Thread

1. davidee · 1789904890 · focus · HN ↗

   Tech has always been breaking social contracts. It’s how we roll. We did the same thing with taxis and travel accommodations to name a few.

   We hid our “we know better” hubris under the term “disruption” because the reality (breaking everything) was a little too unsettling for us.

   We ignore laws and regulations where we know better of course. Don’t you love having a homey place to stay while travelling that has just a few weird rules, a small to-do list and stays spotless thanks to that cleaning fee?

   And look at all the good we did! A whole new world of slaves (oops gig workers - sorry!)

   And of course we’re doing it again with information and content. We should be in charge of monetizing all your work because you’re not responsible enough to do it right. It furthers our need for power and control. Oops we meant to help make the world a better place (We keep doing that, sorry.)

   1. killerstorm · 1789907607 · focus · HN ↗

      Luddites also complain about disruption, you know

      1. TeMPOraL · 1789907722 · focus · HN ↗

         Luddites were complaining about having their lives upended and being thrown into generational poverty. That is what wide-scale "disruption" looks at the receiving end.

         1. killerstorm · 1789911999 · focus · HN ↗

            True, but I think in the end people were better off with automation. You know a lot of people were suffering even when they were fully employed.

            1. TeMPOraL · 1789928351 · focus · HN ↗

               That's the key insight that's missing in most of the automation/employment discussions.

               Yes, absolutely, in the end people were better off with automation. But these particular people - and their families and children - were not.

               1. senordevnyc · 1789960186 · focus · HN ↗

                  It seems obvious then that the answer is supporting the much smaller displaced people, not stopping progress for the entire population (and future generations).

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