Comment by jackb4040
2 hours ago
> The ability of people to freely associate
> solipsist
This is exactly the point they're making though. This is an exercise only available to the privileged. It is not available to people who haven't worked in tech for some amount of time, if not actively working in tech or holding equity like the homesteader above us.
It takes for granted the concentrated specialization of production that is modern, "on-grid" cities to produce things like microprocessors and food safety and insulin. This lifestyle is not available to masses of people, and we have a word for a society where everyone lives off-grid: "hunter-gatherers".
There can be other value in doing this, like Hundred Rabbits' exploration of how tech itself could be made more resilient given different macroeconomic conditions / incentives. But talking about this as if it's about how The Man just doesn't want you to be an independent free thinker is a misunderstanding of why most people live in the societies that they do.
Living somewhat independently is available to most people. Most people just don't want to make the tradeoffs to do it. You might have to give up stuff like electronics and move to a cheaper area you don't want to be in, but is is generally possible.
"But talking about this as if it's about how The Man just doesn't want you to be an independent free thinker is a misunderstanding of why most people live in the societies that they do."
Now apply these concepts to an individual who isn't being served by their society.
600 million Africans don’t have access to grid power. Are they privileged? Are they all “hunter-gatherers”?