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I've been watching Star Trek my whole life and to me this is the natural extension of technology. I can see some people not wanting this for themselves, but wh

I've been watching Star Trek my whole life and to me this is the natural extension of technology. I can see some people not wanting this for themselves, but why care if I have one?

darklajid 9y ago
I've been watching Star Trek as well, but that's a local instance running on the very ship you rely on - and more a 'utility service' kind of thing. I wouldn't compare that to Google Home (or Alexa or whatever). 1) The current solutions are plain stupid. They impress me about the same way that speech recognition to type a letter in the early 2000s impressed me. Some things work. Most don't. 2) The current solutions are backed by corporations and (as someone that really dislikes all things Apple) among these three only Apple might be considered somewhat trustworthy (they aren't a shop that tries to sell you every product this planet has to offer nor are they the biggest and scariest advertisement company). I like the Star Trek visions. I'd also like a replicator and a holo deck, but won't argue that a 3d printer and Google Cardboard are kinda there yet. (Obviously it doesn't make sense to complain about YOU liking these products. I assume the GP feels just cornered by the inexplicable mass appeal/success of these products)
iagooar 9y ago
As I wrote above: Other people not caring about privacy equals governments not caring, equals big brother for everyone, like it or not.
- ashark 9y ago
  I think it's under-appreciated how shifts in culture and behavior affect the practical liberty of the individual. We worry about government limiting us, but the mass choices of uncoordinated individuals can just as easily curtail our choices, sometimes opening up new ones, yes, but also cutting off others. To the extent that laws shape these things, our choice not to limit certain behavior or liberties can de facto limit some other behavior or liberties, and thanks to coordination problems this can happen even if everyone prefers the liberties they're losing to the ones they're gaining. If government is the Leviathan, this undirected but quite strict framing of our choices is Cthulhu.

I've been watching Star Trek my whole life and to me this is the natural extension of technology. I can see some people not wanting this for themselves, but why care if I have one?

darklajid 9y ago

I've been watching Star Trek as well, but that's a local instance running on the very ship you rely on - and more a 'utility service' kind of thing. I wouldn't compare that to Google Home (or Alexa or whatever). 1) The current solutions are plain stupid. They impress me about the same way that speech recognition to type a letter in the early 2000s impressed me. Some things work. Most don't. 2) The current solutions are backed by corporations and (as someone that really dislikes all things Apple) among these three only Apple might be considered somewhat trustworthy (they aren't a shop that tries to sell you every product this planet has to offer nor are they the biggest and scariest advertisement company). I like the Star Trek visions. I'd also like a replicator and a holo deck, but won't argue that a 3d printer and Google Cardboard are kinda there yet. (Obviously it doesn't make sense to complain about YOU liking these products. I assume the GP feels just cornered by the inexplicable mass appeal/success of these products)

iagooar 9y ago

As I wrote above: Other people not caring about privacy equals governments not caring, equals big brother for everyone, like it or not.

ashark 9y ago
I think it's under-appreciated how shifts in culture and behavior affect the practical liberty of the individual. We worry about government limiting us, but the mass choices of uncoordinated individuals can just as easily curtail our choices, sometimes opening up new ones, yes, but also cutting off others. To the extent that laws shape these things, our choice not to limit certain behavior or liberties can de facto limit some other behavior or liberties, and thanks to coordination problems this can happen even if everyone prefers the liberties they're losing to the ones they're gaining. If government is the Leviathan, this undirected but quite strict framing of our choices is Cthulhu.