Comment by jauntywundrkind
2 days ago
> You do understand that if something is causing issues to the regime, then regime will simply make it illegal?
The teachers made having a calculator with stuff loaded on it illegal. IP piracy is illegal. Streaming sports is illegal. There's all manners of illegal activity we do. I don't see how my story wasn't clear to you: legality isn't self-enforcing, and it isn't the world's job to bow down to information control demands from governments.
I'm not surprised but I am disappointed seeing two comments that have the most unhackerly spirit. Assuming we should try and do nothing, assuming the government has vast infinite overwhelming technical power, to the degree where it's not even worth trying anything or securing ourselves and our freedom of speech. Assuming technical works will make no difference. I don't think tech has control, is the end all be all here. But I think tech should be showing up to attempt the right thing, attempt to help people deal with fascist totalitarian movements trying to clamp down on the people of this world is something tech ought to do.
> Even then, that's just wishful thinking.
Well, to some degrees, I think it depends on us and our attitudes. And whether we just accept our lot/accept domination from above or not. With the increasingly scary situation at the US and in places like Iran, I think maybe perhaps more people might be interested in doing some civic good against thought control, hopefully.
if you get caught in high-school fake-clearing your TI, you may get a failed grade for this specific exam and/or detention.
if you get caught doing an illegal activity in an authoritarian dictatorship, you face fines and/or prison time or death.
of course we can compare these situations to use them as light analogies, but i think that's about where the comparison ends. or in other words, of course you can 1:1 compare situations if you completely dismiss the potential consequences.
having the spirit to free yourself from fascism is needed, but you may get shot while trying to flee to safety or while being pinned to the ground, defenseless.