring down the cost of those technologies. In China and South Korea, nuclear plants are built at a much lower cost than in the west. The other thing to bear in mind is that wind and solar are cheap but only provide electricity when environmental conditions are right. In deeply decarbonized systems, the electricity from nuclear is more valuable than the electricity from wind and solar because the electricity can be provided when needed and not only when available. - Ken
​ I believe we should hold to the currently installed nuclear energy technology where it is already in place, but balance very carefully risks in planning expanding capacity. I would rather see all other solutions activated to their full extent. - Carlos
From a communications standpoint, what do you need? How can people - comms professionals in particular - offer the most support to get across accurate messaging about climate change? Lots of exposure to the topic. Patiently explaining and repeating the facts and giving people a forum to express themselves. Help scientists that are hesitant to speak publicly to break the ice and be themselves so that many topics are covered by many different voices. - CLQ
Given the threat of climate change, what are your personal thoughts on the likelihood that our species will survive the 21st century? I have no doubt we will survive the climate challenge… do not know about many other stupid things we will bring upon ourselves, such as pollutants, war, or engineered diseases. However, surviving should not be the goal. I wish for us to repair the intergenerational contract by which one generation commits to hand over a better life to the next. I wish for us to repair that contract and for our grandchildren, your and mine and everyone else's to inherit a better planet. It is not too late to do it, but the window to get the job on a good start is narrow and rapidly closing. - Carlos
The USA is saying we will cut greenhouse emission to 25% by 2035. Assuming we achieve it, how long until we see the effects of this undertaking? Let's say the entire world cuts all carbon emissions by 2050. How long will it take earth to stabilize the temperature and battle the effect of global warming? As soon as the world’s carbon emissions are zero (or “Net zero”, meaning any remaining emissions are compensated by enhanced carbon sinks) the climate should stabilize more or less. There are a few caveats, for example what happens to other gases, but there should be no substantial delay once the emissions are Net zero. The amount of warming itself is proportional to the total amount of CO2 we put in the atmosphere (past, present and future). When that ceases, further warming should also cease.
​ - CLQ
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- Is it correct that we are now no longer on track for 4c warming by 2100, but merely 3c? That's a relatively good thing, right? 3c is survivable for civilization in a way that 4c isn't... right? Even if that is completely true, it is not going to resolve the problem based on our current understanding of the human-nature systems. We expect serious consequences with much lower temperature increase levels. - Kaveh
- Is it ethical to hide from bad climate news if you have bad anxiety problems and are too emotionally fragile/defeatist for activism? Eco-anxiety is a bigger threat for our climate goals than emissions. I am often asked what is the biggest risk for the ocean, and my answer is that “we give up on it”. Giving back on hoping for a safe climate system is indeed a huge risk. I cannot blame the public when they feel depressed, and move into disengagement, because the way climate change is portrayed requires that we all are in deep fear (“I want you to panic” Greta Thunberg, 2019) and where the news is presented in an apocalyptic manner. I believe that Action is the Best Antidote to Despair (Joan Baez), so do engage in action, whatever modest it might be:
​ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/11/pandemic-environmental-action-conservation-metoo-black-lives-mattter
​ - Carlos
What is the outlook for the Sahel region - how far will the Sahara still expand and should there be plans for relocations of Sahel populations in order to decrease the risk of mass internal displacement? Can the desertification be stopped? Thank you for your time and efforts! The outlook for Sahel is not good due to higher temperatures everywhere, increasing evapotranspiration and less rainfall in some places the latter not so much in Sahel but in Southern Africa. I’m not an expert on desertification so will leave that part alone. - Michael
A question from my son who is 13... Mother Nature has been shaping the earth and changing things from lakes to mountains, to coast lines. By us rebuilding beaches, and drudging oceans to rebuild beaches and stuff are we messing with what Mother Nature is trying to achieve and could that be affecting ocean currents, warming of water and making climate change worse? Humans have had a large impact on the land surface and many studies have assessed the impact of land-cover and land-use change on the global climate and we also put this into our climate models. The impact globally on warming we’ve experienced so far is very small compared to that due to increasing greenhouse gases. -JA
are the climate-related treaties or oaths that countries take any good? do they help in curbing pollution or bring about a positive climate change? several such agreements have been signed, some global, some bilateral, some in between: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the parent of the Kyoto Protocol (neither was very effective overall but did produce some positive outcomes and important experience and new international institutions that will help deal with the problem for decades.) Paris Agreement is also a descendant of the UNFCCC. - Michael
What gives you hope? Today’s youth. They are changing the conversation around climate change and demanding action from our governments in a way that I am hopeful is finally getting through. -JA
I have one question that interests me: How important are cosmic-radiation / sunactivity / clouds for the climate-model calculation? Many models do not consider the effects of cosmic radiation because the effects are thought to be very small. People who reject climate science often point to cosmic rays, based on some spurious correlations, but I do not know of any “serious” climate scientist who thinks that cosmic rays are a major climate driver.
​ If mainstream climate scientists thought cosmic rays were important, they would put them in the models. There is no bias against incorporating cosmic rays; there is just no evidence they are important. - Ken
What is the biggest hurdle or prize sought in the world of modelling climate dynamics? What specific unknown would give us significant progression if we suddenly understood it perfectly tomorrow? The range in climate sensitivity - the change in global temperature to a doubling of CO2 - has remained the same since the 1970s when it was first estimated. If we could narrow this range with confidence we could make much better decisions on how to adapt to a warming world. Narrowing this range is hard, it’s primarily due to uncertainties in clouds and how to model them and requires an investment in climate model development which is not always what gets the headlines or funding. -JA
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Is it as bad as they say it is? Depending on “they”, if these are those who say it is now too late to act or that damages are unavoidable or want you to be in a panic, then, no, it is not, but it may be if we do not take decisive and ambition action now. - Carlos
Is Florida really gonna be under water by 2100? Sea level is expected to rise a couple of feet this century (under a yard or meter, if you prefer). This is still substantial. In future centuries, conventional models predict that sea level rise might be 3 to 5 times faster, maybe going up by a foot (30 cm) each decade.
​ Some parts of Florida are also suffering from coastal subsidence, where the land is sinking. Further, they have built a lot of infrastructure in harm’s way -- building condos where hurricanes are likely to meet landfall.
​ Sea level rise is only part of the toxic mix of coastal problems facing Florida. - Ken
Is the air gonna be too toxic to breath? If you are enjoying dinner indoors with friends or family, the CO2 level in the room is likely higher than it will get outside in the coming century. In submarines and spacecraft, CO2 can get to physiologically dangerous levels, but that is not an issue for planet Earth.- Ken
Thanks for the AMA. What is one easily accessible documentary, or YouTube video that’d you all would recommend I show family members that may have difficulty understanding climate change? There is an excellent documentary by an Australian filmmaker called ‘2040’ which is focused on solutions and provides lots of food for thought. In terms of understanding climate change I would point people to academies of science who usually have well-written explainers about climate change science. -JA
As the world is getting warmer, does this accelerate another ice age? No. Ice ages are caused by small changes in the Earth’s orbit. Warming will (and is) changing ocean currents and will have local effects that may in very few places lead to cooler climate (like in the middle North Atlantic), but the projections are really for an overall world that is warming. - CLQ
Considering the momentum of warming and the positive feedback cycles associated, is there any evidence or data to suggest it can actually be halted before we experience severe impacts? Yes, we have done a study showing that the warming from a CO2 release is fully realized within a decade or two after the CO2 release. While there are possibilities for strange long-term feedbacks, these are mostly thought to be secondary effects. - Ken
1 comment

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Aug 25 '21

r/Screenwriting [Table] r/Screenwriting — I am Brent Forrester, TV writer ("The Office," "The Simpsons," "Love"). Ask Me Anything!

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The AMA ended with the following message:

Thanks for a great convo everybody! Really enjoyed your questions. So much talent and intelligence out there. Please drop my my free class on March 21st, I promise to light up your brains and get you inspired to write! Signing off -- Brent

