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Comment by bombcar | Hacker News Reader

The iPhone and its consequences have been a disaster for privacy.

I wish we could interview Ted and explain the current situation of Chat GPT, app based door locks, QR code restaurant menus, mandatory covid apps, the metaverse, Amazon wage cages and crying booths, etc.

He wrote that original manifesto before the smartphone, basically before the internet and social media, but it’s only become more true in the 20 years following.

He’s a dude who bombed and maimed people, what are you on about?

Sure, you don’t have to agree with that to recognise the writing he published was an extremely accurate view on modern society. The problems be highlighted have only gotten worse.

No, actually I disagree with a lot of what he wrote, because while there are elements of truth, it all starts with an ultra pessimistic view of human nature at its core. If the first principles of a theory are rotten then everything else collapses, even if it has interesting and prescient ideas at the edges.

The atrocities he committed were just effects of his extremely anti humanistic views. So no, I’m not going to take much from anything he said.

And that is why it keeps happening.

Ignore the crazy person. Don't listen. Don't try to understand. Don't learn how to stop the outbursts of crazy before they happen.

It works so well. Why change?

Don't listen to me.

>it all starts with an ultra pessimistic view of human nature at its core.

You will be surprised how rarely are you surprised if you take this approach to humans.

His solution was absolutely terrible, but that doesn't have to mean he was wrong about his analysis.

Could always interview GPT's take on Ted.

Last time I checked, Ted was still alive, serving his prison sentence. But I understand he receives letters and answers them.

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