The Ilusion Of Choice In The Digital Age

Discussion in 'Philosophy' started by -Martyr, Jul 21, 2014.

  1. #1 -Martyr, Jul 21, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2014
    Amongst anarchists and cypherpunks alike, there is always this underlying respect for the darker implications of incorporating such complex systems and networks into every fiber of our functioning society. Whether it is establishing a sense of "moderation"- often in an effort to retain central aspects of our own humanity or learning to politically power-check massive corporations that hold too much stock and power in our legal system's proceedings, humans are endlessly tasked with adapting to and maintaining a certain level of proficiency over this complex technology. A prevalent issue bred from the seemless integration of these technologies into our daily lives, is what is sometimes referred to as "the illusion of choice." But what is the "illusion of choice"? It's not necessarily a critique on the concept of choice itself, but more directly, it is criticism towards the notion that you even have a choice in some aspects of your life at all.

    Say if one decided one day, "You know what, I don't want to use Facebook anymore. I have Tindr, Tumblr, and my cell for creeping and nudes, Twitter for news and as an alternative, and I'm sick of the fucking constant updating of the interface. I'm done with Facebook." You have a very basic option in deactivating and leaving Facebook, however the implication of doing so is so far-stemming that the choice is easily swayed against your better judgement or interests. Cutting off from Facebook/Twitter or any major social networking medium would devastate the majority of us in terms of being connected and in the know with our respective social spheres. Not only that, but to a certain extent, when you forfeit these Silicon Valley titans, you are forfeiting the world. You forfeit a certain amount of content and openness from various individuals, of varying tastes and interests on the internet. The price for your individuality or grievances with a company, becomes total and complete alienation on a level that tangibly affects your life at very real levels. Very technological issues start to transcend their original dominion and become complex sociological issues - issues that may not have the most brutal of implications now, but that are worth acknowledging in the early stages, while we still have the ability to do so in the hopes of establishing a means to combat the negative backlash of constantly-evolving technology.
     
    Another viable example I could give, which is somewhat situational, is how more and more companies overseas are profitting off of American business as a result of our own government investing their time instituting oppressive laws, and making unconstitutional power moves against any antagonist to their regime. Everything from domain registration to cloud hosting offshore is in a constant state of boom, due to the fact that more and more technologists are required out of necessity to do business with countries that are not subject to the same injustices as their own. I recently purchased hosting from Malaysia and Switzerland, exactly for that reason. If I had the choice, as someone who is seeking to create their own internet startup, I would love to do business here. Certain people care about being able to guarantee the safety of servers, equipment, or even just visit the facilities where they spend literally thousands and thousands of dollars. The fact that I would have to essentially travel to Malaysia, Holland, or Switzerland to do this, is nonsense. If the necessary rights were upheld, privacy and security measures equal or greater in measure to what was purchased offshore would be entirely possible. Instead, my only other "option" (if you could call it that), was to spend more money, more time, and more effort moving my shit to a company I felt would not be easily compromised, and if it were, it would be protected by means of encryption or zero logging. The implication of not doing so, is the paranoia of feeling as if I am not secure, that my right to free speech may be imposed on, or that I may just as easily wind up in trouble. People have been put in a cell for much less, and it seems like less and less is being required.
     
    Granted, some of the ideology, projects, and musings that pertain to me, may require much more careful examination of where I set up shop, the very point I'm trying to make, is that neither of those things should require tip-toeing. You should be free to pursue general choices or espouse whatever rhetoric you want to espouse as long as it doesn't necessarily perpetuate hate, without fear of persecution. Your only options otherwise are: remain silent, or attempt to adapt (an action which very well can be made to appear illegal and used against you by any authoritarian really). Adaption to basic encryption and cryptography, was at once considered a very radical thing. Encryption and cryptography were legally perceived as weapons. So not only is it a matter of adapting socially, but ennacting the necessary reform and progressive attitude towards technology legally, otherwise unjust laws will always dictate and undermine acts of spontaneity and freedom of choice that are innate to every human being on this planet. Encryption or cryptography being demonized in the past and the present by the powers that be, is just as big of an injustice as marijuana being criminalized and demonized in western society. Cryptography is supported by the laws of math, and is used for a solely defensive method of security. It's up to the people to find ways around issues such as these, because obvious people who are demonizing nature and law, are not capable of making legislation that is suited for the new world we're creating- whatever that might be.

     
  2. im having a really hard time figuring out the heart of what youre trying to get at. it seems like you were rambling on tbh.

    what option cant you pursue? one not offered because of the laws of a country?
     
  3. The problem is nationalism. It doesn't work in the modern world for people to be divided by geo-political boundaries that all seemingly uphold their own set of values and principles. Usually, most people in these countries might not even share a belief in these principles and values in the governance of their societies.

    The whole idea of the status quo, a defininite set of values and a national identity just serves to stop us from moving forwards.

    But yeah, I forgot qhat I was talkung about.
     
  4. The only illusion I see is our two-party political system.
     

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