The US has actively used that kind of info to extrajudically kill people, we know that for sure. We don’t know if China actually did that (they probably did).
Too late.l, I used the last 5 minutes to do it already. :)
I knew several Taylor Swift songs from the radio, but didn’t think more of them but “the usual generic pop music” that normally leads to me changing the station immediatly (I expected this). I don’t think I will recognize her the next time I hear her.
I also knew some Kanye West songs and I even liked some of them (I honestly didn’t expect this). I somehow don’t want to like his music though, saw too much about him on Twitter and here).
It’s been almost 14 years for me now. It will never go away completely. Just 2 days ago I rewatched some Sopranos and saw Tony smoke a cigar. Immediately I was extremely tempted to order some nice cigars online. Quenched that though, remembering how last time I tried “just puffing” a cigar and immediately drew deep down (that was my single and only slipup). Nope, no cigars, no shisha, no nothing.
It gets less problematic every year though and the triggers get fewer. Seeing someone smoke in front of a restaurant e.g only triggers a “Uff, good for me that I stopped!” nowadays. That used to be different.
What I meant is, that if you really want to, it is defintly something eveyone can manage. Yes, the addiction is real. But the human will is an amazing thing. One has to find the reason why to want to stop. Then it is defintly possible for everyone.
I was the “Uff, at least I don’t smoke as much as he” guy people looked at to feel better about their own cigarette addiction and no one believed I’d ever stop. But when I really wanted to, I just did. The half assed 20 times I stopped before that though… One has to find his “I want to stop” reason to actually do it.
It is true though. When you really want to, stopping isn’t that hard. I chain smoked for 13 years. And then the time came when I really wanted to stop (I had an upcoming marriage and just needed that money). And because I really wanted to, I did stop.
I’d still suggest to make a plan beforehand though. Mine were nicotine free cigarettes. They really helped my hands to stay occupied and, even more important, I still could go on a smoking break at work from time to time. I let that fade out slowly.
Don’t be mad, just wait to buy it till they offer a nice package deal (do we have a patient gamers community here?). If enough users do that, they hopefully change their business model.
Overall I also think that paid add-ons are quite okay, if they actually add new stuff and if the base game is a finished product in itself. Ensures that developers continue to take care of the game without subscriptions and leads to games that one can play for a decade (like CK2). But yeah, Paradox overdoes this.