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I assert, and I think many of us here are moved by the notion that, as time moves forward, technological solutions tend to be confounding for entrenched power s
by jMyles 11y ago
I assert, and I think many of us here are moved by the notion that, as time moves forward, technological solutions tend to be confounding for entrenched power structures and empowering for social liberation.
I don't really know how to parse "you can't fix social problems with technology," but I have much more confidence in the growing power of, for example, uncensorable media than I do in any fantasy of change in the nature of government.
My sense is that government will be co-opted by the rich to excuse violence against the poor, and that this rule will apply in proportion to the size of the government and the size of the landmass over which it claims dominion. Technology seems to be the cultural foil to this trend.
I think that "you can't fix social problems with technology" is too oversimple and too absolute to have real meaning in the current techno-political environment.
- gnaritas 11y agoThen let me be more clear; you can't get around laws with technology. You have to change the laws. Proposing to make something peer to peer doesn't address the actual problem, the law.
- dongping 11y agoAs there are countries where laws cannot be changed, technological solutions can fix the problems once and for all. Even in "democratic" country, you would still have to fight the lobbyists, corporate controlled media and so on.
- CamperBob2 11y agoThere's no such thing as a country whose laws can't be changed. Only countries where the people don't care enough to do what's necessary to change them.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- jessaustin 11y agoOh, now I understand North Korea's problems!
- CamperBob2 11y agoDo you have an actual argument? People get the government they deserve.
- CamperBob2 11y agoActually, thinking about it, North Koreans can at least argue that China will intercede in their political and economic affairs to the extent necessary to keep them subjugated. So I'll give you that. But what's Brazil's excuse?
- gnaritas 11y ago> As there are countries where laws cannot be changed No, there aren't. > technological solutions can fix the problems once and for all No, they can't. Oppression can't be fixed by circumventing the law as it just leaves the government more power to enable selective enforcement which is the ideal way to scare people into compliance.
- stale2002 11y agoReally? Because Uber and AirBnB seem to be doing a pretty good job of using technology to get around laws. edit: Actually here is a REALLY easy answer. What about Pirating and Torrenting. Do you really believe that this peer to peer technology hasn't massively helped people get around copyright laws?
- dongping 11y agoOr Sci-Hub and Libgen.