Comité Liquidant Ou Détournant Les Ordinateurs (C.L.O.D.O.) (1983) | Hacker News Reader

Comité Liquidant Ou Détournant Les Ordinateurs (C.L.O.D.O.) (1983)

theanarchistlibrary.org

46 points31707010 comments

> Computer tools are undoubtedly perverted at their very origin (the abuse of the quantitative and the reduction to the binary are proof of this) but they could be used for other ends than the ones they now serve. When we recognize that the most computerized sector is the army, and that 94% of civilian computer-time is used for management and accounting, we don’t feel like the loom-breakers of the 19th century (even though they fought against dehumanization in their jobs). Nor are we defenders of the computer-created unemployed... if microprocessors create unemployment, instead of reducing everyone’s working-time, it’s because we live in a brutal society, and this is by no means a reason to destroy microprocessors.

They’re no entirely wrong either, and 40 years later I can’t say we’re thaaaat far off from what they describe here. Of course they couldn’t imagine how computers are used for constant surveillance (or advertising as we like to call it), but still not that far off.

> abuse of the quantitative and the reduction to the binary are proof of this

I'd love to hear more about this, because it seems like they're just lacking in imagination.

And it seems they were attacking the tools instead of society itself, and it was bound to fail(which it did). It's like breaking a knight's sword in the middle ages, and thinking the knight will just go home and go to sleep without his sword. No, he'll just find some other way to kill you. Or repair his sword so it is even stronger than before.

I also extremely doubt the efficacy of their "timebombs"

Of course they couldn’t imagine how computers are used for constant surveillance

surveillance by means of badges and cards

Not that far off indeed

> The truth about computerization should be revealed from time to time. It should be said that a computer is just a bunch of metal that severs only to do what one wants it to do, that in our world it’s just one more tool, a particularly powerful one, that’s at the service of the dominators.

The dominators, do we care more about who are they or why are they?

Clodo = tramp

More like slang for homeless or a bum.

These folks must be retired by now and they have lived enough to find out they lost their crusade against computers.

Good! The last thing we need with supply chain issues is actual luddites destroying infrastructure.

As a service to my fellow readers, some relevant (IMHO) historical context...

> Grenada

A small island country in the west indies:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenada#/media/File:Grenada_on...

> Reagan attacks Grenada

So, in a nutshell Reagen claimed US citizens were threatened by evil Marxists... and proceeded to invade and overthrow the government. The real reasons are up for speculation, but this was definitely part of the Cold War against the USSR.

The invasion occurred in 1983, when the CLODO crew was interviewed.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-in...

Grenada had been a colony fought over by Britain/the UK and France; both members of NATO alongside the US (as was the case in 1983). Many Europeans - then and now - feel their countries foreign policy has been more-or-less hijacked by the US since 1945, in particular for a cold war against the USSR, and in suppressing independence movements in former colonies, when they did not lean towards accepting US hegemony.

Where do I sign up?

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