4 ms·

We need to talk about techie tunnel vision

4 points by jocker12 5y ago

zepto 5y ago
“Big Tech’s elite engineers might be brilliant — but that doesn’t mean they are qualified to organise our lives” Ok, but it’s not like journalists, politicians, economists, or activists are better.
- version_five 5y ago
  Its specifically the role of politicians. In a liberal democracy we outsource some of the administration of our lives to politicians explicitly. The problem is, they have been racing to the bottom for some time (and we've let them) so there are only terrible options available. And simultaneously we've collectively expected them to make even more decisions for us. Those our society's collective fault, but it doesn't invalidate completely the idea of elective democracy. For all it's faults, it beats the hell out of technocracy or theocracy (including "science") based administration.
  - zepto 5y ago
    > Its specifically the role of politicians. Is it? Since when? Certainly they will tell you it’s their role, but why do you think they have ever been the ones to solve societies problems? Also, how are politicians ‘qualified’? > In a liberal democracy we outsource some of the administration of our lives to politicians explicitly. When did you ‘explicitly’ make this outsourcing decision? I don’t think you did. I think you were just born in a place where you were told that’s the deal. > Those our society's collective fault, It’s utterly meaningless to blame society collectively for anything. > but it doesn't invalidate completely the idea of elective democracy. I guess you have a really rosy view of politicians as problem solvers. I wonder what possible evidence could be driving that idea? > For all it's faults, it beats the hell out of technocracy or theocracy (including "science") based administration. Yes, I agree it’s better than theocracy. No, you can’t claim it’s better than technocracy since you have no examples to compare with.
haspoken 5y ago
https://archive.md/RA8Ao https://archive.md/RA8Ao
thunkshift1 5y ago
Tldr; These nerds know nothing about society.. leave that to us.

4 points by jocker12 5y ago

“Big Tech’s elite engineers might be brilliant — but that doesn’t mean they are qualified to organise our lives” Ok, but it’s not like journalists, politicians, economists, or activists are better.

version_five 5y ago
Its specifically the role of politicians. In a liberal democracy we outsource some of the administration of our lives to politicians explicitly. The problem is, they have been racing to the bottom for some time (and we've let them) so there are only terrible options available. And simultaneously we've collectively expected them to make even more decisions for us. Those our society's collective fault, but it doesn't invalidate completely the idea of elective democracy. For all it's faults, it beats the hell out of technocracy or theocracy (including "science") based administration.
- zepto 5y ago
  > Its specifically the role of politicians. Is it? Since when? Certainly they will tell you it’s their role, but why do you think they have ever been the ones to solve societies problems? Also, how are politicians ‘qualified’? > In a liberal democracy we outsource some of the administration of our lives to politicians explicitly. When did you ‘explicitly’ make this outsourcing decision? I don’t think you did. I think you were just born in a place where you were told that’s the deal. > Those our society's collective fault, It’s utterly meaningless to blame society collectively for anything. > but it doesn't invalidate completely the idea of elective democracy. I guess you have a really rosy view of politicians as problem solvers. I wonder what possible evidence could be driving that idea? > For all it's faults, it beats the hell out of technocracy or theocracy (including "science") based administration. Yes, I agree it’s better than theocracy. No, you can’t claim it’s better than technocracy since you have no examples to compare with.

haspoken 5y ago

https://archive.md/RA8Ao https://archive.md/RA8Ao

thunkshift1 5y ago

Tldr; These nerds know nothing about society.. leave that to us.