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Autoenshittification. How the computer killed capitalism. – by Cory Doctorow

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Re: Autoenshittification. How the computer killed capitalism. – by Cory Doctorow

#91

Post by sixo »

neovialogistics wrote: post #37

He's arguing that capitalist systems morph over time into feudalistic systems and the argument is pretty persuasive but there's an issue: capitalism initially emerged out of feudalism. The text's theory of history requires a hidden variable that controls the feudalism->capitalism->feudalism process, but no candidate for a hidden variable is suggested by the author. Sure, any reader can think up some candidates for th…

Here's one reader's attempt: the hidden factor seems to be "the ability of the collective consciousness to achieve a sufficient degree of internal coherence that it understands how the system works and can exercise agency to break the power of feudal lords". Reality changes -> comprehension has to catch up. New mediums of communication help a lot.

The resulting "agency" has historically been pretty violent, when the injustice and tension are too severe. So it's wise to constantly be course-correcting by recognizing the new skins of feudalism and wresting power away from its lords.

Re: Autoenshittification. How the computer killed capitalism. – by Cory Doctorow

#92

Post by johntiger1 »

whywhywhywhy wrote: post #49
fefe23 wrote: post #38

> To make Medium work, we log user data. By using Medium, you agree to our Privacy Policy, including cookie policy. > Read the full story with a free account. Please don't link to Medium when you can link to, in this case, Pluralistic. https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-de... Medium.com has been thoroughly enshittified :)

The medium sign up gate says more about the current state of technology than this blog post ever could.

Came here for this. Maybe Doctorwow tounge-in-cheek posted it on Medium since they knew you would be insta-blasted with a paywall gate?

Re: Autoenshittification. How the computer killed capitalism. – by Cory Doctorow

#93

Post by yifanl »

maerF0x0 wrote: post #39

I still have a belief that capitalism and free markets are superior, but not the way we're doing it now. I'm not trying to no true scotsman here, but a man born in germany to 2 austrian parents and dressed in a kilt is no true scotsman. as i see things there are some major issues are - Removing money from gold standard, allowing power to accrue to those who can control the supply. Instead of competing for what consum…

Under capitalism, the wealthy class tend to be the trendsetters and tastemakers, if no reason other than they can afford the biggest billboard and most magnified microphones, so I don't see a path to the solution you've described, if you believe that societal trends need course correction away from this.

Re: Autoenshittification. How the computer killed capitalism. – by Cory Doctorow

#94

Post by xeromal »

paulddraper wrote: post #64
xeromal wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I like that more. Enshittification is awkward on the tongue

Enshittification rolls off the tongue perfectly. But it's profane.

It has too many syllables.

Re: Autoenshittification. How the computer killed capitalism. – by Cory Doctorow

#95

Post by bamfly »

starbugs wrote: post #22
leptons wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Plenty of people also like the touchscreens or seemingly superflous features There was a recent story about how people do not like the touchscreens and tech in their cars. https://www.theverge.com/23801545/car-infotainment-customer-... Personally I'm not a fan of most of the recent car tech, it's often trying too hard and not making things any easier for people.

I have owned both a shitty beginner car without any extras and two more or less fully equipped ones. I would love a car that does not have a single display and just connects to my phone or pad for setting things up and streaming audio. All controls should be haptic buttons, switches, whatever. Minimal software required to run the car. No internet connection, no subscriptions. The only extras that I would keep are: *…

> I would love a car that does not have a single display and just connects to my phone or pad for setting things up and streaming audio.

You need a big screen for cameras and such, because visibility in a lot of modern cars is about the same as the driver's seat in a Sherman tank. Unfortunately.

Re: Autoenshittification. How the computer killed capitalism. – by Cory Doctorow

#96

Post by johntiger1 »

I think Cory is going a little too harsh on Uber/Amazon. People use them because they provide convenience and ease-of-use, and are willing to pay for a better customer experience. If anything, 'taxi medallions' are literally the original form of feudalism and collecting rent from doing nothing.

Re: Autoenshittification. How the computer killed capitalism. – by Cory Doctorow

#98

Post by jrflowers »

sameOldPpl wrote: post #4

More of this from the aging generations, huh? https://exhibits.library.duke.edu/exhibits/show/comic-book-c... Same with jazz, DnD, same with rock music, same with rap No one seems to have much rage for the environment, just their mind palace

This is a good point. Costly recalls and cybersecurity vulnerabilities in your car are actually enjoyable to young people. Having your car stolen by anybody with a USB cable is exactly the same as rap music.

Re: Autoenshittification. How the computer killed capitalism. – by Cory Doctorow

#99

Post by dingnuts »

klyrs wrote: post #10
sameOldPpl wrote: post #4

More of this from the aging generations, huh? https://exhibits.library.duke.edu/exhibits/show/comic-book-c... Same with jazz, DnD, same with rock music, same with rap No one seems to have much rage for the environment, just their mind palace

Do you have a cogent argument as to why technofeudalism is either not sweeping the world, or is ultimately beneficial to its serfs?

First you'll have to define what you mean by "technofeudalism"

Re: Autoenshittification. How the computer killed capitalism. – by Cory Doctorow

#100

Post by bamfly »

WillPostForFood wrote: post #55
maerF0x0 wrote: post #39

I still have a belief that capitalism and free markets are superior, but not the way we're doing it now. I'm not trying to no true scotsman here, but a man born in germany to 2 austrian parents and dressed in a kilt is no true scotsman. as i see things there are some major issues are - Removing money from gold standard, allowing power to accrue to those who can control the supply. Instead of competing for what consum…

You are getting downvoted, but the article makes a similar observation. The first capitalists hated rent. They wanted to replace the “passive income” that landowners got from taxing their serfs’ harvest with active income from enclosing those lands and grazing sheep in order to get wool to feed to the new textile mills. They wanted active income — and lots of it. Capitalist philosophers railed against rent. The “free…

> The first capitalists hated rent. They wanted to replace the “passive income” that landowners got from taxing their serfs’ harvest with active income from enclosing those lands and grazing sheep in order to get wool to feed to the new textile mills. They wanted active income — and lots of it.

Locke's argument for private property ownership of land beyond space to live in not being obviously-unjust was built entirely on this: improvement of productivity of land through work and investment. Holding private land to sit on or to wildly under-use wasn't compatible with his ethical justification for private land ownership.

(not that the Second Treatise isn't full of weak reasoning—natural rights as anything "real" rather than arbitrary, LOL—but it's considering one of the top influences on the founders of the US, the founding of which was a major step in the rise of capitalism to global dominance)

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