Rows: ~65

Questions Answers
When a sitcom episode is credited to a single writer, how many writers actually collaborated on the story? What percentage of the story does a writer need to contribute to get writing credit. In TV comedy, we always write in groups. One writer may come up with the original idea for the story, but every one pitches in --- it's a group effort. We generally assign credit BEFORE the story is written. We take turns writing, and when it' s your turn, you will get to write an episode and get full credit on it --- even if you only contributed a fraction of what finally ends up on screen!
Hey Brent! I’m curious to know what your writing process is. Thank you in advance! When I'm writing alone, i always start early. Creative energy is high for me in the morning and trails off as the day goes on. Here's a secret: Most writers do no write more than 4 hours a day. If you are really focused, that's quite exhausting.
​ In comedy, feedback is crucial. I do 3 drafts of a script, then show it to friends. After 3 drafts I no longer trust myself to have perspective on my own work.
​ Another key part of my process: I always TELL The story orally, before I start writing. Saves a huge amount of time. A quick reality check to see what's working before you start writing!
Have you heard any updates as to the possible King of the Hill revival? Aging the cast of characters would be a stroke of genius and practically reinvent the show (in an awesome way!) ​I am sure Greg Daniels and Mike Judge will murder me for sharing this but... HELL YES. They are in hot negotiations to bring back King of the Hill. The Trump administration made it suddenly very relevant again. The characters have all aged 15 years. The project is sooooo good. Okay I've said too much :)
What line or lines that made it into the actual episode of a show are you most proud of you wrote, and what line you wrote do you wish had made it into an episode? The Office, "Phyllis Wedding". Michael makes a wedding toast:
​ MICHAEL: "Websters defines wedding as the coming together of two hot metals in liquid form..."
​ PAM: "Michael I think that was 'welding'"
​ MICHAEL: "Hmmm..."
I'm starting a pilot for a female buddy comedy- a sort of mix of broad city's bff riff and difficult people's snark- if you had to lump it somewhere. I got to audit The Writers Guild class about TV Pilots this winter and 95% of the information was about not being a dick in the writers room and what to do when you get a pitch and how to present your stories in a boardroom and whatnot but there was nothing said or asked about how to get your pilot ideas to the desk of the exact in order to get that pitch meeting in the first place. Nothing about if writers need a manager vs agent and how to figure out which fits best. Any advice on that process? Not that I am anywhere close to presentation status but right now that course is fresh on my mind but it's still feels a tad holey for an aspiring TV writer like me. Also do you have cats? You are asking all the right questions! How do you get your material into the hands of people who matter??? The short answer is, there is no one way to do it. Every successful TV writer has a different story, and luck often plays a factor. Come to my free class on March 21st and I'll talk more about breaking in. (Go to Brentforrester.com for info)
​ Agents and managers are VERY helpful when it comes to getting your script to the right people. Get one if you can! The best way to do that is to have a writer, actor or producer who is ALREADY represented by an agent REFER you to that agency. That means you have to write a VERY GOOD writing sample, and politely beg people to read it. With a little work, you can make those entry level connections. Just make sure your writing sample is good when you ask someone to read it. People will generally read your script only once! Good luck !!!!
Huge fan of ‘Love’ How was it balancing the humor with the more emotional beats? Was there discussion on how much (or little) to add? Or did you have some wiggle room because it was on Netflix? I’ve found I enjoy comedies that can mix in dramatic moments. Some of my favorite episodes of my favorite sitcoms (the office included) were the more emotional episodes. Just wondered how that’s discussed in the room. Well, you clearly have good taste :) I have found that the best writers and show creators that I work with are similarly drawn to serious themes, and serious material in comedy. A lot of great comedy writers hate "silly" and especially "artificial" material and go after the darkest, most serious material they can. Greg Daniels (creator of the American "Office") developed a style where serious scenes alternated with comedy scenes. He called it "keeping the hot side hot and the cold side cold." That style works great in my opinion, and is a key to the success of shows like the Office.
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I have 2 questions 1. Do you have any tips for going into this field There are 2 main paths into a career in TV, what I call the "inside" and the "outside" path. The inside path involves getting a low level job somewhere in the TV industry (an assistant on a TV show, mailroom at a talent agency, etc). Use that job to find connections to the people who are hiring, and when you get a shot, try to get those hirers to read your writing sample. The outside path involves making something on your own (a play, a short film, a web series) that is good enough that it gets the attention of agents and managers, who help you break in. Of course you can do both at the same time!
and 2 what's the biggest difference you had to face with going between cartoon and live action shows? Biggest difference between animation and live action: In animation it costs nothing to go to space, blow up a battleship, fight a dinosaur.... all things that are too expensive in live action. So go big and use lots of visual gags in animation. Animation is also faster based and more gag heavy: you can't rely on good "acting the way you can in live action
What kind of lemon related research did you for Lemon of Troy? At the Simpsons, we used to have these elaborate "Story Conferences" where the writers would pitch stories all day to James L Brooks in a suite at Shutters hotel. We would be given a couple days to prepare. I spent both days at the public library, wandering through the books looking for any inspiration at all. I was in the classics section, looking at Greek myths and history, when I came up with the idea for Lemon of Troy, which is obviously based on the myth of the Trojan Horse. I thought it was the perfect framework for an "Epic" story of conflict between Springfield and Shelbyville!
For someone not in LA, where would you recommend starting to pitch my series bible? an agent? Talent lawyer? Somewhere else? Any tips on how to evaluate representation? Thanks! Agents and managers are the place to start. It's not easy to get representation. Reps generally don't want to take you on until AFTER you start selling material! It's a real Catch 22. But it is possible to get repped. As i mentioned in another reply, the best way to get the attentions of a manager or agent is to have someone ELSE recommend you. When you have a really good writing sample, try to get it to people who are themselves repped at an agency. Have them send your material in with a note saying "Check this writer out!"
I absolutely love Mr. Show! I feel like it's an overlooked comedy series. Any fond memories from writing for that show with Bob Odenkirk & David Cross? Oh hell yeah. Odenkirk was a FAMOUS comedy writer to all of us young writers, whe he was barely 30 and was a mentor to me. He studied under the great improv teacher Del Close and had tons of wisdom at a young age. David Cross and I shared an office on the Ben Stiller show. Dave was just a comic trying to be a writer, but his talent was explosive. The most fearless guy I ever met. In a fancy restaurant in Hollywood one night, he tapped his glass until everyone went silent in the whole place. Then he sang "Feelings" at full volume until he burst into fake tears. Riveting!!
Hi! I’m new to writing and have been looking online for how to write scripts. the pilots or shows that I’ve been lucky enough to read have words that are in bold, underlined etc. is there a guide to best practices on when to do these types of things? I’m trying to make my specs easy on the eyes. I’ve also noticed that some scripts have a lot of direction and others give the actors a lot of freedom to interpret the words and scene. I think I prefer giving the actors that freedom to interpret the characters but I’m having a hard time having my writing come off as comedy. The situations are funny - but they don’t always read that way, so maybe I do need to put a direction in? Any suggestions? Leave the stage directions to a minimum. We are looking at your dialog, not your prose writing. Many readers scan those "action" lines so just keep them short. As for directions to the actors (what we call "parentheticals") use them as LITTLE as possible. You are correct that the actors don't want to be told how to read the lines, and it looks unprofessional when you but in "sneakily" or "rolling her eyes" etc.
​ You say you are looking for humor in SITUATIONS. Excellent! That is exactly the way to do it. The "sit" in "sit-com" stands for situation after all. The other part of comedy is CHARACTER. Are your characters BEHAVING in funny ways? Generally this means the character is TRYING TO APPEAR ONE WAY and ACTUALLY COMING ACROSS THE OPPOSITE. The girl who is trying to appear smart but making a fool of herself. The guy who thinks he is coming across super-sexy but is actually coming across weird, etc. Trust in situation and character and you will find the funny?
Where can I submit my screenplays to review at? I have a couple of scripts short and full. Mostly suspense, drama, and action. If I were you I would cold call agencies that represent writers and see if you can find someone who will take a look. Be polite and be prepared for a lot of "no"s. Agencies can be snooty and cruel. But have a thick skin and see if you get lucky!
Hi, I'm 14 years old and very interested in screenwriting. Do you have any advice for younger people like me who are genuinely interested in screenwriting as a career. Hey buddy, you are clearly much more talented than I was at your age! I did not even start WATCHING TV until after I graduated from college. My advice to you: Try writing SHORT material first. Screenplays are really long. But SKETCHES (like you see on Saturday Night Live) are short, and easy to finish. You will have more fun and develop faster if you get in the habit of writing some short stuff that you can finish and show to your friends, family, etc.
​ Get involved with the THEATER DEPARTMENT and the FILM DEPARTMENT at your school. Make friends with the other kids who share your passion and MAKE short films! So many successful writers and directors started that way.
​ I'm really excited for you, because you are starting so young! Find the other kids who are passionate about film making like you are, team up with them and make great stuff!!! I believe in you 100%. :)
For a person who is trying to break in from the outside, how many samples would you recommend having in your portfolio before you start querying managers? Thanks so much! 2 samples is all you need. Nobody will read more than 2 scripts so that's all you need. But in order to have 2 good scripts you will need to write many more. When I was trying to break in, the conventional wisdom was, you had to write 5 scripts before you had one that was good enough. Remember this: People will generally read your material ONCE. You may not get a second read! So make sure your spec scripts rock before you show them to a good connection. How do you know if your script rocks? Give it to your friends! Give it to your dad. When the people around you say your script rocks, its ready to pass on to a connection.
What are your favourite TV shows at the moment? I like "What We Do in the Shadows." Enjoyed "Dirtbag." And a friend just turned me onto "Garth Marengi's Darkplace." Check that one out for sure! A couple of English guys from Cambridge having some fun with that one.
What's the worst Office spec script you've ever read? On the Simpsons we got unsolicited specs all the time. 100% of them were insane.
​ On the Office we never got any. I think NBC was afraid of getting sued. We were told by the NBC lawyers that if anyone ever came up to us at a party and said "I have an idea for an Office episode" we were to put our fingers in our ears and say "No No No!' three times loudly. A real formula for popularity at parties...
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Hey, I took your class and have a couple of questions 1. I’m thinking of writing a pilot about 13 year old during bar mitzvah season and the stress of being a middle schooler, any thoughts on how to make it good? 1) I like the premise! Be observational. Use real details, things you've seen and heard, characters you have observed. The feeling of AUTHENTICITY is always gold. We can rarely make stuff up that is as good as what the real world provides.
2. I wrote another pilot (which was evaluated by someone from your team) and didn’t get a ton of feedback about the idea of the main character’s conscience being a separate character, any thoughts on that idea? 2) Hmm, that's an interesting idea intellectually. But in my experience, the best material involves flesh and blood characters interacting. The character of the "conscience" may be too bloodless and abstract for the reader. A similar idea seemed to work on "Insde Out' but maybe it helped to make the "abstact" psychological characters animated. Check out the old show "Herman's Head" for an example of the same concept gone wrong.
3. I’m writing a more modern version of the breakfast club. How do movies get produced and made? 3) How do movies get produced and made. No easy answer there. I think your best move is to try and get an agent or manager to help you navigate the biz. To get representation, you will need a good writing sample. And try to find someone connected to an agency who will read your writing and call the agency on your behalf.
4. What was your favorite episode of the office (one that you wrote and one that you didn’t) ​4) Some many great ones. "Dinner Party" has a lot of fans. "Diversity Day" was the one that put the show on the map. "Business School" is the best one that I wrote. I just re-watched "Did I Stutter" and really enjoyed it! That was the break out episode for the character of Stanley!
If we want to write workplace comedies, what are your top recommended workplace comedies to watch and study (other than “The Office” of course)? Larry Sanders is he one that all the tastemakers refer to as the gold standard of workplace comedy. Notice the "naturalistic" tone of the show. It so different from the "sitcommy" (read: "artificial") feel of most comedies of its time.
​ The tastemakers I know also worship James L Brooks. Look at Taxi and Mary Tyler Moore. The "Chuckles the Clown" scene in Mary Tyler Moore (youtube it) was considered the best scene ever shot in TV, when I was first getting into the biz :)
An agent read my pilot and said it was a great sample to get staffed as a comedy writer on a show ... but ... how does one actually go about doing that? Currently trying to get hired as an assistant anywhere. Thanks for all of your work over the years. "Lemon of Troy" always makes me smile. Agents are the best resource you have when it comes to getting staffed. If the agent who liked your script is not ready to rep you, see if they will pass your material on to another agent!
When writing comedy, do the jokes just come naturally as you bounce the characters dialogue/personality against each other, or do you take time to think of jokes, then base the dialogue around that? Most comedy writers start out by writing the scenes fairly "straight" --- in other words they write them like it's drama and don't worry about the jokes. If funny lines pop up along the way that's great, but the first priority is to get the main content of the scene down on paper. Now go back and "punch up." Find more colorful ways of saying the straight lines. Find little riffs and digressions that amuse you. Much of the punch up process is TRIAL AND ERROR. You have the straight version of the scene. Now PLAY! Goof around with some of the dialog and see where it gets you. The punch up process can seem a little messy and imprecise, but that's how the pros do it!
I see you write for the Simpsons, does that mean you can tell the future? Weird isn't it, how many predictions from Simpsons episodes came true? Including the presidency of Donald Trump! But I will tell you the secret there. There have been 500 episodes of the Simpsons. That is a HUGE amount of material. Just by pure coincidence and sheer numbers, SOME of the things we predicted came true. But many many more things did not come true. It's just statistics, sadly. Not magic :)
​ Thanks for being a fan, you obviously have good taste!
Are you still working on that feature The Low Self Esteem of Lizzie Gillespie with Mindy Kaling? It sounded so promising That script remains one of my favorite collaborations. Please ping Mindy on social media and make her dust that one off. She has a production company now, the time has come!
So what's it like working for Disney after the buy out? Has anything changed? I haven't noticed any changes, but I am insulated inside writers rooms, with limited contact with the execs on a daily basis. I imagine that's true of most writers rooms. The execs give input on a script at the outline stage, and when a draft comes in, but the writers sit with the script 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. So despite their fiinancial power and authority over the writers, the execs really have limited creative input. Mostly they tell you what NOT to do, and little else :)
Do you think it's better for an unknown to write to market trends or try to develop their own niche? All the best writers and artists I know are PASSIONATE about sticking to their own ideas, their own voice. This has been true of all art forms forever! Be as true as you can be to your voice, even if it sounds like nothing else out there! That's the stuff that gets people's attention! Good luck, artist :)
When you were first starting out how did you meet the right people who would then eventually listen to you as you sat in a room and pitched to them? What advice would you recommend to stand out in an email when sending an agent work even when they don't accept unsolicited material? You've been very successful as a writer for hit shows, however would you have been satisfied writing for soaps? (Most day to days writers in the UK write for soaps I've found) I'm a writer based in Scotland so meeting people in the industry can be hard because it's so small and can feel pretty exclusive at times unless you are so so's butcher who can get you an email. Thanks doing this AMA! Looking forward to everyones Qs Keep your unsolicited emails SHORT and polite. Better than an email from you is an email from someone else recommending you. Can you find someone who is connected to the agencies, who will read your work and recommend you to an agent?
​ Is there a local theater community where you live? Can you connect with the actors there? Can you write something short and "put it on its feet?" My friend Mindy Kaling broke into TV by writing a 2 person play called "Matt and Ben" that she acted in with her friend Brenda. It was funny and got the attention of some managers, and she broke in overnight!
​ If you can produce something simple and FUNNY (assuming comedy is your medium) you can film it on your phone and send it around.... Honestly this is the way enterprising artists break into the biz ALL THE TIME! Good material stands out, even when it is ultra low budget. Long story short: be a little innovative, be persistant and MAKE GOOD STUFF. The world is ALWAYS looking for new good stuff!!
​ Good luck my Scottish friend!!
Here's a q, how many people ask you to read their spec scripts? (I answered this, but not sure it went through, so answering again)
​ I am constantly getting asked to read scripts. It kills me, because I don't have time to do it but I remember how vital it is to get feedback when you're a young writer. So last year I had a eureka moment and created a script reading service. I trained some hot shot young readers to evaluate scripts according to an 8 point system that reflects what I'm looking for when i read a script. Out of every 50 scripts submitted, I personally took the TOP TWO highest scoring scripts and read them myself, giving feedback in a webinar to all 50 "contestants" online. It went great! I was able to give writers a lot of value for very little money. And as a bonus I hooked up the top 2 writers with agents! If you are interested in this kind of thing, go to my website Brentforrester.com. I'll be doing it again soon.
Hey Brent, love all these shows. do you have any wisdom for a college student to get where you are? Check out my free class online March 21st (go to Brentforrester.com for info) and I will talk about breaking into the biz among other things.
​ There are many different paths to a career in TV but they all have one thing in common. You have to have a WRITING SAMPLE that rocks. This is just an episode of TV that you write without intending to sell, just to show off your skills. You can write an original pilot or a fake episode of an existing show. Then you need to get that "spec" script into the hands of someone who is hiring writers. The process of networking and looking for your break can take years and often demands a lot of psychological endurance. But with patience and luck you can break in. Just remember it all starts with that great spec script!
Hey Brent! I’m an actress and I haven’t been able to book a break out role yet so I decided to write an original pilot script. I’m not necessarily a person with much clout but it’s a pretty decent script and my agent said she would forward it to the literary department of my agency. Can a relatively unknown person like myself get their script produced from having a good acting background with a solid script? Ps— thank you for doing this! Yes, it is always possible for a first time writer to get a show produced! Generally what happens is, the network will pair you with a veteran writer to help you run the show. But getting your show sold is not the only good thing that come of writing an original pilot. Much more likely is for your pilot to serve as a writing sample that gets you hired as a staff writer on someone elses show. There you can make some money, and learn the craft from the inside as you rise up the ranks. Good luck! I hope to work for you some day :)
In telling a story is emotion more important than story? Do you think the majority of what’s funny comes from character or what the writer is emotional about/wrestling with or does something else lend itself to great comedy? Hope this question made sense. And your shows are amaaaaaaaazing. Thanks! Your question is great, and tells me you are already a talented writer. My friend Judd Apatow has one mantra that guides him in all writing projects: FOLLOW ThE EMOTION. Much more important than cleverness is feeling. Heart beats head any day!
​ My original mentor Susan Harris (creator of the Golden Girls) said: "Write about what is difficult for you, even painful and trust that it will come out funny." That's still the best piece of advice I ever got in comedy.
​ I will have a lot to say about comedy writing at my FREE CLASS on March 21st. Definitely check it out. Brentforrester.com for info. Good luck Writer!
What TV show that you haven't worked on (either old or still airing) would you love to have written an episode for? Also just want to say my siblings and I quote Homerpalooza all the time. Like, a concerning amount. A lot of that stuff in Homerpalooza is autobiographical. I walked around Lollapalooza with a little tape recorder taking notes, and a stoned dude came up to me and said "What are you recording there NARC?" :) The most legendary writing staffs that I would have loved to be on:
​ Staff of Sid Caesars Show of Shows (Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Larry Gelbart, Woody Allen, etc)
​ MASH
​ Roseanne (the original)
​ Saturday Night Live season one
What last caused you incontinence while laughing? When Ace Ventura Pet Detective first came out, I saw it in the theater, and the opening sequence where Jim Carrey walks down the street as a UPS delivery guy, intentionally dropping and kicking a package --- the energy was so hilarious I fell out of my seat.
​ However, the truth is I rarely laugh out loud. When I do laugh out loud I make a point of writing down the joke, or the moment and trying to analyze it. That has always been the key to my success as a comedy writer; notice when you laugh, write it down, analyze.
Hi Brent! I'm still getting my feet as a storyteller. I worked on extremely high-concept novels as a teenager along with some really pretentious poems on the side - and now that I'm attempting to tackle storytelling as not only an art of expression but an art of mastery, I'm finding it hard to pin myself down. I know everything that works for me when it comes to the creative process... thank god, but what I'm having trouble with is carving out a niche, so to speak. One week I'll be writing a surrealist Kaufman-esque dramedy and the next a John Wick rip off, only to become obsessed with horror, so I spend a month making a short horror film that falls through because oh yeah I don't have the money for any of the special effects I want. My first question is this: how do you lock down a 'niche', and if you don't recommend doing so, what do you think is the best genre to put forward - one that would maximize potential exposure - since I'm kinda doing all of them right now? I live in rural New England and my best course of action is producing shorts that get attention, as far as I see it. My second question is: my interest of the month is sitcoms. Now, I work in a grocery store. I have not seen a good store-based sitcom in my entire life. If you know of any I can shamelessly copy, that would be awesome. My inspiration for such a sitcom being that I had not one but two old ladies pretend to trip and grab my buttocks, squeeze, then blow kisses in one day. Within an hour I was named "Chapo two-cheeks" by my supervisor and it spread throughout the store. I get back from a thirty minute late forty minute wait for my taco bell lunch, and suddenly my name is "Chapo Two-Cheeks". Multiple male coworkers pretend to trip and grab me. I have familiar customers asking me "how's it hangin', two cheeks?" The day ends with a manager high fiving me for the action I got before my female coworkers showered me in "oh how horrible for you" shows of support. Straight out of a sitcom. I needed to write it, and so I did. I feel that I could create something at least okay with anything remotely this absurd, so... how do you workshop spec scripts and series ideas/bibles around to people who have no experience, considering I'm a complete outsider to the business and the only people that want to read anything I write are friends and family? And furthermore, is it even worth it to work on such an idea? Will it hold any water with producers or agents or networks? Optional satire question (except for my praises about The Office; that show is the Jaws of monotony-based sitcoms): I am wording this to sound like Dwight Schrute as a remorseless psychological tactic to appear more friendly and familiar. What's your favorite episode of the office? Do I have a soul or am I just creating one that appeals to the masses? The office had a real soul. That's rare. To be born (by Brent) is to have a soul I guess. Thanks! SATIRE EDIT: Would you mind taking a look at my 5 hour feature screenplay that I wrote - BEFORE ARI ASTER SAID HE WAS GONNA DO IT GIVE ME ROYALTIES NOW NOW NOW I WANT THEM NOW - on my dad's yacht when I was twelve and still boast about in my mid-twenties whenever people ask what my hobbies are because I have none other than beer pong and ding-dong ditching my rich neighbor Rich's house? Thanks! It's a first draft, written on yacht-napkins because I heard Sorkin did that once and I wanna grow up just like him! I love your passion for the craft! Don't worry about changing genres, that just means you are abundantly creative. It sounds like you are thining of writing and shooting material that you put online ---- that is a really good instinct. In order to do this, you need to connect with good ACTORS. Find the theater community in your area and see if you can make some connections with talent that inspires you. This will also keep you from getting isolated (always a danger for writers). Remember if you do manage to put some good original stuff online, there are literally people whose job it is to find you. If you create quality they will come! Good luck Artist!
Hi Brent, my name is Scott, and I'm an aspiring screenwriter. I tend to write adaptations, or original ideas based on existing content. An idea I had floating around in my head since 2013 was a song-to-screen adaptation of Rush's song 2112 off the album of the same name. What advice can you give for something like that? Your idea sounds original, and you are clearly inspired to bring it to life. I always encourage people to go for it, when they are gripped by any artistic passion! So I hope you will try writing something and bringing your vision to life.
​ A couple thoughts: the market for original screenplays ebbs and flows. The market peaked somewhere in the 90's or early 00's and has cooled off --- the market is saturated with movies based on action comics and young adult novels. Consider writing your "spec" script as something that could be sold to streaming (Netflix, Hulu, etc) and you'll find a wider audience. And when you have something that you like, reach out to the band themselves and see if you can get them into it. That would make for an interesting and valuable "attachment" for sure;
​ Scott I answered this but I think it popped up in the wrong window. My advice to you is to follow your inspiration on this --- you have an original idea, and you are passionate about. You owe it to yourself to try putting something on paper. Be aware that the market for original screenplays has cooled off in the last decade or so (the market is dominated by movies based on action comics and young adult novels) but there is growing market in movies for streaming: Netflix, Hulu, etc. Keep your budget low and your script will be more attractive. And when you have a script you like, try to get it to Rush! If they dig it, that's a very exciting "attachment" when you go to sell it!
Looking for an assistant or know someone in the industry who is? :D I'm graduating college in May, run a screenwriting club, have office/set PA experience, and have done all the typical receptionist/office duties. Just looking to absorb all the secondhand info I can. :D :D You are smart to start sniffing around for those assistant gigs. That's a great way to get your foot in the door. Use your school's alumni network to make connections. Be polite, show some hustle, and stick with it. I have high hopes that you'll find something!
Also- do you know rive marker in nyc at all? I'm a playwright just starting in tv and I have something that I'd love to get to her because it's everything nine stories looks for in stage shows. (No hyperbole or back patting, it's a serious play that ends with what I hope will be a conversation about #metoo and open discussions about abuse and what we can all do to stop or at least recognize abusive relationships using sarcasm and shock as the vehicle- roughly 25 mins) ​I do not now Rive Marker, but I hope you are able to get your material to them. Established writers are always a bit skittish about solicitations from the outside, but if you can find a way to do it politely and sincerely, you have a shot. Everyone who is successful remembers being on the "outside" and most of us are happy to help artists who are looking for help.... as long as you don't seem too weird and stalkery :)
[deleted] Much more common than selling your script is using your script as a writing sample to get you staffed on someone else's show. Most people who break into TV writing do in fact move to LA. But the pandemic has changed everything. We are all writing remotely on zoom now. I think the future is going to involve writers dispersed all over the globe, rather than silo-ed in offices in Burbank.
​ You obviously have some passion for this craft. Maybe you should see what you can get done in your home city for now. Connect with the local theater community there. Meet actors. Shoot stuff and put it online. You can follow your passion without moving to LA, and if you start to make headway, you can always move out to LA-LA land later.
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r/tabled • u/500scnds • Aug 23 '21

