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Principled? A massive red flag? Simply idiotic?

Deleted User

Two questions;

  1. Do you adopt any of the same choices around digital data, that I do (as lettered below)?
  2. Do you think there is any 'value' in sticking with 'a principle' even when you can see that it is broadly meaningless in effect?

 Choices;

  1. a) I don’t do social media.
  2. b) I avoid data collection wherever possible.
  3. c) I don’t store in the cloud.
  4. d) I avoid apps, despite knowing that they are invariably “cheaper and/or easier and/or quicker” than other means of doing 'a thing.'
  5. e) I don’t volunteer any accurate personal data, ever, unless it is officially required.
  6. f) I don’t “sign in” nor "sign-up" if that is at all possible.
  7. g) I hate visiting shops but I prefer it to online purchasing.

 These choices make things lonelier, more expensive and more inconvenient for anyone who adopts them.

My reason for these (arguably pointless and daft) choices is that I don’t want to contribute towards a centralised and automated system that chooses how to ‘target’ or ‘feed’ information and services to individual humans, because I think that it allows very effective (but subtle) control over “what happens next.” Voter manipulation and Clearview AI are two exemplars of my concerns.

I'm interested in any feedback on these questions.

Parents

  • I think that sticking to principles is sensible and valuable as long as it doesn’t interfere with your life. It’s all about the cost-benefit ratio. Sticking to principles gives me a sense of reliability and it also keeps me from making a lot of mistakes. For instance, I also refer from using social media platforms like instagram, Facebook or TikTok, mostly because I think, I’m very prone to addiction. I would likely interfere with my life by throwing that principle out. Even though this is a positive example, there are also a lot of negative ones. Although being pretty open-minded I can be quite intolerant when it comes to sticking to certain principles. For a lack of a better example: My parents raised me to always be aware of how others perceive me. As a result, I always make sure to be extra careful while interacting with others and apologise a lot. This keeps me from socialising even more so. Additionally, I can’t cope when someone I’m out with does anything that disturbes my sense of etiquette even though I know I’m far too easily embarrassed.

    So in this context I would think it to be over the top and quite annoying for myself and others.

Reply

  • I think that sticking to principles is sensible and valuable as long as it doesn’t interfere with your life. It’s all about the cost-benefit ratio. Sticking to principles gives me a sense of reliability and it also keeps me from making a lot of mistakes. For instance, I also refer from using social media platforms like instagram, Facebook or TikTok, mostly because I think, I’m very prone to addiction. I would likely interfere with my life by throwing that principle out. Even though this is a positive example, there are also a lot of negative ones. Although being pretty open-minded I can be quite intolerant when it comes to sticking to certain principles. For a lack of a better example: My parents raised me to always be aware of how others perceive me. As a result, I always make sure to be extra careful while interacting with others and apologise a lot. This keeps me from socialising even more so. Additionally, I can’t cope when someone I’m out with does anything that disturbes my sense of etiquette even though I know I’m far too easily embarrassed.

    So in this context I would think it to be over the top and quite annoying for myself and others.

Children
  • in reply to Emmalephant
    Emmalephant said:
    I think that sticking to principles is sensible and valuable as long as it doesn’t interfere with your life.

    OK - but what is the difference between "shaping your life" and "interfere with your life?

    What is the difference between shaping and interfering when we talk about how 'principles' affect our lives?

    [ - please feel no obligation to respond.  - please know that this is written as a question, not a challenge to what you have written -]

    Like you, I am also prone to addiction (in a weirdly autistic way) too.....so you are right that this is probably an additional reason why I have a "zero tolerance" for social media.  I have watched it change people before my very eyes.  It is powerful stuff, for sure.