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Why the Luddites Matter

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Re: Why the Luddites Matter

#111

Post by ce4 »

pdimitar wrote: post #99
lmns wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/networking/2008/02/08/no... tl;dr from the article: > If the network name of a wireless network (SSID) is not broadcast, the clients must search for it with probe requests. So if you have one AP and 100 wireless devices, you partially limit exposure of the network name with one device while causing 100 devices to expose it instead.

Thank you.

Especially, mobile devices like laptops, smartphones etc will then have to send probe requests constantly, even if youre away from home... informing any eavesdropper around of essid and probably also bssid.

Most OSes do this anyway to speed up the connection process (try to attach to last n networks and see what sticks). Can be abused to learn about past locations of that device by asking one of the wifi location api databases (iOS, win, google/android):

https://www.mylnikov.org/archives/1170

Edit: couldnt find good links about rapid wifi connecting procedures but here's an older article about Apple's rapid dhcp mechanism:

https://cafbit.com/post/rapid_dhcp_or_how_do/

Re: Why the Luddites Matter

#112

Post by a1369209993 »

BeetleB wrote: post #97
a1369209993 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Technically, (somewhat) increased living standards are a inevitable consequence of significant production improvements in a not-completely-disfunctional economy. That doesn't really help in the short term though. Also: > literally written in tears and blood figuratively ; tears and blood make shit writing materials.

You must have not gotten the memo about the word "literally" http://blog.nawaz.org/posts/2012/Aug/merriam-webster-is-roll...

Until you can provide a alternative word that only means "literally", "literally" means "literally", not "figuratively".

Re: Why the Luddites Matter

#113

Post by TeMPOraL »

mmirate wrote: post #110
TeMPOraL wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My definition of "doing our best" involves empathy as one of its core components.

I apologize for my imprecise diction. I should have said, "disability that holds each of us back from doing his/her best". I have edited my previous comment accordingly.

I still believe that empathy isn't holding us back. As long as you're dealing with other people, everyone having empathy is better than everyone not having it. With empathy, you might "not do your best" by helping someone in their need, but then someone else will help you in your need, and the sum of such interactions gives better payoff to everyone individually than if everyone went completely alone. On the other hand, without widespread empathy, you'd live in constant fear, as any stranger out there - even those you don't know exist - could, at any time, decide to abuse you for their own gain.

Re: Why the Luddites Matter

#114

Post by BeetleB »

a1369209993 wrote: post #112
BeetleB wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You must have not gotten the memo about the word "literally" http://blog.nawaz.org/posts/2012/Aug/merriam-webster-is-roll...

Until you can provide a alternative word that only means "literally", "literally" means "literally", not "figuratively".

>Until you can provide a alternative word that only means "literally", "literally" means "literally", not "figuratively".

You're welcome to use the word as you please. The majority of the English speaking world, however, disagrees with you. If you care about clarity and precision, "literally" is a word to avoid.

Re: Why the Luddites Matter

#115

Post by noir_lord »

pdimitar wrote: post #51

> you do not have to let a tech company screaming “technological progress” in your face turn you into a paragon of passivity This was the article's highlight for me. As a senior programmer I found myself saying "no" to more and more tech nowadays -- smart speakers are and will always be not welcome in my house, I carefully study mobile app permissions and deny everything but the absolutely necessary minimum (on my mo…

I'm with you, there are entire classes of technology I resent and avoid and it's getting worse as I get older.

My "smart TV" is a 4K Samsung with all it's smart features turned off connected to a PC running Xubuntu because that way I have control over it.

I don't own a single IoT thing, I have about 5 apps installed on my phone (4 of which are Chess related, 1 is my bank), I use the mobile web for everything else, if you don't have a usable web app I don't use your product.

I deliberately minimise the amount of technology to 'plain' computers running Linux because I understand those and feel in control.

No smart toasters for me.

Re: Why the Luddites Matter

#116

Post by bleachedsleet »

The author's premise is that Luddites are a misunderstood group with a misunderstood agenda but then goes on to immediately say:

"The historic Luddites were skilled craft workers laboring in England in the early 19th century, and they were amongst the first groups to see their jobs and lifestyles fall victim to mechanization; their opposition to 'obnoxious' machinery was in keeping with their view that the imposition of these machines would bring 'a sad end to an honourable craft.'"

