4 ms·

any tool can be used for good or evil. To stop people from doing bad things we need to focus on correcting people's behaviors not on crippling our tools.

anigbrowl 4y ago
This is generally correct. But at the same time, it's facile to ignore the existence of network effects that arise from increased connectivity, and the way they shift incentives. They are not just 'our' tools (qua individual owners), because they leverage a massive shared infrastructure of standards, data sharing, and re-transmission. What you're offering here is not an argument but a mental block to actually thinking about the issue described. You don't offer any ideas for 'correcting people's behaviors': how do you propose to address the phenomena of greed, dishonesty and so on, given that people with those qualities are just as well able to make use of technology for their selfish ends?
- gnarbarian 4y ago
  specific remedies cannot be prescribed for abstract problems. We deal with those problems as we always have, through cultural and legal reinforcement. Our culture informs us of what is socially acceptable (theft, greed, dishonesty etc) and meters out justice through our real social networks of family and friends. For issues that raise to a level of criminality we use the legal system. I also think it's perfectly fine to make use of technology for selfish ends. That's the real reason competitive market economies function more effectively than command economies. When we all act out of our own self interest we buy the best value good and reward the most efficient producer. (Thiel argues with this and I admit this pattern does not hold in markets with monopolies, cartels, or regulatory capture)
  - Spooky23 4y ago
    When Apple is forced to allow for side loading, you’ll miss the old AppStore when the government moves in to regulate. You’ll have AppStore licensing within 3-5 years. We have a market economy in this space. The platform companies recognize the risk associated with these platforms and try to control it. People like Thiel are self interested. He welcomes government oversight because he can influence government - but cannot really influence Apple and Google.
    - gnarbarian 4y ago
      actually I use Android and a third party app store called fdroid for many things like gadget bridge which I use to control my open source pinetime smart watch. I prefer this. I love side loading apps on my oculus quest too. my quest will continue to provide me value after meta ceases support this year.

anigbrowl 4y ago

This is generally correct. But at the same time, it's facile to ignore the existence of network effects that arise from increased connectivity, and the way they shift incentives. They are not just 'our' tools (qua individual owners), because they leverage a massive shared infrastructure of standards, data sharing, and re-transmission. What you're offering here is not an argument but a mental block to actually thinking about the issue described. You don't offer any ideas for 'correcting people's behaviors': how do you propose to address the phenomena of greed, dishonesty and so on, given that people with those qualities are just as well able to make use of technology for their selfish ends?

gnarbarian 4y ago
specific remedies cannot be prescribed for abstract problems. We deal with those problems as we always have, through cultural and legal reinforcement. Our culture informs us of what is socially acceptable (theft, greed, dishonesty etc) and meters out justice through our real social networks of family and friends. For issues that raise to a level of criminality we use the legal system. I also think it's perfectly fine to make use of technology for selfish ends. That's the real reason competitive market economies function more effectively than command economies. When we all act out of our own self interest we buy the best value good and reward the most efficient producer. (Thiel argues with this and I admit this pattern does not hold in markets with monopolies, cartels, or regulatory capture)
- Spooky23 4y ago
  When Apple is forced to allow for side loading, you’ll miss the old AppStore when the government moves in to regulate. You’ll have AppStore licensing within 3-5 years. We have a market economy in this space. The platform companies recognize the risk associated with these platforms and try to control it. People like Thiel are self interested. He welcomes government oversight because he can influence government - but cannot really influence Apple and Google.
  - gnarbarian 4y ago
    actually I use Android and a third party app store called fdroid for many things like gadget bridge which I use to control my open source pinetime smart watch. I prefer this. I love side loading apps on my oculus quest too. my quest will continue to provide me value after meta ceases support this year.