5 ms·

Yeah, this is total BS. It's situations like this that make me consider leaving programming and becoming a lawyer for the ACLU.

by Derrek 17y ago

sho 17y ago
That's a nice thought, and I have had similar ones, but my instinct is that you have the ability to effect more change as a motivated free programmer than a single lawyer ever could. I don't think there is any possibility of one person, no matter how competent, changing the system from the inside, subject to the system's rules. The tools of change are technological, not legal. Instead of trying to change the law, render it obsolete and utterly unenforcable, and "win" by fait accompli. I feel a similar way about file sharing. I personally believe very strongly that the ability to send arbitrary files to arbitrary recipients unmolested is a right akin to free speech. But there is no point trying to "beat the system". The solution is to invent technology which renders the law an unenforcable joke. It's a great time to be a programmer. The tools and opportunity to change the future course of events are right in front of us, to a degree far in excess of what your average non-billionaire voter (or lawyer) could ever enjoy. We don't need more individual lawsuits. We need plausible deniability implemented in social networks, at a stroke rendering unreliable the whole practise of evaluating someone by their online activities. Sounds like a challenge to me!
- Derrek 17y ago
  I like your enthusiasm for having tech solve societal problems. And I can see your point but, as an incurable optimist, I still have to believe that one person can make a difference. (Yeah, yeah cue the orchestra with inspirational music.) Plus, it's not like the ACLU is one person. But why not attack the problem from multiple points? Attack with both a legal and technological response.

5 ms·

Yeah, this is total BS. It's situations like this that make me consider leaving programming and becoming a lawyer for the ACLU.

by Derrek 17y ago

Yeah, this is total BS. It's situations like this that make me consider leaving programming and becoming a lawyer for the ACLU.

sho 17y ago
That's a nice thought, and I have had similar ones, but my instinct is that you have the ability to effect more change as a motivated free programmer than a single lawyer ever could. I don't think there is any possibility of one person, no matter how competent, changing the system from the inside, subject to the system's rules. The tools of change are technological, not legal. Instead of trying to change the law, render it obsolete and utterly unenforcable, and "win" by fait accompli. I feel a similar way about file sharing. I personally believe very strongly that the ability to send arbitrary files to arbitrary recipients unmolested is a right akin to free speech. But there is no point trying to "beat the system". The solution is to invent technology which renders the law an unenforcable joke. It's a great time to be a programmer. The tools and opportunity to change the future course of events are right in front of us, to a degree far in excess of what your average non-billionaire voter (or lawyer) could ever enjoy. We don't need more individual lawsuits. We need plausible deniability implemented in social networks, at a stroke rendering unreliable the whole practise of evaluating someone by their online activities. Sounds like a challenge to me!
- Derrek 17y ago
  I like your enthusiasm for having tech solve societal problems. And I can see your point but, as an incurable optimist, I still have to believe that one person can make a difference. (Yeah, yeah cue the orchestra with inspirational music.) Plus, it's not like the ACLU is one person. But why not attack the problem from multiple points? Attack with both a legal and technological response.