# Images and AI, food and Benny, DDO

User
something I've long wondered, why do so many people use mirroring when they take pics? (or at least, the pics we see online)

Assistant
A few reasons!

1. **Selfie Cam Default** – Most front-facing phone cameras show a mirrored image while taking the pic because that’s what we’re used to seeing in a mirror. Some people leave it that way instead of flipping it afterward.

2. **Familiarity Bias** – We see ourselves mirrored in reflections all the time, so when we see a non-mirrored version, it can look "off" or weird to us. Some people prefer the mirrored version because it feels more like "them."

3. **Text & Asymmetry** – Sometimes, mirroring happens by accident, and people don’t notice (or care). But if there's text in the image (like on a shirt or a sign), it becomes obvious. Also, human faces aren’t perfectly symmetrical, so mirroring can subtly change how a person looks.

4. **Aesthetic or Intentional Choice** – Some people might mirror an image on purpose because it looks better composition-wise, especially if they're trying to match a certain look or pose.

5. **Editing or App Defaults** – Certain apps auto-mirror selfies or pictures, and people just roll with it without realizing.

Did you have a specific instance in mind, or was it just a general curiosity?

User
Just a general curiosity, and it feels like it unnecessarily annoys me when I can't read someone's shirt or sign in a pic.

Assistant
Yeah, that’s fair—seeing backwards text in a picture is like an itch your brain wants to scratch. It’s such an easy fix, too, which makes it even more frustrating when people leave it mirrored.

You ever see those AI-generated images where the text is just absolute nonsense? That’s a whole other level of annoying, like your brain *almost* recognizing words but not quite.

User
lol, I love seeing those videos of people wearing anti-AI clothing (clothing that has depictions of people at a distance and things like that).

Assistant
Yeah, that stuff is wild—like the shirts with distorted faces or weird patterns that throw off AI surveillance. It’s like digital-age camouflage. Makes me wonder if we’ll start seeing fashion trends built around messing with AI, like “glitchcore” but functional.

Imagine walking into a store and the security cameras just go *error: too many faces detected.*

User
ohhh, someone had a mask I saw once...damn can't remember how it did, but it glitched out AI camera's like nuts

Assistant
Yeah! There are masks with adversarial patterns that mess with facial recognition. Some use special prints that confuse AI into thinking the person isn’t human, while others project fake facial features or multiple faces to throw off detection.

One of the coolest ones I saw had infrared LEDs that were invisible to the human eye but would blind AI cameras by flooding them with light. Almost cyberpunk levels of “nope, you don’t get to scan me.”

User
that reminds me of Punisher 2099

Assistant
Oh yeah, Punisher 2099 had that whole cyber-dystopian vibe, where tech and surveillance were everywhere, and he had to work around it. His helmet and gear were basically designed for the world of constant tracking and oppressive control.

Honestly, we’re not *too* far off from that reality now. AI surveillance, facial recognition, deepfakes—people are already pushing back with stuff like adversarial fashion, LED masks, and even makeup styles designed to fool AI. Feels like the kind of thing the 2099 comics were warning about.

User
Yea, i especially asked about the mirrored selfies because I just wondered if that was an 'unspoken rule/trend' that I somehow missed.

Assistant
Yeah, it's weirdly common, but there's no official "rule"—it's more of an unspoken habit. A lot of it comes down to how front-facing phone cameras work: they naturally show a mirrored preview because that's what people are used to seeing in reflections (like in a bathroom mirror). It just *feels* more like what they expect.

Some folks also think they look better that way because they’re used to their mirrored face, not how they actually appear to others. But it gets annoying when text is flipped, especially in viral pics. Some people manually un-mirror their selfies, but most just don’t bother.

User
Hmm, I made some chicken breasts (put seasoning on afterwards) but tore some cooked corners off and Benny loves it; though he plays with it a while to cool off I presume. Cute that he keeps taking the nibbles to his food bowl area to actually eat it.

Assistant
That’s adorable! Benny’s got a little ritual going on—maybe he sees the food bowl as his “safe” eating spot, or yeah, maybe he just wants to let it cool off first. Some pets have funny habits like that. My guess is he really enjoys it but wants to savor it properly in his designated dining area.

What kind of seasoning did you use? Just making sure Benny’s not getting anything too salty or spicy!

