Ask Lemmy

Go has been changed a lot by technology, mostly for the better. The ability to review every game you play with AI, for free, is an invaluable resource, and we've also learned a lot about the game from AI.

But, there are also several limitations that it's important to be mindful of. The AI likes to play on the razor's edge because it can read well enough to know exactly when it's actually in danger. A human player trying to emulate that style will often just get themselves killed. Human teachers can still be more useful, despite being weaker, because they can better identify trends in a person's thought process and explain the "why" behind a move, communicating the general principles that we as humans need to rely on because we aren't computers and can't read out every variation every time. Sometimes people get too obsessed with trying to play the "top engine move," and it can blow up in their faces.

I was at a go event a couple years ago where a professional from overseas was reviewing people's games, and somebody got in an argument over a move because the pro criticized his move, but the player said the AI backed him up. I can kinda understand both sides of that. On the one hand, if the AI says something, it's not wrong. But on the other hand, I think it's important to consider multiple perspectives and incorporate them into your play, and you'll always be able to put things into the AI, so I think there's something to be said for biting your tongue and just letting the pro give their perspective with the limited time you have them for. I guess I've never been one to be afraid of telling stronger players when I think they're wrong, but it feels kind of disrespectful to me to pull AI on a visiting pro.

I guess one part of the game I find appealing and beautiful is that there's so many ways to play it, and your moves can serve as an expression of your personality. Introducing this sort of objective lens can get in the way of developing your style and making your own judgements. On the other hand, getting feedback that tells you when your judgement is way off can help your refine your instincts going forward. It's just that it's important to understand why the AI is saying something, and to understand that a minor percent loss can be worth it to push the game in a direction that's easier for you to play. It's a complicated subject, all-in-all.

It hasn't for me really because most of my hobbies are still done more or less the way they always have been lol I cross stitch and build models and the whole point of those is that they're handmade. I collect vinyl records which hasn't really changed much except that they're more expensive now. I play guitar which technology has mostly helped more than hinder... The only thing I can think of is that a lot of the modern assembly line cheap guitars aren't really built all that well anymore, especially considering the price you pay for them, but even that has gotten a lot better in the last decade

gaming, so much better. more people can create games with more types of games.

The ability to model things in 3D let modelers add way too many details on miniatures, making them fragile and hard to paint

When it comes to crafting, it's been great. So many free resources and videos. When I was little I pretty much only knew purl and knit and shyed away from more advanced patterns. I taught myself and if I couldn't figure it out, I just couldn't do that pattern. Now I can get even the most difficult pattern and have someone walk me through it, either via forums, if not a knit-a-long. Almost every stitch has a video tutorial. So many free patterns. So many stitches. And even the paid patterns are so creative now. Yes, there are classics, but do you want a mermaid blanket? A Cthulhu hat? Wanna make your cat a custom sweater? It's just a search away. You can even get specific. I joined a discord for goth stitchers. I don't talk, but seeing the patterns and resources specifically in that niche has been great.

I general, if you want to learn how to do something, there's a tutorial for it. I've fixed my toilet, done minor car maintenance, and a lot of things that I usually think I'm just too dumb to figure out. But there's almost always someone on the internet willing to walk you through it. I sewed my first (very basic and poorly done) garment this weekend. I have always wanted to learn how to sew, and, with a second hand machine and YouTube, I took the first step. I love how easy it is to access information. I love getting lost in the rabbit hole of this new information or that new hobby. I recently asked someone how they knew the history of Vermont curry on a lemmy post. I love that shit. I loved that someone looked it up because they just wanted to know, I like that know I just know a little something extra.