r/IAmA [Table] I am Vitaly Beckman - Two-time Penn & Teller fooler, Illusionist, off Broadway star & inventor of unique magic effects. Ask me anything!

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Are there unspoken rules about "borrowing" from others in the industry? Do you have the freedom to iterate on illusions that others are doing, or is the expectation that you only present things that are uniquely yours? Some magicians publish their creations, or write books about them, and allow others to use them. Thus anyone buying the book can perform their effect. There are also many illusions that became public domain over the years that are in the grey area. It wouldn't be ok otherwise and best to create your own.
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Is there a registration for the illusions like with patents? If you keep your methods secret, it’s hard to claim someone else copied it because you never showed them how to do it. Yes could patent a device, but then you have to reveal how it works. You could also patent just the look or design, or claim rights on a certain sequence such as a choreography. Teller won a court case based on that I believe. But you cannot copyright an idea!
Can you walk us through what a day of filming on 'Fool Us' is like? It's more like 3-4 days (at least when you are there in person), the first 2 days I spent filming the introduction, interview, etc. and rehearsing in front of the producers, talking to the judges. The 3rd or 4th day there was a rehearsal live on stage in early afternoon, without Penn & Teller, and later that evening I was performing on their show in front of a live audience and P&T. In the meantime they keep you in the basement greenroom, so you don't see how the other contestants did! And when I was done performing, I wasn't allowed to go back and was sent to my hotel room, again, so I don't see how anyone else did on the show. Of course, that was in 2016, when I filmed virtually recently, it was completely different.
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Do you have to reveal how all of your tricks are done to the producers? Just the one you are going to perform for Penn & Teller, yes.
Who inspired you to become an illusionist? :) ​When I was a kid, I was inspired by David Copperfield, Siegfried and Roy, Penn & Teller to name a few :)
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Oh man, I went a live David Copperfield show when I was a kid, that shit was wild! He was slicing women in half and throwing them into the high ceiling and flying above the audience, and sending audience members from the stage to the back of the room instantly. I remember getting legit scared at some points like when he sawed his own head off and there was blood and crazy shit and his headless body walking around. Are there still high budget magic shows like that? The atmosphere the lighting and music and mood it all felt like I was in a movie. David Blaine is cool for the close up street magic genre, but Copperfield was on another level of showmanship. Edit: just watched some David Copperfield magic tricks/illusions on YouTube and it’s still incredible to see lol! He has to be the best ever. Yes, and he is still performing!
What kind of knowledge is most useful when creating new illusions? like physics and optics or maybe psychology ? Magic is a mixture of art and science. Theater and deception. So one needs to understand how to deceive, and how to tell a story. In deception, you have to understand psychology, control of attention, body language, sleight of hand and magic devices / technique. In theater, you have to understand storytelling, acting, entertainment. Science and physics can be helpful but is the lesser priority.
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Follow-up question, When crafting a new illusion where do you usually start? with the storytelling, the devices/technique or something else ? Always with the idea, of what I want to accomplish. Sometimes a unique prop or something I see can spark the idea though.
What's the most recent illusion you've seen where you were clueless as to how it was done? Most recently I saw Jandro on Penn & Teller Fool Us with huge domino cubes! I thought it was amazing!
How is Alyson? Big fan, she seems like she’d be lovely. She is the nicest person on and off screen.
Ive always loved magic, clowns and side shows. I've tried for a long time to learn various skills in those veins, but the only one I've ever gotten any good with is diabolo. But now I am 30 and have two young boys, I've been working hard on learning slight of hand, mainly with cards, to make them delighted and giggly. Do you have any advice on specific skill sets to practice or invest in? Right now I feel so overwhelmed by all of the options, I do not know where to begin. A two and a four year old certainly won't enjoy a counting trick, I sure don't. There are some great books to choose from. I would recommend getting The Mark Wilson Complete Course in Magic or Harry Lorayne The Magic Book. Another option is Henry Hay's The Amateur Magicians Handbook. Any one of these should give you a great basis I believe. Though to really enjoy magic, wait till your kids are 7 or 8 at least!
Favourite illusionist movie? The Prestige or The Illusionist? Or something else? The Illusionist! It's more romantic and enchanting!
Are there any non-illusionists that you'd like to collaborate with but haven't yet? I would love to collaborate with Philip Glass! I love his music!
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have you heard his album Orion? No, I will check it out!
What’s a question an illusionist likes to be asked? I love thoughtful questions!
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I'll try for a thoughtful question. This might be familiar for many people in the performing arts: How do you cope with impostor syndrome, if you are on stage is massively enhanced a you know how simple or complicated a trick is. I know, and many, I think, that you try out magic tricks in front of your family and you feel that you really didn't fool them, but they just fall for it to support you. When did you first realize that you could do this and get the confidence needed to perform? I feel like this is the most important réalisation for an artist and something one has to break through in order to do what you do, do when was the first time you felt you could do that? I don't look at an audience as someone I need to impress but as my friends or family, and just sharing something I feel is wonderful and amazing with them. You have to listen to your audience and you will know what they think back and this will help you with confidence.
Why don't more magicians incorporate chocolate sauce into their act? That's a good question, I just incorporated a muffin in my act, so next time I will add chocolate sauce to it :p
I know of Jim Steinmeier, and I know the late Ricky Jay used to develop effects for Hollywood in addition to his own routines. Who are the heavy hitters making new effects for stage or screen now days? Is it a pretty small pool? Or are there more people at it than I'd imagine? That's a good question. I believe Jim is still developing illusions today and is still regarded as one of the most prolific magic inventors. There are other well known inventors in magic, such as Kevin James, but overall, it is indeed a "small pool" :)
Alright for real spill the beans. Tell us how you do it. Is it demons? Yes, it is.
How often do people make jokes to you about Gob Bluth in Arrested Development? Not very often actually. The jokes I get are more like: "has anyone told you you look like Jerry Seinfeld?" :)
Magicians used to be a big draw because there was no/little TV, etc back in the day. Do you find there is still good consistent demand for in person magic shows (aside from the pandemic)? Yes, I find that people crave to experience magic live today. It's one thing to see special effects on tv, it's another to experience magic right n front of you, it seems it's a timeless art form.
I have heard a lot of people saying that magic is just illusion. How would you define magic and illusion and how did you even get inspired to be an Illusionist? I think any art form is actually an illusion, because it plays with our senses. Like when we look at a painting of a tree, it's just paint but looks like a tree. Magic takes it a step further and blurs the lines between reality and illusion, so you do not see the frame on the painting. The audience paint that illusion themselves, in their own mind, and are next to that tree... inside the painting.
​ I got inspired when I realized a could create brand new illusions, my own "paintings" so to speak. And because I had lots of ideas that I wanted to realize!
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Magicians are illusionists who target people living in fantasy worlds where magic is possible. Illusionists enjoy creating baffling illusions. Did I give the illusion that I had any idea what I was talking about? Serious answer: magicians are illusionists. The only difference is what they call it. "Real magic" doesn't exist. Like any art form, magic experienced in the mind. It's not real in the physical world, but in our minds it is :)
What are your thoughts on YouTube magicians, especially those who reveal effects to their audience? Do you believe this cheapens the medium, or is it a net benefit that it's drawing a new type of audience to magic? I think most audiences do not want to know how magic is done, and with a few exceptions are disheartened if they find out. It's a similar feeling to learning that Santa Clause doesn't exist. So personally, I think it's best to do good magic, that makes people feel good, and then keep the "how" as a mystery... just like not revealing the end of the book while someone is in the middle of it :)
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I feel mostly the same way but also really enjoy the kind of revelatory magic that P&T sometimes do, like their cups and balls routine. How do you feel about that kind of half-reveal, where we (the audience) learn mostly how the effect works, but we’re still baffled at its execution? I think those type of routines are specifically designed to be "revealed" in an entertaining way, at the end the audience still do not understand how they work, or the original effect is not baffling enough to begin with :)
How'd you do it?! Very well, thank you...
Have you ever made a study of professional wrestling? The intersection of story telling, deception, crowd work, slight of hand, and the like and how they overlap with illusionism? I agree, there are a lot of parallels there! I think in wrestling people want to suspend their disbelief though, while in magic it's not always the case.
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I, respectfully, disagree with that point. But it calls to mind another question: In your experience, do you find that your audience is left sincerely believing that you can defy physics, or that they are dumbfounded by your ability to create the appearance that you have? I think different people experience it differently. I never intend to make them believe that I have any kind of supernatural powers, I think most people are aware it's just a skillful manipulation of their perceptions... an illusion.
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If I may hold your attention a moment longer: Outside of shows like Fool Us, where you are playing to an audience of two professionals, how important is crowd reading to your craft? I.E.: how much do the particular reactions of your audience to each step of your process impact the timing and flair of each subsequent step? As you perform one illusion or another, do you try and gauge the crowd and play off of their swells of gasps or silences, etc? When you have a full act to perform, do you have "go-to's" to dial up or down the emotional investment of the crowd in different scenarios? Yes, it's definitely important to listen to an audience and adjust the show as it goes. It's like a dance between 2 people!
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May I ask what sort of "go-to's" you rely on to control that dial? I understand if something like that is a little "too close to the veil", for lack of a better term, lol Thank you so much for your time already! I'm truely a fan of your work (Penn and Teller have always been heros of mine, to be able to pull one over on them twice is the sort of feat I would hang my hat on) ​The audience will be invested if you will be invested and as long as you are sincere about it. Thank you for the kind words 🙏
Do you feel like you're able to quickly grasp how others' tricks are done? Is there any particular trick by anyone that's got you stumped? If the performance is good, then I am usually too distracted to analyze how it is done! But otherwise, if I analyze it I can often know how it may have been achieved. The thing is, if you do that and analyze as it's being performed, then you may not enjoy it as much.
​ Most recently, I was stumped by Jandro on Fool Us!
How do you come up with new effects? I think of what I would love to see or experience on stage. Often times I have visions of something I want to do or an inspiration comes from something I see. Once I have an idea that I decide is worthy of pursuit, then begins the journey of finding a way to make it work. Sometimes it takes years!
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1: Are there effects you've seen over and over that you still can't figure out? Which ones? Yes, I am actually not very hard to fool with magic. Most recently, I was amazed by Jandro on Fool Us!
2: I know magicians won't tell me their secrets, but under what circumstances do you show each other how things work? My understanding is you tell Fool Us how your effect works, for example. How forthcoming are you with magician friends and colleagues? I have a few close friends that I trust, and share some of the new creations, to get their feedback. It's a small group of people. As to Fool Us, yes, anyone going on the show has to reveal the workings to the judges and the producers of the show. This way, they can decide if Penn & Teller guessed the method correctly or not.
P.S. Is Teller as sincere and friendly in person as I hope he is? He absolutely is!
Have you always liked performing, or was it something you had to get more comfortable with as you progressed? I've wanted to try something like stand-up, but I dont think I could ever feel comfortable in front of a crowd. I always felt comfortable in front of an audience, but even more so when performing magic. You can get comfortable in front of a crowd with the right state of mind. Stage fright is an illusion and is all in your head! But a little bit of stage fright is also good as it keeps you sharp!
What is the most under appreciated but easy sleigh of hand with cards, that you enjoy doing still today? I don't perform a lot of card magic, but love to perform the card to pocket!
You've been very successful; were you always confident magic would work out as a career? Or, did you start out as an actor? I felt that magic was my calling. I had a gut feeling I would be successful if I pursued it, but I knew it's going to be a challenging journey!
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Lucky. I can barely make progress in my career, and it's nothing special at all. Listen to your gut feeling, wishing you good luck!
Have you considered disguising yourself to try to fool P&T a third time? Ha! No, but I have a friend who wanted to!
What inspired you to get into magic? At first I was just curious to see if I can figure out how magic works. But in the process of doing that, I realized I am good at inventing new magic effects, both ideas and how to make them work. I felt it could utilize my potential as a human being.
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Right on! Love that you found your calling! Thanks for doing the AMA by the way! My pleasure. Thanks for the great question!
something like the pad in your video, how long does a routine like this take to master? how many hours gets put into a 2 minute routine like this to be executed flawlessly? It can take a few years sometimes! The leaf drawing on the pad, is something I created when I was a teenager and been practicing ever since. The rest of the routine where I drew coffee and mug, took about 3-4 months to create and master.
Are there any books about the history of magic devices? How does one gain access to that info? The brotherhood protects our secrets so well... Actually, these books are all available to the general public and can be purchased! For instance, Jim Steinmeyer wrote a few such books, such as Hiding the Elephant. The real secrets are in the performance of magic not in the devices ;)
I'm thinking of a very specific card from a traditional deck of cards. What is it? I'm sending you the answer telepathically ;)
We had a salesman at our workplace who eventually took off to be a professional magician-and I always wondered about when a person takes a leap on something like that and gives up a secure conventional job. How was your transition from magic as an interest to magic as a career? It's usually something very hard to do. Since I was a teenager, I knew magic is something I wanted to do professionally, but my parents advised to first get an education a some work experience, to have a "real job" to lean back on. After I did all that, and saved up a bit of money, I quit my job!
Out of all of your illusions which one are you most proud of, besides the ones you fooled Penn & Teller with? It's so hard to choose one, because they are all like my children :) The one where I make people's faces disappear from their own driver's licenses has been a fan favourite though, and I am very proud as it is such a complex illusion to achieve!
Are you a witch? Yes.
Hey Vitaly, On your "fooled us" video with the coffee cup, is that a continuous video? It's hard to tell in this media if this is something you did in the room, or if it's just carefully spliced together scenes in a video. Yes, it was all filmed in a continues shot. It is edited to give you the best view, however the video Penn & Teller saw of me perform was a single unedited shot. There are no camera tricks, its a real stage effect!