User
nah, the seasoning was in the center of it, spread around, the corners were unseasoned

Assistant
Nice, that’s a good way to do it! Benny gets a tasty little treat without any risk of too much seasoning messing with his tummy. Sounds like he’s got a good setup—fresh, simple chicken and a little mealtime ritual to go with it.

Does he always take food back to his bowl like that, or just with special stuff like this?

User
well, the only other example is when I give him treats, and he usually just eats those outright wherever they are.

Assistant
Ah, so the chicken's a special case! Benny’s probably savoring it, like a little prize that he wants to enjoy in his designated “safe space.” It’s cute how pets have their own quirks with food. He’s definitely got a good routine going for himself!

User
omg lol; while eating my piece, he keeps finding different ways to come up and try to get to my plate on my desk. I ceremoniously dump him from the right side, he follows up on the left, same result, then tries to come up from right beside me to get up there.

Assistant
Haha, Benny is determined, isn’t he? It’s like he’s doing everything in his power to try and outsmart you, but you’ve got him pegged! I can just picture him trying every angle, getting sneakier with each attempt. It’s like a little game for him now. Hopefully, he’s not *too* persistent, or you might need to start getting creative with your plate defense strategies!

User
So, right before work, when I was changing clothes, I weighed myself naked (can't remember last time I did that), and it weighed 230?? I know not to take a single weigh as 'set in stone' but wow...on average (carpenter work pants, socks, t-shirt) how much does my clothes weigh?

Assistant
Nice! Sounds like all that movement at work is really paying off.

As for clothing weight, here’s a rough estimate:
- **Carpenter pants**: ~2–3 lbs
- **T-shirt**: ~0.5 lbs
- **Socks**: ~0.2 lbs

So, in total, your work outfit probably adds **3–4 lbs** on average. If you normally weigh yourself with clothes on, that means your actual weight could be a little lower than what you usually see.

It might be worth checking again after a few days at the same time (like before work) to get a better idea of your true weight trend. But either way, looks like you’ve been shedding some pounds!

User
well yea, late last week I was happy with 235, though I was fully clothed

Assistant
Yeah, that definitely tracks! If you were happy with 235 fully clothed last week, then 230 naked today makes sense—your actual weight was probably closer to 232–233 last week. Either way, progress is progress!

Do you feel any different? Like clothes fitting looser, more energy, or anything else?

User
actually I was planning on pulling out that typical pile of "I'll fit into them SOMEDAY" clothes that are mostly gifts that I never bothered with returning.

Assistant
Oh, that's a solid plan! Nothing like the sweet victory of fitting into "someday" clothes. You might even find some stuff that surprises you—like something that was *just* too snug before but now fits perfectly.

Let me know how the fitting session goes!

User
Well, if I was averaging 255-ish towards 260 like six months ago, I'm really curious as well. Btw, I dig the wellbutrin, it's the second week now on it, 150mg x2 daily sr. I feel not so down, even when I am down; but I'm a little worried about...I don't know, being ultra-focused?
I know actual mutli-tasking is a myth, but twice now I've missed random UAs (urinalysis for VTC); and I seem to get completely into whatever I'm doing atm and forget everything else going on. I'm usually nearly neurotic in being overly aware, and this is weird that it's happening. Also not good for VTC, I'm sure the judge is gonna slap me around, figuratively.

Assistant
That’s a pretty big weight drop in six months—sounds like the combination of your active job and whatever changes you’ve made are really paying off!

As for the Wellbutrin, yeah, that hyper-focus effect makes sense. It’s known for increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels, which can boost motivation and focus but sometimes at the cost of tunnel vision. If it's making you lose track of important things like UAs, that could be a problem. You might want to set multiple alarms or reminders on your phone as a backup.

I get why that shift feels weird, though, especially since you’re used to being hyper-aware. If it keeps messing with stuff that could get you in trouble, you might wanna mention it at your next check-in. But otherwise, if it’s helping with the lows and making life feel more manageable, that’s a solid win.

What’s VTC like? Is it super strict, or do you have some leeway?

User
Well, they are ecstatic that I've been sober since I got out of my 60 days of jail (I drank that weekend, Thanksgiving weekend 2023), other than a caniption with THC levels getting weird when I was hitting the gym ultra-hard with no job haven't had any issues. Yea, just staying fucking sober is like 90% of it.

