6 ms·

I do tons of useful stuff on my computers running software locally on those computers. You are right about network services working hard to own more and more o

I do tons of useful stuff on my computers running software locally on those computers. You are right about network services working hard to own more and more of the interactions and make it increasingly difficult to manage one's relationships and interactions without those services. Frankly, I've responded by making damn sure I have interactions with the people I care about that are not owned by these services. Should one change, or I somehow am cutoff, I can maintain my relationships and interactions with people I care about. Regarding IRC, the resolution to your dilemma is open data in tandem with open code. Sure, they could be running an IRC like thing. But, your data, interactions with others over IRC, are all open. Same goes for email and such. You can take it with you. You can change servers. You can read all of it without enabling technology. Regarding cheating... That's a social problem being attacked with technology and it's going to bring grave consequences. Personally, I would rather not play than deal with what's being done in an attempt to prevent cheating. The people interested in doing that are playing their very favorite game, and the cost of escalating that cat and mouse impacts all of us. Impacts you.

maratc 5y ago
> That's a social problem being attacked with technology Any problem in the last couple of centuries is being attacked with technology. That's what the industrial revolution is about. Steam engine? That's a transportation problem being attacked with technology. Covid vaccines? That's a healthcare problem being attacked with technology. Anti-missile missiles? That's an international relations problem being attacked with technology.
- peoplefromibiza 5y ago
  > Steam engine? That's a transportation problem being attacked with technology steam engine has been adapted to transportation, after transportation was invented, they haven't solved any social problem. there wasn't a transportation problem, there was a problem applying the technology to transportation, for lack of better alternatives. steam engine in cars were banned until 1920s, so cars used electric engines. it worked (kinda) on trains main application of steam engine still remains steam turbines for power (electricity) generation, which is a modern technological challenge by itself. > Covid vaccines? That's a healthcare problem being attacked with technology COVID vaccines helped an economic problem, people would have survived by avoiding contacts they have been in fact deployed firstly and foremost in developed (AKA rich) countries (2.8 billion people around the world are still waiting to get their first shot). modern drug manufacturing is not about society anymore and hasn't been for at least a century now. > Anti-missile missiles? That's an international relations problem being attacked with technology. That's a warfare problem that has always been about technology, since forever.
  - maratc 5y ago
    What needs to be explained is why throwing technology at power generation problems, economic problems, healthcare problems, or warfare problems is seemingly ok, but social problems are a no-go zone.
    - jdbernard 5y ago
      Because using technology to solve social problems leads to restraining people's personal freedom, choices, and expression in a much more direct manner than other domains of problem solving. Furthermore, this restraint tends to impact people unevenly. As ineffective as the government may or may not be, at least the goal is for all people to be considered equal in the eyes of the law. With technology the power lives with those who own and create the technology, who have even less oversight and accountability than those who make the laws.
      - maratc 5y ago
        The inequality issue exists as well with Covid vaccines and with weapons — other applications of technology, so societal problems are not standing alone there. The unequal access to nuclear weapons is... a good thing I guess? What still needs to be explained is why throwing technology at power generation problems, economic problems, healthcare problems, or warfare problems is seemingly ok regardless of inequality, but social problems are a no-go zone.
        ddingus 5y ago
        It is about technology alignment, and the nature of people. Right now, our tech is not capable of understanding meaning a mere child does easily. This makes it very poorly aligned with the problem domain in that applying it will create at least as many and probably more problems than it will solve. Other problem domains have seen better tech alignment and have also seen greater success, though one could argue we also poorly understand the new problems created in some cases. (Global warming makes burning fuels a much worse deal than initially believed) The side effects inherent with such blunt instruments as appear to be required to apply tech to social, human problems warrant consideration well beyond, "just because we can." In the future, when our tech is much better, perhaps it can address human, social problems with far fewer costs to those subjected to the solutions. Just how much control over your life and expression do you feel is necessary? Right now it is well beyond anything I feel good about and it has just gotten started!

maratc 5y ago

> That's a social problem being attacked with technology Any problem in the last couple of centuries is being attacked with technology. That's what the industrial revolution is about. Steam engine? That's a transportation problem being attacked with technology. Covid vaccines? That's a healthcare problem being attacked with technology. Anti-missile missiles? That's an international relations problem being attacked with technology.

peoplefromibiza 5y ago
> Steam engine? That's a transportation problem being attacked with technology steam engine has been adapted to transportation, after transportation was invented, they haven't solved any social problem. there wasn't a transportation problem, there was a problem applying the technology to transportation, for lack of better alternatives. steam engine in cars were banned until 1920s, so cars used electric engines. it worked (kinda) on trains main application of steam engine still remains steam turbines for power (electricity) generation, which is a modern technological challenge by itself. > Covid vaccines? That's a healthcare problem being attacked with technology COVID vaccines helped an economic problem, people would have survived by avoiding contacts they have been in fact deployed firstly and foremost in developed (AKA rich) countries (2.8 billion people around the world are still waiting to get their first shot). modern drug manufacturing is not about society anymore and hasn't been for at least a century now. > Anti-missile missiles? That's an international relations problem being attacked with technology. That's a warfare problem that has always been about technology, since forever.
- maratc 5y ago
  What needs to be explained is why throwing technology at power generation problems, economic problems, healthcare problems, or warfare problems is seemingly ok, but social problems are a no-go zone.
  - jdbernard 5y ago
    Because using technology to solve social problems leads to restraining people's personal freedom, choices, and expression in a much more direct manner than other domains of problem solving. Furthermore, this restraint tends to impact people unevenly. As ineffective as the government may or may not be, at least the goal is for all people to be considered equal in the eyes of the law. With technology the power lives with those who own and create the technology, who have even less oversight and accountability than those who make the laws.
    - maratc 5y ago
      The inequality issue exists as well with Covid vaccines and with weapons — other applications of technology, so societal problems are not standing alone there. The unequal access to nuclear weapons is... a good thing I guess? What still needs to be explained is why throwing technology at power generation problems, economic problems, healthcare problems, or warfare problems is seemingly ok regardless of inequality, but social problems are a no-go zone.
      - ddingus 5y ago
        It is about technology alignment, and the nature of people. Right now, our tech is not capable of understanding meaning a mere child does easily. This makes it very poorly aligned with the problem domain in that applying it will create at least as many and probably more problems than it will solve. Other problem domains have seen better tech alignment and have also seen greater success, though one could argue we also poorly understand the new problems created in some cases. (Global warming makes burning fuels a much worse deal than initially believed) The side effects inherent with such blunt instruments as appear to be required to apply tech to social, human problems warrant consideration well beyond, "just because we can." In the future, when our tech is much better, perhaps it can address human, social problems with far fewer costs to those subjected to the solutions. Just how much control over your life and expression do you feel is necessary? Right now it is well beyond anything I feel good about and it has just gotten started!