3 ms·

I don't think you understand, it's a conspiracy though.

blurbleblurble 5y ago
Ah, like in the actual sense of the word? In a literal sense I can see that but I just struggle with that framing because it's so charged and in my mind what's happen is a lot more complex, messy and irrational. For example, there are a lot of people who understand and are excited about "internet of things" but don't realize that our bodies can be used as big wobbly RFID antennas. A lot of people are hyped about XR tracking tech and "the metaverse" but bury their heads in the sand for the larger contextual implications of these technologies becoming cheap and ubiquitous. It's possible to consciously understand all of the technical aspects of these tools and how they work and have seen it coming from decades away but still be shocked to the point of disbelief at the implications when the technology finally surfaces. That's the point I'm at now. Are these things "future" we want to live in? Maybe we have to taste it to know its bitterness. I imagine there are a lot of researchers in this field who carry a kind of wishful, optimistic tunnel vision about the scope of possible applications of this emerging infrastructure. Many of the example applications given have to do with personal fitness or elderly care. So in some sense this is at least as much about collective willful ignorance or helplessness as it is some kind of coverup. The "actual conspiracy" aspect of this situation is complex too. There's just so much bad information out there it's hard to make sense of what's organically festering and what's been willingly seeded or cultivated. Lying comms departments are definitely a thing though. Lying is something that does definitely happen. One thing I do come away feeling certain about is that critical scientific and cultural literacy are really important. A lot of people have one but not the other. A lot of people have literacy in either or both areas but it's not critical.
- tata71 5y ago
  Don't waste your time with people who can't even sort out the difference between "conspiracy" and "conspiracy theory", or where the phrase originated (don't read articles, just the memo itself).

Ah, like in the actual sense of the word? In a literal sense I can see that but I just struggle with that framing because it's so charged and in my mind what's happen is a lot more complex, messy and irrational. For example, there are a lot of people who understand and are excited about "internet of things" but don't realize that our bodies can be used as big wobbly RFID antennas. A lot of people are hyped about XR tracking tech and "the metaverse" but bury their heads in the sand for the larger contextual implications of these technologies becoming cheap and ubiquitous. It's possible to consciously understand all of the technical aspects of these tools and how they work and have seen it coming from decades away but still be shocked to the point of disbelief at the implications when the technology finally surfaces. That's the point I'm at now. Are these things "future" we want to live in? Maybe we have to taste it to know its bitterness. I imagine there are a lot of researchers in this field who carry a kind of wishful, optimistic tunnel vision about the scope of possible applications of this emerging infrastructure. Many of the example applications given have to do with personal fitness or elderly care. So in some sense this is at least as much about collective willful ignorance or helplessness as it is some kind of coverup. The "actual conspiracy" aspect of this situation is complex too. There's just so much bad information out there it's hard to make sense of what's organically festering and what's been willingly seeded or cultivated. Lying comms departments are definitely a thing though. Lying is something that does definitely happen. One thing I do come away feeling certain about is that critical scientific and cultural literacy are really important. A lot of people have one but not the other. A lot of people have literacy in either or both areas but it's not critical.

tata71 5y ago
Don't waste your time with people who can't even sort out the difference between "conspiracy" and "conspiracy theory", or where the phrase originated (don't read articles, just the memo itself).