Technology was supposed to make our lives easier and free us. How come with every advance, it feels more like oppression?
Because power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Additionally, power always seeks more power, control always seeks more control. People, overall as a species, treat each other like shit. The more disconnected someone is from their fellows, the easier it is to dehumanize them, think of them as 'assets' or 'human resources' or 'workforce' rather than 'men' and 'women' and 'fellow human beings', therefore it's easier to treat them like the automatons that, ironically, so many are convinced are going to destroy everyones' jobs and leave us all to starve to death or die of exposure because we can't afford to live.
If the whole Windows 10 thing didn't convince people Microsoft is an evil corporation that doesn't give a fuck about people, just profits, then this story had better convince them.
Personally I'd rather be unemployed than work somewhere where I'm watched every moment of every day like I'm some convict in a supermax prison, or like livestock.
Unless it's the military. Because they're making a policy of pissing off as many countries and peoples as possible in their apparent quest for populism and nationalism, and they'll need a huge military, otherwise there won't be a United States much longer, everyone they've pissed off will bomb us back to the stone age.
But while not all people are 'those who seek power and control', SOME people are 'those who seek power and control', and they've historically been successful at it, therefore I stand by my point as being valid.
Tor relies on the existing Internet infrastructure to operate and isn't so widespread in it's use that anyone really bothers to try to regulate it -- but remember that Silk Road was shut down some time ago and I'm sure other Darknet sites like it have likewise been taken down. I stand by what I said.
I've been trying to get Linux Mint up to speed to replace XP, but I keep running into roadblocks, the most recent of which is it's decided to not accept my password for SUDO operations anymore. Just decided at some point to stop taking it. So far nobody has come up with a solid explanation as to why. Then there's the piece of software I'd like to keep using that needs Java, and you can't get Java installed under WINE to save your own life. Then there's the TiVo software that runs as services under Windows, and that won't work under WINE either. Mainly the SUDO problem is making me want to smash it with a sledgehammer. I'm far from computer-illiterate and I'm having these sorts of problems with Linux; so I see what the real obstacles are to Linux being a competitive replacement for Windows on a large scale; if I'm this frustrated with it already, the average end-user would have given up long ago and just got Windows 10.
To be fair about it: 'Decentralization' only really works on a small scale. You get too many people involved, and there ends up being 'organization' whether anyone wanted it or not. Someone decides to be the 'alpha' and the non-alphas fall into line.
Okay.. I don't think you know the difference between 'filesharing' and what I'm talking about.
Open a command prompt and type:
net start
You'll get a list of Windows Services that are running. Most all of you will see "Server" and "Workstation". I have those services set to "Disabled"; they don't show up in that list, they're literally not running at all. So again what I'm asking is: Since those Windows Services are Disabled (i.e. not running) then is there still a problem or not? If you don't know the answer that's okay.
Let me tell you a little story about a group of people from a couple thousand years or so ago, called the Gnostics. They had some interesting idea: that seeking true knowledge of the Universe around us was what God really wanted us to do. Furthermore their version of Christianity was, by definition, decentralized; there was to be no hierarchical structure to the Gnostic church, because the search for knowledge and truth was a very individualized thing, although you could of course share with others. The Gnostics were wiped out, to the last man, woman, and child, by the forerunners of modern Christianity. Why? Because the Gnostics, while very enlightened, threatened their centralized, hierarchical power base. So they all had to die.
I'm not a religious person, but the point of the story is to illustrate a point about human nature: Most people want a hierarchical, centralized structure, for good or for ill. It, apparently, is just how we're wired. If you create something that's free-form, decentralized, some people will call that 'anarchistic', and some other people will insist that 'order' be imposed upon it, and they will take steps to make it centralized, over the objections of everyone else. We've seen this happen with the Internet, and with Bitcoin, as a couple examples.
Furthermore: criminals are just as likely to want to impose some sort of 'order' on something that can benefit them as governments or any other group might. Stet?