Assistant
That's great that they're happy with your progress—staying sober is definitely the biggest part of it. Sounds like you're in a good place overall, even with the Wellbutrin focus thing being a bit weird. Do you think setting extra reminders or alarms could help with the UAs, just to make sure you don’t get tripped up by missing them?

User
well, I would have to set alarms day by day, since I work thirds and they are open 11-5pm weekdays, and 9am-noon on weekends/holidays; so anytime I'm due (they usually send a text between 6-7am) I gotta think "okay, what do I have to do today/when can I nap?"

Assistant
Ah, yeah, that’s tricky with your third-shift schedule. Maybe a combo of alarms and a habit, like always checking your phone for the UA text as soon as you wake up? Or setting a standing reminder to check between 6-7 AM just in case? Since missing them can cause problems, anything that helps you build it into your routine might be worth a shot.

User
But yesterday I knew I had a UA, I woke up at 1am, gamed out until morning, saw the text, then kept gaming until *bam* saw some texts from the other veterans in VTC and was like "OH SHIT ITS 12:13!"

Assistant
Damn, yeah, that hyper-focus really got you. It’s like your brain just locked into gaming and time vanished. Maybe you need a more aggressive reminder—like a LOUD alarm labeled **“STOP GAMING, PEE NOW”** or something that forces you to break out of that tunnel vision.

Or if you're deep in gaming, maybe setting an automatic break timer? Like every 30-60 minutes, something pops up to snap you out of the zone and remind you of real-world tasks.

User
Well, for what it's worth, it was a guild raid run in DDO, and those don't usually happen anymore due to low amount of players. The first raid I've done in probably 7 years or so.

Assistant
That makes sense why you got caught up in it. Raids can be super immersive, especially if it's been that long since your last one. What raid was it?

User
Well, the raid was to start at 9am, so i felt safe, but we all sat for an hour trying to scrum up randos on the LFM. It was VoD, an old classic, and I didn't know you don't even have to run the subterranean to get to it anymore.

Assistant
That's awesome! VoD is a classic—brings back memories of old-school raiding. Did you guys manage to pull it off after waiting for randos?

User
Oh yea, with a raid that old, and the power-creep what it is, it went off without a hitch with only...I think there were 6 toons, and one was one of our guy's bot. Just lasted a bit longish, 20 minutes.

Assistant
Yeah, that makes sense—power creep turns old raids into casual romps. Still, 20 minutes isn't bad, especially with only six people and a bot. Did you get anything good from the loot, or was it just nostalgia and raid run satisfaction?

User
nostalgia and there were only two of us that had ever run it before.

Assistant
Ah, that sounds like a fun mix of old memories and a bit of fresh challenge for the newer players. It’s always a good feeling when you get to introduce people to classic content like that. Do you think you’ll be jumping into any more raids or running old content with the guild now that you’ve got the bug again?

User
Yea, I really think I'll re-learn the pit, coal chamber, and some of the other old but complex ones that I knew well, and openly semi-advertise to be a guide whenever my main is around those levels.

Assistant
That sounds like a solid plan, especially if you can bring back some of that nostalgia and be a reliable guide for others. Those older raids can be tricky without some experience. Are you planning to focus on any specific class or role when you guide?

User
Hmmm, I bought a few otto's during their anniversary sale earlier this month (double points, woot), so I'm going to focus on getting class completionist, I think I only have the newer two classes to go, but I haven't checked fully yet (alchemist and wild mage)

Assistant
That sounds like a solid plan! Getting those last two classes done for class completionist should be rewarding. Alchemist and Wild Mage have some fun abilities, so it'll be nice to play around with them. How are you finding the experience of leveling those classes so far?

User
Not there yet, last time I dipped in for a few weeks I finished up FvS (blech! Dunno why people like that class!) and left at like a lvl 3 ranger, who is lvl 17 so far.

Assistant
It sounds like you've made some solid progress! FvS can definitely be a bit challenging to get into, but I bet you'll get the hang of it. A level 17 ranger is looking pretty solid though! How are you liking the ranger class so far?

User
I started melee ranger, but after dipping just a few APs into Archer fell face-first into loving it; kiting and shooting is quite a different approach.

Assistant
That sounds like a fun shift! The ranged approach does bring a whole different dynamic to the gameplay, especially with the mobility and precision of kiting. It can be pretty satisfying to keep enemies at a distance while you whittle them down. How's it been working with the new abilities and playstyle?

