Who said it doesn’t refer to the net? Of course it does. The Internet is inevitable, and in many ways great, but also presents problems that we pay some attention to, much as subatomic physics, and its corollary atomic energy do. It is reasonably arguable (whether true or not) that Nazism would never have happened without the radio, or that the USSR’s police state required the telephone and other high speed means of communication.
While thinking about how great these things are, I think we’d be wise to do some thought experiments on what possibly catastrophic and unforeseen consequences that might facilitate. Not in order to outlaw them, but to be not totally clueless at spotting them in case they do manifest.
(And pure thought is somewhat overrated. The extent our armed forces remain competent depends largely on war games. But there was a big blind spot if we didn’t have a very active terrorist “red team” trying to cook up whatever possibilities the current environment presents (i.e. box knives, and open enrollment classes in flying 747s)
It is reasonably arguable (whether true or not) that Nazism would never have happened without the radio, or that the USSR’s police state required the telephone and other high speed means of communication.
USSR’s police state required high speed one-to-many means of communication. The Soviet leadership was absolutely terrified of many-to-many means of communication, going so far as to impose extremely tight controls on access to photocopiers, even most high level members of the party couldn’t get access.
The Soviet leadership was absolutely terrified of many-to-many means of communication, going so far as to impose extremely tight controls on access to photocopiers, even most high level members of the party couldn’t get access. [emphasis added]
That would seem to imply that it was an overreaction, demonstrating the depths of their paranoia, or at least that’s how I interpreted it.
It is? I can’t say I’ve ever heard that before. Could you elaborate?
As it was a casual remark in passing, I don’t plan to debate, and “reasonably arguable” is a fairly low bar.
But, Hitler had a mesmerizing speaking presence, at least for the people he connected with. He probably would never have amounted to anything except somebody in the German establishment, wanting to quell the chaos that followed the end of WWI, hired him to lecture groups of soldiers to reign them in, and he “discovered he had a voice”. Once he became chancellor, it took 3-4 years to go from fairly chaotic thuggery against jews and, over time, whoever would not return the Hitler salute, to even get to Kristalnacht, and in that time he perfected the art of haranguing all Germans at one time. If you didn’t have your radio tuned in to his speeches, your neighbour might report your unpatriotic behaviour.
For clarity: are you or are you not worried that the internet will evolve into a superintelligence(s), taking us with it?
It seems like one of the least of our worries. As a medium, I think it’s one factor in many in laying the ground for people getting more and more into separate and hostile mental universes, such that a high percentage of people can believe that Obama is a Muslim and a Marxist (at the same time), and that global warming is a hoax which is part of an international conspiracy to turn the world into one socialist state. It used to be rare to find someone who thought the moon landings were faked, but now I think certainly 15-30% of Americans have delusions of that magnitude.
As it was a casual remark in passing, I don’t plan to debate, and “reasonably arguable” is a fairly low bar. But, Hitler had a mesmerizing speaking presence, at least for the people he connected with. He probably would never have amounted to anything except somebody in the German establishment, wanting to quell the chaos that followed the end of WWI, hired him to lecture groups of soldiers to reign them in, and he “discovered he had a voice”. Once he became chancellor, it took 3-4 years to go from fairly chaotic thuggery against jews and, over time, whoever would not return the Hitler salute, to even get to Kristalnacht, and in that time he perfected the art of haranguing all Germans at one time. If you didn’t have your radio tuned in to his speeches, your neighbour might report your unpatriotic behaviour.
Oh, I wasn’t disputing, just asking for more information.
As a medium, I think it’s one factor in many in laying the ground for people getting more and more into separate and hostile mental universes, such that a high percentage of people can believe that Obama is a Muslim and a Marxist (at the same time), and that global warming is a hoax which is part of an international conspiracy to turn the world into one socialist state. It used to be rare to find someone who thought the moon landings were faked, but now I think certainly 15-30% of Americans have delusions of that magnitude.
Oh, I see. I latched on to the wrong part of your summary
...well, I can see your point, certainly. I’m not sure if you’re factoring in the increased ease of encountering opposing viewpoints, but I suspect you are :/
Who said it doesn’t refer to the net? Of course it does. The Internet is inevitable, and in many ways great, but also presents problems that we pay some attention to, much as subatomic physics, and its corollary atomic energy do. It is reasonably arguable (whether true or not) that Nazism would never have happened without the radio, or that the USSR’s police state required the telephone and other high speed means of communication.
While thinking about how great these things are, I think we’d be wise to do some thought experiments on what possibly catastrophic and unforeseen consequences that might facilitate. Not in order to outlaw them, but to be not totally clueless at spotting them in case they do manifest.
(And pure thought is somewhat overrated. The extent our armed forces remain competent depends largely on war games. But there was a big blind spot if we didn’t have a very active terrorist “red team” trying to cook up whatever possibilities the current environment presents (i.e. box knives, and open enrollment classes in flying 747s)
USSR’s police state required high speed one-to-many means of communication. The Soviet leadership was absolutely terrified of many-to-many means of communication, going so far as to impose extremely tight controls on access to photocopiers, even most high level members of the party couldn’t get access.
Well, in fairness, photocopiers are commonly used for making posters, flyers and so on, especially back then.
It’t not that it was irrational
That would seem to imply that it was an overreaction, demonstrating the depths of their paranoia, or at least that’s how I interpreted it.
It is? I can’t say I’ve ever heard that before. Could you elaborate?
… you did? I thought?
For clarity: are you or are you not worried that the internet will evolve into a superintelligence(s), taking us with it?
As it was a casual remark in passing, I don’t plan to debate, and “reasonably arguable” is a fairly low bar. But, Hitler had a mesmerizing speaking presence, at least for the people he connected with. He probably would never have amounted to anything except somebody in the German establishment, wanting to quell the chaos that followed the end of WWI, hired him to lecture groups of soldiers to reign them in, and he “discovered he had a voice”. Once he became chancellor, it took 3-4 years to go from fairly chaotic thuggery against jews and, over time, whoever would not return the Hitler salute, to even get to Kristalnacht, and in that time he perfected the art of haranguing all Germans at one time. If you didn’t have your radio tuned in to his speeches, your neighbour might report your unpatriotic behaviour.
It seems like one of the least of our worries. As a medium, I think it’s one factor in many in laying the ground for people getting more and more into separate and hostile mental universes, such that a high percentage of people can believe that Obama is a Muslim and a Marxist (at the same time), and that global warming is a hoax which is part of an international conspiracy to turn the world into one socialist state. It used to be rare to find someone who thought the moon landings were faked, but now I think certainly 15-30% of Americans have delusions of that magnitude.
Oh, I wasn’t disputing, just asking for more information.
Oh, I see. I latched on to the wrong part of your summary
...well, I can see your point, certainly. I’m not sure if you’re factoring in the increased ease of encountering opposing viewpoints, but I suspect you are :/