3 ms·
I'm prepared to sacrifice many things for various principles. But I won't sacrifice access to information, which is what I find most valuable about the internet
by tlb 9y ago
I'm prepared to sacrifice many things for various principles. But I won't sacrifice access to information, which is what I find most valuable about the internet.
Information is power, and if principled people sacrifice their access to information, then unprincipled people will hold more of the world's power.
So the danger of encouraging principled people to opt out of parts of the internet is that they will become less powerful, and unprincipled people more powerful.
- ssivark 9y ago> Information is power, and if principled people sacrifice their access to information, then unprincipled people will hold more of the world's power. What if access to information necessitates handing over information about oneself, which gives other entities power to influence one? Eg: One can browse for information, but companies will track browsing activity, and use that towards targeted persuasion.
- tlb 9y agoI'm not very vulnerable to targeted persuasion (partly because I consume so much high-quality information). There are enough vulnerable people to swing close elections, but it's a small minority. I don't think the answer is for those vulnerable people to cut themselves off, though.
- theclaw 9y agoHow do you know this? Would you consider a system of targeted persuasion where the subject is aware they're being manipulated a successful one? I'm being subtly guided towards products and services all the time through myriad sneaky marketing techniques I'm completely unaware of. I know enough of them to appreciate how much I don't know.