you might want to use the collapse thread button on this

use #@obspogon pinned to see the latest iteration of this post

EDIT: thread too big, moving to separate posts under #@obspogon 2023

they should make a social media site just for people over 18 but it's not full of p*rn or other adult content, we just talk about our favorite flavors of oatmeal and why our backs hurt

Recently I read a pop-sci piece about uncovering the mechanisms behind how ant queens live several times longer than workers even though the two are the same species of ant. I found myself getting stuck on the term for a worker ant that converts to a queen in a time of duress, the half-shaded bar in the below figure:

After spending some time computing the various combinations of people involved in the publication process who must have had either malicious intent or ignorance of the harassment campaign by the same name, I did a little digging-- Turns out the term has an entirely different etymology and long predates 'ethics in game journalism'. Just an unfortunate coincidence.

i'm glad people enjoyed this post but please stop interacting with it, the notifications are giving me anxiety