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As an American it may just be attitudes. The last two administrations didn’t do much to Google, Democrat or Republican. But the idea of big tech being a wonder

by MBCook 4y ago

As an American it may just be attitudes. The last two administrations didn’t do much to Google, Democrat or Republican. But the idea of big tech being a wonder that unequivocally makes life better and doesn’t need oversight seems to be falling apart. Both for good (privacy) and bad (‘kill section 230!’) reasons.

xvector 4y ago
[flagged]
- notTechbut 4y ago
  [flagged]
  - xvector 4y ago
    It's not entitled at all. How much of the world literally runs on technology developed by tech workers? From being able to call your family from anywhere in the world to the most critical systems, tech workers are the reason that quality of life is so much better today than it was, say, pre-internet. The affordances provided by the smartphone alone are an example of this. How is this not obvious proof that tech workers have fundamentally changed the world and improved QoL?
    - okCompewtr 4y ago
      Tech is part of a web of industries that provide to each other. What phones without the rare Earth metals a traditional combustion machine digs up? As far as you or I go specifically, reality does not need either of us to actually exist. Plenty of folks still around without the two of us. For numerous health metrics a slower pre-internet life was healthier. All the technological churn has had long lived impact on environment that will make life worse in the future. Keep cherry picking.
      - nickpp 4y ago
        > will make life worse in the future We've been burning hydrocarbons to keep warm and move around long before tech. But the future of energy (and thus of our civilization) will come from tech, not from looking back at burning wood and whale oil. See renewables, fusion and even nuclear.
        okCompewtr 4y ago
        [flagged]
  - throwaway589275 4y ago
    This. And god forbid you suggest on HN that it's OK if Google and other tech megacaps are actually run for the collective benefit of their stockholders, which besides current and former employees, includes practically every American with a retirement account, including those not fortunate enough to win the FAANG lottery. Expect downvotes and flags, presumably from those who seriously believe Google should just keep paying people $300k a year indefinitely, despite perceived underperformance.
- lovich 4y ago
  When goods and services become commodities humans always take them for granted because they can be. We don’t ooh and ahh over high grade steel or steam engines anymore even though they would have been revolutionary 400 years ago. Big tech got past their novelty phase and now people want more improvements. It’s how our economic system works

by MBCook 4y ago

xvector 4y ago

[flagged]

notTechbut 4y ago
[flagged]
- xvector 4y ago
  It's not entitled at all. How much of the world literally runs on technology developed by tech workers? From being able to call your family from anywhere in the world to the most critical systems, tech workers are the reason that quality of life is so much better today than it was, say, pre-internet. The affordances provided by the smartphone alone are an example of this. How is this not obvious proof that tech workers have fundamentally changed the world and improved QoL?
  - okCompewtr 4y ago
    Tech is part of a web of industries that provide to each other. What phones without the rare Earth metals a traditional combustion machine digs up? As far as you or I go specifically, reality does not need either of us to actually exist. Plenty of folks still around without the two of us. For numerous health metrics a slower pre-internet life was healthier. All the technological churn has had long lived impact on environment that will make life worse in the future. Keep cherry picking.
    - nickpp 4y ago
      > will make life worse in the future We've been burning hydrocarbons to keep warm and move around long before tech. But the future of energy (and thus of our civilization) will come from tech, not from looking back at burning wood and whale oil. See renewables, fusion and even nuclear.
      - okCompewtr 4y ago
        [flagged]
- throwaway589275 4y ago
  This. And god forbid you suggest on HN that it's OK if Google and other tech megacaps are actually run for the collective benefit of their stockholders, which besides current and former employees, includes practically every American with a retirement account, including those not fortunate enough to win the FAANG lottery. Expect downvotes and flags, presumably from those who seriously believe Google should just keep paying people $300k a year indefinitely, despite perceived underperformance.
lovich 4y ago
When goods and services become commodities humans always take them for granted because they can be. We don’t ooh and ahh over high grade steel or steam engines anymore even though they would have been revolutionary 400 years ago. Big tech got past their novelty phase and now people want more improvements. It’s how our economic system works