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Users can also live in a shack in the woods which is even more privacy-preserving. Presumably just like most users don’t want to do that, most users also don’t

Users can also live in a shack in the woods which is even more privacy-preserving. Presumably just like most users don’t want to do that, most users also don’t want to learn enough to admin a Linux system, run their own domain and email server, and keep a NAS at home as their “cloud” storage. If you assume that users want someone else to handle this stuff for them, then yes, “not as bad as” is a great argument.

WolfeReader 2y ago
Wow, nice analogy - you really think that using Linux is like living in a shack in the woods, huh. It's actually very easy to use these days. Have you tried it?
- stouset 2y ago
  I’ve used Linux for the last twenty five years, both as my daily driver personal desktop and as an admin. My point is that if you want to chase privacy absolutism, a shack in the woods is where you inevitably end up. If you accept that people want to use consumer-focused goods and services that come with some privacy cost—as basically fucking everyone but a minute rounding error does—there are alternatives that are better than others. And so it’s absolutely worth comparing those alternatives. If you want to run Tails on RISC V, route all your traffic through Tor, and conduct all your transactions with Monero then more power to you.
  - WolfeReader 2y ago
    I don't accept that, actually. Since you like exaggerated analogies, here's one for you: Imagine a world where, in the past twenty years, big companies started making transparent bathroom doors. And thanks to marketing, media, celebrity endorsemets etc., transparent bathroom doors have become the new norm. It worked, and most bathroom doors are now transparent or translucent. I'm one of the people pointing out that we can get doors made of wood, and it's pretty easy to do so. And you're the guy saying "that's so weird! Basically fucking everyone uses some degree of transparency on their bathroom doors, therefore it's normal and good, and should continue to be encouraged. Besides, this one company makes translucent bathroom doors - that's better, right?"

WolfeReader 2y ago

Wow, nice analogy - you really think that using Linux is like living in a shack in the woods, huh. It's actually very easy to use these days. Have you tried it?

stouset 2y ago
I’ve used Linux for the last twenty five years, both as my daily driver personal desktop and as an admin. My point is that if you want to chase privacy absolutism, a shack in the woods is where you inevitably end up. If you accept that people want to use consumer-focused goods and services that come with some privacy cost—as basically fucking everyone but a minute rounding error does—there are alternatives that are better than others. And so it’s absolutely worth comparing those alternatives. If you want to run Tails on RISC V, route all your traffic through Tor, and conduct all your transactions with Monero then more power to you.
- WolfeReader 2y ago
  I don't accept that, actually. Since you like exaggerated analogies, here's one for you: Imagine a world where, in the past twenty years, big companies started making transparent bathroom doors. And thanks to marketing, media, celebrity endorsemets etc., transparent bathroom doors have become the new norm. It worked, and most bathroom doors are now transparent or translucent. I'm one of the people pointing out that we can get doors made of wood, and it's pretty easy to do so. And you're the guy saying "that's so weird! Basically fucking everyone uses some degree of transparency on their bathroom doors, therefore it's normal and good, and should continue to be encouraged. Besides, this one company makes translucent bathroom doors - that's better, right?"