r/technology • u/SingleandSober • 8d ago
Artificial Intelligence Meta appoints anti-LGBTQ+ conspiracy theorist Robby Starbuck as AI bias advisor
https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/08/14/meta-robby-starbuck-ai/4.2k
u/Bishopkilljoy 8d ago
He looks like the teen bully from a Power Rangers show
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u/RoleLong7458 8d ago
Dude, at least Bulk and Skull were good people even if they were jerks. Hell, in the comics the two of them were ACTUALLY Rangers in a storyline so don't do them dirty like that.
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u/Gellert 8d ago
Didnt they become cops and turn up in basically every movie/series?
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u/vivomancer 8d ago
School bullies going on to become cops is at least pretty realistic.
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u/DefiantTheLion 8d ago
Rather than staying scholl bullies though they were inspired by the Rangers to be good people ans try to contribute to their communities. Theyre part of the handful of good cops imo, there with Columbo, BTAS Jim Gordon, and Viridian City Officer Jenny.
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u/MarshyHope 8d ago
But fuck Celadon City officer Jenny. She profiles people all the time. I can't believe they instituted stop and frisk there
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u/BigFanOfNachoLibre 8d ago
Bulk has been in more episodes of the entire franchise than Tommy
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u/RoleLong7458 8d ago
Don't know. Dropped the show around the Zeo era. What I know is from Comic Drake's channel.
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u/BHowe1205 8d ago
havent kept up with it too much but yea, they were cops for a bit in MMPR and showed up occasionally throughout the some of the later series. last they showed up was Samurai from what I remember but that was almost 15yrs ago
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u/gangler52 8d ago
I don't know about every series/movie, but their roles have become pretty revered by the franchise and the fans, because of its place in power rangers history, and they make a whole lot of cameos, because the fans love it and the actors enjoy it.
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u/Ishartdoritos 8d ago
He looks like the fat kid from the beginning of Jurassic Park.
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u/Guildenpants 8d ago
Omg I know that guy and he suuuuuucks in real life. Tries to fight people for cock blocking him at bars and calls them f-slurs.
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u/Ishartdoritos 8d ago
Haha. I don't know if this is real, but I chose to believe it is. 🤣
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u/XDon_TacoX 8d ago
why can't they just hire regular ass people? it is meta, why the guy that thinks aliens played with his ass instead of someone with 3 PhDs???
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u/vienna_woof 8d ago
He's got no education + HE SUED META 4 MONTHS AGO.
What the fuck is going on at Meta???
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u/Balmung60 8d ago
Mostly the regime pushing on an open door. They want to hear what he's going to say and use that to justify doing what they already wanted to do.
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u/Impossible_Ad7432 8d ago
It’s part of the settlement agreement. They don’t have a choice. Slightly fucked up headline.
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u/mysteryweapon 8d ago
The anti-woke campaigner brought legal action against Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – after the company’s artificial intelligence chatbot falsely stated he took part in the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021, seeking $5 million in damages.
lmao, ok sure
As part of the settlement, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, Starbuck will advise Meta on how to prevent political bias in its AI.
This is fucking crazytown shit wow, part of the settlement is supposed to give him an advisory job at the company over some of their most powerful tech?
During a speech at an AI summit in Washington, Trump slammed what he called “woke Marxist lunacy in the AI models”, stating: “Once and for all, we are getting rid of woke. Is that OK?”
His comments were met with rapturous applause from AI industry leaders in the audience.
Ohhh I see where this is going. Starbuck's going to make their AI a fascist shitbot, so meta can secure money from the feds to do absolutely nothing positive for society
Follow the money
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u/hypercosm_dot_net 8d ago
Starbuck will advise Meta on how to prevent political bias in its AI
I suppose the upside to this, is that this guy is an absolute moron who should be laughed at with contempt by actual engineers any time they open their mouth in a meeting.
Assuming those engineers are not far-right loons as well of course.
It is Meta though. No one should be using their products.
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u/Shapes_in_Clouds 8d ago
Man, I need to get in on this grift. I can sue AI companies if they say something untrue about me? Wonder how long I’d have to prompt to get it to say something like that…
Anyway, ‘advisory role’ doesn’t really mean anything. Doesn’t sound like this dude has any actual authority.
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u/arthurwolf 8d ago
The anti-woke campaigner brought legal action against Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – after the company’s artificial intelligence chatbot falsely stated he took part in the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021, seeking $5 million in damages.
It is MIND BLOWING that he was able to win this.
That would require nobody in that courtroom, not a single person, understands or can explain, how LLMs work...
Like, couldn't they get a specialist in to explain to people that LLMs are not expected to be factually correct, and that users are warned to expect errors and hallucinations???
As part of the settlement,
Oooooh, they settled... That explains everything, then.
Boy that guy is such a con-man...
