Thread
A thread on privacy, anonymity, courage and cowardice.
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There’s much nuance here.
@jordanbpeterson's recent poll & position on anonymity on the web shows that there is a real clash of worldviews.
Let’s look at privacy & anonymity, transparency & technics, courage & cowardice.
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@jordanbpeterson's recent poll & position on anonymity on the web shows that there is a real clash of worldviews.
Let’s look at privacy & anonymity, transparency & technics, courage & cowardice.
👇
The thing is @jordanbpeterson you’re right about your observations. Anonymity breeds trolls, keyboard warriors, comment monkeys and all sorts of basement dwelling losers.
BUT…it also does so much more...
BUT…it also does so much more...
Anonymity also helps defend truth, freedom, dissent, civil disobedience and humour - all which are essential to a robust and functional civilisation.
I appreciate your standpoint because I am a student of Ancient history.
I appreciate your standpoint because I am a student of Ancient history.
Courage and reputation have always been deeply linked to identity.
Alexander and Leonidas led their armies from the front.
They did not hide behind their servants, or send missiles from behind a desk as today’s political cowards do.
Alexander and Leonidas led their armies from the front.
They did not hide behind their servants, or send missiles from behind a desk as today’s political cowards do.
Honour required a level of transparency that is not present in today’s society.
BUT…
There is an important nuance.....
Read on..
BUT…
There is an important nuance.....
Read on..
Think about the advent of shields in Ancient Warfare.
While the bravest of warriors may have abhorred a shield initially, in order to DEFEND oneself in the evolving landscape of war, shields, helmets and armour were adopted.
While the bravest of warriors may have abhorred a shield initially, in order to DEFEND oneself in the evolving landscape of war, shields, helmets and armour were adopted.
Only the very few (madmen, barbarians, brutes, the desperate and some greats) would’ve imagined going to war without a shield.
ANONYMITY IS LIKE A SHIELD IN CYBERSPACE !!
ANONYMITY IS LIKE A SHIELD IN CYBERSPACE !!
It’s necessary in this day and age, and has been for perhaps a number of centuries (it’s existed as you know, as pen names by writers & dissidents) as more totalitarian-like governments have emerged. 
While the ancients had honour in many cases, modern rulers are far less moral - as evidences by the atrocities of the last 120 years. And this will likely get worse in the coming decades. 
The shield of anonymity is a tool of defence - and as with all tools, can be used for good and bad.
Anonymity, has a light and a shadow, and it’s important to understand the difference, and not be captured or obsessed by the noise.
Anonymity, has a light and a shadow, and it’s important to understand the difference, and not be captured or obsessed by the noise.
Growing up in Alberta when you did, it would’ve made more sense to punch a troll in the face.
In fact, the likelihood of that probably meant less trolls - or at least less of the coward-like trolls who otherwise wouldn’t have the balls to really confront you.
In fact, the likelihood of that probably meant less trolls - or at least less of the coward-like trolls who otherwise wouldn’t have the balls to really confront you.
I’m an “old” millennial, so I appreciate that.
I grew up with one foot in your world, and one in the new.
I prefer the punch in the face method too.
But Cyberspace is different.
Which has it's pros and cons.
I grew up with one foot in your world, and one in the new.
I prefer the punch in the face method too.
But Cyberspace is different.
Which has it's pros and cons.
While it would feel good to punch some of the clowns in the face, it’s just not possible on the internet.
And if you could, of course they wouldn’t be there.
But implementing KYC or crying about it and blanket calling anons cowards is not a solution.
And if you could, of course they wouldn’t be there.
But implementing KYC or crying about it and blanket calling anons cowards is not a solution.
That’s throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
KYC is an abomination - and it's done NOTHING but harm for society - which continues to this day.
KYC is an abomination - and it's done NOTHING but harm for society - which continues to this day.
Money is the tool that enabled humans to transact amongst each other without needing to know their identities.
Reputation is a form of intangible capital that was traditionally tied to identity - and it helped for verification purposes in real life.
Reputation is a form of intangible capital that was traditionally tied to identity - and it helped for verification purposes in real life.
But in cyberspace, new methods of dealing with money & reputation need to be developed, that are not just a dumb ass attempt to overlay meatspace onto cyberspace.
There’s much in the Bitcoin space being worked on to solve for both.
Money has very much been handled.
There’s much in the Bitcoin space being worked on to solve for both.
Money has very much been handled.
Let’s see what some people do with reputations.
@Synonym_to @ImperviousAi & @TBD54566975 are doing interesting things here.
The alternative is giving bumbling fools like this power over identity.
See screenshots & remember the truckers.
@Synonym_to @ImperviousAi & @TBD54566975 are doing interesting things here.
The alternative is giving bumbling fools like this power over identity.
See screenshots & remember the truckers.
Now Imagine a world where identity is tied to money and communication - and then controlled by idiots like this?
Whether through malice or stupidity, it matters not - we’d all be screwed.
