4 ms·

History rhymes. Of course, this time the robber barons know what will happen if they delve too greedily and too deep. Unions, the New Deal... can't have that.

History rhymes. Of course, this time the robber barons know what will happen if they delve too greedily and too deep. Unions, the New Deal... can't have that. This time they are making more clever investments in propaganda, government control, and distraction.

rapnie 8y ago
..and supported by the latest tech to make that all much easier :)
- metalliqaz 8y ago
  tech is just tech, used as a tool by both the forces of good and of evil
  - moorhosj 8y ago
    Not necessarily. If the owners of the tech and the robber barons are the same people, that is a concern.
  - tntn 8y ago
    This is a BS cop out to avoid having to think about ethics. Some tech is inherently good or bad. If you create platforms that spread misinformation and rage much more effectively than information and reason, you shouldn't be able to walk away saying "it's a neutral tool!"
    - malvosenior 8y ago
      > Some tech is inherently good or bad. Not true. You might see a platform "spreading rage" as bad but to the people on the platform it's giving them a way to fight injustice (hence the rage -- what are they angry about). Tech connects people. You may not agree with those people but they'll be glad to have the platform.
      - deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
      - tntn 8y ago
        Yeah, and zyklon B chambers were great for some people too.
        malvosenior 8y ago
        It’s sad that we still have Godwin’s Law in 2018.
  - lotsofpulp 8y ago
    I think rapnie means that tech can be used to keep more people oppressed with fewer people doing the oppressing making revolutions more difficult.
  - newen 8y ago
    You should read "A Deepness in the Sky" by Vernor Vinge. It's sci-fi and contains lots of misuses of technologies. When I see something like what you wrote, it reminds me of this novel. Really, just read more sci-fi and you will get how technology can be used for real evil.
specialist 8y ago
They've also gotten much better at hiding, laundering their money. The smart ones, at least. I grew up around a lot of rich people. Old money knew how to blend in. New money (nouveau riche) stood out. Then, it was just gauche. Now, I think the dummies flaunting their wealth engenders a lot of resentment.

rapnie 8y ago

..and supported by the latest tech to make that all much easier :)

metalliqaz 8y ago
tech is just tech, used as a tool by both the forces of good and of evil
- moorhosj 8y ago
  Not necessarily. If the owners of the tech and the robber barons are the same people, that is a concern.
- tntn 8y ago
  This is a BS cop out to avoid having to think about ethics. Some tech is inherently good or bad. If you create platforms that spread misinformation and rage much more effectively than information and reason, you shouldn't be able to walk away saying "it's a neutral tool!"
  - malvosenior 8y ago
    > Some tech is inherently good or bad. Not true. You might see a platform "spreading rage" as bad but to the people on the platform it's giving them a way to fight injustice (hence the rage -- what are they angry about). Tech connects people. You may not agree with those people but they'll be glad to have the platform.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - tntn 8y ago
      Yeah, and zyklon B chambers were great for some people too.
      - malvosenior 8y ago
        It’s sad that we still have Godwin’s Law in 2018.
- lotsofpulp 8y ago
  I think rapnie means that tech can be used to keep more people oppressed with fewer people doing the oppressing making revolutions more difficult.
- newen 8y ago
  You should read "A Deepness in the Sky" by Vernor Vinge. It's sci-fi and contains lots of misuses of technologies. When I see something like what you wrote, it reminds me of this novel. Really, just read more sci-fi and you will get how technology can be used for real evil.

specialist 8y ago

They've also gotten much better at hiding, laundering their money. The smart ones, at least. I grew up around a lot of rich people. Old money knew how to blend in. New money (nouveau riche) stood out. Then, it was just gauche. Now, I think the dummies flaunting their wealth engenders a lot of resentment.