Thread by @deontologistics

Why must my attempt to understand and enhance the constitutive conditions of my own freedom be interpreted as *complicity* with those who attempt to understand, manipulate, and thereby diminish the freedom of others? Why can't it be solidarity? Seriously?

I have this same argument over and over and over again. My commitment to understand and enhance freedom (Prometheanism) is thrown back in my face, like I'm a collaborator preparing the populace for the computational panoptican being assembled around them.

I apologise for taking the quote out of context, but no matter where it begins, the argument always seems to arrive at some variant of Lorde's claim that "the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house."

There are other classics in there too, variations on tried and tested formulas like "you're playing with fire!", "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!", and even sometimes still "all technology is a sin against nature, get back to basics, rejoice in her bounty!"

With friends like these, who needs enemies? I might just move to Silicon Valley and get it over with. Many people seem to act as if I'm already there, so I might as well get some stock options and live it up a little before we hit terminal technological domination.

But seriously folks, if you want to dismantle the distributed computational panopticon that is gradually being assembled around us like one boils a frog, if this is really what you're worried about, you're probably going to have to understand your wannabe overlord's tools.

And this means you're going to have to understand yourselves well enough to grasp how these tools get purchase upon the mechanisms that underpin the choices you make. Because otherwise you will not see the slow motion trap cinching tight around your executive functions.

Of course, I can't force you to do this. I don't want to force you to do this. I believe in free choice, in self-legislation. I just happen to think that self-legislation involves self-determination, and that means causation, and yes, computation. But you do you. I'll do me.

You get on with whatever it is you think is the most effective form of resistance against the computational oppression you're worried about, and I'll get on doing the same. I'll even act in solidarity with you wherever possible, as far as our goals and methods are compatible.

But I will not accept that self-understanding is a means to perpetuate oppression. Not ever. I swear it by Spinoza's gleaming lenses. Prometheanism or bust.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a sustained and sustainable increase in power and joy. Good night.