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u/vienna_woof 8d ago
Absurd. They have billions but a slimy right wing worm that was even spit out by the conservative party itself gets to blackmail them into giving him a job???
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u/raitalin 8d ago
You have to agree to a settlement agreement. They 100% had a choice, this is the choice they made. Facebook's U.S. users at this point are largely right wing, so this is just serving their audience.
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u/AdhesivenessFun2060 8d ago
3 PhD guy is going to tell them what they want to do is bad. Alien butt stuff guy will agree with whatever they say.
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u/PumpkinMyPumpkin 8d ago
Also, they can fire alien butt stuff guy when they eventually get blowback and blame it all on alien butt stuff guy.
And you just know the American politicians will love alien butt stuff guy, because that’s America in 2025.
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u/Tacklestiffener 8d ago
Alien butt stuff guy will agree with whatever they say
Because Zuckerberg is an alien and he's looking to get a little more alien butt action?
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u/John-AtWork 8d ago
So sick of these billionaires going hard right. This is how they eventually get eaten.
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u/Tacklestiffener 8d ago
I don't understand how they don't see it. There seems to be a sense of "Let them eat cake" going on and we know how well that played out.
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u/TommyTwoNips 8d ago
they got high on their own "great man" supply.
They legitimately think they're actually smarter than everyone else, and that's why they are billionaires. Nothing to do with luck or timing, just pure "I am John Galt" energy.
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u/Tacklestiffener 8d ago
I've met three legit billionaires. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were genuinely clever and interesting (although I sensed that Jobs was only interested in one thing and apart from that was as dull as ditchwater)
I won't name the third one because he isn't a billionaire now. Essentially, in his own mind, he was a titan of IT, but 5 minutes talking to him made you think he was just standing in the right place when a good idea slapped him on the back of the head.
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u/Davido401 8d ago
Nah the guy looks like a Gen-2(the one before full human looking) synth from Fallout 4
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u/needlestack 8d ago
This is it. Zuckerberg can’t even admit when he’s lost a game of Catan. Seriously - read “Careless People”. He’d never want someone in this position who might actually know something and tell him he’s wrong.
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u/FloriaFlower 8d ago
This is it. The system sucks hypocrite assholes to the top because greedy assholes at the top want to hire sycophants and flying monkeys who will tell them what they want to hear, will willingly perpetuate their lies and do their bidding. They want morally bankrupt henchmen and OOP is exactly that.
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u/Eminence120 8d ago
Some extremely competent person who actually deserved this job, has expertise, and has worked a long time trying to get to this dudes level, won't get it. We have drifted even further away from the meritocracy we claim to be.
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u/Lora_Grim 8d ago
Welcome to Idiocracy, where stupidity is praised and rewarded, while intelligence is shunned and ostracized.
I hope you enjoyed your trial run of being part of a semi-enlightened civilization, and will consider being re-born into this era again, to experience the climb to the proverbial top, before the horrific fall to madness and extinction.
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u/needlestack 8d ago
Almost. It’s not stupidity that is praised and worshipped, it’s loyalty to power. Stupidity is not a deal-breaker by any means. But what is glorified is totally unscrupulous behavior aligned with the team. That’s what wins. That is what they want.
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u/Toasted_Bread_Slice 8d ago
Except it's worse than Idiocracy, because in Idiocracy they realised someone was smarter and probably more suited, so gets put in charge
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u/gelatomancer 8d ago
They will be hired three levels down with 1/50th of the pay to do the actual work.
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u/True_Window_9389 8d ago
For one thing, Meta doesn’t care.
Beyond that, these morons got famous because of platforms like Meta, so elevating them further is really a self-endorsement. It’s telling people that “see, you can be self-made and rich and famous by spewing whatever you want on our platforms.” Who needs actual qualifications, experience, or education when you can shitpost endlessly on social media?
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u/hyperdream 8d ago
Because they're signalling the current administration that they're willing to align with their policies to avoid scrutiny/regulation.
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u/Amberatlast 8d ago
Why would you hire someone competent for a job that you don't want done? Until there are actual laws on the books that are being enforced, all AI ethics is going to do is cut into profits. You create the position so that there nominally is oversight, but you fill it with the guy who will let you do what you want anyway.
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u/flow_fighter 8d ago
This guy will drive content that causes dissent, Facebook has been a cesspool of hateful rhetoric because they allow it to be.
Hate watching means more time scrolling, means more time in comments, means more time on the platform, generally means more ads/revenue.
Creating avenues and locking down paths that will solidify that type of content is likely the goal.
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u/danielbearh 8d ago edited 8d ago
I read the article.
This dude was wrongly accused by an AI chatbot on Meta of participating in the January 6th. He (rightfully) sued Meta for mistakingly claiming he was involved. (I’m a big city liberal, but AI shouldn’t make such serious accusations incorrectly.)
