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Authoritarianism rarely happens overnight, it happens one step at a time and at every step the useful idiots [0] exclaim "It's just one step! What's the big dea

Authoritarianism rarely happens overnight, it happens one step at a time and at every step the useful idiots [0] exclaim "It's just one step! What's the big deal? Stop overreacting!". Next thing you know you've walked 100 miles and it's too late to turn back. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot

wat10000 8mo ago
The comment you replied to only said the first "it's just one step" part. You're imagining the rest. Are we not even allowed to make factual statements when something is, in fact, just one step? "It's bad to factually describe what's happening because it will get worse" is a terrible way to make your case.
- soulofmischief 8mo ago
  > I've heard a proposal that "age verification passes" be sold at liqour stores and porno shops, for example, who already seem to do an acceptable job of checking ID without destroying people's privacy.
gzread 8mo ago
This is not being supported because the size of the step is small, but because the step itself makes sense. The slippery slope argument says that open source software is a stepping stone to a world where all commercial activity is banned. Should we therefore oppose open source software?
- slopinthebag 8mo ago
  How does the step make sense? Has any linux user ever requested this "feature"? Does it provide some sort of benefit to the user? > The slippery slope argument says that open source software is a stepping stone to a world where all commercial activity is banned. No it doesn't.
  - gzread 8mo ago
    Yes, it's very useful to parents who want to restrict their children's computer use. Some of those parents use Linux. Yes, it does.
    - slopinthebag 8mo ago
      It's not, you need actual parental controls. Furthermore if this was just for the children it would be a setting you opt into, fully optional and unregulated, like parental controls are now. And no, there is absolutely no argument for a slippery slope here. Especially considering we've had OSS for what, 50 years now? And corporations are doing just fine. Unlike the vast history of authoritarianism and government oppression and violence that occurs exactly through this mechanism of giving an inch over and over again until they have taken miles. Don't be an idiot.
      - gzread 8mo ago
        How long have we had parental controls for? R-rated movies?
        soulofmischief 8mo ago
        In the 80s, you'd see nudity and heavy swearing in PG movies. You know, "parental guidance". The Overton window has shifted greatly since then.
- soulofmischief 8mo ago
  "makes sense" does a lot of heavy lifting. Explain the justification for this restriction on 1A rights and mandatory compulsion of speech for anyone writing software. And your provided "slippery slope argument" is just a straw man argument. No one in this thread made that argument. The slippery slope is the authoritarian ratchet. If you want to restrict your kid's access to the internet, install software that does that. I think in 2026, when kids have personal devices, key word "personal", meaning there is an expected level of privacy we should respect, effective insulation against the bad parts of the internet will not be achieved through software. Meanwhile, this legislation will be used to prevent children from turning into organized free thinkers.

wat10000 8mo ago

The comment you replied to only said the first "it's just one step" part. You're imagining the rest. Are we not even allowed to make factual statements when something is, in fact, just one step? "It's bad to factually describe what's happening because it will get worse" is a terrible way to make your case.

soulofmischief 8mo ago
> I've heard a proposal that "age verification passes" be sold at liqour stores and porno shops, for example, who already seem to do an acceptable job of checking ID without destroying people's privacy.

gzread 8mo ago

This is not being supported because the size of the step is small, but because the step itself makes sense. The slippery slope argument says that open source software is a stepping stone to a world where all commercial activity is banned. Should we therefore oppose open source software?

slopinthebag 8mo ago
How does the step make sense? Has any linux user ever requested this "feature"? Does it provide some sort of benefit to the user? > The slippery slope argument says that open source software is a stepping stone to a world where all commercial activity is banned. No it doesn't.
- gzread 8mo ago
  Yes, it's very useful to parents who want to restrict their children's computer use. Some of those parents use Linux. Yes, it does.
  - slopinthebag 8mo ago
    It's not, you need actual parental controls. Furthermore if this was just for the children it would be a setting you opt into, fully optional and unregulated, like parental controls are now. And no, there is absolutely no argument for a slippery slope here. Especially considering we've had OSS for what, 50 years now? And corporations are doing just fine. Unlike the vast history of authoritarianism and government oppression and violence that occurs exactly through this mechanism of giving an inch over and over again until they have taken miles. Don't be an idiot.
    - gzread 8mo ago
      How long have we had parental controls for? R-rated movies?
      - soulofmischief 8mo ago
        In the 80s, you'd see nudity and heavy swearing in PG movies. You know, "parental guidance". The Overton window has shifted greatly since then.
soulofmischief 8mo ago
"makes sense" does a lot of heavy lifting. Explain the justification for this restriction on 1A rights and mandatory compulsion of speech for anyone writing software. And your provided "slippery slope argument" is just a straw man argument. No one in this thread made that argument. The slippery slope is the authoritarian ratchet. If you want to restrict your kid's access to the internet, install software that does that. I think in 2026, when kids have personal devices, key word "personal", meaning there is an expected level of privacy we should respect, effective insulation against the bad parts of the internet will not be achieved through software. Meanwhile, this legislation will be used to prevent children from turning into organized free thinkers.