...which is exactly why myself and others generally ignore ludditism. To me this seems perfectly in line with the general understanding of the term: people that are being displaced by progress and become generally opposed to said progress as a result, often violently so.

I'm sorry if new technologies are hurting your lifestyle, but if the only way to become heard is to literally destroy that tech, then perhaps no one wants to listen.

Adapt or die. This is the way of evolution.

Re: Why the Luddites Matter

#117

Post by cjarrett »

bleachedsleet wrote: post #116

The author's premise is that Luddites are a misunderstood group with a misunderstood agenda but then goes on to immediately say: "The historic Luddites were skilled craft workers laboring in England in the early 19th century, and they were amongst the first groups to see their jobs and lifestyles fall victim to mechanization; their opposition to 'obnoxious' machinery was in keeping with their view that the imposition…

To give an older, 30 year long rejoinder by a famous, well regarded major American author: the question to ask is, is it OK to be a luddite? https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/97/05/18/r...

Re: Why the Luddites Matter

#118

Post by pdimitar »

isostatic wrote: post #107
TheSpiceIsLife wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not even convinced of the usefulness of extremely large screens. You end up having to sit progressively further away from them the bigger they are, which probably requires progressively larger rooms to put the TV in.

Depends on what you're watching, but to be immersed you're looking for a 16:9 screen to be 30 degrees of width (for immersive cinema you want 40") At 8', that's 60" screen size for 30 degrees (80" for cinema) Now I treat these with a pinch of salt, they're SMPTE values, and the last SMPTE event I went to we all agreed that in the UK 4K is pretty much pointless for 80% of the country, but SMPTE can't say that because…

That's the real problem with modern TVs. Several "upgraded" aspects come together in a bundle:

• Bigger screens.

• Much better screens (like QLED by Samsung).

• Better hertz values (doesn't irritate the eyes).

• More "smart" builtin software and firmware, with tons of bugs and security holes.

• Bigger resolution.

I'd take all of the above points except the smart TV software. To be perfectly fair I also think 4K is the absolute maximum for resolution that we need to use on TVs for like 5-10 years, too. As many people pointed out in the past in other threads here in HN, I'd love for these TVs to come in two packages -- with and without the hardware module that gives it its "smart" software.

Alas, we don't have the choice. Our best course of action is:

(1) Never give our TV access to our WiFi network.

(2) Make sure to buy an HDMI cable with lower protocol version so it doesn't pass-through your Ethernet connection.

It's a pretty screwed up market. I bet 10-20% of the price of the modern TVs comes from the supposed value proposition of the "smart" features and our group of users pays this premium without needing it.

Re: Why the Luddites Matter

#119

Post by Izkata »

bleachedsleet wrote: post #116

The author's premise is that Luddites are a misunderstood group with a misunderstood agenda but then goes on to immediately say: "The historic Luddites were skilled craft workers laboring in England in the early 19th century, and they were amongst the first groups to see their jobs and lifestyles fall victim to mechanization; their opposition to 'obnoxious' machinery was in keeping with their view that the imposition…

Yeah, this article actually confused me a bit, too. I always thought the common understanding of Luddite was "doesn't understand / doesn't care about" technology. Did nothing to dissuade that notion, either.

Re: Why the Luddites Matter

#120

Post by wilsonnb »

pdimitar wrote: post #101
wilsonnb wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get where you're coming from but to say that computers and phones aren't used to improve people's lives is ridiculous. GPS in my pocket. Internet connected calorie counting app. Streaming whatever show I want on demand instead of watching the one show that's on. Paying $120 dollars a year to listen to whatever music I want to. A calendar that's on all my devices that my wife can add things on. A speaker that can st…

Well I might have exaggerated. :) I do make heavy use of my phone's productivity apps -- calendars, shopping lists, todo lists, and many others. What I do not use though is stuff like Facebook and the numerous mind-numbing "games" trying to strong-arm you into buying their diamond currency every 15 minutes. I also make heavy use of Safari's ability to pull my MacBook's tabs to my iPhone or iPad, or between any of the…

That I do concur with. I also don't use Facebook for the reasons you stated, although I'm still trying to kick my Reddit habit.
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