This thread has my deep respect. Excellent.
Which is why this ultimately only ends one way...
Nah. For some maybe. Why rush to
that outcome??
We are, in every scenario, talking about complicated and institutionally and geographically fragmented real data systems. That is point one: these are
systems (or technology) first and people (or companies, governments, etc.) second.
Yes. I am suggesting the strange metaphor of a ship that is built in very definite ways, with somewhat predictable parameters regarding what can be
done (energia) with that ship, but the nature and identity of the crew and captain is
not predetermined.
This is not a difficult idea, I just (sorry) use too many words. A butter knife in prison has many uses; I have heard some women use vibrating washing machines to stimulate themselves to orgasm. Etc.
Who am I to judge?
SO, we have a system with certain parameters of potential "work." But what the work is, or becomes, depends on who or what is directing the system, or putting to use the system.
Let's call that the "play" in the system, and stipulate, there is no system (piece of tech) that does not have some degree of such play.
You might say, but what about a hammer? A hammer is made to pound nails, that is
why people buy it, and so forth. But of course, a hammer can also get you about an inch into the back of the human skull, if you swing one decently. Every "tool" has a range of functions, but they are potential or actual depending on the user of the tool.
surveillance capitalism is no exception. The irreducible play in the
overall system human+technology -- which just is due to the fact we are more complicated than the system, by logical necessity, since "we" are both ourselves + the system -- leads to a range, array, display of potential outcomes. And, that
variability is what is within our control, somewhat, even if we are forces of chaos and anarchy (google), but
also in very constructive ways, potentially, and
that is the interesting question imho.
Not "so when's it time to get to mah guns?"
tl;dr why is it always "therefore, guns" with some of you guys?