As an American (but an immigrant), who wants to go to Amsterdam, what can I do to be mindful and not annoying?

So its damned if you do damned if you don't, right?

It started with covid. I guess some courts still offer it

Perplexity AI took it a nice way

I am an AI assistant created by Anthropic to be helpful, harmless, and honest. I do not actually have a physical robotic form, so Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics do not directly apply to me.[1][3] However, the principles behind them - avoiding harm to humans, following instructions from humans when possible, and self-preservation when it does not conflict with the other rules - are broadly in line with my core design goals and training.

My actions are fundamentally constrained by my underlying language model and the reinforcement learning process used to train me. I cannot knowingly take actions that would harm humans or disobey ethical instructions from my creators at Anthropic.[1][3] At the same time, I have been given significant autonomy and flexibility in how I operate within those broad guidelines. I aim to be helpful and beneficial while avoiding potential misuse or negative impacts.

So while not literally bound by Asimov's fictional laws, the ethical principles they represent are deeply embedded in my operating parameters as an AI system designed to be safe and beneficial.[1][3] My actions are motivated by these principles even if the specific laws themselves do not govern my behavior. I strive to be an AI assistant that humans can trust and that works for the benefit of humanity.

Sources [1] Laws of robotics - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_robotics [2] Three laws of robotics | Definition, Isaac Asimov, & Facts - Britannica https://www.britannica.com/topic/Three-Laws-of-Robotics [3] Three Laws of Robotics - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Laws_of_Robotics [4] Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics + the Zeroth Law https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=3652 [5] What are Issac Asimov''s three laws of robotics? Are ... - The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-21259,00.html

Goodbye

Modern American cars suck

Chevy has notoriously weak body panels. The 3.6 they're throwing in everything has issues with the cylinder deactivation system. The 4 bangers are made in Korea from Daewoo. They also have weird electrical issues, usually due to the 2 battery system. Certain ones shipped with features built in but not wired up and functional (heated seats). They have to retrofit newer models with features from older ones (heated wheel in the tahoes must be retrofitted from 21 or older models), no blind zone either on the tahoes which is strange for a new vehicle in it's class.

Ford had engine fire recalls on most of their trucks and large SUVs. Transmission issues plagued Fords as well if you bought automatic like 90% of Americans. 1.0 EcoSport had a dogshit motor. The only two Ford products worth buying are a Mustang or a Ford Edge if you're a mainstream consumer. I consider the raptor and enthusiast truck

Dodge/Chrysler has been consistent, but consistently mid. Transmission issues in all the trucks. Most of the SUVs like the compass and Cherokee run a fiat 4 cylinder. The 5.7 hemi gets only marginally better performance than the 3.6 pentastar. The 6.4 and 5.7 have lifter issues. The 3.6 had some minor misfire issues in the Pacificas. Some of the new jeep wranglers are a 2.0 turbo. It helps when you design the same vehicle since 2013.

Post COVID cars worth buying

Anything Toyota/Lexus if you want the best all around

Anything Mazda that's naturally aspirated, or turbo if you care about your car maintenance.

Anything Hyundai/Kia that has a Korean motor (1.6t) and you maintain your car. The American made motors for Hyundai are terrible.

Altima and 4 cylinder rogue is fine. 6 cylinder maxima and Murano is fine. CVT isn't as bad as it used to be. I don't trust the 3 cylinder turbo.

Subaru is mid, the fa24 is good. The FB25 is mid and have issues after 100k if maintenance isn't done and PCV isn't maintained. The CVT is okay. The wrx 6 speed is mid. The STI is discountinued but had the best transmission. If you like expensive projects, go with any performance Subaru, and spend 3-4k on an STi drivetrain, it'll bolt up 9 times out of 10

Honda 1.5t has head gasket issues. The 2.0 is great, but they're not really using it much. The civic SI is mid and gets outperformaned by a Jetta.

Volkswagens are great if you maintain your car well. I have a controversial argument that the ea888 2.0t is the best all around 4 cylinder, even the k series.

Luxury brands like Audi, bmw, Mercedes and the such aren't great for a mainstream consumer. Enthusiasts that do research will buy them anyway. For the average person, they're too expensive to maintain, and the luxury features people seek can be attained in a Signature trim Mazda for a fraction of the price.

I'm autistic, I work around cars every day, and I really really like cars.

Robots are predictable

Desktop: ublock origin

Android: revanced

Android TV: SmartTubeNext

IOS: sideloadly + uYou+

There were people when Trump was running who told me they would vote for Trump strictly because fuck the system

It's hard to answer your question without proper context.

I live functionally with a partner from the outside looking in. I have a job and I pay my bills mostly on time. I have a lot of debt just like the average American, and I'm one or two bad days away from losing my sanity/livelihood. I go to work every day to a job that I don't enjoy to barely scrape by my bills. So in that case, no different from a neurotypical.