This would be the worst of Orwell & Huxley - and we're almost there.
Whether through malice or stupidity, it matters not - we’d all be screwed.
This would be the worst of Orwell & Huxley - and we're almost there.
Cyberspace is here
We have to adapt to this new landscape, not try to impose meatspace premises onto it, and in the process march ourselves into modern day digital gulags.
Transparency is and will always remain important.
We have to adapt to this new landscape, not try to impose meatspace premises onto it, and in the process march ourselves into modern day digital gulags.
Transparency is and will always remain important.
Physical reputation in your local community too - and further out if you want to, but be prepared to deal with haters.
In that case, the maxim; “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” stands.
So don't let "mean comments" blind you to a larger truth.
In that case, the maxim; “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” stands.
So don't let "mean comments" blind you to a larger truth.
80/20 is a universal fractal, and int applies here too.
The 20% (or likely 1%) of the anons make up for the other 80(99)% who are just keyboard warriors with comment muscles.
The NPCs don’t matter.
Giving them attention is where the issue lies.
The 20% (or likely 1%) of the anons make up for the other 80(99)% who are just keyboard warriors with comment muscles.
The NPCs don’t matter.
Giving them attention is where the issue lies.
The shadow does not, and cannot overshadow the light.80/20 applies here as it does in all things
The 20% give us Humour, Truth & Insight in the face of suffering, lies and stupidity.
And god knows the world is suffering from the latter much more than the former.
The 20% give us Humour, Truth & Insight in the face of suffering, lies and stupidity.
And god knows the world is suffering from the latter much more than the former.
Sure - the 80% constitutes a whole lot of stupidity and avarice, but who cares.
That’s a price worth paying for the Truth.
For a world in which Cyberspace exists, the absence of anonymity would mean the end of Truth.
That’s a price worth paying for the Truth.
For a world in which Cyberspace exists, the absence of anonymity would mean the end of Truth.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the only thing keeping that darkness at bay are the cracks of anonymity that let light in when it matters most.
*Read that again*
*Read that again*
The last few years have been ample evidence of this & there will come a time when such acts of anonymous greatness are required again.
I do hope you read this, and reconsider your stance. If you’d like to discuss it further, I’m happy to come on your show.
I do hope you read this, and reconsider your stance. If you’d like to discuss it further, I’m happy to come on your show.
This is an important topic, and one you should not be so quick to dismiss.
Jesus was not anonymous, but he suffered the greatest pain.
There are no equivalents in todays day and age so holding people to that standard doesn’t work.
It’s a different era and landscape.
Jesus was not anonymous, but he suffered the greatest pain.
There are no equivalents in todays day and age so holding people to that standard doesn’t work.
It’s a different era and landscape.
If anything, today’s equivalent would be Satoshi.
Who *was* anonymous.
He created what may well be the most important tool for human cooperation, and did so without ever basking in the sunlight of glory or recognition.
That is a monumental feat.
Who *was* anonymous.
He created what may well be the most important tool for human cooperation, and did so without ever basking in the sunlight of glory or recognition.
That is a monumental feat.
And great Anon's have followed him.
@dergigi @Beautyon_ @jerr_rrej @WakeToBitcoin @parman_the and many others whom I could list.
They were the voices of truth these past few years - and there will be others like them in the future who will play a similar role.
@dergigi @Beautyon_ @jerr_rrej @WakeToBitcoin @parman_the and many others whom I could list.
They were the voices of truth these past few years - and there will be others like them in the future who will play a similar role.
I’ll finish up with two final thoughts...
I’ve had to deal with trolls and shit online. It’s annoying and I know most of them are losers - but I will continue to defend their capacity to do and be that, bc I know that so much more is at stake.
I’ve had to deal with trolls and shit online. It’s annoying and I know most of them are losers - but I will continue to defend their capacity to do and be that, bc I know that so much more is at stake.
Privacy is also critical to note here.
I don’t believe privacy is a “human right”, but I do believe it’s a service, and a standard.
The higher this standard the more robust, free, truthful and functional society is.
I don’t believe privacy is a “human right”, but I do believe it’s a service, and a standard.
The higher this standard the more robust, free, truthful and functional society is.
There’s a reason you have locks on your doors, doors on your bathroom, a private life at home, why you don’t open other people’s mail and why you don’t make your bank account balance public.
Privacy and anonymity are linked.
But - I'll save this for a future thread.
For now...
Privacy and anonymity are linked.
But - I'll save this for a future thread.
For now...
I hope that anyone who reads this finds value and thinks deeply about why anonymity in a world where cyberspace exists, is a necessary means of defence - despite the trolls.
And if someone can pass it onto @jordanbpeterson perhaps some civil discourse can be had.
And if someone can pass it onto @jordanbpeterson perhaps some civil discourse can be had.
@jordanbpeterson That's a wrap!
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John Vallis @JohnVallis
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Dec 7, 2022
Excellent thread. cc @jordanbpeterson