I know you mentioned using web browsers to access apps can slow this down, but how does this actually end? Is Graphene the solution? How does my dad ween himself off Google?
It feels like an absolute mountain of a challenge.
Great article btw.
Discussion
Yes. It's difficult.
1.) most people will comply and be normies
2.) some people will learn to go around it
3.) some people will use other platforms
2 will scale through network effects. Your dad does it by you learning it and solving it for him.
Very difficult indeed.
So you feel the solution will remain on the fringes, unless scalling via networks. I just fear that my dad, who is representative of many many normies will not have people who can help.
But I must say that that article, the nostr community and the speed at which devs build is very reassuring and helpful 🙏
Well, if he's your dad, he has you.
It's like with Bitcoiners - everyone fears what will the normies do. But then you look around and these Bitcoiners just can't stop talking about Bitcoin and help others with self-custody. The key is that normies usually don't want self-custody. If they do, there's information-communism on the internet. Video tutorials, books (hey, I wrote a few!), courses and of course many people around, meetups, organizations. I think we can do the same with other stuff, not only BTC. Nostr is a good candidate.
Normies are only screwed if they keep being normies and if we don't help them. We don't have much control about the first part, but we can sure help them.
Sorry, I should have said "the [likes] of my dad" - my dad does indeed have me.
Again, I do feel positive and hopeful for all the progress and conversation you mentioned.
I guess what I'm scratching at, is, what is it that would flip* the tide of normies from being negative normies, to positive normies?
* I suspect its not a "flip" at all, more like a slow drip drip over decades and generations. Although the timeframe is ever decreasing with advances in technology.
It's indeed an interesting and important question and I don't know the answer. But few observations:
- I don't believe there's one thread of history. Some people attain liberty, some don't. There's surveillance but also privacy. There is indeed a ride or a general trend, but we have much less control over it than we think.
- what we do have control about are our actions. And it's ok if we are not handed things on a silver platter. That's how we grow. It's good if the health of the population increases, life expectancy averages increase but we also have very sick people. The health tide gives us unprecedented technology, but we also need to lift our asses from the chairs, move, work out, don't eat junk and get sunlight. The default settings of society will lead us to default outcomes. And we should try getting above average outcomes. And that is always work.
- not everyone needs this. There are many things people can focus their attention on and most of it does not matter for any particular individuals. Many people (even most) really should not pay too much attention to privacy, or even banking. Their monthly paycheck comes to their bank account, they pay with credit cards and should point they attention to their children, their bodies, a book they're reading, ... This is important for us, and we have all the tools we need.
People are very different and it's a good thing.
I believe you are right there, we can control our actions. I'm just starting to learn this and how to implement it.
I'm leaving an industry, after 15 yrs, built on satisfying people and finding the greatest mass appeal. My actions were rarely beneficial in the greater scheme of things, to either myself or others.
I'd love to see mass adoption of say nostr, Graphene or Bitcoin (and many normies eyes open), but yes my actions are what I'll focus on.
Cheers man 🙏