alt Hacker NewsSeems like most popular mainstream platforms violate many of those heuristics. Google, Facebook, maybe even hacker news probably, does things with your data you likely never consented to. Do we decide who gets whatever date we generate on those platforms?
I like some platforms do give us choice over our data but rarely do they not have our data be a component of the product. OpenAI, and anthropic for example use our data for "analytic purposes" which is broad enough that we compromise our agency over our data.
So what do you do when the majority of the systems you use on a daily basis to function in a normal life, require you (or atleast the majority of the populace) to compromise on morals? Do you know its expensive rise-wise, cost-wise, socially etc to check in with you morals in that kind of environment. I'm just curious your thoughts on this or if I'm misreading it. edit: And I'm not all doom gloom, I have hope and desire and trust in a future where morals aren't compromised in this way - I just see it as coming with a higher up-front cost and being aware that the most common environments around you systematically actively oppose you.
Replies
> So what do you do when the majority of the systems you use on a daily basis to function in a normal life, require you (or atleast the majority of the populace) to compromise on morals?
You replace those systems, one by one, with systems that don't. You figure out who is doing the work that makes that possible, and you figure out how to ensure they're supported while they do that work. You educate your friends and family that doing so as well is an investment in their future safety. Consider contributing to systems that help, consider damaging systems that harm. Fix a graphene OS bug. Shame a Palantir employee. Donate to Signal. Put a bag over a flock camera. Break somebody's pervert glasses (that is, supposing they're using them without consent of the people around them). There are a million ways to resist, some easy, some hard, some risky, some safe. Find something that jives with your tolerances and your skills and take action.
The comment you replied to doesn't imply the users are immoral, but the creators. They're saying that we shouldn't build such systems. I, personally, also believe we should resist using them as much as possible, instead of rewarding them by using them. But, obviously, that may be easier or harder for any given individual situation. So be it; just avoid as much as you can tolerate if you agree that these things shouldn't exist the way they are.