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> The Rubik’s cube almost as a sex toy of those paranoid for dataveillance, a symbol of the genius needed to beat corrupt political systems. Honestly? What is

> The Rubik’s cube almost as a sex toy of those paranoid for dataveillance, a symbol of the genius needed to beat corrupt political systems. Honestly? What is this garbage? Interesting commentary, maybe, but I can't say I agree with any of this. Is this a respected author or news source of whose opinion I should be more accepting?

x5n1 11y ago
> Is this a respected author or news source of whose opinion I should be more accepting? Do you let fame determine the legitimacy of the your media you listen to?
- TillE 11y ago
  That's just a reason you might take a second look at an article which seems pretty stupid - if the author is previously known for intelligent commentary.
- elthran 11y ago
  How do you not? Someone's history and expertise should absolutely be used as a gauge of how to view the information they're presenting. Do you treat Fox News the same as the BBC? Or are you going to take David Icke at the same level of truth as Glen Greenwald?
  - x5n1 11y ago
    > David Icke at the same level of truth as Glen Greenwald? I treat all non lizard-people with similar level of "truthiness"
    - voidz 11y ago
      Also, don't forget to buy seeds while you still can!
- phpnode 11y ago
  Well, yes, to a large degree. A famous, reputable news source is generally going to provide better quality service than smaller media outlets.
  - x5n1 11y ago
    Perhaps higher quality of more believable propaganda and rhetoric, rather than your run of the mill critical drivel that comes out of academic circles so you can feel better about life? > A famous, reputable news source is generally going to provide better quality service than smaller media outlets. To who, their customers i.e. advertisers? Or to you, their product? There is a reason they are famous and reputable, and it does not have to do with found most trustworthy by a panel of educated, well informed experts. As George Orwell said, “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”
    - phpnode 11y ago
      The burden of knowlege must rest heavy on your shoulders, if only other people were as capable of critical thinking as you are the world would be a better place... Seriously though feel free to keep your ill-informed assumptions to yourself.
      - deleted 11y ago
        [deleted]
      - x5n1 11y ago
        If it's not true then why are you so offended by comment enough to tell me to "keep my ill-informed assumptions to myself". At some level you must believe what I said to be true or at least offensive to your held world view.
        phpnode 11y ago
        I was reacting to your assumption that I blindly accept the news as reported as truth, in order to "feel better about life" in your words. You don't know anything about me.
anentropic 11y ago
yes, this phrase turned me off too
mbrock 11y ago
This kind of cultural criticism often relies on intuition and aesthetic perceptions that can't easily be sourced or fact-checked. Like, look at Barthes's Mythologies for a whole bunch of examples. I wasn't really blown away by this essay, but Snowden as a symbol is a pretty interesting topic.
morsch 11y ago
You're gonna love this gem, too: "In this way, the whistleblower’s whistle stands for an object representing a sort of sexualized salvation from the ubiquitous evil dealings of the internet’s major players like Google. The word itself implies the mouth, in order to be a whistleblower one has to blow." Or this: "Why do we need individual heroes at the center of digital rights conversations? One might look to Leo Steinberg’s famous art historical text, The Sexuality of Christ In Renaissance Art and in Modern Oblivion, to interpret this phenomenon." -- The premise of the stated question is hardly established, and the given answer does not relate to it at all: what it does is give an instance of a historical figure being the subject of sexual imagery.
- pc86 11y ago
  > > in order to be a whistleblower one has to blow A lot of this reads like an adolescent's attempt to be profound.
cyphar 11y ago
> > The Rubik’s cube almost as a sex toy of those paranoid for dataveillance, a symbol of the genius needed to beat corrupt political systems. > Honestly? What is this garbage? Interesting commentary, maybe, but I can't say I agree with any of this. Is this a respected author or news source of whose opinion I should be more accepting? Wow, I've been solving Rubik's cubes for years as a pass-time. I didn't realise that I was actually playing with a sex toy! Does this mean I'm going to hell? /s In all seriousness, what is this crap?
Almaviva 11y ago
> The Rubik’s cube almost as a sex toy of those paranoid for dataveillance I'm glad I'm not the only one who drilled a hole in it.
- spdustin 11y ago
  I've found that some silicone lube makes for easier handling, especially with robots doing the work. Not even a joke. A double entendre, okay, I'll grant you that. I bought this cube (http://amzn.com/B008U6V50U http://amzn.com/B008U6V50U) a while back when seeking a cube that I could use in my Lego Mindstorms Rubik's cube solver. The solver wasn't of my own design, but I wanted to experiment with different brick programs for solving, and needed a cube that would reliably turn with little effort (to minimize time spent resetting). Silicone lube was recommended for rejuvenating the lubricated parts, since that's what the maker used anyway. Apparently, petroleum based products could eat away at the plastics in most cubes. Just thought I'd toss it in, in case someone searching for Rubik's Cube in the future happens across this thread. :)

x5n1 11y ago

> Is this a respected author or news source of whose opinion I should be more accepting? Do you let fame determine the legitimacy of the your media you listen to?