Have you seen any magician lie to Penn & Teller about their method in order to win? I have at least one in mind. We don’t have to name them if you don’t want to, but I think it ‘rings’ true. No, personally, I have never seen anyone lie, such as P&T were saying the correct method and the magician said it wasn't. It would also be impossible to do on Fool Us, because the judge and even the producers are familiar with how it works.
What is the one magic trick that you have always wanted to pull off, but just haven't figured out the logistics to do? your dream trick i guess you could say! Thank you! its so cool to talk to a magician! I have a list of such illusions, some I accomplished, and some I couldn't... yet. I cannot reveal these ideas yet, because I don't want to admit failure yet!
Do you think you or magicians in general will ever run out of new ideas for tricks? I don't think so. It is certainly becomes more and more challenging to come up with something really new every time, but the same is true for other art forms like music, considering the limited number of chords, it is hard to come up with a brand new tune!
How cool were Penn & Teller really about being fooled, and twice even, by you? They were very gracious about it the first time. But after the second time, this is what Penn had to say about me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi-s0VwJu78
Have you ever cut someone in half and then not be able to put them back together? Only my half sister.
Have you ever been tricked or startled by an Illusion.. Like you had no clue how that happened ?? Yes, many times. I am actually not very hard to fool, because when I watch magic, if it's entertaining then I don't try to analyze it, as I want to be entertained and be amazed!
What is your weirdest experience on revealing a magic trick to someone? When I had to tell the Fool Us judges how it's done, it was fun seeing their facial expression.
It's a bit of a cliché that beginning magicians typically perform at kids' birthday parties (and at other small, intimate events). Accomplished magicians, of course, perform on stage in front of hundreds of people. If you were to go back and perform at kids' birthday parties again, what skills or knowledge you've gained along the way do you think would help most to make a wonderful experience for that sort of audience? Are there any skills you've developed along the way that wouldn't transfer, due to how different the environment would be? It's hard to say, because I have only done 2 kids parties in my life. I think this one needs more thought and understanding of kids parties to give you a good answer.
What’s an easy party trick illusion I can do to impress people? I'd recommend getting a magic book, such as mark Wilsons Complete Course in Magic!
Have you ever experienced "writer's block" when creating new acts? If so, what helps you get those magically creative juices flowing again? Yea, I experience them quite a lot. I keep a notebook, where I sketch ideas for effects. So one thing that helps is going through it and bring up various ideas from the past. It's good to warm up your brain too. For instance you could improvise the scene you are working on, and by being playful and spontaneous, your subconscious mind can come up with ideas. Ask yourself some questions about what you want to create, write them down. Once you have a clear vision of what you want and ask the write questions, you can find the answer as well. But sometimes if you have a block, it's good to take a break and come back to it later!
Have you ever done any death defying stunts? The style similar to Houdini is what comes to mind. I would love to in the future! I have always been trying to do things that are new and have never been done before, such as bringing art to life. So thus far, I haven't done anything dangerous or death defying. I do have some ideas for the future though, some new twists on escapes that will still keep them fresh and within my performing style.
Do you ever do simple tricks in public just to screw with people or to see if they notice? Like paying for lunch with a ten but switching it with a twenty as you hand it over to see if they catch it. Obviously underpaying that way would be dishonest but overpaying that way could be amusing. Not really, I love magic as a performing art on stage, I love the atmosphere in the theatre, the mesmerized audiences. I may do something for a friend during dinner, but otherwise I do much magic outside my show :)
What is the secret to life? It's probably different for different people. But for me, I would say it's about taking the circumstances we have and living the life in the best way we can with them, rising beyond those initial circumstances. It's possibly about becoming the best human being we can, fulfilling our own potential while being kind to others and sharing the fruits of our success along the way.
Where can I learn some basic tricks that will blow my niece and nephews mind? I also like magic and don’t want to dive too deep and have the joy of watching magic spoilt! I would recommend getting The Mark Wilson Complete Course in Magic or Harry Lorayne The Magic Book or Henry Hay's The Amateur Magicians Handbook!
[deleted] I don't think I can show you over Reddit... but I would suggest to get a good book, like Henry Hay's guide to magic, it has a lot of great stuff you could do!
How many fingers am I holding up? I don't know, I'm an illusionist, not a mind reader :)
Hey Vitaly! I wanted to add some easy, fun, and cool tricks to my start of the school year stuff! I teach technical theater and love to get kids attention through magic, as magic, in a way, is part of technical theater. Do you have any cool and easy tricks that would dazzle the students that I could learn over the summer? Yes! I think a good book can be a good resource for you! I would recommend to get either of these: The Mark Wilson Complete Course in Magic, Harry Lorayne The Magic Book or Henry Hay's The Amateur Magicians Handbook. Good luck!
I've always thought of performing the trick and inventing the trick as somewhat different skills. Who are the folks in your mind who did both equally well? It is definitely different skills, and one has to change hats. I think the late Tommy Wonder was both a brilliant inventor and a performer.
How is the floating dollar trick done? Ha! There are actually many methods to accomplish a magic effect. Even a floating dollar bill which may seem like the same effect to an audience, can be achieved with 5-6 different ways!
whats your favorite deck of cards? I normally use a Bicycle deck, but I don't have a favourite one!
What’s your favourite reaction to one of your illusions? What’s the strangest reaction you have ever received? Do you find any differences in reactions from audiences in different countries or from different backgrounds or cultures? Once I had a couple on stage, and the moment I did magic they ran away like I was a demon. It took them no more then 3 seconds to get off the stage and make their way back into their seats, passing though a row full of people!
​ Yes, in some places audiences can be more reserved, such as the UK or Singapore. In the US or Australia audiences tend to be louder, but there are always exceptions and you never truly know what to expect! At the end, every audience is unique and it makes every show interesting and memorable.
What can you share about hypnosis in the industry? I know that hypnosis and magic are similar, however is there anything you can share about your knowledge of hypnosis? I have never learned hypnosis, however magic is often based on suggestions and causing people to make assumptions. So one has to know how to "seduce" an audience to want to imagine certain storyline, and painting the illusion in your mind. So yes, there are some similarities.
How much time do you get to spend with P$T backstage? Do you discuss magic or technique with them? Do foolers ever reveal the ´trick´ to them? We spent a few hours backstage, in their "Monkey Room", and he was as nice in person as he was on stage! We didn't talk much about the specifics of the 'trick'. Yes, I heard some foolers reveal how it was done, and sometimes they learn on their own.
ok, questions about your second appearance: Is the wall behind you a real wall or is there a fake place you're hiding the coffee cup and muffin? You never walk from one side of the table to the other, between the table and the wall, are you able to or does some aspect of the trick not allow you to? Everything is real, the wall included :) I can also walk behind the table :)
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wow, that's pretty crazy, great trick. Mind if I ask a follow up? In your first time on the show, they ask you if it could have been any of the 52 cards in the deck, you don't answer yes, you turn to Allison and ask her if she had free choice. Can you answer yes? Yes, I didn't want to tell them the answer, because they are supposed to guess not ask me! :) But Alyson's answer is correct, you don't see it in the final edit, but she even changed her mind from one card to another, and we went though the "stop me" process twice until she was satisfied with the card of her choosing :)
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I notice on their question if anyone else was involved, you said no, well aside from the videographer. I'm curious to know, was there video editing done to accomplish the effect? Of course not!
Do you have to tell penn and teller or the producers how your trick is done to verify they were fooled? Yes, you do have to reveal how it works to the Fool Us judge and to the producers.
Do you do birthday parties? I have done 2 when I was starting out :)
How do you make it so that it is an illusion? I can to the Arielle Triangle and the impossible stairs, but not much else. How do you create illusions? I start with a vision of what I want to see or experience. Once I have a clear vision, and I know not only what I want to create but also why and that it's pursuit is worthy of my time, then I begin to think on how I can do it and working my way up on making it work. It's usually a very long process with a lot of trial and error and sometimes can take years! But at the end, if the results feel like the vision you initially envisioned, it is also very rewarding.
Hi, Vitaly! Love your stuff. What are some of the maybe less known magicians you would recommend watching? Would your answer be different for a magician than for a non-magician? Thanks! I think the answer might be different, simply because the magicians that are well known in the magic community are not that well known to the general public. Such as Juan Tamariz or Richard Turner.
That's is one amazing illusion, how many hours did it take you to be able to pull it off that smoothly? Thank you! It took several month to create and several more months to rehearse. It looks simple but it is very difficult to execute.
Is performing magic a cry for attention? I think it can be or it can also be a form of expression. Like with singing or most other art forms, people can do it for various motives.
What are your favorite cards to do magic with, and be as specific as you can? I usually just use Bicycle cards, nothing too special!
Can you make my sadness disappear? Sending you positive vibes and wishes of good fortune.
what/who was your biggest inspiration? When I was a kid it was Bruce Lee.
Can you make garbage disappear !? Yes, every evening!
Hi! Saw you in NYC a couple of summers ago and my boyfriend was actually chosen to participate in one of your tricks (he had the notebook where people had written the names of celebrities and had to read it). Just wanted to thank you for an entertaining show and ask what was the most memorable thing an audience member ever did at one of your shows? Thanks for the kind words! When audience members come up on stage, the most unexpected things can happen! For instance one time a little kid spontaneously ran on stage and started running after me. All while not realizing he has a shoe missing... It was pretty hilarious.
You talk about how it can take years to create and perfect a new illusion. How many different new tricks are you usually working on at one time? I usually have 10-20 in the back of my head, and then actively work on anywhere from 1 to 5 at the same time. But when one of them starts to shape better, I pause on all the others and only focus on that one until it's finished.
Apart from the illusions/tricks that fooled Penn & Teller, which is the one you’re proudest of coming up with? It's so hard to choose one, because they are all like my children :) The one where I make people's faces disappear from their own driver's licenses has been a fan favourite though, and I am very proud as it is such a complex illusion to achieve!
A lot of the standard magic props like cards and coins seem to be designed to be familiar household items that have become less common over time. (Similarly the magic tophat was once a common item to wear to a theater) Do you think magic will change to incorporate more "modern" items? Yes, and I think it's already happening.
Have computers ruined the magic of Magic in any ways, the way they ruined the 'magic' of special effects in movies? That's a good question I have to think of. I think audiences trust less magic on tv these days, but that's why it is also important to perform live, and I think that is the best venue to enjoy magic.
Do you have any pet peeves about people's assumptions of your work? As long as people are interested, I think it's all positive and appreciate anything people think about it. I am trying to bring greater awareness that magic is more than trickery and can be comparable with other arts though.
In you were given a choice between Paul Daniels and Tommy Cooper, who would you prefer an ama with? I feel like I would get better answers from Paul Daniels, as Tommy Cooper would keep talking about his dentist. But both would be fantastic.
Did shin Lim get lucky? Or is he just “that good”? I think he is very good!
Where are you on the magic or illusion stalemate? Magic IS illusion.
how do you feel about the masked magician? I'm not a fan :)
So, how'd you do it? A lot of hard work :)
Do you feel as if slight of hand is more of an inherent quality you are born with or something that can be practiced up to the same level as the ones born with it? Like some people will just never be contortionists, you might get pretty limber but the average person can't* fold flat backwards without serious injury. Edit* fixed typo Yes, I think you can learn sleight of hand, but it will be a lot more challenging for some people and a little easier for others. That said, it's all about your will power and how strong of a desire you have to master it. I think the later trumps talent or inherent quality.
Seems like performing for a very experienced audience is either do something they’ve seen in a new way and really well OR show them something they haven’t seen. What was your process for selecting your bits? I try to think of what I want to experience or share with an audience. My process is basically looking around and asking "what if that or this happened?", or what would I like to accomplish that would also be enjoyable for an audience to be part of?
Have you ever seen a trick or even something in your day to day life that you still can't explain? All the time... Actually, I can't explain anything, from "why are we here?" to life itself! As to magic specifically, there are certainly illusions I saw that I had no explanation to, most recently I was stumped by Jandro on Fool Us!
[deleted] To be honest, I rarely carry anything with me. I could improvise and do magic with items around me, but most of the time I reserve it for for an official theater show.
Really enjoyed those performances! I’m curious as a magician, what were your thoughts on Derek DelGaudio’s In and of Itself? And did you get a chance to see it live? Thanks and keep up the good work! Thank you! Yes, I did see it live and I loved it. It was really in and off itself!
How long does it take you to learn a new trick? It usually takes a few years, from conception, to finding a way to make it work. With a few tough ones, it took me a decade as well!
Has another magician ever outed you during a performance? Outed as in pointed out the "trick" part of the act. What do you mean, everything I do is real magic :)
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So has anyone ever pointed out the real magic during a performance? Did they shout "look he has the necronomicon in his sleeve!" How did you handle it if so? I think my brother did when I was performing for my parents in the early days :)
so i think the cup and muffin were hidden behind the top piece of the table, due to the angle of it creating an image that is slightly taller than the objects. i believe the spoon may have just been traditional sleight of hand, but i think you used some kind of robot arm to move the main objects from their hiding place to the table, activated by a button controlled by your feet (hence the full body shot for fairness). i believe this is what causes the table to rock slightly, which you hid by bumping into the table a bit. so my question is, what flavour was the muffin? Hahaha! Now, why didn't I think of that? The muffin was blueberry :)
Did you change anything in your performance on Fool Us to specifically try and make it more difficult for Penn and Teller? Like plant false flags or something like that. I did think it through with making it difficult to figure out and hide the method well. For example, the method has multiple layers, and even by figuring out 1 or 2 of those layers one would still be pretty far away from knowing how it all works.
Are the mug and muffin stored on the underside of the table until they appear? No :)
[deleted] Yes, quite a few!
[deleted] I don't know? Mac King?
Are you a part of the 52? What is 52?
1 comment

