A stretch, yes. But it’s an interesting model for understanding what communication is. By telling you this, I am manipulating you into understanding my point of view and hopefully getting you to agree with me.

It’s important to note that not all manipulation is negative. I should hope parents manipulate their children into being aware of safety.

Even chit-chat could be seen as manipulating each other into “being social” but even I would say that’s a long shot.

The Dutch system does have fractional representation and multi-party coalition governments, and still the far-right is on the rise.

This is a complex situation, not simply fixed with a magic bullet of voting reform.

You’d think that euronews, a European news org, would know the difference.

Nothing about Lapland in this article 🤷

I agree, but this billionaire can do what few communities can: invest in scale.

Overall I still think this is good news.

Very well thought out! Coming at this question as a Dune fan and not an Isekai enjoyer, I would like to note that Dune does have its fair share of swords and magic.

I don’t know too much about Isekai but let me have a try at this following argument:

The Isekai element might not be that Paul moved from one planetary capital to another as the heir apparent to House Atreides, but that he had to flee into a world with much more limited contact with the wider galaxy: the world of the Fremen.

The Fremen of the deep desert live a life quite different than that of the average Imperial citizen. Life in a sietch is unlike anything Paul has ever experienced and he must learn to fit in, in order to survive.

All of this only concerns the first book of the Dune series. As the story plays out, you will find that the protagonist of the entire series is not a single individual but rather Humanity in its totality. I don’t think that’s very Isekai…

I believe some websites say “fuck it, fuck them” and block European IPs rather than put in the work to become GDPR compliant

Even if you limit it by range, like only recolouring things within 1 meter of where you touch… It’d still be a great power! Imagine the money you’d make, flawlessly painting whole rooms in seconds.

I totally agree. This series, along with the original Dune novels, is the bedrock of my love for sci-fi.