Here's what I believe would happen with a 'Free and open Internet 2p0', made up of a mesh volunteer networked nodes:
o Mesh Internet 2p0 is created, at first on a small scale: It works as intended. People are courteous and respectful of each other. There are no problems.
o Over time more people get involved. Inevitably, some people with criminal tendencies (illegal filesharing, pedophiles, low-level drug dealers (mostly marijuana), etc) begin to participate; Mesh Internet 1p0 begins to resemble Tor/Darkweb.
o Mesh Internet 1p0 begins to grow exponentially as the idea catches on, and the Dreamers and Disaffected from Internet 2p0 jump ship for Mesh Internet 1p0.
o The percentage of criminal types participating in the new network doesn't vary much, but the overall numbers of them increases proportionately. Much more Darkweb-like infrastructure (like Silk Road, for instance) is put into operation as criminal types become emboldened by this new untamed frontier. More hardcore criminal elements emerge in this new virtual landscape (murder for hire, human trafficking, etc)
o Law enforcement and government are now taking notice of this 'Darkweb 2p0'. The original intent of Mesh Internet 1p0 still exists, but it's thoroughly laced with the unwanted, unasked-for criminal elements that are now giving it the wrong sort of attention.
o Law enforcement reports to government about 'rampant criminal activity'. Arrests are made. Lawmakers set about the task of deciding to either shut down or regulate Mesh Internet 1p0.
o At this point it can go either way: Either Mesh Internet 1p0 gets outlawed, made illegal to participate in such a network, or it gets taken over completely by the government, who passes laws regulating it. If the latter, then a centralized authority is imposed upon Mesh Internet 1p0.
o At this point it's just as likely as not that Mesh Internet 1p0 gets integrated into Internet 2p0, or not. In either case it ceases to be 'decentralized'. Corprorations get invovled in what appears to be a new possible revenue stream.
Nope. You won't need to do anything, your vote will be automatically made for you, no action on your part required. You won't even need to register to vote anymore; a Super Duper AI Deep Learning Algorithm Shiny Thingie will determine what political party you are automatically, register you, and make all your votes for you. No need for silly humans to bother themselves with learning how their government works, or any of those nasty annoying facts about candidates and issues, the Shiny machines will do it all fo ryou! Won't that be wonderful? All humans will have to do is eat, sleep, shit, and fuck.
This is beyond laughable, even for Trump and his shitty fake-ass 'administration', since he has no goddamned clue what he's talking about. 'Cybersecurity' is largely an endless game of Whack-a-Mole; it's almost impossible to close all the holes, even if you air-gap everything someone will 'social engineer' their way into access anyway. This is just distraction from the fact that his campaign (and probably Trump personally) have been in bed with his buddies the Russians since Day One, and he's desperately scrambling to try to redirect everyones' attention away from uncovering it. Goddamned traitor. Worse than Nixon.
Oh, no. It'll be even better than that. They'll use the newfangled 'AI deep learning algorithm' to predict your vote and vote for you. After all automation is the New Shiny Thing, it'll make everyones' life better! No more wasting time with silly old manual 'voting', that's so Luddite and Last Thursday!
Microsoft claiming huge numbers of installed Windows 10 is disingenuous when it includes forced installations and 'stealth' installations on computers of people who don't even understand what's happening or what they're being unilaterally signed up for. It's about as legitimate as some authoritarian dictatorship claiming 'crime free streets' when the mechanism behind that is total marshall law and threat of being shot dead if you're out on the street after curfew.
As to your last poke at me: Shove it up your ass, you fucking JERK.
Are you one of those people who aren't bothered by how much you're being surveilled in public places, or how much your ISP and other 'organizations' are logging and analyzing your Internet usage? One of those people who always say "I'm not doing anything wrong, so I have nothing to fear"? If you are then that explains a lot about your attitude on this subject. Or are you just a shareholder of Microsoft stock, and anything that makes them money is a good thing so far as you're concerned?
As I just stated on a different subject: If you don't even understand the issue, it's importance, or that you even have a say in the matter, then it's rather hard to HAVE a choice in the matter. Authoritarian Dictatorships and things functionally similar to them rely on fostering ignorance in the subject people. I'm sure ISPs are perfectly happy to do what they can to keep people in the dark, if not flat-out mis-inform them, so they either ignore the whole subject, or make the wrong choice.
How about statistics concerning how many Windows 10 users, who bought a computer with it pre-installed, are too technologically uninformed/uneducated/flat-out-ignorant to know there's anything else they could have running their computer, or for that matter even know an 'operating system' from a hole in the wall? It's hard to have a choice when you don't even know there is a choice.
Oh, well then, I guess I'll just drop my pants, roll over onto my back, and invite them to violate my anus. ..or, instead, maybe I'll keep fighting, and encourage others to keep fighting, rather than being an abject coward like some people, who do just roll over and play dead? Know anyone like that, Geekmux??? If you do you really should tell them to show some backbone and fight for what's right. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Let's not allow evil to triumph, shall we?
