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We _are_ in 1984, but unlike the book, it's not imposed on us. We signed up for it. And those of frequenting HN most likely are the ones helping to build it. T

We _are_ in 1984, but unlike the book, it's not imposed on us. We signed up for it. And those of frequenting HN most likely are the ones helping to build it. Think about it: tomorrow is Monday. How many folks on this board will be working on analytics and tracking once they get in to the office? A lot of us, guaranteed. And how many of us will take a principled stand, swearing not to work on products until surveillance features are removed? A few of us, guaranteed.

Cacti 9y ago
You say people will take a stand, but the vast and overwhelming number of us wont, we will just continue to help build the greatest surveillance system in history. And then tell each other how we’re unicorns that are saving the world, that we cherish freedom and liberty and the hacker ethis, when really we just want to get paid.
- jeffdavis 9y ago
  Nobody knows what stand to take. We stood and fought for open source everywhere, thinking that would be our salvation. But apperently there is more to it than that, and we aren't exactly sure what.
  - Cacti 9y ago
    Sure we are sure, we just don't like it. RMS gets a lot of flack, but he's mostly right---this is not a technical problem with a technical solution, it's a political problem with a necessarily political solution. Most of us live in democracies, so if you want to fix the problem, it's actually quite straight-forward, it's just that people don't want to give up their nice job and nice hobbies.
    - jeffdavis 9y ago
      If you know what the law should be, please tell us.
- maxscam 9y ago
  Oh my god stop being so dramatic, both of you. The vast majority of people are not actively contritubing to the sorry state of data privacy nor are they heroically working to fix it. Put the blame where its due.
  - Cacti 9y ago
    Are you kidding me? HN is _built_ on startups that specialize in selling ads.
katastic 9y ago
>We _are_ in 1984, but unlike the book, it's not imposed on us. We're living in both 1984 and Brave New World. See this illustration between 1984 and Brave New World. https://i.imgur.com/vRBtL.jpg https://i.imgur.com/vRBtL.jpg

Cacti 9y ago

You say people will take a stand, but the vast and overwhelming number of us wont, we will just continue to help build the greatest surveillance system in history. And then tell each other how we’re unicorns that are saving the world, that we cherish freedom and liberty and the hacker ethis, when really we just want to get paid.

jeffdavis 9y ago
Nobody knows what stand to take. We stood and fought for open source everywhere, thinking that would be our salvation. But apperently there is more to it than that, and we aren't exactly sure what.
- Cacti 9y ago
  Sure we are sure, we just don't like it. RMS gets a lot of flack, but he's mostly right---this is not a technical problem with a technical solution, it's a political problem with a necessarily political solution. Most of us live in democracies, so if you want to fix the problem, it's actually quite straight-forward, it's just that people don't want to give up their nice job and nice hobbies.
  - jeffdavis 9y ago
    If you know what the law should be, please tell us.
maxscam 9y ago
Oh my god stop being so dramatic, both of you. The vast majority of people are not actively contritubing to the sorry state of data privacy nor are they heroically working to fix it. Put the blame where its due.
- Cacti 9y ago
  Are you kidding me? HN is _built_ on startups that specialize in selling ads.

katastic 9y ago

>We _are_ in 1984, but unlike the book, it's not imposed on us. We're living in both 1984 and Brave New World. See this illustration between 1984 and Brave New World. https://i.imgur.com/vRBtL.jpg https://i.imgur.com/vRBtL.jpg