this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2025
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[–] shutz@lemmy.ca 169 points 1 month ago (5 children)

Faraday, after demonstrating how moving a magnet through a coiled wire induced a current in the wire was asked by a visiting statesman what was the use of this.

Faraday responded, "In twenty years, you will be taxing it"

Similarly, at a demonstration of hot air balloons in France, Benjamin Franklin was asked "Of what use is this?"

Franklin replied, "Of what use is a newborn baby?"

[–] Landless2029@lemmy.world 42 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Everything I've ever heard about Franklin makes him a boss. This is a new one.

[–] musubibreakfast@lemm.ee 35 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Here's a little known fact that is not true, which will bring some nuance to the previous anecdote, Benjamin Franklin ate babies.

[–] Landless2029@lemmy.world 20 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Another one that is true but sounds like an onion.

He enjoyed the company of GILFS

[–] MyNameIsIgglePiggle@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] Landless2029@lemmy.world 11 points 1 month ago (2 children)
[–] TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Because there is no hazard of Children, which irregularly produc'd may be attended with much Inconvenience.

I didn't need to know Benjamin Franklin fucks old ladies because they can't have babies, but I appreciate the honor of carrying this information.

also the idea of a genius putting a bucket on the head of a grandma he fucks and telling her to act like she's 21 is HILARIOUS to me

[–] Landless2029@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior, every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement.

That's my favourite part to quote.

When the lights are out. Pussy is pussy. And old pussy is often better. 😉

It's dangerously close to "In the dark a hole is a hole."

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 1 month ago

I feel like there's a bit of trying to scare the kid off from that life course and get married like a proper person in that letter

[–] eugenevdebs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

British children! Maybe a few Prussians too.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The British were John Paul Jones, but Franklin taught him.

[–] davidgro@lemmy.world 22 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Sounds like Faraday understood the... potential.

Funnily enough, Faraday seemingly also understood that the Electric Field only possesses a potential in the absence of changing magnetic fields. Because only in the absence of changing magnetic fields, the rotation of the Electric Field is zero, and only then it has a potential.

[–] Anti_Face_Weapon@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago

That's a really cool Franklin quote. Visionary.

[–] GraniteM@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago

"Mr. Franklin, of what use is this hot air balloon contraption?"

"You can take ladies up in it with a bottle of wine and a blanket and you know, they can’t refuse, because of the implication. Think about it. She's floating up in the middle of the sky with some dude she barely knows. You know, she looks around, and what does she see? Nothing but open air. 'Ahhhh! There’s nowhere for me to run. What am I gonna do, say ‘no?’"

[–] Reddfugee42@lemmy.world -4 points 1 month ago (3 children)

That last bit is me when dealing with people who "aren't impressed" by today's AI.

[–] Saleh@feddit.org 7 points 1 month ago

The problem isn't the "AI". It is people praising its babbling as the solution for everything.

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I'm not impressed by today's AI and I also fully understand that the tech is going to completely upend society and will eventually be a part of our picture of utopia, or our picture of actual hell on Earth.

The people who are screaming it's wild wonders and benefits are at least as closed-minded as the people who think we're going to be able to put the toothpaste back in the tube. The actual direction this tech moves is going to be far more like the discovery of radio, in that at the time of it's discovery and early implementation, the people then had no idea the implications down the road and we're at the same point. Except the big difference and why this is contentious is that radio was far less dangerous to society broadly.

Radio was a fundamental force that always existed around us, we learned to use it the way our ancestors used rivers and waters to move goods and people. AI is completely human-made and doesn't exist without human engineering, so it's not neutral, it's a tool shaped by man to do whatever a man wants with it.

[–] Reddfugee42@lemmy.world -1 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Sorry my comment didn't have Subway Surfers playing in the corner with a popular streamer reacting to it so you could actually read it and understand it.

[–] Reddfugee42@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Apology accepted

[–] frezik@midwest.social 2 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I'm unimpressed by the people who use it.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 1 month ago

AI tools are pretty good in Photoshop; they're pretty good in copilot; Ukraine claims they're good at guiding a drone to a Russian bomber (though they also hit decommissioned aircraft). I think you only see the use of less specialised AI used to generate low quality text and soulless images

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I agree. But don't really care if people use it, I just cannot stand when people wave it around like a new teddy bear that gives them a smug sense of superiority for... checks notes ...using a product that someone is selling to let stupid people do easy things.

[–] Reddfugee42@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm sure they have trouble sleeping over that

[–] frezik@midwest.social 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They're destroying humanity both physically and mentally, so I certainly hope so.

[–] Reddfugee42@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

I shake my fist at them!