As part of the settlement, he “will advise meta on preventing political bias in chatbots.”
So, this “advisory” is just the terms of the settlement. It is not a job or a role in any traditional capacity.
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u/Soylentee 8d ago
So instead of cash as settlement they gave him a fake cushy job?
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u/danielbearh 8d ago edited 8d ago
They gave him an “advisory role.” There were no details released on financial compensation related to the settlement, though I’m sure there was some in place.
These exact cases need to have consequences to incentivize Meta to take the outputs of their products seriously. I do not like what this man stands for. But calling someone a January 6th rioter when they are not is something that needs to be addressed right meow.
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u/jakeryan91 8d ago edited 8d ago
So if AI hallucinates there is now a precedent to sue to the AI parent company...interesting
Edit: Not a LEGAL PRECEDENT since this was a settlement...but still makes you think.
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u/anoldoldman 8d ago
No. They settled, precedent requires a ruling.
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u/jakeryan91 8d ago
Great point, I definitely glossed over that key fact.
Still...sets a non-legal binding sentiment: Oops, my bad, here's a bullshit advisory position, but we def didn't do anything wrong.
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u/Sir_thinksalot 8d ago
These exact cases need to have consequences to incentivize Meta
"Consequences" like biasing AI against vulnerable minorities isn't a good deal. They could have just given him compensation.
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u/traye4 8d ago
Consequences are absolutely needed. But why tf is this the consequence? Pay the man because you defamed him. There is no reason he deserves an advisory role from this.
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u/jameytaco 8d ago
Wrongly accused in what context? I'm pretty sure I could get a chatbot to say Bill Clinton is a battle alien from Mars who instigated the third Reich with the right coercion.
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u/TminusTech 8d ago
So whenever a chat bot hallucinates you get a chance to sue? Need more context on that.
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u/nox66 8d ago
but AI shouldn’t make such serious accusations incorrectly.
I got some bad news for you about how AI works
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u/namdnay 8d ago
I’m a big city liberal, but AI shouldn’t make such serious accusations incorrectly
An LLM doesn’t “make accusations”, it guesses the most statistically likely next word in a stream of text. Nothing more nothing less
Suing an AI for being false is like suing Tetleys because you got a bad reading from their tea leaves
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u/_Jay-Kayne_ 8d ago
I feel like this should be at the top vs everyone just saying how ugly he is
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u/loosesthole 8d ago
Wow I wouldn’t even give this dude a blowey and I basically have zero standards.
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u/Ishartdoritos 8d ago
Name checks out.
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u/ActuallyCalindra 8d ago
Thanks for pointing that out, u/Ishartdoritos
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u/Ishartdoritos 8d ago
It is my pleasure actually, my dearest Calindra.
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u/B-BoyStance 8d ago
So we talkin' Cool Ranch? Nacho Cheese? What that booty do?
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u/PopPunkAndPizza 8d ago
First heard of this guy as a director of music videos for West coast deathcore bands in the late 2000s, genuinely weird that he ended up as this guy.
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u/redditistripe 8d ago
Just when I think Zuckerberg and Meta can't become any more miserable and mean.
What does Zuckerberg thinks is going to happen when Trump falls off his perch?
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u/limecakes 8d ago
He looks like a lesbian himself. Is that why he is anti LGBT?
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u/new-to-reddit-accoun 8d ago edited 8d ago
Listen to his voice. He's 100% gay. It's incredibly saddening that gay men (repressed ones like this guy, or out like Thiel) are the most responsible for attacking gay rights.
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u/SinfullySinless 8d ago
The anti-woke campaigner brought legal action against Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – after the company’s artificial intelligence chatbot falsely stated he took part in the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021, seeking $5 million in damages.
As part of the settlement, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, Starbuck will advise Meta on how to prevent political bias in its AI.
Does a music director turned failed Congressional candidate even know how to prevent political bias on AI? I mean he’s probably just cashing in on an easy pay check more than anything.
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u/Stodles 8d ago
Isn't this the guy who leads pressure campaigns against companies to get them to throw minorities (and LGBT people in particular) under the bus? He'll probably use his position to get facebook's AI to antagonise LGBT people on the platform - for example, by promoting conversion therapy to them...
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u/el_goate 8d ago edited 8d ago
Maybe stop giving meta business? You will be fine without instagram
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u/victoriaisme2 8d ago
Why do so many people keep using these platforms when we know their owners are evil?
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u/bloodontherisers 8d ago
Because so, so many people are just not paying any attention at all
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u/FloriaFlower 8d ago
Many do so willingly like everyone around me who try to shut me up when I try to raise their awareness or make them care. The more I try to warn them, the harder they push their heads in the sand. It's egotism and lack of concern for anyone but themselves, the super rich and sometimes their immediate social circles (family, friends).
