The listener-funded radio station that runs the archive, WFMU, is the single greatest radio station in the world.
66 karma · joined May 24, 2018
I think we're talking past each other. You assume my position is promoting hedonism. It's not. I believe should take time to do things to make lives better for future generations, and humanity as a whole. I find that a better way to live.
However, if your motivation for making a difference is not a concern for others, but a need to be immortal in some way, that's a sign that you have an unhealthy attitude towards death.
Given the context (We're on HN, where transhumanism is more common than in broader society)and given the way the OP phrased the question, I sensed they might be afraid of death, and not simply concerned with making an impact.
I think it's great your a scout leader. It will help shape the lives of children who will outlive you. And you're doing it out of a healthy desire to help others, and not a vain quest to secure your fame after your death.
Never said it was easy. It can take years of reflection. I'm suggesting the OP do that. Their life will be a lot more pleasant and fulfilling once they do that. Otherwise, they may spend their whole lives fruitlessly chasing after immortality.
That said, if you just want to better the lives of future generations, there are plenty of things you can do now. Give money to good causes. Get involved in politics. Plant a tree.
> I would argue most of these things make the world a better place not a worse place. And that people should be able to choose how they want to pay for those services.
I'm not convinced any of the apps we pay for in data really improve our lives. The price we pay in control over our identity and our information usually outweighs the benefits. And in some cases, like in many distracting social apps or pay-to-win games, there is no benefit. The app is just designed to addict us, keep us occupied, and make our lives worse.
Furthermore, I don't think "allowing users to decide for themselves" is going to make a difference. That's like allowing poison in food, because everyone can scan the ingredients on the label for known poisons. It's unreasonable to expect the average person to do due diligence on every service they use online.
That would be a toothless regulation. It would just cause businesses to add more crap to their privacy policies, which nobody reads anyway, and doesn't impact user behavior.
> It's not obvious why they are requiring apps to provide the same service for free 'without detriment'
So that users can opt-out of having unnecessary data collected. You should only be collecting the data needed to run the service. If your business collapses when users opt-out, your business model was nothing but data harvesting to begin with, and probably doesn't deserve to exist.
> That destroys a number of business models
A number of exploitative business models that harm society and democracy. Works for me!
> Why not just allow they give an option to not give their data if they are willing to pay?
You can do that now. Stop collecting data that isn't necessary to run your service, and charge people money.