Ambrose Little

Catholic, father of 7, 25+ yrs software engineer. Politically independent. Perpetually professed lay Dominican. I mute trolls, esp. anons.

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

I have decided I am moving forward with Pope Leo from dealing with cantankerous trads. I’d like to connect with faithful Catholics here who are not perpetually relitigating the same tired old controversies or incessantly criticizing our pastors. Are y’all out there? Plz?

[ben hylak @benhylak]

having great employees is crazy because it's like having ultra-reliable long-horizon subagents that are powered by mythos

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

@monsterhunter45 Tim. Tom. … 😅

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

@monsterhunter45 Crazy that people act like reading a few books is some kind of major personal investment. Like they weren’t entertained etc for what they read and it’s all about some imagined completion. My goodness. BTW, I’m a fan of MHI and Tim Stranger. Thanks!

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

@tumacius @CatholicSat It’s not about power.

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

@ModernBoethius Good grief. What is wrong with people..

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

@Steve_Yegge Until and if we see some step change in practicable capability, reliability, and cost, the idea that AI is going to reshape everything is doubtful.

Maybe these tech leaders are not morons. Maybe one can jump the gun on AI adoption. There’s probably a rational middle ground here.

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

Synodality gets a bad rap, but it’s a solid approach. The irony of complaining that “they” are not listening to me while attacking the path of listening is not lost on me.

I think people who’ve never really led others don’t understand it. But even when you have the authority, listening to those you’re leading makes you a better leader. That is not about delegating your leadership nor going with the crowd, much less caving to this or that special interest. It’s just listening and putting yourself in others shoes. It’s the smart way to lead.

The alternative is that leaders just do whatever they please regardless of what the people they are leading care about. That’s tyranny, not leadership.

I’m not saying the particular ways this has manifest lately are ideal, but they are genuine attempts. Parish/diocesan surveys and focus groups are imperfect tools, but they do surface more than what might otherwise surface.

Folks need to chill on the overreaction to this. Complaining on X isn’t going to fix or change anything. Actually take advantage of the willingness to listen being offered.

But keep in mind that often the way you say something is as important as the message—if you really want to be heard. It’s even more crucial on highly charged, controversial issues where people carry lots of baggage.

Lastly, keep in mind the very likely possibility that your take is wrong. You can’t equate leaders not doing what you want as their not listening.

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

This special interests framing is important. Many get caught up in this or that particular concern to the exclusion of the whole. They even interpret statements like this as a special attack on their interest—or supporting what they think is someone else’s. That’s not the case.

[Catholic Sat @CatholicSat]

Pope Leo XIV addressing the Sacred College of Cardinals this morning:

“We are not custodians of special interests, we are shepherds of the Church, called to be leaven for society.”

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

@OrdoFramework I vacillate between enjoying it at a kind of less filtered outlet of my opinions probably almost no one will read to having some hope of positively impacting the state of things. Depends on my mood. But it’s always at least the former.

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

@OrdoFramework See what I did there? 😅

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

An interesting read. In one of my articles, I also noted the similarities—there’s a common theme in our history of rigorism and excessive attachment to particular older/“traditional” ways of thinking about and expressing the Faith coming into conflict with the Church at large. And it is always on the wrong side—gets declared heretical and/or leads to schism from the one true Church.

[Commonweal Magazine @commonwealmag]

While history doesn’t repeat itself, it does rhyme. Today's traditionalism parallels the Jansenist crisis in early modern Catholicism.

An essay by @RichardTYoder1 and @ShaunLBlanchard:
https://t.co/x7Lj06zjUy

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

Seems like the broader trap here is starting from attempted gender role generalities. Basing your relationship (or desired relationship) on these is a losing prospect, and you’re just setting yourself up for unnecessary conflict.

Get to know each other as individual persons. If there is genuine love there, you will navigate the differences of opinions and find workable compromises. At some point you’ll realize that most of these kinds of generalizations are neither true nor in any way binding. There are much more important principles to hold to—like love of God, openness to life, forgiveness, and so on.

Be open to the strengths each brings and worry less about assigning them to categories/weighing if they fit some idealized mold of woman/man.

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

@xthemasterand TFP is one of the weirder manifestations of trad.

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

@gdb But did you vibe code it in a loop? I hear that is all we need nowadays.

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

If you think the Devil and his cohorts are not seeking your downfall, you are being sadly naive. The prayer is about hope and trust in God’s protection through his angels against them (not the world). It’s not paranoia nor is it in any way contrary to our evangelical mission—the exact opposite. It is spiritual warfare, not cultural.

Multiple popes have commended praying it together at mass. Suggest your perspective needs adjustment on this.

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

@FeserEdward Yes, well, I think the same will be said of the overreaction and broad generalizations about "Modernism" by those who see it everywhere in any hint of change in the Church. Modernism is mostly a bogeyman and unfortunate in that it's oft confused with the general term "modern."

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

Yeah, the problem is this is actually an advanced form of ascetical practice and if ever undertaken should be with much careful and prayerful discernment—including that of a wise and moderate spiritual director. By advanced I mean advanced in the path of holiness.

I think a lot of zealous souls attempt this before they’re ready, and for many it may never be wise. There are many less fraught forms of asceticism. For some, _not_ taking the discipline may be a more effective ascetical practice—as you say.

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

As a somewhat disinterested observer (due to my low profile if nothing else), I have to give Austen and @mfjlewis some credit here. You were very vociferously and repeatedly critical of and combative towards Francis, and by your example if not precise words insinuated he was an heretic and most certainly gave cover to those who did so more blatantly. You have done very much to damage the office and dignity of the papal office, and you’ve greatly contributed to the current milieu of open hostility and dissent, And you have encouraged many to abandon the proper deference and submission due to the pope—yes, even and especially in his infallible teachings and acts.

I think your current defense of Leo is to be applauded. It’s a happy turn as far as I’m concerned. But I do think you should own up to your responsibility for the current state of things with regard to the prevalence of disrespect towards our pastors and especially the pope. I’d even suggest that doing so and apologizing would only strengthen the defense you have now taken up. 🙏🏻

[Ambrose Little @software_dad]

Yes. This isn’t an elite or gate keeping position. It’s the on the ground reality with even the best models today. They don’t show good judgement for maintainable code.

This is also true of many humans. As you say, the ones who weren’t good don’t recognize that AI doesn’t either. The ones who think it writes better.. 👀 I suppose the majority of training data is mid at best.