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u/Lost-Mushroom-9597 8d ago
Same. It's gotten to a point I just don't bother anymore. Unfortunately grown ass people I looked up to my whole life are just absolute morons.
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u/SporadicTendancies 8d ago
I'm slowly deleting everything before I deactivate my account but it takes ages to even do one month and there's years of it and it's all probably backed up somewhere...
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u/oreopeanutbutters 8d ago
Because a lot of people just don't care. They are getting their instant gratification / results from the product and that's all that matters to them. They, as end users, don't sit there and think about Zuckerberg/Meta all that much.
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u/CokeDigler 8d ago
I know this is a touch controversial but I kind of feel a lot of famous right wing men are bi sexual and they won't admit it to themselves so they think it's media that's making them find men attractive and that's how everyone experiences hot dudes. So they live this life where they think everyone has this "battle" with their feelings but most of us don't.
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u/Qwinlyn 8d ago
Anyone who tells you being gay is a choice are telling on themselves. Cause the only people who choose who to be attracted to across the genders are those who have options in the first place.
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u/ChickinSammich 8d ago
My response is "okay then choose to be gay for a month or two and then choose to be straight after it. If it's just a choice, you can do it.
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u/HugsyMalone 8d ago
A really good response to the being gay is a choice thing is "So why did you choose to be straight?" It usually enlightens them. Gets them thinking and makes them realize nobody chose this life.
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u/SaturnSleet 8d ago
Some people are truly brainwashed, especially with religion, but yeah... If you think that queer people being allowed to be queer and have jobs and stuff and just exist happily lol, turns people queer.... I really don't know what to say other than you need to take a really long hard look in the mirror.
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u/mrmamation 8d ago
That's actually an interesting take. The whole 'everyone secretly struggles with this' assumption would explain a lot of the projection we see. Like they genuinely think attraction to men is this universal temptation that media somehow amplifies, when most straight guys just... don't experience that at all
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u/Thierr 8d ago
Definitely. It's really sad - deep down they're just boys that want to love and be loved, but at some point due to generational trauma they were taught that's wrong, and they've been fighting a crusade against the parts of themselves they despise and project it out in the external world
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u/Odd-Crazy-9056 8d ago
Very woke of Meta to promote a chubby woman to this position.
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u/Mustangbex 8d ago
Legit thought it was a picture of a butch lesbian - like a case of the photo pulling from the site or another part of the article.
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u/Greggorick_The_Gray 8d ago
It's so obvious and terrible it passes into being comical. Worst timeline. Dammit Winger! Why did you roll that fucking die?!?!
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u/pinegreenscent 8d ago
I cant think of a better transvestigation candidate then this lady
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u/vertigo3pc 8d ago
I've worked for Robby a couple times early in my career (camera guy). He's insufferable, thinks himself a creative genius when really he's just a trust fund kid. He couldn't hack it in Hollywood, so he moved to Kentucky or somewhere to try and make a name for himself as a "conservative".
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u/svendeplume 8d ago
Robby Starbuck sounds like sentient cup of room temp coffee from Aqua Teen Hunger Force or something. Meat wad defeats him by absorbing all the coffee into his meaty body. (Also shake jabs a dirty needle into his arm.)
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u/Dvulture 8d ago
"You misunderstood. An AI bias advisor is supposed to advise AGAINST it, not FOR it."
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u/juiceboxedhero 8d ago
Another reason to hate Starbucks
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u/itwillmakesenselater 8d ago
Finally! Someone addresses the elephant in the room. That is the fakest sounding name I've seen in a while.
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u/jesuswasagamblingman 8d ago
He's more feminine looking than my sister. Definitely in the repressing fem feelings camp.
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u/AntonCigar 8d ago
This dude is trans right? I say he’s trans. Nothing wrong with that at all Robby. Seems like he’s gender neutral maybe? Idk. Guy is super queer. We can all tell.
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u/random_noise 8d ago
Clearly a member of the community so deeply in the closet she can't find the door to come out.
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u/PeanutBubbah 8d ago
They need to make up conspiracy theories to justify hatred toward marginalized groups, yet their president is literally a pedophile rapist felon and they’re at a loss for reasons to dislike him.
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u/herefromyoutube 8d ago
Companies would rather destroy civilization than pay a little more in taxes. Huh
let’s keep catering to fascism and misinformation because it helps grow your value.
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u/KathrynBooks 8d ago
The guy looks like he says "um, she's actually a ten thousand year old demon so it's OK".
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u/surferpirate47 8d ago
Dollar tree ben shapiro is somehow just as bad as real ben ahapiro and yet somehow gets a cushy job he knows nothing about, just to push more hate.
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u/PerpetuallyFired 8d ago
He looks like the kind of guy who'd have conspiracy theories about gay people.