5 ms·

If we as a society have changed nothing in response to new knowledge, have we really learned anything? I'd agree with the parent that no, we haven't.

dylan604 3y ago
If you want to be flippant about it, fine. Just because you know that other planets exist around stars outside of our solar system but you can't visit them, did we actually learn anything? Having knowledge of something does not immediately mean you are able to take action with that knowledge. Sure, the typical HN reader might have been able to take action with things like installing various extensions in their browsers, running PiHoles on their private networks, using VPNs when on public networks, etc, but we've also learned that these are not enough and avoiding the tracking that we've learned about is nigh impossible. We now know things about persistent tracking that was not shared by Snowden, but we only started looking because of the revelations from Snowden got the wheels turning.
- BlargMcLarg 3y ago
  There is a humongous gap between stars we can't reach and not putting every little detail of your life on the internet for all to see. Keeping information to yourself isn't something locked away behind extensive technical prowess. Heck, if we are playing this game: most still make fun of their 'weird tech relative/friend' who can do this rather than ask them to help for what they will probably do for free. The people have spoken and continue to speak very clearly.
  - dylan604 3y ago
    Sure, not publicly listing every meal you have followed by every bowel movement would be a good start that is never going to happen because the world needs to know this information. However, that's not the only data that is gathered and sold. The information that is gathered passively from extensive efforts to track individuals across the internet is the elephant in the room that you seemingly want to ignore. These are direct attempts by companies to subvert individuals that might actually NOT be posting every little thing they do on social platforms. Things like tracking people as they move about brick & mortar stores or other types of beacons for whatever purposes they are being used for are examples. SmartTVs gather metrics, grocery stores gather metrics, and the million other "little" things that when gathered together all paint a very very detailed picture about someone without them necessarily knowing about. so you're "don't be so public on the internet" is not such a simple little thing

dylan604 3y ago

If you want to be flippant about it, fine. Just because you know that other planets exist around stars outside of our solar system but you can't visit them, did we actually learn anything? Having knowledge of something does not immediately mean you are able to take action with that knowledge. Sure, the typical HN reader might have been able to take action with things like installing various extensions in their browsers, running PiHoles on their private networks, using VPNs when on public networks, etc, but we've also learned that these are not enough and avoiding the tracking that we've learned about is nigh impossible. We now know things about persistent tracking that was not shared by Snowden, but we only started looking because of the revelations from Snowden got the wheels turning.

BlargMcLarg 3y ago
There is a humongous gap between stars we can't reach and not putting every little detail of your life on the internet for all to see. Keeping information to yourself isn't something locked away behind extensive technical prowess. Heck, if we are playing this game: most still make fun of their 'weird tech relative/friend' who can do this rather than ask them to help for what they will probably do for free. The people have spoken and continue to speak very clearly.
- dylan604 3y ago
  Sure, not publicly listing every meal you have followed by every bowel movement would be a good start that is never going to happen because the world needs to know this information. However, that's not the only data that is gathered and sold. The information that is gathered passively from extensive efforts to track individuals across the internet is the elephant in the room that you seemingly want to ignore. These are direct attempts by companies to subvert individuals that might actually NOT be posting every little thing they do on social platforms. Things like tracking people as they move about brick & mortar stores or other types of beacons for whatever purposes they are being used for are examples. SmartTVs gather metrics, grocery stores gather metrics, and the million other "little" things that when gathered together all paint a very very detailed picture about someone without them necessarily knowing about. so you're "don't be so public on the internet" is not such a simple little thing