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One expects this to be satire, but it is stated entirely in earnest: Freedom is control. People have always been able to make false or misleading statements,

One expects this to be satire, but it is stated entirely in earnest: Freedom is control. People have always been able to make false or misleading statements, at scale, with either false attribution or none at all. This is a matter of degree, not of kind. The primary difference in method is that now these statements can come from any source rather than only an approved mouthpiece. Why should generative AI compel us to pervert the meaning of the word "freedom"?

RandomLensman 3y ago
Freedom always has a control aspect - controlling things and powers that can inflict harm which would otherwise limit your freedom to go about your daily life, for example, is pretty normal. Whether or not AI created misinformation will fall into a special control category is a different discussion.
- swader999 3y ago
  Interesting. To me, it's the ability to fully contemplate reality and the ability to choose paths in that reality if it doesn't harm others. There's certainly control and power aspects involved in this when it plays out.
  - RandomLensman 3y ago
    Definitely. In most societies you don't get the pure "if it doesn't harm others" but already something more like "if it isn't too likely to harm others too much" (with all sorts of intricacies and local flavors).
    - swader999 3y ago
      The "don't harm others" is very complex, multi layered, contextual and so on. This is why looser restrictions on the discussion, debate and even thought are needed. Note, I said "others", I think there should be the ability to make choices that harm ourselves. We benefit from taking bad paths and learning from them. I don't know how else one can truly grow.
      - Nevermark 3y ago
        > We benefit from taking bad paths and learning from them. Up to a point. Nothing is simple. Systematic net-negative transactions are worth inhibiting if not prohibiting. For instance, predatory lenders that knowingly put disadvantaged people in moments of dire need on a long road of financial slavery, and inevitable bankruptcy, are a cancer.

RandomLensman 3y ago

Freedom always has a control aspect - controlling things and powers that can inflict harm which would otherwise limit your freedom to go about your daily life, for example, is pretty normal. Whether or not AI created misinformation will fall into a special control category is a different discussion.

swader999 3y ago
Interesting. To me, it's the ability to fully contemplate reality and the ability to choose paths in that reality if it doesn't harm others. There's certainly control and power aspects involved in this when it plays out.
- RandomLensman 3y ago
  Definitely. In most societies you don't get the pure "if it doesn't harm others" but already something more like "if it isn't too likely to harm others too much" (with all sorts of intricacies and local flavors).
  - swader999 3y ago
    The "don't harm others" is very complex, multi layered, contextual and so on. This is why looser restrictions on the discussion, debate and even thought are needed. Note, I said "others", I think there should be the ability to make choices that harm ourselves. We benefit from taking bad paths and learning from them. I don't know how else one can truly grow.
    - Nevermark 3y ago
      > We benefit from taking bad paths and learning from them. Up to a point. Nothing is simple. Systematic net-negative transactions are worth inhibiting if not prohibiting. For instance, predatory lenders that knowingly put disadvantaged people in moments of dire need on a long road of financial slavery, and inevitable bankruptcy, are a cancer.