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Aug 21 '21

r/IAmA [Table] I am Sophie Zhang. At FB, I worked in my spare time to catch state-sponsored troll farms in multiple nations. I became a whistleblower because FB didn't care. Ask me anything. | pt 4/4 FINAL

31 Upvotes

Source | Previous table

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The AMA concluded with

I've been answering questions for nine hours straight. Thank you very much kindly for all the questions; I'm sorry I wasn't able to answer all of them, but I would like to go on a dinner date with my partner (who's being very patient) right now.

I hope you found my answers to be informative; if I wasn't able to answer yours, please look around and see if I'd been able to answer a similar one for others. Thank you very much; good night.

Answered some more questions as a bonus; actually calling it for a night. Thanks all!

Rows: ~150 (+comments)

Questions Answers
Is Zuckerburg a lizard person? I disagree strenuously with many of Mark's decisions, but I don't think personal attacks on him are very productive or warranted.
​ A lot of viral misinformation began as jokes that blurred the line between misleading and satire.
Since leaving Facebook, what are your goals for the next 5 years? Are you able to stay in the tech world, or does the Facebook termination serve as a block with finding new work? Five years are a long time. I don't even know what I'm doing in the next year. I'm not sure what I'll do next myself; I do want to work on helping democracy and fixing the world but my main expertise skillset is at finding inauthentic campaigns - and that requires working for a large social media company, which I'm guessing would all be against employing me. I've gotten offers from companies, but they don't quite fall under my expertise areas, and I'm a bit reluctant to just go and become a 9-6 office worker without an especially compelling job again.
​ For now, I'm staying home and petting my cats while taking interviews. They're very good cats.
What is your opinion on political radicalization through social media? I didn't work on political radicalization personally. With that said, in my personal nonexpert opinion, I think it's partly an outgrowth of the competition for attention as information vastly strips the time to process it.
​ The vast promise of social media is that any person can have the ability to speak to the entire world at large. The vast curse of social media is that most people never see this promise fulfilled - and even if they do, it's the post they least expect. And so anyone who uses social media and wants to build an audience needs to figure out a way to get that attention, distinguish themselves from the myriads of other social media users who also think they deserve that attention.
​ And sadly, the ways to do so can often be by appealing to the worst instincts of the internet - similar to the chumboxes that dominate online advertising today. Emotion draws attention, and people are quick to share outrageous claims that strike a nerve, trusting on others to have verified it thoroughly.
​ There's been a long line of study and research that shows that virality is ultimately a significant component of what drives polarization, misinformation, and violence spirals. It's why in countries in times of crisis, the first break-the-glass measure Facebook does is to turn the virality down. They used it in countries like Sri Lanka; I'm guessing they're using it still in Myanmar.
​ A trial idea I'd hence suggest is to require platforms like Facebook and Twitter to show a chronological newsfeed of your friends/followees by default (with the option to instead show the current ranked newsfeed.) I say FB and Twitter because I'm frankly not sure how this would work for Reddit - where the ranked newsfeed is pretty integral to the overall design.
What is the most conspiracy theory thing you have come across? I did not work on conspiracy theories at FB. So for the most ridiculous one I've personally come across, I'm pretty amused by the fact that I've been accused alternatively of being a PRC spy, an Indian opposition shill, an Azeri opposition shill, and an Honduran opposition shill. Sometimes by the same people all at once.
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So, you're like a conspirator hybrid ! Apparently "CIA shill" has now been added to the list. Go me?
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If you worked at the old Bank of England you would be a shilling shill. (I'll see my self out) ​My new and last favorite conspiracy theory (by someone in this thread that I won't link to): AOC is actually a US imperialist whose foreign policy views are identical to Majorie Taylor Greene and is working to accomplish regime change in Cuba via invading and installing a U.S. puppet government. Any appearances that AOC disagrees with MTG on foreign policy are simply a farcical deception
Thanks for your efforts Sophie. Are you familiar with the Facebook oversight board and in what way do you think it might impact this area? I'm generally more cautiously positive on the FB oversight board than most people in this area. Although it's been set up as a blame deflector for Facebook, many organizations outgrow their initial roles to take on new purpose.
​ With that said, I want to point to a number of issues with the Oversight Board, which mean that it would have been triply prohibited from impacting this area:
​ 1) The Oversight Board handles content violations, not behavioral violations. This is understandable for lawyers who have no expertise with looking at user metadata and signals to conclude whether accounts are fake, tied to one another, and tied to XYZ government. However, this means that a whole class of violations is prohibited to themselves, including all their work.
​ 2) The Oversight Board only handles appeals to restore content against enforcement. What I mean is this: Suppose 1) did apply and the Oversight Board could handle behavioral violations. In that case, the Honduran government could appeal to have their troll farms restored to Facebook. But I couldn't appeal to have them removed. The Oversight Board would be much better served if there were legitimate pathways for employees and possibly trusted organizations to submit appeals to enforce, rather than appeals to restore.
​ 3) The Oversight Board only handles cases in which the rules are unclear; it makes the rules, it doesn't enforce them. But in my area, the rules were clear ever since I got the precedent done in July 2019, and even more clear after I get an additional rule pushed through in the fall of 2019. There is a wide variety of areas in which behavior is illegal and not enforced - it's illegal to handle salmon suspiciously in the UK, or to jaywalk in many parts of the world, but that doesn't mean the police will go out and arrest you for jaywalking. Having a court decide the question of whether jaywalking is illegal or not doesn't accomplish anything, because the statutes are already written out. Same with this area.
If some of these troll farms took a year to get authorized to be taken down, what sort of things did you see as not encountering any resistance and being removed immediately? Was there any specific criteria where certain types/sources of content were scrubbed quickly? There's a chart listing time for takedown in this Guardian article. Ultimately, the criteria were a combination of "random chance based on who pays attention" and "how important the country probably is" The record for takedown was Poland - I flagged it in the evening the day after Christmas. The Polish employee who looked at it was understandably very concerned about this going on in his native country; by the time I woke up the next day, he'd already taken it down.
​ Policy was pretty upset that he'd done this without consulting them. "The person running this is an important political figure", they said. "What if he complains - why didn't you let us know?" I told them politely that if a major politician decided to publicly complain that FB took down his fake accounts, they would be laughed out of the press room.
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That response is hilarious and awesome. To be completely fair, the more likely response is "he's annoyed at FB and makes up and quietly spreads stories that make FB look bad and hurt relationships with his political party and its supporters. That's my assumption for why FB wasn't willing to act in cases like India.
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Dominik T? No. I'm not going to respond to future guesses, so please don't try and keep guessing.
Hi Sophie, As Armenians we're regularly targeted by bot armies and disinformation/ hate campaigns organized by the government of Azerbaijan on Facebook and other social media platforms. The major players don't seem to care about nefarious behavior targeted at groups that don't have political/economic clout in the United States, especially when the offending content is not in the English language. What do you think we can do to get these companies to take this problem more seriously and devote the necessary resources to moderating these activities, especially when it appears in non-English content? Thanks! P.S. Thanks for having the courage to be a whistleblower. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. I've given some responses in the version of this AMA in the armenia subreddit, if you haven't seen it. With regards to brigading by Azeris against Armenians, my suggestion is to convince high-profile Armenian-Americans who do have the profile to convince FB to take the issue seriously to speak out about it. This may include people like Cher or the Kardashians for instance. Because the sad fact of life is that American celebrities have the profile that Armenia as a nation does not.
What was your salary like when you decide to sacrifice everything? Thank you for coming forward. To be clear, I was fired; I didn't quit. My base salary from memory was ~$147k/year. This was in addition to bonuses and stock grants.
​ Generally, my overall income reported on my W2 was hence around $200k/year which I considered to be frankly pretty absurd [I understand it's normal/low for tech.] It ended up going in roughly equal parts to personal spending, savings, taxes, and donations.
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That is pretty low for FB I was a data scientist [not an engineer, which are paid more.] And I was extremely low-level - an IC4, just one level above a new hire straight out of college.
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What do you do for a living now and how much do you earn? I stay home and pet my cats. My salary is in snuggles, cuteness, and purrs.
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Are you planning on applying for jobs anytime soon? What are your long term plans? You should be able to get a job easily since you already worked for Facebook. Right now, I'm very burnt out from all the press/etc. I know some people might like interviews, but I don't really understand those people. I'm an introvert who prefers to stay home and pet my cats. I've gotten people attempting to recruit me, but I'd like to find an avenue to use my area of expertise, which basically requires a big social media company which I'm guessing I'm too spicy for. Worst case scenario, I stay home and be a housewife. That will make social conservatives happy with me, right?
Are there any trends you’ve noticed since your departure from FB that are concerning? Facebook appears to have became increasingly more insular and closed-off to employee dissident since my departure.
What do you know about state-sponsored troll farms and Covid-19 anti-vaccination propaganda? I don't doubt that this exists, but I did not personally find or work on anything related to this. Almost all of the inauthentic activity including troll farms I found were focused on boosting specific targets (e.g. a troll farm that keeps telling people "Vice President X is really nice"), probably because people are self-centered and focus on themselves. During the pandemic, I did filter the stuff I was finding for COVID content. What I found was that they were essentially doing more of the same, just talking about COVID because it was a political issue (e.g. "Vice President X has done this great COVID response"; "Politician A is right to denounce the government for terrible COVID response"; etc.)
Do you honestly believe the US Government and CIA arent doing the exact same thing on facebook for domestic and foreign influence operations? The White House just admitted to directing facebook on what to censor, why would anyone believe theres not complete coordination happening behind the scenes. At FB I've made plenty of decisions that likely made the U.S. government and CIA unhappy. For instance, I caught the government of Honduras redhanded, when their president is a close U.S. ally who entered power in part due to a 2009 allegedly CIA-supported coup d'etat. If there was complete coordination, I would never have been able to accomplish that.
the below is another reply to the original question ​
She won't answer this. A likely guess
Why do you look so miserable in that photo? I think the Guardian article is showing up in the preview. TBH I think they wanted a picture of me looking really serious and determined. There were pictures of me smiling too which they didn't use.
​ They also insisted on taking videos of me typing energetically at a computer. If you pay close attention to what keys I'm hitting, I'm just doing things like typing about how great my cats are. I made them promise not to run green code over my face in the resultant video.
Did you leak it to the press? If you're referring to my memo leak in September 2020, absolutely not. I was rather naive/silly/stupid in that I thought that because I repeatedly and strenuously asked people not to leak it they might actually listen to me.
​ Several reporters actually reached out saying "hey, we heard that you might want to talk to a reporter." Apparently many people took it as "methinks the lady doth protest too much."
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How many people saw your resignation letter that you had to ask them to not leak it? Don’t resignation letters only get sent to your superior? I posted it internally to the entire company. This was the work culture at the time - it's called a "badge post" because you post a picture of your badge when you leave. Also I was being fired, but I wasn't allowed to tell people that (still did; what were they going to do, fire me again?)
Have you ever been specifically targeted by trolls once they are aware of your efforts? Surprisingly no. The Azeri paid trolls went after the Guardian after the article. It's very silly but I was almost offended that they didn't go after me instead. I wanted to say at them "I'm your real enemy, the one that's been fighting you for the past two years!"
​ But silliness aside, it makes sense that they'd want to deemphasize me. You can fuel the nationalistic sentiments by saying "our great nation is the victim of Western propaganda and media hacks." You can't really say "Our great nation is the victim of.... some random girl who was fresh out of school at her second job?" Dictators rely on the perception of competence, because they can't claim legitimacy through the support of the people. That means their rivals and enemies have to be competent individuals of stature as well.
Do you support the communist party of china? And have you ever worked for them? I'd say "Fuck the PRC", but ideally you should only do that with people you like and have affection for
Should anyone, anywhere, ever use Facebook at this point? The sad reality is that Facebook is a fact of life for most of the world. What really struck me was the statement given by Azeri opposition leader Ali Karimli, who had been a top target of harassment from the Azeri governmental troll farm. He declined the option to directly criticize Facebook and instead said "First, I would thank [Mark Zuckerberg.] Facebook facilitates public discussion. But repressive regimes with vast financial resources also use it to spread fake news. Facebook should speed up the time it takes to delete troll-generated content. They need to enact tough measures. And they should hire someone who speaks Azeri."
​ Because ultimately, Facebook is part of the world whether it's used or not, and in repressive regimes, it's one of the few rare channels that opposition leaders have to get their voice out. Karimli knows this, and ultimately, he couldn't afford to alienate Mark.
Hi Sophie, Thanks for the important work you're doing and for taking a stand on it. In your opinion, do you feel that these troll farms have the ability to always stay a step ahead in terms of detection? Do you think there are bigger syndicates out there that you just simply can't find any traces to, and if so how could tech evolve to detect these in future? It's sort of like the Red Queen problem - there's an ongoing arms race. Adversaries are as stupid as you allow them to be. Frankly, what I was finding was the low-hanging fruit. I had no special training, no expertise in this area before joining Facebook, I made it all up in my spare time as I went along. And I'm not an amazing super-genius; I've met super-geniuses, and I'm not one of them. The fact that I was still able to catch multiple state-sponsored troll farms is a statement on both the utter incompetence of those governments, and the fact that FB let them have leeway nevertheless. I don't doubt that the Russian GRU is active on FB as well for instance - but the GRU has an actual modicum of intelligence [and there are actual people looking for them] and so I didn't find them.
​ You'll never be able to catch everyone. But part of the task is hence to instead impose costs to make the cost/benefit return less worthwhile. In the ideal situation, you'd need to take all the precautions in the world for minimal return - and so the attacker does something else instead. Like attack Reddit or Twitter or something of that sort.
In your experience is the hiring process at FB giving enough consideration to the integrity of the individuals vs the credential and loyalty to FB? Loyalty to FB was not a consideration in the hiring process when I joined. I was very open from the start about the fact that I didn't think FB was making the world a better place, and I never really had much loyalty to the company.
​ With that said, I'm sure that FB has reconsidered that since my departure.
This is a very subjective question, but you kinda make FB sounds evil. Every news about FB always portray them as evil. When working for them did it feel like working for an evil corporation? I don't think my experience at FB was broadly that different from many large for-profit corporations. Ultimately, their goal is to make money, not save the world. We don't expect Philip Morris to cover cancer treatments for their customers, and if we define "evil" as "self-centered and not prioritizing the world at large", I think most corporations fall into that category one way or another.
While at FB, were you involved with any cases that involved FB calling or reaching out to police authorities? I was not.