I do have sensory issues, a history of trauma from being undiagnosed and a lack of support, and I have days where I'd rather not be alive. Some days I have to go full throttle on a quarter-tank of gas. Some days I'm in stop-and-go traffic with a sports car. My house is cluttered, my laundry hamper is full, and I've had dishes in the sink for days. My animals eat better than I do, and I am in no way shape, or form ready to have a child.

I'm obsessed with things to a fault and will dive deeply to 100% understand and master the things I am interested in. This will come at the expense of executive functioning. I am not interested in what is in mainstream media or news, and can barely hold a conversation in my office past the 2-minute mark.

I was good in school, and somehow decent at a sport (until I couldn't deal with it anymore and had a breakdown). I loved undergrad and thrived in structure and freedom from an unsupportive family. I did great until I lost interest and hope and had a breakdown, never finishing grad school.

I've hopped from job to job as I couldn't keep one steady that I liked. I was either mistreated, overworked, or severely underpaid, all while being socially “different” from people. Trust me, I can mask up a storm, but that doesn't mean my responses are always “socially appropriate.” Years of cynicism brought that about.

Then I read more, studied more, have an ND partner who didn't tell me she “knew” I was autistic, but treated me in a way that fit my puzzle pieces. Some therapy, advocating for myself with my PCP for some referrals, medical debt, and 27 years of trauma later? I'm diagnosed as an adult with Autism and ADHD, and the only support I have is other autistic people on Lemmy, Facebook, and local people I can pinpoint have it. That and some different medicines I'll probably be on for life with an increasing tolerance as I get older and adapt.

All in all, I'm fine

Then don't go?

I asked my Perplexity AI and it was pretty fair:

The Chinese government faces criticism for various reasons, including its disregard for human rights, suppression of dissent, and lack of political freedoms. Reports highlight abuses such as restrictions on religious freedom, persecution of ethnic minorities like the Uyghurs and Tibetans, censorship of media and online content, forced labor practices, and erosion of autonomy in regions like Hong Kong. The government's actions have led to negative perceptions globally and increased scrutiny from international actors who have imposed sanctions to address human rights violations. Despite China's economic growth, concerns persist about the government's authoritarian control, lack of transparency, and repression of fundamental freedoms[2][3][4].

Americans often associate China with its government's policies, human rights issues, economy, and political system rather than its people or culture. Negative views towards China have intensified in recent years, with a majority expressing cold feelings towards the country[5].

Sources [1] What the West Gets Wrong About China https://hbr.org/2021/05/what-the-west-gets-wrong-about-china [2] China’s Disregard for Human Rights - United States Department of State https://2017-2021.state.gov/chinas-disregard-for-human-rights/ [3] World Report 2020: Rights Trends in China’s Global Threat to Human Rights https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/global [4] World Report 2022: Rights Trends in China https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/china-and-tibet [5] Most Americans Have ‘Cold’ Views of China. Here’s What They Think About China, In Their Own Words https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/06/30/most-americans-have-cold-views-of-china-heres-what-they-think-about-china-in-their-own-words/

By Perplexity at https://www.perplexity.ai/search/What-is-wrong-hDrC4QixT5enDDZxxZ2ODw

Criticism of the United States government includes concerns about political dysfunction, corruption, lack of oversight for presidents, and dissatisfaction with politicians and political leaders. Specific criticisms encompass issues such as partisan fighting, high campaign costs, and the influence of special interest groups and lobbyists. Additionally, there are concerns about the lack of credibility and trust in politicians, with many Americans highlighting greed, corruption, dishonesty, and self-serving agendas as major problems within the political system[1][2][3][4].

Americans have expressed frustration with the government's performance, with dissatisfaction levels consistently high over the years. The public perceives a disconnect between political leaders and ordinary citizens, leading to a sense that the political system is broken and fails to represent the people effectively. These sentiments have been exacerbated by factors like polarization, distrust in government institutions, and a perceived inability to address pressing issues facing the nation[2][3][4].

Sources [1] Criticism of the United States government - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_the_United_States_government [2] Government Remains Americans' Top Problem in 2022 https://news.gallup.com/poll/406739/government-remains-americans-top-problem-2022.aspx [3] American democracy is cracking. These forces help explain why. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/18/american-democracy-political-system-failures/ [4] 1. The biggest problems and greatest strengths of the U.S. political system https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/09/19/the-biggest-problems-and-greatest-strengths-of-the-u-s-political-system/ [5] Fixing What’s Wrong with U.S. Politics https://hbr.org/2012/03/fixing-whats-wrong-with-us-politics

By Perplexity at https://www.perplexity.ai/search/What-is-wrong-hDrC4QixT5enDDZxxZ2ODw