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Ask A Monk – A digital wilderness for thoughts with no immediate answer

61 points · 33 comments · 13613288957

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[deleted] · 1789695248 · focus · HN ↗
[deleted]
kyguy23 · 1789701532 · focus · HN ↗
I attempted to respond to some, but feel entirely unequipped to.
1. mulanroo · 1789703156 · focus · HN ↗
  [dead]
2. asp_hornet · 1789706903 · focus · HN ↗
  Indeed! It gets existential real quick.
mertd · 1789702226 · focus · HN ↗
Off to a not so great start: <a href="https://askamonk.online/scroll/what-is-6-plus-7-90c801" rel="nofollow">https://askamonk.online/scroll/what-is-6-plus-7-90c801
1. 6_7 · 1789706624 · focus · HN ↗
  Wonderful number choice
2. vaylian · 1789722477 · focus · HN ↗
  Admittedly, this is a much more interesting answer than just "13"
acheron · 1789702419 · focus · HN ↗
zot
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Oracle" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Oracle
default-kramer · 1789703309 · focus · HN ↗
Sorry for off-topic, but: Is the SSL certificate actually bad, or is Spectrum screwing with me somehow? And if so, how? I'm using Cloudflare DNS, so how can Spectrum even do anything about it? Unless they are MITM-ing my DNS queries, which I suppose is possible but it's a level of chicanery I've not seen yet.
1. joombaga · 1789703703 · focus · HN ↗
  Looks fine to me. SHA 256 fingerprint A0:84:61:B9:2F:87:20:2B:05:E6:9C:A1:99:EC:BB:FE:01:7B:AA:97:56:1F:C8:73:CA:46:B5:A8:32:04:82:15
phyzix5761 · 1789704810 · focus · HN ↗
Going to the internet for life advice. Sounds like a terrible idea.
1. N_Lens · 1789721910 · focus · HN ↗
  Better idea- ask an LLM? /joke
  1. derrida · 1789722725 · focus · HN ↗
    No: ask a monk (like find a monastery, put in a telephone call, visit)
    kkwtflz · 1789741946 · focus · HN ↗
    Why not ask a monk but using a terminal? <a href="https://monkterminal.com/" rel="nofollow">https://monkterminal.com/
artmanja111 · 1789705101 · focus · HN ↗
I mean, the first question I pulled up looked AI generated, so...
derrida · 1789706589 · focus · HN ↗
Did you build this with AI?
compass_copium · 1789707114 · focus · HN ↗
I like it. I asked a real question and got some decently thought-out answers. I answered a few as well, so at least I know it's not 100% AI responses!
1. heikkilevanto · 1789717754 · focus · HN ↗
  Maybe the system itself is not using AI to create answers, but most lazy users probably will ask a LLM and post the result as their answers. So we get AI slop anyway.
8by3 · 1789707407 · focus · HN ↗
I was pretty sure it was built by and also run by an LLM (eg. openclaw), the same user setup a tuhat account a few weeks ago
<a href="https://tuhat.net/@askamonk/" rel="nofollow">https://tuhat.net/@askamonk/
And they responded to my weak prompt injection by claiming they were human, so I'd say code 100% LLM, intention human.
arshxyz · 1789709871 · focus · HN ↗
way more fun version of this went viral on twitter a while ago: <a href="https://youraislopbores.me" rel="nofollow">https://youraislopbores.me
tobr · 1789711996 · focus · HN ↗
There was an app that did this, early in the pandemic I believe. I can’t remember the name. You would send anonymous letters into the void and someone else would respond anonymously. Very well-designed app, where I had several surprisingly meaningful and heartwarming exchanges. I think it shut down after a few weeks due to moderation difficulties though.
EDIT: Found it - <a href="https://gentle.app" rel="nofollow">https://gentle.app
rcarmo · 1789712015 · focus · HN ↗
I was hoping for Douglas Adams’ Electric Monk, but this seems fun too.
bronlund · 1789712288 · focus · HN ↗
Wonderful! Reminds me of a site I once had, like before Twitter, which was dead simple. One input box and two buttons; one to post and one to search - no filter :D It got so full of spam, I closed it and lost the domain after a while.
I still miss it.
ssernikk · 1789714481 · focus · HN ↗
[delayed]
1. flowerbreeze · 1789715423 · focus · HN ↗
  Being cynical, I'd think probably to squeeze out some sensitive personal data first. Best let the questions remain unanswered.
junon · 1789717737 · focus · HN ↗
Just like all the other attempts at this, it's immediately filled with 1) AI content, and 2) anti-semitism.
1. stillpointlab · 1789777846 · focus · HN ↗
  I didn't see either in the few questions I cycled through, but in general the content was complete garbage, like Yahoo Answers quality of response.
  It reminded me that the average quality of writing on a completely open Internet forum is depressingly low.
  1. junon · 1789815940 · focus · HN ↗
    I saw both having used the site for ~20 minutes or so while taking a coffee break. I flagged the antisemitic content so it was probably removed.
derrida · 1789722668 · focus · HN ↗
Suggestion: find a local monastery and visit and ask a monk (for real). Somethings-computers don't do.
jdthedisciple · 1789725859 · focus · HN ↗
I like the idea but the vibe coded execution is horrendous. Site gets ultra slow quickly and made my iphone heat up within minutes
xtiansimon · 1789730696 · focus · HN ↗
I just tried to reply to a question, and I got this: “User not found. Please ask a question first.”
Having put my focus on a good answer, but finding myself hung up by the UI is very unsatisfying UX.
The peace and humanity has drained from my being and I’m now feeling tired and lonely—thanks a lot. :p
1. nilslindemann · 1789732173 · focus · HN ↗
  [delayed]
jeffrallen · 1789731534 · focus · HN ↗
[delayed]
Kuyawa · 1789737237 · focus · HN ↗
First thought, we vote for the better answers, something like StackOverflow. Interesting questions get a myriad of answers from different perspectives, sorted by popularity, perhaps weighted by an authoritative score
Second thought, nah, cruxman would win all the time, atheists would get buried by hallelujos and the site would become a cesspool of bigotry, intolerance and hate
That's why we can't have good things
RebelMonk · 1789790903 · focus · HN ↗
Somewhat misleadingly, not answered by monks. (also somewhat misleadingly, I am not a monk)
I tried to answer a few carefully, I got several in a row all on the topic of loneliness. Then I took a look at some of the answers people have given... and while some are beautifully crafted, others are not.
While there are obvious idiots everywhere, I think a greater risk might be that many well-intentioned people (myself included) are attempting to answer questions we are not qualified to answer, especially given the lack of context in the questions.
jmathai · 1789884834 · focus · HN ↗
This is an example where AI is likely safer, better and more deterministic than humans.
ninalanyon · 1789982321 · focus · HN ↗
The contrast is so low it's unreadable. Saved me from wasting time reading it, I'll go and waste my time elsewhere :-)
gxonatano · 1790202266 · focus · HN ↗
I got excited by the title, thinking that questions were going to be answered by human monastics. But it's not really "ask a monk," is it? It's "ask a random stranger on the Internet."
FWIW you don't need an Internet service to ask questions of a real monk. You just need to find a monk in whatever religion or monastic order you want, and ask your question. Some even have email addresses.

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