4 ms·

So in order to "disconnect" you need to leave everything behind, go into the woods, and make everything from scratch?

by bmj 11y ago

sliverstorm 11y ago
No, the ones that irk me are specifically the people who make a big show about everything that's wrong with modern life and capitalism and such, and how much better it is to live off the land free of the corrupting influences society, and yet don't see how much they still depend on "The System" they profess to hate so much. The ones in this piece don't particularly seem to be that type, I suppose, so maybe it's not relevant.
- bmj 11y ago
  Fair enough. That's a valid point.
- joe5150 11y ago
  See also: RMS and his willingness to avail himself of other people's cell phones and grocery store club cards even though such things are verboten surveillance instruments.
  - function_seven 11y ago
    Isn't using someone else's store card a great subversion of their surveillance? I share a card with about half a dozen other people. Ralph's computer must scratch it's head when it looks at "my" purchasing patterns.
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
    - joe5150 11y ago
      Probably not, and that's not his reasoning anyway.
- beatpanda 11y ago
  In my experience, the people you're describing don't really exist; you're just projecting.
- firstworldman 11y ago
  Why do you think it bothers you? Genuinely curious. I understand that hypocrisy is frustrating, but perhaps this situation is more illustrative of the fact that "The System" has so pervasively invaded free spaces (physical spaces as well as psychogeographic ones), than it is that these (or others) are just young punks who won't know any better until their older and wiser (like us -- by implication?). What criteria do their motivations not satisfy, and in what way do their actions or desires/beliefs/ideas impact you to the extent that it would provoke any reaction at all? Is it dishonest to say you're disconnecting and still wear shoes? That doesn't seem right to me. I'm forever interested in why righteous motivations seem to automatically provoke feelings of judgement or disdain from some people, who usually make comparative observations about the relative purity of a project or intentions, against their own values and wisdom. There are certain people for whom the simple act of someone's wanting to do something substantially different (and who knows, maybe better?) seems to be an existential threat. I'm not saying that your reaction here is that serious, but I've seen it in many others. It just seems like there is a knee-jerk reaction from many quarters that finds any discussion about alternatives to simply accepting and living within the defined parameters of "The System", and I wonder where that often-vehement opposition comes from. *typo edit
  - sliverstorm 11y ago
    Probably total lack of gratitude. You like your laptop because it makes your life better. That makes me happy. But then you tell me the "The System" is evil, and makes nothing good, etc- it's not only hypocritical, but it stings just a little, as I am a member of the very system making your laptop. I don't want thanks, I just don't want to be told I'm evil at the same time as you enjoy the fruits of my labor.

So in order to "disconnect" you need to leave everything behind, go into the woods, and make everything from scratch?

by bmj 11y ago

So in order to "disconnect" you need to leave everything behind, go into the woods, and make everything from scratch?

No, the ones that irk me are specifically the people who make a big show about everything that's wrong with modern life and capitalism and such, and how much better it is to live off the land free of the corrupting influences society, and yet don't see how much they still depend on "The System" they profess to hate so much. The ones in this piece don't particularly seem to be that type, I suppose, so maybe it's not relevant.

bmj 11y ago
Fair enough. That's a valid point.
joe5150 11y ago
See also: RMS and his willingness to avail himself of other people's cell phones and grocery store club cards even though such things are verboten surveillance instruments.
- function_seven 11y ago
  Isn't using someone else's store card a great subversion of their surveillance? I share a card with about half a dozen other people. Ralph's computer must scratch it's head when it looks at "my" purchasing patterns.
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
  - joe5150 11y ago
    Probably not, and that's not his reasoning anyway.
beatpanda 11y ago
In my experience, the people you're describing don't really exist; you're just projecting.
firstworldman 11y ago
Why do you think it bothers you? Genuinely curious. I understand that hypocrisy is frustrating, but perhaps this situation is more illustrative of the fact that "The System" has so pervasively invaded free spaces (physical spaces as well as psychogeographic ones), than it is that these (or others) are just young punks who won't know any better until their older and wiser (like us -- by implication?). What criteria do their motivations not satisfy, and in what way do their actions or desires/beliefs/ideas impact you to the extent that it would provoke any reaction at all? Is it dishonest to say you're disconnecting and still wear shoes? That doesn't seem right to me. I'm forever interested in why righteous motivations seem to automatically provoke feelings of judgement or disdain from some people, who usually make comparative observations about the relative purity of a project or intentions, against their own values and wisdom. There are certain people for whom the simple act of someone's wanting to do something substantially different (and who knows, maybe better?) seems to be an existential threat. I'm not saying that your reaction here is that serious, but I've seen it in many others. It just seems like there is a knee-jerk reaction from many quarters that finds any discussion about alternatives to simply accepting and living within the defined parameters of "The System", and I wonder where that often-vehement opposition comes from. *typo edit
- sliverstorm 11y ago
  Probably total lack of gratitude. You like your laptop because it makes your life better. That makes me happy. But then you tell me the "The System" is evil, and makes nothing good, etc- it's not only hypocritical, but it stings just a little, as I am a member of the very system making your laptop. I don't want thanks, I just don't want to be told I'm evil at the same time as you enjoy the fruits of my labor.