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Ian Coldwater 📦💥's posts Post Back to profile
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argv minus one

@ian

I dunno, the replicator technology depicted on Star Trek would nicely solve a rather serious cultural problem.

That's not the problem. The problem is that “AI” and cryptocurrency are not capable of or intended to solve any problem. They're cash grabs, nothing more. A shiny novelty to dazzle you while the crook rifles through your pockets.

11 June at 19:11 | Wall-to-wall | Open on mstdn.party
11 comments
econads

@argv_minus_one @ian
Someone said that replicator technology had to be invented after the utopia was in place, in order that it be widely available to all. It facilitates the culture but doesn't cause it. If it was invented today it would only be available to those who could pay.

11 June at 20:13 | Open on mendeddrum.org
argv minus one

@econads

I'm afraid that doesn't make any sense. The replicator technology can presumably replicate itself (or at least its own components). It would be exceedingly difficult—probably impossible—to *prevent* it from becoming widely available to all.

@ian

11 June at 20:16 | Open on mstdn.party
jmelesky

@argv_minus_one @econads @ian “Presumably” does a great deal of work in that sentence.

How much work has gone into taking general-purpose computers and locking down their capabilities in order to have payment gateways in place? A massive amount. Every iOS and Android smartphone, for example. Any system that has limitations on what software can be installed.

What company, in today’s capitalist society, having just developed replicators, wouldn’t put such guardrails into them? And use the legal force of patent protections to keep them there? And use their power to sway governments to increase those protections?

@argv_minus_one @econads @ian “Presumably” does a great deal of work in that sentence.

How much work has gone into taking general-purpose computers and locking down their capabilities in order to have payment gateways in place? A massive amount. Every iOS and Android smartphone, for example. Any system that has limitations on what software can be installed.

11 June at 22:19 | Open on tinylad.social
Steffi the Redhead

@argv_minus_one @econads @ian ROFL.
Why do you think we have licenses and patents and copyright?
As if they would allow you to copy it.

And of course you need licensed technicians to maintain them.

And I think we have to heavily tax the items made by replicators to protect local businesses. Or keep the gold price the same level or something like that.

Yeah ... I think capitalism can make use of them without destroying the system.

@argv_minus_one @econads @ian ROFL.
Why do you think we have licenses and patents and copyright?
As if they would allow you to copy it.

And of course you need licensed technicians to maintain them.

And I think we have to heavily tax the items made by replicators to protect local businesses. Or keep the gold price the same level or something like that.

17 June at 8:17 | Open on chaos.social
argv minus one

@fuchsi

Licenses and patents and copyright have not sufficed to prevent software piracy or phone/console jailbreaking, and you expect them to suffice to prevent the jailbreaking of a high-tech horn of plenty? No way.

@econads @ian

17 June at 18:04 | Open on mstdn.party
Steffi the Redhead

@argv_minus_one @econads @ian we don't copy like we did 20 years ago. It has effects.

17 June at 19:44 | Open on chaos.social
argv minus one

@fuchsi

Because we're not being forced to. We can actually reliably buy/rent software/movies now, without having to drive anywhere and hope the store still carries what we're looking for.

And for software/movies that aren't for sale any longer, we still do copy them. “Abandonware”, it's called.

In your scenario, where the only thing standing between us and post-scarcity paradise is some capitalist's crooked artificial-scarcity scheme, we would be very much forced to.

@econads @ian

17 June at 19:58 | Open on mstdn.party
Steffi the Redhead

@argv_minus_one @econads @ian I just say there are tools and possibilities. I would fight tooth and nail against them, but I think there are people who wouldn't give up the current situation without a fight.

17 June at 20:14 | Open on chaos.social
Passenger

@argv_minus_one @ian

Which cultural problem would the replicator solve?

It's not hunger. Humans, collectively, have so much food that we throw away lots of it. The reason that some of us starve is that a decision has been taken by others to make it happen. A replicator wouldn't change that.

It's not housing. Same goes for housing.

11 June at 21:54 | Open on kolektiva.social
shine

@argv_minus_one @ian We don't need replicators to solve scarcity. Scarcity is already artificial.

12 June at 5:31 | Open on gts.churanova.eu
argv minus one

@shine

Replicators would make even artificial scarcity impossible.

@ian

12 June at 5:35 | Open on mstdn.party
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