3 Layers of Freedom
Layer 1: User of an External Service
This is the worst one, you're just using someone else's service. You obey and they are god. This includes all Big Tech, gmail, proton, telegram, twitter, whatsapp, ect. Unfortunately, this is the only thing the vast majority of people ever experience.
Layer 2: Federation / Self-hosting
Any service that can cross-communicate to servers that different people control. Identity is usually based on the domain of the server you're using. You don't have to self-host here, but how much freedom you get depends on your relationship with the hoster. Examples of this are Email, XMPP, Matrix, Mastodon, and Lemmy.
Layer 3: Transcend Locations
This is any service where user identity, data, and content delivery are separated from physical locations, to provide censorship and self-ownership that transcends traditional internet structures. Examples include Nostr (micro-blog), Arweave (websites), Session (delivery), Bastyon (video delivery), Farcaster (professional networking), Lens (art), Yacy (search), and almost all cryptocurrencies. It would also include legal systems based on PGP.
Layer 3 is controversial. You're not only asking people to learn new technology, but then place value in this completely new system. For example, to accept that Bitcoin or Monero have financial value for trade. Or to learn how Arweave domains and hashs work to view content. This has a huge opportunity for pessimists to try to knock it. Often pessimists will dispute the entire premise of layer 3, by clinging to value systems in layers 1 or 2. Or they may be heavily invested in one particular solution, and thus try to haze alternatives.
Careful, as there is a lot of misrepresentation to gain market share as they develop. Images on Nostr are layer 1 regular websites. Channels on Farcaster are a censorable layer 1 service. SimpleX's identity links are really layer 2 masquerading as a layer 3. (But I acknowledge Session's flaws)
Ok here's my point:
I recommend people: avoid layer 1 whenever possible. Have a layer 2, a little digital home: self-host email, a website, and your messenger communications. But stay open to all different kinds of layer 3s, this is the end goal. Layer 3 is not only a technology battle, but a cultural one.
oh really? that's good to hear, you tried it out?
yes syncthing is good
Yes on-chain btc fees are crazy low now, which I assume is due to low use. If true, that is not a good argument for scaling.
And no, I am NOT saying darknet market evasion is the reason for privacy. I'm saying if users have to actually calculate the capital gains/loss on every little purchase, they will avoid using Bitcoin for cash to not have to do that. The only way to make them feel that they do not have to, is if it's private against advanced adversaries.
All the deep state has to do is to make an example of ONE REGULAR person for SMALL amounts, and the entire bitcoin lightning as cash concept will be killed. They can promote that person in the media all day.
Ok, it's not perfect. You've identified the areas that need work. Do you volunteer to make it?
Correction, this dude wants privacy to make it functional as real world money, when the tax reporting requirements would crush the average person’s interest in getting all of this data, and reduce arbitrary enforcement
First off, it's not just privacy but also issues with custody on lightning. Most people aren't willing to spend the time or money (or can't afford) to self-custody lightning. We documented the issues with custodial bitcoin in an earlier post with Hayek. And how it mirrors problems with the fractional reserve banking system.
Second, regarding this situation, they were able to rule out Monero outputs by running malicious nodes, but those outputs had no meaning if it stayed within Monero itself. As soon as someone swapped it for Bitcoin at a business that can be given a supenea, then it is a lead, and in this case, got a vendor doing XMR->Bitcoin in colombia.
If they are running that many monero nodes, they are running that many lightning nodes, and custody is a huge issue then
your issue with nextcloud is speed/bloat? The company should not be doing AI and bullshit that's taking up their time
oh yeah you're right, that's why we are trying to make it easier
why is that gay?
I see they are doing something with identity blockchain, but if you get banned, how can people reach you with this ?
the steamdeck has made linux the most popular of all time for games
Good to hear you're making efforts. Just as a heads up, MeWe is on amazon or cloudflare, I forget which. MeWe is like saying "Instead of abolishing the Fed, we should have a different more reliable fed chairman". It's just trusting a different person.
Beyond nostr, there's also bastyon, farcaster, lens, and the fediverse
can you give an example of what can't be matched?
Hey you don't need "vi", it's total bullshit. I didn't learn it either. The people who push for that are stuck up.
You don't even need the command line. Linux Mint can be installed dual boot and easily learned in the graphical enviornment without commands.
Distro Tube and Chris Titus on youtube (via invidious) or odysee (via librarian) are great ways. Farside.link has the front-ends to those.
Also our website has a lot of info on the Linux section:
TradeOrge is on cloudflare but cheap. There's a few swap sites:
https://simplifiedprivacy.com/swaps/index.html
However keep in mind that buying KYC bitcoin and swapping for XMR is riskier than buying KYC XMR, because you could be on the hook for crimes done with that bitcoin after you no longer control it
Glad to hear you are looking to learn. Distro Tube and Chris Titus on youtube (via invidious) or odysee (via librarian) are great ways. farside.link has the front-end links
Also our website has a lot of info on the Linux section:
Be honest, you're using Big Tech because:
a) You think it's hard to switch
b) You think there won't be the software you need on Linux
c) You think nobody is using encrypted messengers
d) You say privacy is a nice idea, but I don't really need it
e) You tell yourself you'll learn later, which turns to never.
But every one of the statements is a lie.
It's NOT hard to switch,
Linux is easy man, my mom uses it, and she's older than computers existing. Linux Mint looks just like Windows. System76 PopOS can be made to look just like Mac iOS. The same way Apple has an "Apple store" for software, Linux also has an app store! And you can even use it in a graphical box. You don't need the command line.
The software you need IS on Linux.
Linux has software for web browsing, chat, and editing text (even microsoft word files can be opened). Adobe Photoshop is actually HARDER to use than open source GIMP, and it does the same things. Kdenlive is FASTER to render videos than Adobe Premiere of EQUAL OR BETTER QUALITY.
You don't have to go cold turkey, if you want to still chat with your friends on Discord, WhatsApp, Telegram, that stuff all works on Linux and Degoogled phones. But you'll be surprised at who you will meet on freedom apps..
You are scared away because you think there's no help, no support group. But there's more of a Linux community than anywhere else, because the people genuinely care. Our SimpleX room has 600 people, and you will get replies. We also host an active Linux group on Session. There's the Linux.org forums. There's dozens of companies with paid support including mine.
You tell yourself you'll learn under better circumstances later, but eventually you have to realize that nobody is coming to save you.
The political situation is only getting worse. The data collection and the overreach from big tech is only further chipping away at your freedoms every day. You think you have Bitcoin, but without privacy you don't even own those private keys. You think you have a Nostr account, but you need open source operating system for that to have meaning. Otherwise, it's just the same as a big tech platform because Google, Microsoft, and Apple see your private key, your conversations, and the sum of every thought in your brain. They own your life.
But it doesn't have to be this way. I'm telling you that you have way more power than you realize. You're telling yourself you're not good with tech, but you're smart enough to read my words on Nostr now. That's better than like 95% of people out there. You know to an Amish farmer, you're pretty slick.. It's all about what you're used to.
Every one of the those starting statements is a lie. And the only obstacle is in your mind.
Love you bro, stay safe.
Anyone can make a small business. You're talking to me right now on Nostr. Your name has "Tea" in it, do you sell tea? You can start.
Pick whatever you love, and do it