Several people pointed out, in different ways, that the problem is not information technology, it’s social technology—or just political will. IT can free us from drudgery—or enslave us. For one example, in many countries taxes are automated. Another:https://twitter.com/StephenPiment/status/981952230759657473 …
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David Chapman Retweeted
Several people related awful experiences with unaccountable bureaucracies. This was particularly poignant: https://twitter.com/MorlockP/status/982014577268445184 …
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David Chapman Retweeted Bill Gates
Although not replying to me specifically :)
@BillGates makes a critically important point here: systems are awful, but they’re way better than previous alternatives. We need to keep them running while we work out better replacements.https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/981532675176505345 …David Chapman added,
Bill GatesVerified account @BillGates“Give the system some credit.” It’s great to celebrate heroes (I do!). But there were heroes 1,000 years ago, and life was awful. Modernity—being able to flush the toilet and turn on the lights—is a miracle of systems plus heroes. pic.twitter.com/c92VUmlbjPShow this thread1 reply 0 retweets 6 likesShow this thread -
We *can* do better. Better than running society on half-automated systems—much less reverting to “developing world” status. I ended yesterday’s tweetstorm by linking to a sketch of how. When I get time to write again, I hope to fill in some details.https://meaningness.com/fluidity-desiderata …
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Diversity of temperament is more significant than diversity of ethnicity, gender, etc. A good society has to support different people getting on with different ways of living. In “Desiderata” I analyzed some obstacles to that, and approaches to overcoming them.pic.twitter.com/rlX8Y95LXz
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Replying to @Meaningness
"Diversity of temperament is more significant than diversity of ethnicity, gender, etc." Can you please expand on what you mean by this?
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Replying to @wendystolyarov
Distinctive ways-of-life may appeal regardless of the standard demographic categories. You can be an Evangelical Christian, or a hardcore science fiction fan, regardless of those categories.
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Replying to @Meaningness @wendystolyarov
Sure - in societies and demographic categories that allow that flexibility. Diversity of temperament didn't mean much if you were a Jew in Warsaw in 1943, though, and you'll get excommunicated if you're LDS and openly gay.
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Replying to @DavidColborne @wendystolyarov
Yes, absolutely. I was speaking about an abstract, semi-utopian vision. Differences of temperament will probably always be with us, and that’s probably good. Demographic discrimination is bad, and can at least be lessened.
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Replying to @Meaningness @wendystolyarov
I think I understand. Even absent demographic discrimination, however, how much do you think ethnic, gender, etc. background would shape temperament? Even absent overt discrimination, it's pretty clear that men and women are socialized differently, for example.
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I’ll decline to step into that minefield, tx
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Replying to @Meaningness @wendystolyarov
Aww.
In all seriousness, I suspect there's probably some nebulosity at play between the effects of temperament, demographic bigotry, and socialization, and they're all interrelated in complex and irreducible ways. Either way, we have to peacefully live with difference.1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
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