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The Cypherpunk Library

cypherpunkbooks.com

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Re: The Cypherpunk Library

#41

Post by chimpanzee2 »

nilamo wrote: post #38
chimpanzee2 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting– Conversely, that is exactly how I feel about reading fiction . To me, how can you possibly enjoy reading something some other person simply ... made up? Like an elaborate lie? Contrarily, non-fiction tells it how it happened within the very reality I myself live in , subject to the same laws of nature and real psychology , and therefore, and only therefore, able to teach me something about real life on t…

I have no understanding of your viewpoint. I wish I did, it sounds interesting. I do like a Crafting Interpreters or Mythical Man Month... But I don't understand how those could not only be held to the same level as The Hobbit, but that you seem incapable of even reading Animal Farm. Do you enjoy any fictional media? TV, movies, plays, interactive murder mystery dinners, tabletop games (d&d, etc)?

> Do you enjoy any fictional media? TV, movies, plays, interactive murder mystery dinners, tabletop games (d&d, etc)?

Nope, I truly live under a rock when it comes to those.

I've been wanting to watch the big ones (Hobbit, LotR, ...), but – and I say this with no disdain:

I simply cannot get myself to consume hours upon hours of somebody else's fantasy – when I could instead be shaping my own reality.

Re: The Cypherpunk Library

#43

Post by some_furry »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #19
Yokohiii wrote: post #18

> THE CYPHERNOMICON I've peeked into that one. I've expected those people to be radical to some degree, but I didn't expect they write it down so clearly. This writing wants to see the collapse of governments and democracy. I find it painful to read such radical statements. So I didn't get very deep. But I am riddled how those people think a collapse of that scale will work out in their favor. They are deeply reliant…

This is the thing I don't understand about (a superficial interpretation of) anarchists; while governments are often not ideal, a lack of one wouldn't be better. And trusting people to self-organize is idealistic, but in practice it'd mean we go back to tribalism and "might makes right".

> This is the thing I don't understand about (a superficial interpretation of) anarchists

I think most superficial interpretations of anarchists are based on edgy LARPers rather than real political ideology.

Fun fact: Anarchy means "without rulers", not "without laws" or "without social order". There's a wide diversity of political thought under this umbrella, but the key underlying common denominator is (on some level, at least) a rejection of hierarchy (and often a rejection of capital).

Though it's fun to imagine what the philosophical and political beliefs that underpin a colloquial understanding of the word might look like, the answer is usually simply: Teenagers.

Re: The Cypherpunk Library

#44

Post by Caracas288 »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #19
Yokohiii wrote: post #18

> THE CYPHERNOMICON I've peeked into that one. I've expected those people to be radical to some degree, but I didn't expect they write it down so clearly. This writing wants to see the collapse of governments and democracy. I find it painful to read such radical statements. So I didn't get very deep. But I am riddled how those people think a collapse of that scale will work out in their favor. They are deeply reliant…

This is the thing I don't understand about (a superficial interpretation of) anarchists; while governments are often not ideal, a lack of one wouldn't be better. And trusting people to self-organize is idealistic, but in practice it'd mean we go back to tribalism and "might makes right".

The idea is it wouldn’t work on trust, each element would be bounded by forces other than a single structure; getting to the state in which self-regulation is possible is the difficult, or maybe impossible, part. When in the regulated state, power grabs wouldn’t work.

Re: The Cypherpunk Library

#45

Post by chimpanzee2 »

my_throwaway23 wrote: post #39
chimpanzee2 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting– Conversely, that is exactly how I feel about reading fiction . To me, how can you possibly enjoy reading something some other person simply ... made up? Like an elaborate lie? Contrarily, non-fiction tells it how it happened within the very reality I myself live in , subject to the same laws of nature and real psychology , and therefore, and only therefore, able to teach me something about real life on t…

Perhaps unrelated, but that reminds me of the inevitable avalanche of identical replies to every submission on aphantasia, all proclaiming that, no, they do indeed find it odd that there are people who can visualise internally. Do you enjoy watching movies or series, reading comics? Going to the theatre (as in - not movies, but actual theatre)? Edit: Do note that I wrote enjoy - I've certainly read my fair share of n…

> Do you enjoy watching movies or series, reading comics? Going to the theatre (as in - not movies, but actual theatre)?

I really for the most part do not. I've not even seen any of the big oscar winning pieces everyone keeps talking about.

As I said to another commentator on here as well:

Without any disdain, I cannot bring myself to watch hours of another person's fantasy, when I could instead be shaping my own reality.

Re: The Cypherpunk Library

#46

Post by some_furry »

my_throwaway24 wrote: post #32
my_throwaway23 wrote: post #21

Side note: I love literature, but I can not for the life of me understand how anyone can consider non-fiction enjoyable to read. Informative, perhaps interesting, yes, but enjoyable? Heck no. Take me as far away from reality as possible. Though, of course, to each their own.

[flagged]

Making a throwaway account to "just ask a question" is a weird thing to do.

Re: The Cypherpunk Library

#47

Post by kakacik »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #19
Yokohiii wrote: post #18

> THE CYPHERNOMICON I've peeked into that one. I've expected those people to be radical to some degree, but I didn't expect they write it down so clearly. This writing wants to see the collapse of governments and democracy. I find it painful to read such radical statements. So I didn't get very deep. But I am riddled how those people think a collapse of that scale will work out in their favor. They are deeply reliant…

This is the thing I don't understand about (a superficial interpretation of) anarchists; while governments are often not ideal, a lack of one wouldn't be better. And trusting people to self-organize is idealistic, but in practice it'd mean we go back to tribalism and "might makes right".

Its not a rational position, rather a kneejerk emotional one. Various other extreme positions share the same setup (nazism, communism etc).

Try talking to some anarchists and its pretty obvious their ideas don't go deep nor can stand well some questioning. Once you are in fairy land, anything may seem like a good idea to tackle ie some injustice.

Re: The Cypherpunk Library

#49

Post by lkm0 »

my_throwaway23 wrote: post #21

Side note: I love literature, but I can not for the life of me understand how anyone can consider non-fiction enjoyable to read. Informative, perhaps interesting, yes, but enjoyable? Heck no. Take me as far away from reality as possible. Though, of course, to each their own.

If you can read French, I recommend Saint-Simon as the quintessential counter-example. In English, I found "Why I Write" by Orwell very entertaining.

Re: The Cypherpunk Library

#50

Post by danubis »

slybot wrote: post #37
phyzix5761 wrote: post #31

If anyone is curious, like me, what Cypherpunk means: "A cypherpunk is one who advocates the widespread use of strong cryptography and privacy-enhancing technologies as a means of effecting social and political change."[0] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypherpunk

Funnily, this small library features works outside of it's domain, including a manifesto from PKK terrorist organization leader..

Did you read it?
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