Sometimes you have to fight for something for the sake of everyone, even if they don't understand what it is you're fighting for or why you're doing it.
Sorry but I can't take this seriously considering the source; anyone have a link to statistics concerning voluntary installation of Windows 10? From a credible non-Miscreant-o-soft source only, please.
Well, I see things are developing about how I expected: not only is so-called 'AI' making us lazy and less skilled, now it's going to make us dumber and less capable of thinking for ourselves. I see nothing good coming from this, it'll let dangerous people go and lock up people who don't need to be locked up. What's next, some hackneyed 'AI app' to decide whether to shoot someone or not? GTFO with this nonsense.
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Technology was supposed to make our lives easier and free us. How come with every advance, it feels more like oppression?
Because power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Additionally, power always seeks more power, control always seeks more control. People, overall as a species, treat each other like shit. The more disconnected someone is from their fellows, the easier it is to dehumanize them, think of them as 'assets' or 'human resources' or 'workforce' rather than 'men' and 'women' and 'fellow human beings', therefore it's easier to treat them like the automatons that, ironically, so many are convinced are going to destroy everyones' jobs and leave us all to starve to death or die of exposure because we can't afford to live.
If the whole Windows 10 thing didn't convince people Microsoft is an evil corporation that doesn't give a fuck about people, just profits, then this story had better convince them.
Personally I'd rather be unemployed than work somewhere where I'm watched every moment of every day like I'm some convict in a supermax prison, or like livestock.
If it's smaller it must be better
Unless it's the military. Because they're making a policy of pissing off as many countries and peoples as possible in their apparent quest for populism and nationalism, and they'll need a huge military, otherwise there won't be a United States much longer, everyone they've pissed off will bomb us back to the stone age.
I have no idea what you're talking about, they're not contradictory in any way shape or form.
But while not all people are 'those who seek power and control', SOME people are 'those who seek power and control', and they've historically been successful at it, therefore I stand by my point as being valid.
Tor relies on the existing Internet infrastructure to operate and isn't so widespread in it's use that anyone really bothers to try to regulate it -- but remember that Silk Road was shut down some time ago and I'm sure other Darknet sites like it have likewise been taken down. I stand by what I said.
I've been trying to get Linux Mint up to speed to replace XP, but I keep running into roadblocks, the most recent of which is it's decided to not accept my password for SUDO operations anymore. Just decided at some point to stop taking it. So far nobody has come up with a solid explanation as to why. Then there's the piece of software I'd like to keep using that needs Java, and you can't get Java installed under WINE to save your own life. Then there's the TiVo software that runs as services under Windows, and that won't work under WINE either. Mainly the SUDO problem is making me want to smash it with a sledgehammer. I'm far from computer-illiterate and I'm having these sorts of problems with Linux; so I see what the real obstacles are to Linux being a competitive replacement for Windows on a large scale; if I'm this frustrated with it already, the average end-user would have given up long ago and just got Windows 10.
TCP 0.0.0.0:135 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING
TCP 0.0.0.0:445 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING
Oh for fuck's sake.. OF COURSE they're Stopped. There's been dozens, hundreds of reboots since I set them to Disabled. Don't be dumb.
To be fair about it: 'Decentralization' only really works on a small scale. You get too many people involved, and there ends up being 'organization' whether anyone wanted it or not. Someone decides to be the 'alpha' and the non-alphas fall into line.
I don't trust Microsoft to not slip something else I don't want into the patch.
Okay.. I don't think you know the difference between 'filesharing' and what I'm talking about.
Open a command prompt and type:
net start
You'll get a list of Windows Services that are running. Most all of you will see "Server" and "Workstation". I have those services set to "Disabled"; they don't show up in that list, they're literally not running at all. So again what I'm asking is: Since those Windows Services are Disabled (i.e. not running) then is there still a problem or not? If you don't know the answer that's okay.
Slashdot editors took a chainsaw to the way the above story was formatted; this is what it was supposed to look like, which was much more readable than the crap they actually posted on the front page. Apologies, even if there wasn't anything I could do about it.
Am I safe to assume that since I don't have the Server Service or Workstation Service running that I'm safe from this particular exploit?