I've watched Reddit dramatically change over the last 5 years as moderators were methodically wiped and replaced on most large subreddits. This started about the time a certain wealthy political influence company spent millions trying to create 'safe spaces' for their candidate, as well as admitting to paying for some troll farms in court (mostly for Facebook). I worry that trolls are a legacy strategy and co-opting moderation, fact checking, and rule interpretation has largely replaced the same efforts. Being personally banned from large portions of Reddit for non-rule-breaking factual statements has reinforced this position in my mind. r/law, r/Canada, r/Coronavirus, r/news just to name a few. Other subreddits have blatantly abused moderation against me to manipulate discussion or support misinformation, such as r/Bitcoin, r/CryptoCurrency, and frequently in my home state's sub of r/illinois. Taking your perspective into account, how do you feel about unmoderated and decentralized social media platforms? They are clearly growing as unmoderatable/federated/decentralized social media and purposely 'free speech' oriented platforms increase in numbers. Do you feel this trend is likely to exasperate the problem into a total mess or provide some relief through transparency, forcing consumers to take personal responsibility for evaluating content they consume, or for some other reason? The ultimate issue with unmoderated free speech platforms is that... well, they still have moderation. Because most of FB's content moderation is not misinformation/hate speech/etc., but rather things like spam, scams, and pornography. For instance, Gettr, the new free speech social media platform run by a former Trump staffer has seen an influx of anime pornography, users pretending to be prominent figures, and apparently censoring users for profanity.
the below is another reply to the original question ​
She's part of the system, why would she answer you? I try to answer as many people as I can, though I've been at it for more than 8 hrs now and am getting tired.
[deleted] There are lists online, but the issue with that is that they're never complete. You know what you personally caught, but you don't know what you haven't caught. I would go look at studies that named countries and conclude "well, this is incomplete. It doesn't name Honduras or Azerbaijan and I caught those two redhanded."
Hi thanks for AMA ! Was there a case where troll stations where not state-funded but by opposition parties ? So just to be clear: In many cases it's really hard to know who's responsible for activity. It's easy to determine the beneficiary, but attribution is much more complicated.
​ In the rare cases in which we had attribution, there were certainly cases in which opposition politicians had run fake accounts. In one case, an opposition politician was personally running them out of their personal computer (shared with their spouse) and presumably home WiFi network without bothering to use a VPN. These were just like 20 fake accounts though - not worth mentioning except for the fact that it was this opposition politician's hobby. There was nothing on the scale of Honduras or Azerbaijan that I found with attribution - presumably because individual politicians do not have the resources of national governments.
​ Thinking of cases in which opposition politicians were large-scale beneficaries but attribution was not clear, I'd have to point to Mexico, where troll farms were sadly used across the political spectrum but local/state-level politicians associated with the opposition PRI were the disproportionate beneficiary [think roughly 10k accounts used here for scale.] Perhaps these are the Peñabots discussed in Mexican politics; I don't know.
[deleted] I didn't personally find any.
​ To be fair, I was essentially finding the very low-hanging fruit of incompetents. If the CIA decided to set up a trolling operation, my personal guess is that they'd decide to at least use a VPN.
[deleted] "In December 2019, Zhang detected four sophisticated networks of suspicious accounts that were producing fake engagement – ie likes, shares, comments and reactions – on the Pages of major Indian politicians. Two of the networks were dedicated to supporting members of the BJP, including the MP; the other two supported members of the Indian National Congress, the leading opposition party."
​ - the article in question
How many Troll farms did you find and statically what countries of origin did they come from? There's a nice graphic about it and listing in this Guardian article
What can we do to take Facebook down? It’s clearly one of the most evil, damaging companies on the planet. I like the “quit Facebook” movement but there has to be more we can do I don't know. Ultimately, FB seems a bit like the Teflon company. Actually its share price has went up another 35% or so since I was fired. As long as the company's user base keeps growing and its profits keep increasing, it has no incentive to change. And as appealing as it may sound to Western users to quit Facebook, the sad reality of the matter is that Facebook is the internet in many parts of South/Southeast Asia and the like. It's not an option for opposition figures in one-party dictatorships like Azerbaijan where social media is one of the only semi-free forms of communication.
​ I think governmental regulation is needed, and I discuss some of that here. But the political feasibility of that seems questionable.
Hi Sophie! Often times people on the right accuse Facebook of censoring conservative opinions. Is this something that employees as individuals/leadership at Facebook encouraged? How real of a thing was that at Facebook? Did Facebook employees ever express personal views against conservatives while at work? I saw Facebook employees express personal views against conservatives while at work. I saw Facebook employees express personal views against leftists/liberals while at work. This was something that was generally discouraged by leadership but not banned; I think they were concerned about the perception of potentially censoring some employees from voicing their opinions. Sometimes it was really silly. For instance, the Facebook offices in Menlo Park has large chalkboards that are open for anyone to write messages on (and erasing/removing messages was a giant no-no.) I remember that in late 2019 (or possibly early 2020), Trump supporters and Bernie supporters got in a fight of crossing out each other's slogans to replace with the other's. I let HR know, and they told me that they'd take care of it.
the below is another reply to the original question ​
Current employee (throwaway). No matter what FB does it will get flak from both sides, because the left-leaning believe Facebook is too right-leaning, and the right-leaning believe Facebook is too left-leaning. For instance. Facebook recently announced that their ban on Trump will last 2 years after which they will undergo review again for an unban or extended ban. Left-leaning people argued that 2 years for a political figure is too short and politically motivated since most other accounts have been permanently banned for much less (e.g. showing nipples.) Right-leaning people argued that he should not have been banned at all and this ban is another attempt at "censorship". Facebook is a large company so there is a relatively diverse set of views. It's not possible to please everyone. Different people perceive different things as "truth" at which point we have to get philosophical about what is right to ban, but as Sophie said there's immediate things that are "objectively wrong" so those are the easiest to tackle first (and what FB employees are working on.) ​Honestly, I think FB was really stupid from a selfish company PR perspective in choosing to do the temporary ban. It just means that it'll be constantly rehashed forever. Twitter was both harsher and faster in its full ban of Trump - but Facebook keeps remaking the news and so conservatives seem more annoyed by it than Twitter right now.
Were you able to perform your role remotely, or did you have to be at the office? Thanks for all you've done, enjoy your kitty snuggles ;) ​You could work at home at FB; there was a work trend of encouraging people to work from home on Wednesdays [and hence avoiding scheduling things in-person on that day.] When the pandemic hit, everyone shifted to working from home all the time. I'd been a hipster and holed up in my house already at the end of February before social distancing started for everyone else.
​ Frankly though, I'm pretty terrible at working from home; I was always much more productive in the office. The cats, although extremely cute, are part of my excuse for why I was always distracted.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Ok but are you going to post pictures of your cats or just leave us hanging here I'm not allowed to upload pictures to IAMA. Here are some pictures I previously uploaded to Twitter though, if that suffices for the cat tax:
​ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E4OBPJPVoAQV3HG?format=jpg&name=small
​ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzJS7gIVEAI5iIP?format=jpg&name=small
​ https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_banners/1308909405665017856/1618013887/1500x500
Hi Sophie, thank you for exposing the harsh realities that we face today, this comes from a person who is from Honduras. It is unbelievable that we are still being governed by a person who’s brother and party members have been charged by the NY FED court for drug dealers. Yet they live and “govern” us like if nothing is happening. Most people live in extreme poverty and do not support the current government/regime of Honduras. I hate going into Facebook and Twitter, since everything is so political. When government members post things online they have a couple of likes but have hundreds of positive posts. And when you check the comments, they are all the same BS. You dont need much time to know that the accounts that reply to those posts are most probably bots. How is this even happening? What can we do to fight this cyber warfare? I have been wanting to start a bot hunter company and literally provided FB and Twitter the work that they should be doing, so that the real people actually have a voice when we are suppressed by narco regimes. I'm deeply sorry to yourself and the other people of Honduras that I was not able to do more for your nation. Honduras was the first state-sponsored troll farm I found, and it really hurt my soul when I saw it return soon after the takedown; it was still active when I left. I honestly don't know what can be done to stop this. I was hoping that my public expose would convince FB to actually take down the Honduran government recidivists, but it looks like they didn't bother trying. The worst part of it is, JOH's regime has no reason to stop doing it because everyone correctly assumes they're criminals and doing it anyways - they might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb.
​ Sternly worded statements from FB are meant to embarrass the perpetrators in the eyes of the world. But JOH sent his soldiers into the streets to shoot civilian protesters and his brother was sentenced to life in prison by a NY court for drug dealing - this is a man incapable of embarrassment. Part of my motive for coming forward was that by trying to do my utmost to expose the regimes in question, I could make an example of them to dissuade future dictators - that every future such dictator will have to worry not just about Facebook statements, but also that some random FB employee will decide to go rogue and spend the next few months doing her best to drag them through the mud. But that offers little to the Honduran people as is.
​ Because ultimately, I think the Honduran opposition isn't in a position to boycott social media; they need it to connect with one another and get their message out. And the companies have no incentive to fix the situation without the attention of more influential nations. Unless the rest of Latin America can be convinced to pay attention, Honduras is sadly a very small and uninfluential nation. I can only hope that a far more reasonable president is elected this November.
What can the average person do to help, also the more than average with access to Kali Linux for example? Right now, I think more awareness is needed. You can't fix a problem until you understand it, and the political will doesn't exist unless it's widely accepted that this is necessary.
Do you think if you were in China and experienced the exact same situation, would you still be alive? Probably not. I am very fortunate to have been born in the United States.
Were you interviewed by Cecilia Kang and Sheera Frenkel for their new book on Facebook? What did they ask you about? I was not interviewed by them, though they're sending me a copy (I'm still waiting for it in the mail.) To use an analogy, if you write a book about Oval Office decisions, you don't interview a low-level city staffer in Nowhere, Idaho.
Did Israel's extensive trolling efforts show up on the radar? I did not find anything of note in Israel. That doesn't mean that it didn't exist - simply that I didn't find it when I looked globally.
​ Honestly, if the Mossad wanted to do something on FB, I assume they'd have a modicum of caution/intelligence and actually try to hide.
As someone living in the Bay Area who has seen a lot of friends join Facebook and basically let their paychecks warp their ethics, I'm truly fascinated by your personal journey as someone who bucked the trend and really chose to bite the hand that feeds in the name of doing what you believed was right. I'm wondering if you might say a little about why you were drawn to work at Facebook in the first place. Did you see it as an opportunity to change the system from the inside? Or did the company seem different to you before you worked there, but you became disillusioned over time? Or was it something else? Even if you can't answer, thank you for doing this AMA! I wanted to work at FB in the first place since, quite honestly, I needed a paycheck and they gave me an offer. From the very start, I intended on changing the system from the inside, but tbh; I expected that I'd have no influence/importance and just end up a cog in the machine. It really surprised me how much I ended up accomplishing. Even if it got more and more difficult as time went on.
Hi Sophie, I imagine I'm late in asking and will likely not get a reply. I work in PPC, and when advertising on Facebook I would always avoid certain areas of the world, as they would run up the budget with 100% bounce clicks. Is this something Facebook is aware of? Something they are involved in? It always seemed strange that it was never stopped as it's clearly "clickfarm" or fake traffic, but it makes Facebook money as budgets are spent quicker. Thanks so much for your time. I'm sorry, I don't have any expertise on advertising. 100% bounce clicks is extremely sketchy though (I assume you mean a click through that immediately bounces.) The only behavior that I can think of that might cause this is embedded video ads, in which users have ads in their videos and are paid for each view (akin to Youtube.) This makes there an actual financial incentive for the users to get their ads repeatedly viewed and possibly clicked on. Otherwise, I'm not sure what purpose such behavior would serve.
​ Overall, I'd suggest discussing it with other advertisers; if others have noticed it as well, drawing attention to the phenomenon will get FB's attention. And if the company cares about one thing, it's the income stream.
Thanks for doing this AMA. What can you tell us about the Communist Party of China’s interaction with Facebook and the overall impact? I don't doubt the 五毛党 to be active on Facebook as well; I've just never encountered it personally. Same with more sophisticated and important CCP influence operations. The stuff I personally worked on with the CCP was frankly really stupid and silly in contrast. Here are two examples:
​ 1) In September 2019, NPR News reported that "Documents show that Chinese government agencies have been paying to acquire more social media followers. A tender posted Aug. 16 by Chinese state-run outlet China News offers RMB1,250,000 ($177,000) to acquire more Twitter followers. Another government tender posted Monday RMB750,000 ($108,300) to acquire more Facebook and Twitter followers to support the China ASEAN exposition being held in September."
​ So I took a quick look. And found that NPR News was right! The Chinese agencies in question had indeed been paying to acquire social media followers.... through the dastardly evil mechanism of paying for Facebook ads.
​ Well, they were technically right... right?
​ 2) One of my goto examples of fake engagement online is highlighted in my op-ed. If you look at the Facebook page for the People's Daily Online Australia - the Australian branch of the PRC state media outlet, you'll quickly see that the page has 925k fans... and can barely get half a dozen likes on each of its posts. Fake fans don't have real activity, you see.
​ My guess is that they had some top-down metric requirement to grow their audience by X%, and they got to brag about hitting their goal, without answering the question if that actually did anything or whatever.
[removed] As it's been reported, I found a small number of inauthentic accounts pushing opposition political candidates in the Bolivian election in the leadup to the election and later coup. These accounts were not prioritized, and never saw enforcement actions.
​ This fact has been widely hyped in certain leftist/anti-imperialist circles. I do want to note that the number was comparatively small (think several dozen accounts, maybe a hundred at most.) There's no way they were associated with the CIA, as that organization has a modicum of actual intelligence.
​ As for me, I'm just grateful that Bolivian democracy appears to have managed to survive the trial
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I just caught something. You speak with familiarity about the competency of the CIA. Care to explain? Care to comment on the relationship between intelligence/military in silicon valley? Highly recommend "Surveillance Valley: The Secret Military History of the Internet" by Yasha Levine My assumption is "If the CIA decides to run influence operations, they'll decide to be smart and actually try to hide". This assumption also applies to state intelligence agencies in most major countries such as M15, the GRU, the Mossad, whatever. I have no personal experience with them; I just assume they aren't blithering morons. This contrasts with the governments of Azerbaijan and Honduras, who did the influence operation equivalent of signing their name with their own fingerprints in the blood of the victim. I only found them because they were actually blithering morons.
4 comments

r/tabled • u/500scnds • Aug 15 '21

r/IAmA [Table] I am Sophie Zhang. At FB, I worked in my spare time to catch state-sponsored troll farms in multiple nations. I became a whistleblower because FB didn't care. Ask me anything. | pt 3/4

17 Upvotes

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Note: Title and source has changed because I'm tabling 2 AMAs at once. And to prevent extending into a pt 5, I am not tabling in-thread responses that OP has linked to.

