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I am tired of people that complain and don't offer a way concrete forward. This is why the free software movement failed and why the fediverse will obviously f

by max_ 3y ago

I am tired of people that complain and don't offer a way concrete forward. This is why the free software movement failed and why the fediverse will obviously fail.

nehal3m 3y ago
Let me turn that around on you; so what is the way forward?
- singleshot_ 3y ago
  Minimize the use of digital technology in all its forms. Focus on meaningful, in-person relationships. Ignore the 24 hour news cycle and participate in local policy and governance. Buy less stuff, focus on developing the quality, effectiveness, and integration of the stuff you already have. Never, ever work to forward big companies’ goals of infiltrating society with their technology.
- max_ 3y ago
  Build new - Social networks - Hardware - Internet UI portals* That are cannot be abused by corporations. * The web is rotten to the core. No amount of regulation or activism can fix it at this point. We need something else.
sumuyuda 3y ago
System change was mentioned at the end of the article. Moving past Capitalism will be the way forward.
- al_borland 3y ago
  That's an easy thing to say, but not useful as a way to move forward. What does that new system look like? How does the transition happen? If going with one of the traditional replacements for Capitalism based in some kind of Marxism, why should anyone believe it will work this time, when it has failed every other time? The typical, "we'll do it right this time," isn't going to cut it. Simply eliminating Capitalism doesn't put a society on the fast track to peace and prosperity, it simply changes how the few end up with power and control.
- max_ 3y ago
  Until the author actually moves to a Communist country. It's safe to suggest that this "system change" is unrealistic.
fulladder 3y ago
How do you figure that the free software movement failed? I definitely see a loss of interest these days, but the accomplishments of the last 30 years are enormous.
- max_ 3y ago
  I am referring to "Stallman Compliant" software/hardware. Almost no one besides a small group of fanatics. Used free software. Why isn't there a smartphone that Richard Stallman can use? The reason is because no one built such a phone. People where instead complaining about it. But no one actually thought of a real solution. Besides the fanatical "throw away your phone" that is very impractical for most people today.
  - worksonmine 3y ago
    > Why isn't there a smartphone that Richard Stallman can use? > The reason is because no one built such a phone. People where instead complaining about it. Librem and PinePhone exist as Linux phones, then there is GrapheneOS if you want to stay with Android. You can install spyware on it yes, but you don't have to. These are not things you just create over a weekend so there are rough edges yes, but they exist. The problem you're describing is more about demand. Since it is niche corporations are still stuck in the old ways. For example I can't ID myself online without Google Play Services and it disgusts me, government institutions need to get better at supporting a bigger eco-system. People don't care enough to jump through hoops, but that doesn't mean that the solutions don't exist or aren't being worked on.
    - max_ 3y ago
      >Librem and PinePhone exist as Linux phones, then there is GrapheneOS if you want to stay with Android These are very lazy solutions to the problems technology has today. We need a complete overhaul. Rewrite Operating Systems that satisfy these agendas. There are very many people that care. They just don't have good solutions yet.
      - 3y ago
worksonmine 3y ago
> This is why the free software movement failed Did it though? I see people caring more and more about privacy, and eventually it might even be mainstream. Big tech is becoming so awful that even casual users are noticing and asking questions, and we now have laws to give users freedom and protection. Give it time, electricity was still scarce once. You wouldn't say it failed back then. Everything I use is free software. It didn't fail, it delivers exactly what was promised.
- max_ 3y ago
  For more context on what I mean please see this recent comment. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39094074 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39094074

by max_ 3y ago

I am tired of people that complain and don't offer a way concrete forward. This is why the free software movement failed and why the fediverse will obviously fail.

nehal3m 3y ago

Let me turn that around on you; so what is the way forward?

singleshot_ 3y ago
Minimize the use of digital technology in all its forms. Focus on meaningful, in-person relationships. Ignore the 24 hour news cycle and participate in local policy and governance. Buy less stuff, focus on developing the quality, effectiveness, and integration of the stuff you already have. Never, ever work to forward big companies’ goals of infiltrating society with their technology.
max_ 3y ago
Build new - Social networks - Hardware - Internet UI portals* That are cannot be abused by corporations. * The web is rotten to the core. No amount of regulation or activism can fix it at this point. We need something else.

sumuyuda 3y ago

System change was mentioned at the end of the article. Moving past Capitalism will be the way forward.

al_borland 3y ago
That's an easy thing to say, but not useful as a way to move forward. What does that new system look like? How does the transition happen? If going with one of the traditional replacements for Capitalism based in some kind of Marxism, why should anyone believe it will work this time, when it has failed every other time? The typical, "we'll do it right this time," isn't going to cut it. Simply eliminating Capitalism doesn't put a society on the fast track to peace and prosperity, it simply changes how the few end up with power and control.
max_ 3y ago
Until the author actually moves to a Communist country. It's safe to suggest that this "system change" is unrealistic.

fulladder 3y ago

How do you figure that the free software movement failed? I definitely see a loss of interest these days, but the accomplishments of the last 30 years are enormous.

max_ 3y ago
I am referring to "Stallman Compliant" software/hardware. Almost no one besides a small group of fanatics. Used free software. Why isn't there a smartphone that Richard Stallman can use? The reason is because no one built such a phone. People where instead complaining about it. But no one actually thought of a real solution. Besides the fanatical "throw away your phone" that is very impractical for most people today.
- worksonmine 3y ago
  > Why isn't there a smartphone that Richard Stallman can use? > The reason is because no one built such a phone. People where instead complaining about it. Librem and PinePhone exist as Linux phones, then there is GrapheneOS if you want to stay with Android. You can install spyware on it yes, but you don't have to. These are not things you just create over a weekend so there are rough edges yes, but they exist. The problem you're describing is more about demand. Since it is niche corporations are still stuck in the old ways. For example I can't ID myself online without Google Play Services and it disgusts me, government institutions need to get better at supporting a bigger eco-system. People don't care enough to jump through hoops, but that doesn't mean that the solutions don't exist or aren't being worked on.
  - max_ 3y ago
    >Librem and PinePhone exist as Linux phones, then there is GrapheneOS if you want to stay with Android These are very lazy solutions to the problems technology has today. We need a complete overhaul. Rewrite Operating Systems that satisfy these agendas. There are very many people that care. They just don't have good solutions yet.
    - 3y ago

worksonmine 3y ago

> This is why the free software movement failed Did it though? I see people caring more and more about privacy, and eventually it might even be mainstream. Big tech is becoming so awful that even casual users are noticing and asking questions, and we now have laws to give users freedom and protection. Give it time, electricity was still scarce once. You wouldn't say it failed back then. Everything I use is free software. It didn't fail, it delivers exactly what was promised.

max_ 3y ago
For more context on what I mean please see this recent comment. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39094074 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39094074