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Comment by nonrandomstring

3 years ago

> computers used to be fun when you commanded them what to do, they did it > Users used to be in control and now they are the ones being controlled

2013 was the watershed for me. You can read about why here [1]

There's a world of difference between using a tool and being a tool.

That transformation from "It's more fun to compute" to "If you've nothing to fear you've nothing to hide" took place almost silently in the first 20 years of this century.

The problem is that as "hackers" we don't understand computers. Retaking tech, by fully understanding and helping to culturally redefine computing is both the duty and prerogative of any real hackers left out there.

As for the fun. It never went away for me. I am more passionate about technology, coding, networks and electronics than at any time in my life - precisely because the stakes are now so high.

[1] https://digitalvegan.net

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nonrandomstring

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lioeters  3 years ago

> Retaking tech, by fully understanding and helping to culturally redefine computing is both the duty and prerogative of any real hackers left out there.

A powerful statement right there. As someone who grew up with computers from before the web, I feel that "cyberspace" has been colonized by business and political interests. It was supposed to be "our" space, I mean, by the people and for the people. Right now it's more useful as a tool for the dark empire.

A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace - https://www.eff.org/cyberspace-independence

I agree that the problem and the solution is cultural. It's about having fun, being weird and creative with how we use technology, to reclaim the magic and make it ours. Things like Tor, uBlock Origin, and dare I say some of the cryptocurrency and blockchain stuff, they feel like part of a larger decentralized underground-ish movement that has no name (and probably should remain so).

  • throwaway684936  3 years ago

    > and dare I say some of the cryptocurrency and blockchain stuff

    I've noticed a large split between the quiet people who like cryptocurrency for its security and privacy (who now use Monero) and the loud investment-focused cryptobros obsessed with Ethereum, Doge, NFTs, Musk, etc.

hyperdimension  3 years ago

I just bought a copy, and look forward to reading it. (Unfortunately) I relate to what is described. I get this sense that the infinite possibilities given to us with computers has shifted to focus solely on consumption.

I know this isn't the case for everyone or everything--everything that makes computers special is still out there in one form or another, and arguably tools like YouTube and the like has made creating and sharing new things possible. It still seems you have to stray away from the path you're guided to in order to find them (and know they exist!). I'm thinking of things like microcontrollers, electronics, programming in general.