Episode 193: Ex X; X, Why?
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Episode 193: Ex X; X, Why?” inside PodZeus.
In Episode 193 of Heterodorks, hosts Nina Paley and Corey Cohn reflect on their departure from social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, as both platforms deteriorated in usability and user respect. Corey recounts his gradual 'titration' off X, triggered by algorithmic changes, invasive content, and a lack of user control—culminating in his decision to close his account entirely. He draws parallels between Facebook’s early hijacking of user groups and X’s current dysfunction, framing both as systems that fail their users despite payment or data exchange. The conversation pivots to AI, where Corey shares his experience teaching developers to use AI for documentation, revealing the non-deterministic nature of AI outputs—even with identical inputs, results varied wildly. This underscores AI’s current limitations: powerful but unpredictable, requiring human judgment to validate. The hosts also explore themes of identity, veganism, and the emotional toll of online communities, with Corey reflecting on his past struggles with online harassment and the performative nature of digital personas. The episode closes with a humorous yet poignant farewell to 'Turfs and Trannies,' a nod to their shared community, while teasing a future conversation with writer Megan Daum about parenthood and overpopulation.
AI is non-deterministic—identical inputs produce varied outputs, meaning human oversight is essential even for basic tasks like documentation.
When a service consistently degrades and disregards user preferences, it’s valid to disengage, even if you’re a paying customer.
Social media platforms often prioritize engagement over functionality, leading to user frustration and loss of trust.
The emotional cost of online communities can be high—especially when they become toxic or performative, even among allies.
Vegan alternatives, while possible, often fall short of the sensory and emotional experience of the original, highlighting the limits of substitution.
…and 1 more takeaway available in PodZeus
The Storm and the Social Media Exodus
“I said, if this keeps getting worse, I'm getting off this app. And then... that was the last straw for me, Nina. And so I told my followers, hey, in a couple of days this account whoosh by Friday it'll be gone.”
AI's Non-Deterministic Nature and the Limits of Automation
“Every artifact was different from the others. You could kind of group them into two or three general categories of similarity, but every single one of them had differences in not just color, but also structure.”
The Dark History of Facebook and the Rise of Online Harassment
Corey recounts being hijacked into unwanted groups on Facebook, having preferences reset repeatedly, and being banned for weeks due to bot abuse—leading to his eventual departure from the platform.
The Psychological Toll of Online Identity and Community
The hosts reflect on how online communities can become toxic, even among allies, and how the loss of digital connections can feel like losing real-life friends. Corey discusses his decision to leave X not out of anger, but out of self-respect.
Veganism, AI Cats, and the Future of Digital Content
The episode closes with lighthearted musings on vegan Turfles, AI-generated cat videos (including the shutdown of Sora), and the emotional weight of digital identity. The hosts tease a future guest, Megan Daum, on the topic of parenthood and overpopulation.
“I said, if this keeps getting worse, I'm getting off this app. And then... that was the last straw for me, Nina. And so I told my followers, hey, in a couple of days this account whoosh by Friday it'll be gone.”
“AI is not the same thing as software. I mean, I suppose you could say it's software the same way you could say human beings are wetware, but it's not software as we understand software.”
“Every artifact was different from the others. You could kind of group them into two or three general categories of similarity, but every single one of them had differences in not just color, but also structure.”
Hosts
Guest
X
other
other
Corey Cohn
person
Nina Paley
person
Turfles
other
Sora
product
Lionel Shriver
person
Grok Imagine
product
Megan Daum
person
Lear Keith
person
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Episode 193: Ex X; X, Why?” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime