I would argue the goal should be actually permanently getting rid of American technology services as opposed to getting a deal.

By this point American business leaders (not only in tech) have decisively proven that they are not any better than say russian oligarchs; a group of corrupt criminals who will happily support authoritarianism as long as they get to keep their businesses interests.

I think the world would be a better place if we collectively perma-banned all American digital services (while helping NGOs/open source projects relocate their infrastructure and legal organisations out of the US).

There would be a lot more competition, a wider variety of product offerings, more regional customisation, a bigger focus on long tail services.

It would be messy at first, but that’s the nature of a transition from an oligarch model to a competitive model.

While what I am saying may sound like a pipe dream or pettyness, but from my perspective everything starts from a small step.

And if you don’t live in the US (but are unfortunately impacted by their internal politics), you do have to take a more sober attitude towards their claimed commitment to democracy, free markets and rule of law.

I am old enough to remember not have mobile phones (not even smartphones) or even having a desktop PC that wasn’t connected to the internet (although we did get dialup about 6 months after buying the PC, parents thought might as well do that).

I don’t deny the utility of a smartphone or PCs for that matter. My issue is with framing a techology device as a sort of metaphysical source of “liberty” and “empowerment”. Any tool can be used for bad or for good, it’s all up to us. There are pro/cons to digital hardware and services.

It’s like with industrialization, it clearly led to empowerment of wider society. Collapse of regressive feudal models, increased education among “commoners”, rise of democracy and so on. But all of this didn’t happen in a vacuum. It required global revolutionary movement that scared the oligarchs of the time into giving consessions to commoners (because at high level they realized things could have worked out really bad for them).

Then there is the propaganda line, an almost communist-like veneration around Ivey (even though in the global context it is most definitely not iOS devices that are having most impact) and some bullshit about Ivey caring.

“I care and shit about you plebs … ugh … yeah, the negative effects bother me … Not sure how something I was involved in can have negatives, but yeah I really care! See I am even saying I care on this random BBC musical program! That’s how much I care!”

I am not belittling the impact of the smartphone, just being critical of the positioning around iPhone bringing “liberation” and “empowerment”. It has the capability to do that, but it also has the capability to enable less positive things.

There are also some inconsistencies in your story.

The iPhone launched without an app store and the app store concept existed even before iOS/Android.

From my experience living in developing countries, work type use cases do not use iPhones. If anything in developing countries an iPhone is exclusively a status symbol.

Claiming the iPhone alone was what got hundred millions of people out of poverty is a ridiculous statement. There are so many other factors at play here.

Sounds like an oligarch propaganda piece.

How has the iPhone contributed to empowerment and liberty? It’s a technology tool that can be used for both good and bad things. There is nothing “inherent” about smartphones that leads to empowerment and liberty.

And I don’t think he gives a shit about anything beyond his financial position and maintaining his social status and legion of fanboys.

You don’t need to write a paper or even provide links.

If you actually had a legitimate arguement (and weren’t just parroting copytext that you don’t really understand beyond “I think it makes me look cool and independent”), you would have been able to summarize it in a few sentences in your own words.

This is not rocket science.

And if you’re incapable of presenting your message even with a modicum of nuance, and you’re forced to revert to comical parroting of what is essentially political spam, then what you’re saying is almost certainly complete BS.

Try and promote what you’re saying in a nuanced way. You won’t be able to. We both know this!

Prove me wrong! ;)

So what that you’re a leftist?

You were taking about “educating me” and the best you can come up with is a standard copytext that’s spammed everywhere?

At least come up with something new and interesting not the standard word salad about the Federal Reserve.

Did you really think I haven’t heard of this copytext? It’s pretty standard spam, no?

This is not a real thing, it’s more about acting out and tantrums. You don’t care or understand about the issues you describe.

With the right oligarch propaganda, you can be trained to claim that spicy mayonnaise is limiting freedumz and shiiiit!!!

I don’t know if you know this, but in many places obsession over central banks is simply not a thing. Maybe you need some real problems in your life? It would help you gain perspective.

And btw, the World Bank isn’t actually a world bank in the literal sense of the word.

Nice rant. A very provincial take I must I add.

Brave has investments from A16Z, a VC fund that has been involved in multiple pump and dumps and shoes founders are fundamentally opposed to democracy and human rights.

First sign of crypto and I am out. I would speculate that is true of a lot of people in the Fediverse.

From my perspective, there are only two use cases for crypto 1. Criminal activity 2. Pump and dumps

Something along the lines of a monthly donation model, perhaps with a nominal “pro” system. A badge to showing that you donate and how many years you’ve been donating (users can disable display of such badges if they want).

Shilling your bags as usual. Crypto-scammers are all so predictable.

Why in god’s name do you need monero to buy groceries or even computer parts?

Try getting in touch with the admin of https://sopuli.xyz/. He is supposed to be from Finland.

I’ve seen that instance recommended for European users.

Good luck with your move! We need to get rid of American oligarch influence. They are corrupt, dishonest and lack humanity.

I normally dislike “Fuck [X]” type posts, even if I agree with the sentiment, but I completed to make an exception.

Fuck Elon “pedoguy” Musk!

It’s too bad we can’t send Elmo, his collaborators and sycophants right into the sun.