As with anything web design, we should think about context and nuance. Is this a web tool where the user needs to do work? Is it designed with small buttons (for function or aesthetics)?

If so, probably keep the default pointer. Though if it’s a splashy brand page with tiny buttons, I could imagine some other pointer styles that might be good.

Speaking of, is it something splashy and marketing heavy? Is it intended more as an experiment, experience, or intentional maximalist design?

If so, then I can see the argument. Accessibility still matters, though so implement graceful depredation so that folks who prefer motion effects disabled get a default pointer.

The answer is not “never change the pointer” but rather, “only break web standards if you have a good, well considered reason.”

https://pca.st/episode/a8bc145d-94d8-4c4f-b3c6-635e3f8e81e4

If Books Could Kill did a great episode on this. “Who Moved My Cheese”

My two cents: start your own shop. Find a customer segment that you care about and build valuable things for them. It takes a fair amount of effort, but I’ve learned after several layoffs that it’s a lot harder to lose 10 customers than it is to lose one W2 job. Precarity is constant. Diversifying your income is a much better mitigator for a terrible job market than pivoting.

This is all assuming that you like your current line of work. If not, pivot sooner rather than later. Take an online course or watch a YouTube video, and then start doing the new thing to learn it. Build some case studies to develop and showcase your skills. What would a data science portfolio look like? What do other data scientists demonstrate on their sites? Learn enough to do that, and pepper in the current experience you have to differentiate yourself.

I’m traveling through Portugal at the moment, and an Australian guy struck up a conversation with me on the train yesterday. He and I start talking politics, and he starts talking about how illegal immigration is a massive problem. He’s supportive of mass deportation, and generally likes how Trump is handling things. We debate this back and forth, and then move on to other subjects.

Later in the conversation he reveals, without a hint of irony, that his visa in Portugal has expired while waiting on residence paperwork. I just stare at him for a moment, and then ask him if he realized he was an illegal immigrant. He doesn’t really see the irony. Absolutely stunned.

As an American white dude traveling full time, I haven’t really gotten any of this yet personally. I have sat next to some really loud Americans and felt irritated at them, but the same goes for the British lady who walked into a cafe I was in and loudly insisted they make her a sandwich that wasn’t on the menu.

Most people are kind and curious. Those who aren’t, regardless of nationality, are the ones who irritate the locals.

Of course, the world is big and I obviously haven’t been everywhere. In each place I have been to, though, learning a few words and being extra polite goes a long way. Locals welcome you and return the curiosity and respect.

They don’t even post the bootlicker author’s info. Even if this was AI, a human still decided to publish this propaganda. It would be nice to have a public record for accountability.

“The impediment to action advances action. What’s in the way becomes the way.”

This is basically saying that anything that gets in the way of you solving a problem becomes the new problem to solve.

“The tool works at both ends.”

This is about skill building and practice. Making cool stuff improves you as a result.

Something I like about each is that they work in reverse. No impediment in your way? You’re probably not going to have very focused forward movement. No need to use tools (literally or metaphorically)? You won’t become more skilled.

Makes the title of this community sound like a desperate request

This is honestly pretty smart on the part of the fascists. A big portion of what is so effective about the resistance is that it’s founded on strong community action. Neighbors helping neighbors, because it’s the right thing to do.

Posing as a neighbor in need makes that act feel riskier. It changes the calculus, just a little, in favor of not helping your neighbor. They achieve their near term goal of getting their victim, but there’s an even more valuable (to them) effect of weakening community ties overall.

Time to double down on looking out for your neighbors.

EDIT: Looking out for them so you can help. In case that wasn’t clear.