I'm not a religious person, but the point of the story is to illustrate a point about human nature: Most people want a hierarchical, centralized structure, for good or for ill. It, apparently, is just how we're wired. If you create something that's free-form, decentralized, some people will call that 'anarchistic', and some other people will insist that 'order' be imposed upon it, and they will take steps to make it centralized, over the objections of everyone else. We've seen this happen with the Internet, and with Bitcoin, as a couple examples.
Furthermore: criminals are just as likely to want to impose some sort of 'order' on something that can benefit them as governments or any other group might. Stet?
Here's what I believe would happen with a 'Free and open Internet 2p0', made up of a mesh volunteer networked nodes:
Apps
Nope. You won't need to do anything, your vote will be automatically made for you, no action on your part required. You won't even need to register to vote anymore; a Super Duper AI Deep Learning Algorithm Shiny Thingie will determine what political party you are automatically, register you, and make all your votes for you. No need for silly humans to bother themselves with learning how their government works, or any of those nasty annoying facts about candidates and issues, the Shiny machines will do it all fo ryou! Won't that be wonderful? All humans will have to do is eat, sleep, shit, and fuck.
This is beyond laughable, even for Trump and his shitty fake-ass 'administration', since he has no goddamned clue what he's talking about. 'Cybersecurity' is largely an endless game of Whack-a-Mole; it's almost impossible to close all the holes, even if you air-gap everything someone will 'social engineer' their way into access anyway. This is just distraction from the fact that his campaign (and probably Trump personally) have been in bed with his buddies the Russians since Day One, and he's desperately scrambling to try to redirect everyones' attention away from uncovering it. Goddamned traitor. Worse than Nixon.
Oh, no. It'll be even better than that. They'll use the newfangled 'AI deep learning algorithm' to predict your vote and vote for you. After all automation is the New Shiny Thing, it'll make everyones' life better! No more wasting time with silly old manual 'voting', that's so Luddite and Last Thursday!
Microsoft claiming huge numbers of installed Windows 10 is disingenuous when it includes forced installations and 'stealth' installations on computers of people who don't even understand what's happening or what they're being unilaterally signed up for. It's about as legitimate as some authoritarian dictatorship claiming 'crime free streets' when the mechanism behind that is total marshall law and threat of being shot dead if you're out on the street after curfew.
As to your last poke at me: Shove it up your ass, you fucking JERK.
Are you one of those people who aren't bothered by how much you're being surveilled in public places, or how much your ISP and other 'organizations' are logging and analyzing your Internet usage? One of those people who always say "I'm not doing anything wrong, so I have nothing to fear"? If you are then that explains a lot about your attitude on this subject. Or are you just a shareholder of Microsoft stock, and anything that makes them money is a good thing so far as you're concerned?
A while back I warned people that Microsoft looked like they wanted to try to annex and subvert Linux, and now I'm seeing I was right.
As I just stated on a different subject: If you don't even understand the issue, it's importance, or that you even have a say in the matter, then it's rather hard to HAVE a choice in the matter. Authoritarian Dictatorships and things functionally similar to them rely on fostering ignorance in the subject people. I'm sure ISPs are perfectly happy to do what they can to keep people in the dark, if not flat-out mis-inform them, so they either ignore the whole subject, or make the wrong choice.
How about statistics concerning how many Windows 10 users, who bought a computer with it pre-installed, are too technologically uninformed/uneducated/flat-out-ignorant to know there's anything else they could have running their computer, or for that matter even know an 'operating system' from a hole in the wall? It's hard to have a choice when you don't even know there is a choice.
Oh, well then, I guess I'll just drop my pants, roll over onto my back, and invite them to violate my anus.
..or, instead, maybe I'll keep fighting, and encourage others to keep fighting, rather than being an abject coward like some people, who do just roll over and play dead? Know anyone like that, Geekmux??? If you do you really should tell them to show some backbone and fight for what's right. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Let's not allow evil to triumph, shall we?
Sometimes you have to fight for something for the sake of everyone, even if they don't understand what it is you're fighting for or why you're doing it.
Sorry but I can't take this seriously considering the source; anyone have a link to statistics concerning voluntary installation of Windows 10? From a credible non-Miscreant-o-soft source only, please.
Well, I see things are developing about how I expected: not only is so-called 'AI' making us lazy and less skilled, now it's going to make us dumber and less capable of thinking for ourselves. I see nothing good coming from this, it'll let dangerous people go and lock up people who don't need to be locked up. What's next, some hackneyed 'AI app' to decide whether to shoot someone or not? GTFO with this nonsense.