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I'm pretty libertarian, but I agree something needs to change. I don't know what sane regulation would look like, but I suspect the politician's answer would b

I'm pretty libertarian, but I agree something needs to change. I don't know what sane regulation would look like, but I suspect the politician's answer would be regulatory capture of some kind. I personally don't want some kind of government censor managing my internet connection, but at the same time I think this shit is detrimental to society. I think it's a conversation we should be having.

jampekka 3y ago
Maybe some way of making addiction-inducing products less profitable instead of censorship? Or going further, lessening the role of profit in how society is organized?
zo1 3y ago
I'm also heavily leaning towards Libertarian/Anarcho-Capitalist. My thought on the matter is that whatever solution we come up with to resolve this particular issue is the same one we need to do to resolve the greater societal issues we are seeing, because I think the root cause is the same. Beyond that, part of the Libertarian line of thought is that we have to "let go" and let things fall where they may because we have no moral claim over it. The area of effect we have as individuals is quite small so it makes sense to focus in that direction rather. So that would mean things like family, neighborhood, community, shared culture/religion, and the institutions that build on those. I myself try to be involved with and sit on the boards of HoAs, to add some sanity and fairness to it. I've also been helping pay for close family friends to go through college. I'm also planning on doing charity work for the groups I feel closest to in my local context (South Africa).
- andai 3y ago
  The root cause is a desire for unconsciousness. The solution is a higher level of consciousness. Take a small dose of LSD (not endorsing this, just making a point) and the entire modern internet becomes unbearable. It becomes physically painful to procrastinate because you are just painfully aware that you are trying to distract yourself, defeating the purpose. It's like when you reset your tastebuds and the level of sugar and salt in everything becomes physically revolting. I don't expect a mass enlightenment any time soon though (regardless of legalization/normalization of psychedelics), so we'll need one or two (or three...) "stopgap" solutions before that point. (Just for the next thousand years or so ;) A somewhat related phenomenon is the desire for someone else to take care of everything. It simplifies the infinite chaos and complexity of life. To some degree this is necessary to maintain sanity, but if this is the "default" approach, except for a small percentage of people who seek power due to genetic hardwiring... well then you end up with what we have now. In this case, the solution is also maturation (though in this case, emotional rather than... whatever you want to call consciousness being aware of itself), and also not expected to "arrive" within the next few centuries. I wish I had some more practical suggestions, but I at least hope that pointing out the root causes (as I see them) may lead someone else to helpful ideas.
pjc50 3y ago
Interesting to watch people confront themselves like this. Everyone's libertarian until they see a real harm that actually upsets them and they can't victim-blame.
- deleted 3y ago
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- cultureswitch 3y ago
  Nah man there are a lot of harms that upset me where I still think regulation would cause more harm. Anything related to the latest craze over CSAM and encryption is a good example. On the other hand, if anyone wants to try making advertisement contracts unenforceable (illegal, essentially), I'll be the first in line.

jampekka 3y ago

Maybe some way of making addiction-inducing products less profitable instead of censorship? Or going further, lessening the role of profit in how society is organized?

zo1 3y ago

I'm also heavily leaning towards Libertarian/Anarcho-Capitalist. My thought on the matter is that whatever solution we come up with to resolve this particular issue is the same one we need to do to resolve the greater societal issues we are seeing, because I think the root cause is the same. Beyond that, part of the Libertarian line of thought is that we have to "let go" and let things fall where they may because we have no moral claim over it. The area of effect we have as individuals is quite small so it makes sense to focus in that direction rather. So that would mean things like family, neighborhood, community, shared culture/religion, and the institutions that build on those. I myself try to be involved with and sit on the boards of HoAs, to add some sanity and fairness to it. I've also been helping pay for close family friends to go through college. I'm also planning on doing charity work for the groups I feel closest to in my local context (South Africa).

andai 3y ago
The root cause is a desire for unconsciousness. The solution is a higher level of consciousness. Take a small dose of LSD (not endorsing this, just making a point) and the entire modern internet becomes unbearable. It becomes physically painful to procrastinate because you are just painfully aware that you are trying to distract yourself, defeating the purpose. It's like when you reset your tastebuds and the level of sugar and salt in everything becomes physically revolting. I don't expect a mass enlightenment any time soon though (regardless of legalization/normalization of psychedelics), so we'll need one or two (or three...) "stopgap" solutions before that point. (Just for the next thousand years or so ;) A somewhat related phenomenon is the desire for someone else to take care of everything. It simplifies the infinite chaos and complexity of life. To some degree this is necessary to maintain sanity, but if this is the "default" approach, except for a small percentage of people who seek power due to genetic hardwiring... well then you end up with what we have now. In this case, the solution is also maturation (though in this case, emotional rather than... whatever you want to call consciousness being aware of itself), and also not expected to "arrive" within the next few centuries. I wish I had some more practical suggestions, but I at least hope that pointing out the root causes (as I see them) may lead someone else to helpful ideas.

pjc50 3y ago

Interesting to watch people confront themselves like this. Everyone's libertarian until they see a real harm that actually upsets them and they can't victim-blame.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
cultureswitch 3y ago
Nah man there are a lot of harms that upset me where I still think regulation would cause more harm. Anything related to the latest craze over CSAM and encryption is a good example. On the other hand, if anyone wants to try making advertisement contracts unenforceable (illegal, essentially), I'll be the first in line.