3 ms·

Law is law. Code has to function within the law - just like everything else.

by mnd999 5y ago

ddingus 5y ago
You really should read the book. One problem case is policy, which is a subset of the actual law, gets embodied in code thus reducing the agency of people to something less than the law allows for. There are many others, and the whole point of the book is to examine the means by which human behavior is regulated and how code acts like more than law. By way of very brief review, we are regulated by these forces: Money and markets. When we lack economic means to a behavior, we are denied that behavior. This is an active regulation in that behavior is denied, not possible. Physics. The rules of the world permit what they permit. There are things we want to do that the world does not allow. The smarter we are, the less this regulation applies, but it is an active regulation in that a behavior is denied, not possible. Norms. These are social regulations. They are not an active regulation in that they do not actually deny a behavior. However, consequences abound post behavior. Act like an ass and others may shun you as a consequence. Laws. These are legal regulations. They are not an active regulation in that they do not actually deny a behavior. However, consequences abound, and unlike norms, they actually have real force in that one can be denied freedom, title, money and more. The important thing to understand about code is that it is an active regulation, behavior may be denied, unlike law which acts post behavior. And the real discussion starts from there with a case like I put above.
- mnd999 5y ago
  What utter crypto-nerd fantasy rubbish.
  - ddingus 5y ago
    That is Larry Lessig's work you are characterizing as rubbish. Frankly, the bulk of the comment is fact, summarized version of the text. It all predates crypto-nerdism by at least a decade. I am not a crypto nerd. (That is a basic fail on your part) Cheers, and again you really would benefit from the book(s) I won't respond again
  - ddingus 5y ago
    Thought experiment for you: Compare and contrast speed limit laws vs computer code geo fencing the speed of your car. What happens when you drive faster than the law allows? What happens when you attempt to drive your car faster than the code allows? Say you faced a crime or emergency and found it necessary to exceed the speed limit. How do the differences between code and law regulate your behavior and what impact does that have on your personal agency?

Law is law. Code has to function within the law - just like everything else.

by mnd999 5y ago

Law is law. Code has to function within the law - just like everything else.

You really should read the book. One problem case is policy, which is a subset of the actual law, gets embodied in code thus reducing the agency of people to something less than the law allows for. There are many others, and the whole point of the book is to examine the means by which human behavior is regulated and how code acts like more than law. By way of very brief review, we are regulated by these forces: Money and markets. When we lack economic means to a behavior, we are denied that behavior. This is an active regulation in that behavior is denied, not possible. Physics. The rules of the world permit what they permit. There are things we want to do that the world does not allow. The smarter we are, the less this regulation applies, but it is an active regulation in that a behavior is denied, not possible. Norms. These are social regulations. They are not an active regulation in that they do not actually deny a behavior. However, consequences abound post behavior. Act like an ass and others may shun you as a consequence. Laws. These are legal regulations. They are not an active regulation in that they do not actually deny a behavior. However, consequences abound, and unlike norms, they actually have real force in that one can be denied freedom, title, money and more. The important thing to understand about code is that it is an active regulation, behavior may be denied, unlike law which acts post behavior. And the real discussion starts from there with a case like I put above.

mnd999 5y ago
What utter crypto-nerd fantasy rubbish.
- ddingus 5y ago
  That is Larry Lessig's work you are characterizing as rubbish. Frankly, the bulk of the comment is fact, summarized version of the text. It all predates crypto-nerdism by at least a decade. I am not a crypto nerd. (That is a basic fail on your part) Cheers, and again you really would benefit from the book(s) I won't respond again
- ddingus 5y ago
  Thought experiment for you: Compare and contrast speed limit laws vs computer code geo fencing the speed of your car. What happens when you drive faster than the law allows? What happens when you attempt to drive your car faster than the code allows? Say you faced a crime or emergency and found it necessary to exceed the speed limit. How do the differences between code and law regulate your behavior and what impact does that have on your personal agency?