TillE 11y ago
That's just a reason you might take a second look at an article which seems pretty stupid - if the author is previously known for intelligent commentary.
elthran 11y ago
How do you not? Someone's history and expertise should absolutely be used as a gauge of how to view the information they're presenting. Do you treat Fox News the same as the BBC? Or are you going to take David Icke at the same level of truth as Glen Greenwald?
- x5n1 11y ago
  > David Icke at the same level of truth as Glen Greenwald? I treat all non lizard-people with similar level of "truthiness"
  - voidz 11y ago
    Also, don't forget to buy seeds while you still can!
phpnode 11y ago
Well, yes, to a large degree. A famous, reputable news source is generally going to provide better quality service than smaller media outlets.
- x5n1 11y ago
  Perhaps higher quality of more believable propaganda and rhetoric, rather than your run of the mill critical drivel that comes out of academic circles so you can feel better about life? > A famous, reputable news source is generally going to provide better quality service than smaller media outlets. To who, their customers i.e. advertisers? Or to you, their product? There is a reason they are famous and reputable, and it does not have to do with found most trustworthy by a panel of educated, well informed experts. As George Orwell said, “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”
  - phpnode 11y ago
    The burden of knowlege must rest heavy on your shoulders, if only other people were as capable of critical thinking as you are the world would be a better place... Seriously though feel free to keep your ill-informed assumptions to yourself.
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
    - x5n1 11y ago
      If it's not true then why are you so offended by comment enough to tell me to "keep my ill-informed assumptions to myself". At some level you must believe what I said to be true or at least offensive to your held world view.
      - phpnode 11y ago
        I was reacting to your assumption that I blindly accept the news as reported as truth, in order to "feel better about life" in your words. You don't know anything about me.

anentropic 11y ago

yes, this phrase turned me off too

mbrock 11y ago

This kind of cultural criticism often relies on intuition and aesthetic perceptions that can't easily be sourced or fact-checked. Like, look at Barthes's Mythologies for a whole bunch of examples. I wasn't really blown away by this essay, but Snowden as a symbol is a pretty interesting topic.

morsch 11y ago

You're gonna love this gem, too: "In this way, the whistleblower’s whistle stands for an object representing a sort of sexualized salvation from the ubiquitous evil dealings of the internet’s major players like Google. The word itself implies the mouth, in order to be a whistleblower one has to blow." Or this: "Why do we need individual heroes at the center of digital rights conversations? One might look to Leo Steinberg’s famous art historical text, The Sexuality of Christ In Renaissance Art and in Modern Oblivion, to interpret this phenomenon." -- The premise of the stated question is hardly established, and the given answer does not relate to it at all: what it does is give an instance of a historical figure being the subject of sexual imagery.

pc86 11y ago
> > in order to be a whistleblower one has to blow A lot of this reads like an adolescent's attempt to be profound.

cyphar 11y ago

> > The Rubik’s cube almost as a sex toy of those paranoid for dataveillance, a symbol of the genius needed to beat corrupt political systems. > Honestly? What is this garbage? Interesting commentary, maybe, but I can't say I agree with any of this. Is this a respected author or news source of whose opinion I should be more accepting? Wow, I've been solving Rubik's cubes for years as a pass-time. I didn't realise that I was actually playing with a sex toy! Does this mean I'm going to hell? /s In all seriousness, what is this crap?

Almaviva 11y ago

> The Rubik’s cube almost as a sex toy of those paranoid for dataveillance I'm glad I'm not the only one who drilled a hole in it.

spdustin 11y ago
I've found that some silicone lube makes for easier handling, especially with robots doing the work. Not even a joke. A double entendre, okay, I'll grant you that. I bought this cube (http://amzn.com/B008U6V50U http://amzn.com/B008U6V50U) a while back when seeking a cube that I could use in my Lego Mindstorms Rubik's cube solver. The solver wasn't of my own design, but I wanted to experiment with different brick programs for solving, and needed a cube that would reliably turn with little effort (to minimize time spent resetting). Silicone lube was recommended for rejuvenating the lubricated parts, since that's what the maker used anyway. Apparently, petroleum based products could eat away at the plastics in most cubes. Just thought I'd toss it in, in case someone searching for Rubik's Cube in the future happens across this thread. :)