this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2023
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If thats the price of freedom then I think one should definitely become tech savvy.
Besides, isn't saying that you're not tech savvy in today's tech world kind of admitting that you're willfully ignorant and only buy tech stuff for show?
You think people only buy TVs for show? That's a very strange thing to suggest. People buy TVs so they can watch shows. For over 70 years, all they've had to do is turn it on and maybe turn a knob or push a couple of buttons and that's it. Expecting people to learn more than that is too much for many people. And saying you aren't tech savvy isn't some shameful thing except to people who are tech savvy. Even if it does mean someone is ignorant, that doesn't mean they deserve to be taken advantage of.
One way to look at this is that if you buy a bike, you should have at least basic understanding of its work and repair process. If you run a car, you should know the traffic rules. Similar in internet world, but only not explicitly implied.
Ignorant people should not be taken advantage of. But this is more like a principle than application. Currently, the internet is like a wild wild west. The more techy you are, more you can save your mental health. It is just the lack of awareness in people that make companies take advantage of them. IMO, Tech-literacy is a necessity, just like traffic rules or basic life support.
Tech literacy is beyond many people. They are very confused by it. Not everyone has the capacity to be able to learn things on that subject. There is no subject everyone can be well-versed in, especially not a complicated one.
And, again, TVs have just worked for over 70 years. Why should people who have watched TV all of their lives expect to suddenly have to do some complicated new thing just to avoid Amazon fucking them over?
Certainly in my country, people who don't know how to setup a computer still choose to buy one.
Maybe the boomer generation. I am a millenial running a pihole and subscribing to OTT. This is true of others in my generation and younger.
Well it's not shameful in that it requires ridicule. I just think it's a bit embarrassing for me personally that a lot of people don't bother learning tech stuff. It's similar to people declaring that they don't read books. In this day and age, being tech savvy is kind of required to navigate a lot of society.
I know that, you know that, the companies exploiting the ignorant and elderly know that. So there's no better cure than for the ignorant to learn.
Still sounds like you're blaming the people being taken advantage of because they don't know things you do.
Leaving aside the silly thing about buying stuff for show (which may be true of a fraction, but not the vast majority), I disagree.
While becoming 'tech-savvy' might allow people to navigate around the pervasive ads in techn like the Fire Stick, it's unrealistic to expect this level of expertise from the average person. People have a myriad of responsibilities and interests competing for their attention; not everyone has the luxury of dedicating time to become a tech expert just to avoid advertisements. This expectation completely ignores the complexity of our lives and the sheer volume of knowledge required to custom-build solutions like a media PC, or build your own media library. It’s not about being willfully ignorant; it’s about the practical realities of everyday life.
Also, the implication that not being tech-savvy is a form of willful ignorance is unrealistically dismissive of the different talents and intelligence people possess. Being proficient in the many and various technology's is just one skill set among many, and people value privacy and simplicity without having to jump through hoops to achieve it. Technology should serve to enhance our lives, not add another layer of complexity. The burden should not fall solely on consumers to fend off invasive advertising; it is also the responsibility of companies to respect their users’ desire for a straightforward and unobtrusive experience. (Though I suspect we both agree this bit is more dream than reality...)
I am not holding my breath, at least until such time as companies actually change away from focusing purely on growth, money left on the table and towards sustainable business.
It doesn't take enormous effort to be at least aware of the shenanigans of the devices we interact with daily. Some people don't even bother with that.
If one knows how to setup wifi in their house... The next logical thing is how to configure their TVs, then on to a wifi extender, etc.