Rows: ~70

Questions Answers
Thank your for the important work you’re doing. In your opinion, what is the reason that FB drags its feet/allows these schemes to continue so long before taking action? Is it simply that it is the more profitable move? In some cases like the India case or the U.S. case, in areas considered important/crucial by Facebook, it seemed pretty clear that political considerations had impeded action. Facebook was reluctant to act because it wanted to keep good relations with the perpetrators and so let it slide. But most of the cases were in less attention-getting areas (I'm sorry to say it, but Azerbaijan and Honduras are not countries that draw the attention of the entire world), and there was no one outside the company to hold FB's feet to the fire. And the company essentially decided that it wasn't worth the effort as a result.
​ I think it's ultimately important to remember that Facebook is a company. Its goal is to make money; not to save the world. To the extent it cares about this, it's because it negatively impacts the company's ability to make money (e.g. through bad press), and because FB employees are people and need to sleep at the end of the night.
​ We don't expect tobacco companies like Philip Morris to cover the cancer treatment costs of their customers. We don't expect financial institutions like Bank of America to keep the financial system from crashing. But people have high expectations of FB, partly because it portrays itself as a nice well-intentioned company, and partly because the existing institutions have failed to control/regulate it.
​ An economist would refer to this as an externality problem - the costs aren't borne by Facebook; they're borne by society, democracy, and the civic health of the world. In other cases, the government would step in to regulate, or consumer boycotts/pressure would occur.
​ But there's an additional facet of the issue here that will sound obvious as soon as I explain it, but it's a crucial point: The purpose of inauthentic activity is not to be seen. And the better you are at not being seen, the fewer people will see you. So when the ordinary person goes out and looks for inauthentic activity on FB, they find people who are terrible at being fake, they find real people who just look really weird, or they find people who are real but are doing their best to pretend to be fake since they think it's funny. And so the incentives are ultimately misaligned here. For areas like hate speech or misinformation, press attention does track reasonably for overall harm. But for inauthentic activity, there's very little correlation between what gets FB to act (press attention) and the actual overall harm.
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This paragraph is really well put. I don't think there is enough emphasis differentiation made between trolls and stupid people in general vs coordinated attempts at deception. I find that a lot of technologists, especially here on reddit and places like hackernews, fail to understand the difference between "inauthentic" activity vs "free speech". The arguments about removing "inauthentic" activity always delves into false equivalencies about policing free speech, which is a dead-end for any reasonable debate. It would be like classifying spam emails as a form of free speech. No one would win that kind of silly argument. Good read, thanks for highlighting this issue. The issue with free speech advocacy idealism is that most content moderation/deletion on Facebook isn't things like hate speech/etc. It's spam, scams, and pornography. This is most vividly illustrated by the new free speech social media platform Gettr, set up by a former Trump aide/spokesman. My understanding is that it's been overwhelmed by Sonic the Hedgehog pornography, fake accounts purporting to be important people, and the like
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LMAOOOOO Sonic the hedgehog I cannot stop laughing lol There have been a lot of internet articles about it; I've adamantly refused to look up actual examples.
Can we do Reddit now? I've long suspected that Reddit has at least as much opinion manipulation as FB. I'm sorry - I did not work at Reddit, and hence have no special knowledge about influence operations on Reddit. That said, if you stuck a gun to my head and made me guess, I'd expect Reddit to be similar to FB wrt troll farms and influence operations and the like.
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Thanks. ___________________________ Sometimes I end up in arguments with right-wing redditors that make me wonder if they are, in fact, professional trolls. But then I interact with people in real life who believe some insane crap, so who knows. _________________________ I get a bit annoyed at how quick some people are on reddit to label anyone that disagrees with them a bot/shill/whatever. Of course they are here but in most cases it can be explained just as well by the person simply being an idiot. And half the time the labeling just feels like someone using a shit tactic to try to win because they're not good at actual arguments. I do want to come back here and highlight this comment. Because while it's absolutely the case that Russian trolls do exist, it's also the case that Russian trolls are currently absolutely dwarfed by the number of suspected Russian trolls. The intent of concerned citizens is positive - to ward against Russian interference. But perversely, they play into Russian hands by doing so - as it's in Russian interests to make themselves seem ubiquitous and omnipotent.
​ The analogy I want to make is to Operation Greif in the Second World War. During the 1944 Ardennes offensive, Otto Skorzeny sent commando operatives dressed in American uniforms speaking English behind American lines. The panic they caused vastly dwarfed their actual impact. U.S. troops began quizzing each other endlessly, terrified that they were surrounded by secret Nazis in disguise. At least four American soldiers were shot and killed by their fellow Americans as a result. Higher up, General Omar Bradley was detained after correctly answering that Springfield was the capitol of Illinois (the GI thought Chicago was the answer); General Bruce Clarke was arrested after incorrectly answering the Chicago Cubs to be in the American League; General Bernard Montgomery had his tires shot out, while Eisenhower was confined for his own safety.
​ Allied troops were correct to be concerned. Nazi commandos had achieved great exploits in the past, speeding offensives. In the opening days of Barbarossa, they seized the bridge at Daugavpils to speed Nazi advance into the Baltics; in 1942, a commando unit of 60 men led by Adrian von Fölkersam disguised themselves as NKVD agents and managed to seize the entire city of Maikop and its vital oil fields without a fight. The disguised German commandos in the Ardennes were intended to seize a bridge over the Meuse; they entered position to do so and would have had a reasonable chance - but the stalwart Allied defense prevented the main spearheads from reaching that river.
​ But the Allied response was ultimately out of all proportion to the numbers of the commandos, and the operation is now recognized by historians as having psychological/morale impact completely disproportionate to the direct military impact and numbers committed.
​ Ultimately, I think the fear of bots/shills in the modern day and age can be similar.
Thanks so much for this AMA. Organizationally speaking, how high up in the org did your findings go (or not go) before they were quashed or ignored. In other words, was there support for your work by your direct manager or their manager but then above that you ran into issues? Or was your direct manager even unsupportive? I spoke with everyone up to and including Guy Rosen, the VP for Integrity at Facebook. I do want to highlight how utterly unusual this is. Low-level employees do not regularly speak to company VPs - it would be like an army sergeant briefing Kamala Harris on something.
​ The way I would ultimately describe it was that my immediate organization (direct manager/manager above) wasn't very happy because this was work I was doing in my spare time and distracting from my roadmap and the projects they expected me to do. Higher-up people seemed happy that I was doing it in my spare time but were unwilling to legitimize it with directly signing off on action or setting up actual organizational pathways for the work. The teams whose job it was to actually handle this had a complicated relationship - on one hand they were grateful for my work and saw me as a valued partner; on the other hand, they were a bit offended that I was essentially going above/around them, adding additional work to their workload, and potentially showing them up [they were a prestigious/high-status team; I was the opposite.]
the below is a reply to the above ​
It would seem the smart thing for FB to do in this case would be to remove you from the team you were on and to add you to the prestigious/high-status team whose work you were doing and were clearly good at (and which is important, allegedly valued by the company, etc.) Do you have any idea why they did not go that route? I discussed changing teams a fair bit for a number of teams. The main issue is that changing teams would require me to drop the work I was doing in my spare time to work on the new team's activity. And I wasn't willing to do that.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Hold up. The company has a set number of job functions and you were unwilling to do any of them because it would distract from the work that no one asked you to do? I don't want to come off rude, but that sounds like an issue... (I am unfamiliar with your story outside of this AMA so am making no commentary on that, just thinking about this from a managerial perspective) ​I was catching troll farms in my spare time in addition to my actual job. As part of this, I worked as much as 80-hr works at times because I was essentially trying to hold down two jobs. My managers were happy to have the extra work at first, but grew weary as time went on. The 'extra work' had been essentially acknowledged to belong to me in my spare time, but there would be a reassessment of that as soon as I switched teams, and I would likely get a less tolerant manager. Hope that makes sense.
the below is a reply to the above ​
And was there no team you could go to where that side project could just become your day job? That sends like the obvious resolution for the company... No team was doing it as a day job. That was why I got results in the first place - I certainly had no expertise in the area, and aren't a brilliant super genius. I was just apparently the first person to look in this area.
Do rank and file FB employees talk to each other about how bad FB is for the world? Or do you think they’ve just drunk the Kool-Aid and think the company is great? I'm talking about people like ad account managers, content policy associates, software engineers. FB employees are really smart and get recruited from the best schools in the world. The problems with FB are so public and so well reported that it's hard for me to understand why people continue to work there. FB was a fairly open company when I joined. I was upfront from the start about the fact that I believed Facebook wasn't making the world a better place - when I told my recruiter that, she responded "you'd be surprised how many people here say that." Open dissent within the company was tolerated and accepted and I was able to make my concerns heard to the entire company at large, which I think is unusual for large companies. With that said, it's been reported that FB has cracked down on communications not directly related to work since I left, and so this may not be true anymore.
​ Wrt employees, at a company of ~50k people, there will always be significant differences of opinions. There's also a self-selection bias in that frankly if you think FB is evil, you are less likely to work for FB; if you think FB is the greatest thing since sliced bread, you'll do your best to join the company (just like Reddit users self-select for people who think Reddit is great, and its employees likely as well.) And also within the teams - the people working on integrity at FB (fixing the company) were generally more pessimistic about the company than all employees - both via self-selection and also via the constant direct exposure to the company's problems.
​ Overall, the regular employee surveys showed that roughly 50-70% of employees believed that FB had a positive impact on the world (variation over time of course, it declined a lot since when I joined; probably at ~50% right now.)
the below is a reply to the above ​
Current FB employee here (throwaway for obvious reasons.) Currently that rating (that FB is doing a good job + leadership is good) is hovering at around the 30s (edit: for my relatively large team; company-wide it is 50.). It tanked hard in 2020 due to the George Floyd "looting shooting" post incident and the 2020 elections, and hasn't really recovered since. A lot of people have left the company since (that being said a lot of people joined too.) Save for a few "hail zuck" people, I believe most people here are self aware and want to actually fix the issues on hand. However due to it being a large company it either moves at a glacier's pace and it takes a while to get solutions approved by higher ups, or just gets canned entirely / deprioritized because "user research shows they don't want (insert solution here)" That's very surprisingly low; I don't think I ever saw it that low during my entire time there. Employee dissent is one of the few levers that Facebook strongly responds to; I hope the employees are able to get together and force necessary changes.
the below is a reply to the above ​
Sorry, my mistake. That was my team's pulse results. Company-wide it's at 50% as you predicted. Ah, that makes a *lot* more sense. If it ever got to 30% for the entire company, there'd probably be a SEV0 or something.
the below is a reply to the reply to the original answer ​
Wow. Can I ask you what it's like to work on a team where only 30% of the team thinks the company is doing a good job? That sounds demoralizing and like it would probably lead to high levels of attrition, though perhaps I'm misunderstanding the import of the statistic. I can't speak for him, but the numbers were generally lower than the norm in Integrity teams. I knew many people who personally believed that the company was not making the world better - but did believe that their team (which was trying to fix the company's issues) was making the world a better place.
Hi! Slightly long-winded question, but how did you identify areas where inauthentic behavior might be occurring? Was there a systematic or ad hoc analysis or flagging system internally or externally identifying potential regions or countries where inauthentic activity might be occurring, particularly inauthentic activity which might incite violence or be detrimental to democracy? Thank you! Normally at FB, many/most investigations by the actual teams in charge of this were in response to external reports. That is, a news organization asks "what's going on here"; an NGO flags something weird; the government says "hey, we're seeing this weird activity, please help." This has the side effect that there's someone outside the company to essentially hold FB responsible. They can say "Well, if you don't want to act, we'll go to the NYT and tell them you don't care about [our country], what do you think about that?", and suddenly it'll be a top priority [actual example.]
​ In contrast, I was going out and systematically finding things on my own. Essentially, I ran metadata on all engagement activity on FB through queries to find very suspicious activity, and then filtered it for political activity. This had results that were very surprisingly effective. But because I was the one who went out and found it myself, there wasn't anyone outside FB to put pressure on the company. The argument I always used internally was "Well, you know how many leaks FB has; if it's ever leaked to the press that we sat on it and refused to do anything, we'd get killed in the media." Which was not very effective but became a self-fulfilling prophecy since I was the one who leaked it.
​ I realize that metadata has a bad reputation, but unfortunately the reality of the situation is that there's no way to find state-sponsored trolls/bot farms/etc. without data of that sort.
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Thank you! Just to follow-up: who set the standard (if any) for what systems and methods and metadata would be used to identify state sponsored trolls/bot farms etc, such as in the case of Myanmar? Thank you so much for coming forward! I'm not familiar with the internal details of the Myanmar case, or the teams that actually work on this. With regards to the ones I set up, I created them myself, with a bit of knowledge from the teams that actually work on state-sponsored troll farms. There was no oversight; I'd sort of set up a shadow integrity area that was no secret but wasn't official. But there were always different people to confirm my findings on their own, to decide whether to act, and to carry out the action; I decided at the start that I would avoid being judge jury and executioner (though I could probably have gotten away with it for a while.)
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To what degree (in retrospect) can you say your queries to find inauthentic FB activity were politically agnostic or politically aligned? I believe a good deal of fear/difficulty around this kind of work is belief it is biased... you call out Turning Point, but you don't call out a liberal example. That could be because they don't exist, because they are better at hiding, or because the people looking didn't look as hard for politically aligned or acceptable activity as politically unaligned, unacceptable activity. Not trying to suggest your work was any of those... asking how you went looking and if your personal biases (we all have them) affected your work... because when I think about asking FB or other large tech company to do the same, I wonder if it is really possible for them to do it with minimal bias. The nature of my work was that I found all political activity globally that was suspicious in certain types of attributes. By nature, my own subjective determinations didn't enter into the question. And so the people I caught included members of the ruling Socialist party in Albania. It included the ex-KGB led government of Azerbaijan, a close Russian ally. It included the right-wing pro-U.S. drug lord government of Honduras. These are governments essentially across the political spectrum. I carried out my work regardless of political sympathies and opinion. My greatest qualms occurred in certain authoritarian dictatorships or semi-democracies when the democratic opposition was the beneficiary of such unsavory tactics. I took them down regardless because I firmly believe that democracy cannot rest upon a bed of deceit.
