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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 don't do most of them, here is the only social media I use, I prefer real shops but use online because I can't get what I want or need in real shops, I refuse cookies and I'm still not sure what apps are or if I have any, I don't have anything to store on the "cloud". There are some of those things I wouldn't do out of principle, for example I don't like the way FB opperates and its non existant privacy policies, I don't know how to use the ones they do have. Mostly I don't use them as I don't know how, I get problems looking stuff up online, I get told what I'm looking for dosen't exist or I get loads of stuff I didn't ask for, I think in part it's because I live so little of my life online it dosen't "know" me and so just shoves random stuff at me in the hope I'll buy it or at least look at it and a bigger part is the general enshitification of the internet where people are being pushed into ever more narrow aisles of the same stuff and echo chambers of opinion.

    There are times when my iinability to use a smart phone and do stuff online really bug me, but most of the time it dosen't, it dose make life harder in some ways, like when a tradesperson wants a photograph that I have no way of taking or sending and they ignore me if I don't send one. But then I think they're probably not the type of person I'd want to use anyway, as I'd get what they want at my expense rather than what I want.

    I think people are already suspicious of those who don't have smartphones and a massive online pressence, I think that's only going to get worse.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    because I live so little of my life online

    I think you are wise.

    TheCatWoman said:
    general enshitification of the internet where people are being pushed into ever more narrow aisles of the same stuff and echo chambers of opinion.

    THANK YOU CatWoman......you have taught me a new word that I absolutely adore!  Enshittification.  Priceless and beautiful!

    TheCatWoman said:
    I think people are already suspicious of those who don't have smartphones and a massive online pressence, I think that's only going to get worse.

    Yes - this is one of the reasons why I started this thread.  Redflagism = People immediately thinking that you are shifty or a wrong'un because you don't get involved with social media - and/or talk openly about this stuff.  In my experience, it IS getting worse!

  • in reply to Deleted User

    Enshitification of the Internet is an actual thing, I first came across the term in a newspaper article, it's about how so much of the internet is comercialised, behind paywalls, the feeling that you can only buy the same dozen items from anywhere in the world and that genuine knowlege is becomeing harder to find.

    The latest worry is being spied upon by smart devices, like airfryers and fridges. I find myself asking why would anyone need an airfryer linked to the internet? More importantly who are they reporting too?

Reply
  • in reply to Deleted User

    Enshitification of the Internet is an actual thing, I first came across the term in a newspaper article, it's about how so much of the internet is comercialised, behind paywalls, the feeling that you can only buy the same dozen items from anywhere in the world and that genuine knowlege is becomeing harder to find.

    The latest worry is being spied upon by smart devices, like airfryers and fridges. I find myself asking why would anyone need an airfryer linked to the internet? More importantly who are they reporting too?

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