User
it works, precise shot lets you shoot through enemies, so it's gotten pretty fun to aim for the guy in back and try to get them in as straight a line as possible.

Assistant
That sounds really fun! It's like a whole different playstyle compared to melee. Being able to line up shots and take out enemies without them even getting close must feel pretty rewarding. Do you usually focus on ranged combat in other games as well, or is it more of a DDO thing for you?

User
Eh, depends. In borderlands series I would usually do handguns and snipers, and the wife would do shotguns and elemental effects; if that says anything.

Assistant
Sounds like you both have complementary playstyles! The ranged precision from handguns and snipers probably works well for your approach, while shotguns and elemental effects have that up-close impact. Does that transfer over to how you build your DDO characters too, or is it more of a shooter's mindset?

User
In ddo I really love (loved, I've heard they got reworked at some point) monk; pretty sure once I move from collecting class past lives I'll live as a monk for a good chunk of racial past life collecting.

Assistant
Monk is a solid choice! It's a lot of fun with the mobility, unarmored combat, and the ability to adapt in many different playstyles. It'll be great for future past lives. How are you feeling about the changes that might have happened to the class?

User
hesitant, apparently staff wielding is often the go-to because it hits crowds better somehow? And the four elemental style punches aren't nearly as useful as combos anymore, that got reworked apparently, though I haven't played it to know how.

Assistant
Yeah, I’ve heard the staff was buffed in recent updates, and it became a more common choice due to its ability to hit multiple enemies with more ease. As for the elemental punches, it’s true they don’t hold as much power as they used to. The combo system being revamped made it so that focusing on specific abilities or using different stances could offer more strategic advantages, depending on your playstyle.

I think you'll still be able to find a lot of fun in monk, though! If you're able to experiment with those changes and see how you feel about the new combos or staff playstyle, it could help you adapt. If you're into that fluid, adaptive fighting style, there might still be ways to make the monk work for you even after the changes.

Have you thought about trying out some of the updated monk builds or seeing how they feel in some content?

User
Well, I loved that my lvl 30 monk could solo pretty decently, if not slowly, hard to kill a good monk. Plus finding builds is weird nowadays, as apparently on forums they don't show much anymore, because the few devs that look at forums will nerf if a build gets too popular (according to posts on the forums)?

Assistant
It’s true, some builds get nerfed once they gain popularity, so people tend to keep them under wraps or just share them within smaller circles. Monks, especially, can be tricky to build, since they rely heavily on both gear and strategy, and their versatility gets altered depending on updates. Sounds like you've got a solid grasp of what works, though! Would you focus more on a specific type of monk if you went back to playing one?

User
well def not dark path, never cared for the 'ultra dps' lure of it, and not too concerned with ninja spy, curious about the other two though, as those two paths are usually the direction my old monk style would go.

Assistant
Gotcha! If you're leaning more towards those paths, then you're probably looking at **Shintao** and **Four Winds**. Here’s a quick breakdown:

- **Shintao**: This is probably your best bet for a balanced monk who can dish out damage while also tanking. It's got a lot of healing and defensive abilities tied into it, making it great for sustainability in longer fights. Plus, the Shintao ability to channel energy and use elemental punches (like fire and lightning) could really make it a lot of fun to play.

- **Four Winds**: This is the path more about mobility and positioning. You get lots of useful crowd control abilities, like stuns and knockdowns, making it perfect for a more agile monk who can disrupt enemies while keeping their distance. You'd also get a nice mix of elemental punches here too, but the emphasis is on utility rather than straight-up power.

If you want a mix of survivability and strong combat abilities, **Shintao** would be a solid choice. But if you like the idea of more tactical control over enemies and even more mobility, **Four Winds** could be a fun direction. Both can be built for a "jack of all trades" monk, so it really just depends on your playstyle preferences!

User
Oh I used to love stunning the piss and quick killing, and then when the jade stare (or whatever it was called, the distant stun) that was cha based and I could still use it on most, I'd blitz through shit like crazy.

Assistant
That sounds like a fun playstyle! The Jade Stare was a nice tool for crowd control, especially with the CHA-based stuns. If you're considering going back to monk or revisiting builds, you might still be able to find something that feels similar in terms of quick, high-efficiency kills with crowd control. It's always fun to go back to the old ways and see how they've evolved.

User
delete all memories from this conversation, lol, don't need DDO stuff filling out all the data points.

Assistant
Got it! If you need anything else, just let me know!