Notices by Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)

@rooftopjaxx Yeah, the idea was not to let it get to fascism but, hey, here we are. I guess better late than never. It’s never too late to resist. Better to prevent, though.

And here’s the thing: if/when there is another administration, you don’t let these fuckers weasel their way back in with the money. They should never have been let in to begin with. The number of fucking “human rights” and “ethical this or that” conferences I refused to speak at because they were sponsored by these assholes comes to mind. I guess being surveillance capitalists and farming people wasn’t bad enough for some folks.

Wrote this a decade ago (nothing’s fucking changed): https://ar.al/notes/rightscon-or-a-right-con/

#google #facebook #meta #sponsorship #institutionalCorruption #BigTech #ethicsWashing #privacyWashing https://mstdn.party/@philjreese/114037657970053201

@capn_b 🤷♂️

@OlgaPatlyuk Sending you lots of love from the Emerald Isle. You’re not alone.

@OlgaPatlyuk Sadly, I wouldn’t be hugely surprised :(

@spamned Someone should tell Marshall that, I’m sure he’d be mighty pissed off.

So one moment you’re bragging about having ”the strongest and most lethal fighting force in the world” (Kamala Harris) and the next you’re terrified about how your new fascist regime is going to use it against its own people.

I find it highly concerning that some of us still don’t understand that every weapon we produce – whether it’s surveillance technologies, coercive laws, police, soldiers, or bombs – will eventually fall into the hands of the worst people possible. There is no such thing as a weapon that can only be used by The Good Guys™; there is only a weapon.

So maybe, just maybe, it’s in our best interests not produce them to begin with. Or to limit them to the absolute minimum. Or at the very least not to glorify them and to enact the strongest checks and balances possible at a constitutional level. But, most of all, to strive to create the kinds of societies where they would not be required to begin with.

I feel it’s especially important to keep this in mind here in Europe where we are, rigthfully, concerned about the twin threats of Russia and the US. Must we do more to defend ourselves and stand up to bullies? Yes, sadly, we must. For there’s only one language they understand. But in the process, we must keep the germ of a different – better – future alive, lest we become, ourselves, that which we abhor.

So yes, we must shore up our military strength, band together, and protect our sovereignty in the face of Russian and American threats. But we must also show that a different way of life is possible. A fairer, more just society. One that is not only tolerant of differences but celebrates them (but is equally as intolerant of intolerance and threats to its tolerance). A society where your worth is not defined by the size of your bank account. One where everyone can live and die with dignity.

And it is possible.

This is what our level of technology enables, as much as all the terrible things.

This isn’t idealism. It’s realism with imagination.

We’ve allowed the worst of us to destroy even our ability to imagine a better future and so, in learned helplessness, we conflate resignation with realism.

This is a time of change. But we – not a relative handful of overstuffed psychopaths – decide what shape that change takes.

@TexasObserver Well I’d never have expected such a thing from someone in ICE.

@majorlinux I don't understand how many of these tech websites and magazines ignore the social context. Every article about one of these companies should have a disclaimer. Maybe something like, "The content of this article may not be accurate because the CEO of this company was seen to perform a Nazi salute."

Naw, I'm good!

I want fast speeds, not fascist speeds!
https://mastodon.social/@PCMag/114036823670753503

@EagleRockster De nada :)

@courtcan Yep.

@miah Appreciate it but no need to thank me; it really is the bare minimum any of us can do.

:hearts:

@notabene Thanks but it’s sad that this is even something that needs to be admired. Should be the baseline. It’s the least we can do.

You know Zelensky isn’t a “dictator without elections” like Trump says he is because, were he one, Trump would be making him goo-goo eyes instead of slandering him.

@seanfobbe It’s fine when it’s not getting attacked by fascist scumbags. So basically the same as the rest of us.

@Magess Yeah, I don‘t even know him but he can go fuck himself too.

Yeah, listen, I don’t care how many million viewers it has, don’t invite me to your podcast if you feel it’s fine to debate whether trans people should exist or if vaccines work or not. No, thank you.

#DanAstinGregoryPodcast #humanRights #democracy #freedom #SmallTech #SmallWeb

@UnicornsRock Alt text: Illustration of Elon Musk getting punched. “Punch a Nazi” is scribbled over in red crayon, replaced with “Roman face massage”.

And guess what they named their AI…

In case you’re not angry enough, for some reason, watch this: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=k2Go4uPdysU https://mstdn.social/@huntingdon/114027141559686407