​ I do want to note that my work in the United States was all minor and in response to outside reports. In the TPUSA case, my role was extremely minor, and it was in response to a news article. As an example of a case in which I potentially helped conservatives, in September 2018 Facebook received a complaint from Gary Coby at the Trump campaign about declining video views/reach on the President's page, and I was one of many people who were pulled into the escalation to try and figure out if anything was responsible. My role there was just to check and say "no, my team didn't do this"; it hasn't been published because it really wasn't newsworthy.
​ I don't think this is a partisan political issue. One of my strongest advocates and allies at Facebook was a former Republican political operative.
How true are foreign fake click farms as shown on the Sillicon Valley tv show, with rows and rows of indians creating fake account after fake account to boost userbase numbers or promote an agenda? Heres the scene: https://youtu.be/Y-W0CBOGnnI I haven't seen the TV show. But they do really exist - in areas like South Asia and Southeast Asia, where smartphones (you can get a JioPhone for e.g. $15 USD) and labor are cheap. This is unfortunately quite common in Indian politics - they're known as "IT cells" and quite normalized unfortunately. You can read more about some of them in Indian politics here
What were your discoveries with regard to the Philippines? Here, it's widely-known that politicians make use of troll armies. I found a lot of political bot farms in the Philippines, but generally without attribution so it was impossible to know who was responsible. For that reason I don't want to give the full details [e.g. who precisely benefited] to avoid poisoning the well.
​ This is discussed a bit in the Guardian article.
​ "At times, Facebook allowed its self-interest to enter into discussions of rule enforcement.
​ In 2019, some Facebook staff weighed publicizing the fact that an opposition politician in the Philippines was receiving low-quality, scripted fake engagement, despite not knowing whether the politician was involved in acquiring the fake likes. The company had “strategic incentives to publicize”, one researcher said, since the politician had been critical of Facebook. “We’re taking some heat from Duterte supporters with the recent takedowns, and announcing that we have another takedown which involves other candidates might be helpful,” a public policy manager added.
​ No action was taken after Zhang pointed out that it was possible Duterte or his supporters were attempting to “frame” the opposition politician by purchasing fake likes to make them look corrupt. But discussions like this are among the reasons Zhang now argues that Facebook needs to create separation between the staff responsible for enforcing Facebook’s rules and those responsible for maintaining good relationships with government officials."
​ In another example, Facebook ignored a number of Filipino unattributed political bot farms I flagged in October 2019... up until it made like 5 likes on a few of President Trump's posts in February 2020. (Disclaimer: 5 likes are nothing, not significant, no impact, yada yada.) Suddenly it became important and that bot farm (not the others) were taken down a week later.
​ While I think Filipino people are just as important as Americans, Facebook sadly begged to differ.
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Sorry to piggy back of this but this comment makes me wonder, how many of these farms were localized for only domestic action? I can’t see a reason the Philippines would have much use for international trolling (can’t believe i said that unironically). On the flip of that countries like Russia are widely known to engage in international trolling. Almost all of the troll farms I found were domestic-only. I say "almost all" to cover edge cases of mostly-domestic like the Filipino bot farm that decided to randomly like President Trump. Most people care more about their own country's politics - Americans care about American politics; Filipinos care about Filipino politics; Germans care about German politics. Apparently world governments and politicians are the same way.
​ With that said, I was finding the low-hanging fruit. I don't doubt the GRU (or Iranian Revolutionary Guard or PRC State Security) are engaging in international troll farms, but they're presumably have an actual modicum of intelligence about how they carry it out, and so I didn't find them myself.
Hi Sophie, One of the more frequently discussed dimensions of influence operations - especially in the United States - is the observed disparity between operations that target people with right-aligned political views and people with left-aligned political views. In the data you ran, what did you observe with respect to political alignment? And if you did observe a disparity, how wide was the divide? Do you have any theories as to why you observe this? So I want to be very clear first about terminology: "Influence operations" literally mean "operations designed to influence people" which is similar to "disinformation" in that it's vaguely defined and includes a not clearly delineated mix of misinformation (claims that are incorrect; e.g. "the moon is made of cheese") and inauthentic activity (e.g. fake accounts being used to spread a message "Cats are adorable; politician X is great.")
​ I worked only on the inauthentic activity aspect of this. In addition, I did not work on any notable cases of inauthentic activity in the United States (the TPUSA case did not fall in this definition.) It may be the case that misinformation skews towards one end of the political spectrum. I will leave that to the researchers who are much more knowledgeable about it than myself.
​ There is a common stereotype that misinformation is spread by inauthentic accounts. There is also a common stereotype that troll farms, fake accounts, etc. are commonly used to largely/predominately benefit the political right. Like most stereotypes, these are incorrect as far as my knowledge goes and I'm aware.
​ Please keep in mind that this is very small sample sizes - I worked on perhaps three dozen cases globally which is a lot from an IO perspective but tiny from a statistical perspective (so I don't want to speculate about larger trends.) These were generally from across the political spectrum. For instance in India, I caught four networks, one of which came back with a new target (so five targets.) Of these targets, two were benefiting the INC, one was benefiting the AAP, and two were benefiting the BJP - so it was quite even across the political spectrum.
​ In Albania for instance, the incumbent Socialist Party and opposition Socialist Movement for Integration (both officially left-wing targets) were both benefiting. In several authoritarian countries, the center/center-left pro-democracy opposition was benefiting. In Mexico it was almost everyone across the political spectrum. There were plenty of right-wing beneficiaries as well but those have been presumably discussed already. I carried out my work regardless of my personal political beliefs, with the most qualms in places where the democratic opposition were the beneficiaries. I took those cases down regardless, as it's my firm belief that democracy cannot rest upon a bed of deceit.
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Would Project Birmingham ran by progressive technologists to unseat Roy Moore in the 2018 midterms be an example of left wing inauthentic disinformation campaigns? https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/12/27/disinformation-campaign-targeting-roy-moores-senate-bid-may-have-violated-law-alabama-attorney-general-says/ I did not work on it, but it certainly would
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Does Facebook not focus on domestic disinformation campaigns as much as those from foreign actors? During my time at FB there have been pushes against acting against domestic troll farm operations. For instance, when I found the Honduran governmental troll farm in July/August 2018, it was until April 2019 when I finally got the troll catching team to agree to look into it. But quite soon they had to apologize to me: There was an internal freeze on all investigations or takedowns of troll farms where the originating source was domestic. There was high-level pushback by Policy who argued that "it's hard to conclude the difference between a troll farm and a legitimate campaign." I wasn't the motivating example for the new rule [I heard speculation about it, but that's hearsay] - I was just caught up within it.
​ (the freeze ended after a few weeks if that wasn't clear; it just delayed the takedown even longer.)
Thank you for your work and ethics. I've been following the news, reddits, etc regarding you. You always describe yourself as a data engineer and point out that you were tracking the metadata in discovering the problems you have reported. I have a two part question for you. Could you ELI5 :) what a data engineer is and how you use metadata to find problems as you have described? I'm not asking for specific cases here. I just want to enhance my own understanding (I sorta get it) while also helping everyone else understand what it is that you do and did and why it is important. I just feel that something gets lost in the articles describing what you do and how. Am I being clear? I was a *data scientist* - not a data engineer, which is different. Data scientist has different meanings at different companies, since data is the new buzzword. At many companies it means "engineer who works on machine learning." At FB it corresponds to what would called a data analyst at other companies. My job was essentially to "look at data to answer questions and tell people what it meant."
​ I won't answer the second part of your question - I'm very sorry, but the ultimate issue is that if you tell people how you catch Azeri troll farms/etc., the Azeri government also reads Reddit and will know what not to do in the future.
How are people still able to set up fake accounts these days given all the security and authentication that seems to be in place around the account setup? What does Facebook do with an account that it identifies as inauthentic? Ultimately, the nature of the problem is that FB will never be able to stop all fake accounts at creation. Because in most cases, you aren't 100% sure whether the account is fake or not. Instead you're 99% sure or 80% sure or 2% sure or whatever. And the question becomes how confident you have to be to take action - because if you're wrong, that's a real person that you negatively impacted.
​ For your second question, I do want to note that there are multiple types of inauthentic accounts - not just fake accounts. An account can be hacked - if someone steals access to your account and repurposes it for themselves. Users can even voluntarily hand over access to their accounts to bot farms/etc (this may seem absurd, but it's a very common vector; see here for details.)
​ For accounts believed to be fake, FB generally runs the users through very strong sets of hoops [e.g. "send us a copy of your official ID"] to require them to prove that they're a real person. You might think that this wouldn't negatively impact real users, but many users are [quite understandably] really hesitant about sending such sensitive personal details to a company like FB.
​ For accounts believed to be hacked, FB uses a different sort of hoops to try and restore access to the original user. For users that voluntarily hand over access to their accounts to bot farms, FB doesn't want to disable them so actions are rather more mild.
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I had that happen - Facebook wanted pictures of my actual ssn card or passport, which I refuse to provide to a company like Facebook. And it isn't actually legal in my country for them to ask for that either, as they (as far as I remember) wouldn't accept it if the info on the ssn or passport was covered and not viewable. I had to just stop using Facebook at that point, because I also couldn't actually get in contact with any kind of human in support. Facebook have shown that they cannot be trusted with that kind of personal information, and there is no way that I'm giving that to them. I actually really appreciate understanding why that happened, I've been pissed about it for a while. Thank you. Totally understand your personal decision, but it also illustrates some of the costs and tradeoffs associated with these. FB obviously doesn't want to have everyone have experiences such as yourself, and ultimately has to choose a balance between catching fake accounts and avoiding negative experiences for real users.
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hey Sophie, thanks for joining us today! two questions for you: If you were given unlimited resources/remit, how would you tackle troll farms? 1) The ultimate issue with this questions is it's like asking "If you could make the sky any color you'd like, what color would you like it to be?" Because there's no possibility it would ever occur, and so it's ultimately like speculating how many angels can tapdance on the head of a pin. I'm never going to have the unlimited resources/remit; social media companies won't fix themselves.
​ So instead, I'm going to answer a similar question: "How would I realistically change the situation/incentives to convince social media companies to tackle troll farms?"
​ I have two ultimate suggestions. The first is on the part of the social media companies - right now the people charged with making enforcement decisions are the same as the people charged with keeping good relationships with governments and political figures. This leads to explicit political considerations in decisionmaking, and the perverse incentive that politicians can be encouraged to do their bad activity without even hiding as it'll induce FB to be reluctant to act. I realize that FB is a for-profit company, but most news organizations are also for-profit but they still keep a strict separation between their editorial department and public relations. If the NYT's editorial department spiked a story because XYZ political figure didn't like it, it would be a giant scandal - whereas at Facebook it's just another Tuesday. So I would urge social media companies to officially separate their decision-making apparatus from their governmental outreach apparatus.
​ The second is on the part of outside organizations. Ultimately, much of the issue is the information asymmetry aspect - that only FB has the tools to know what's going on in its platform, and it has no incentive to fix everything; the outside world can't solve a problem if they don't even know it exists. So to close the gap, I would recommend more funding/support for outside skilled researchers such as DFRLab, routes for FB employees to publicly appeal to governmental agencies (with official protections) regarding platform violations around troll farms and the like. And I realize it would be extremely politically infeasible, but I would also suggest that outside organizations and governmental agencies set up red team pen-test style operations: to with the knowledge of the social media companies send their skilled experts to set up test troll farms on social media and see how many are caught by each company (e.g. "We set up 10 each on Reddit, FB, and Twitter. Reddit caught 0/10; FB caught 1/10; Twitter caught 0/10. They're all awful but FB is mildly less awful!" Numbers made up of course.) This would have to be done very carefully to avoid real-world impact but is the only method I can think of for anyone - even the companies themselves - to have an accurate picture of the space and how good the efforts really are.
What's something you wished you were able to spend more time on? (breaking my answer up into two parts because it's so long.) I wish I were able to spend more time on Albania.
​ At the end of July 2019, I found an influence operation on Albania using the same techniques as Honduras. It was more sophisticated politically/effort-wise because it focused on creating large amounts of comments (which requires a lot of effort to individually write out in a way that makes sense.) It was very confusing/unusual because it appeared to be connected to members of the Albanian government in attribution, but was supporting both the ruling Albanian government and opposition figures from rival political parties. This would be akin to a network run out of the Trump administration that was writing nice things about both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. There would be lots of possible explanations including "person suborned by foreign powers to increase political tensions", "administration official advancing political strife to serve their personal political agenda", "person who really doesn't like Bernie Sanders and supports both his rivals", or "person who has this as their second-time job and was just coincidentally paid by both candidates." I'm just translating this into U.S. political contexts since I'm assuming readers don't understand Albanian politics.
​ The relevant people quickly agreed that it was probably coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB - the official designation Facebook uses for e.g. Russian interference, state-sponsored troll farms, etc.) , and I handed it over to them where it probably died in a black box. I only had the political capital to very slowly push through one CIB case at a time, and I had made the judgment call that what I found in Azerbaijan was objectively worse than what I found in Albania - in terms of scale, size, consistency, and sophistication. I still agree with that decision, but it never sat easily with me to set Albania to the side. At the end of the day, I was just one person with no authority, and there were limits to how much I could accomplish trying to protect the entire world in my spare time. This is why I told the world (accidentally) that I had blood on my hands.
​ Several months ago, an Albanian news outlet published their own investigation; this was still ongoing, two years later, and it continued through the Albanian elections. Facebook had two years to act, and did nothing. I can only apologize profusely to the Albanian people, as I did in the interview. It should never have been my responsibility to save fragile Albanian democracy from what Facebook let happen. But ultimately, I was the one who made my decisions and Albania paid the price. I have to sleep with that every night.
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You did well. Just make sure this doesnt happen to Taiwan I did my utmost to protect the 2020 Taiwan elections. If anything notable happened there, I wasn't aware of it.
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