Hacker News Reader

m-joneson Someone Is Learning How to Take Down the Internet

This is (one of) the reason(s) I moved my website to the decentralized web-hosting platform ZeroNet. It is still accessible to regular web users (through the use of proxies) but is ultimately secure against DDOS attacks and the like as there is no single server to attack (it could still be done, but it would take much more effort as you would have to attack each user of ZeroNet individually).

As applicable with all areas of life, association is a security risk. By depending upon any centralized authority (such as a server or domain name registrar) you are open to being censored (either by them or an attacker).

At this point however, decentralized web-hosting solutions still rely upon clearnet centralized port checkers, which is (ofcourse) an issue. The best the community can do is help to raise awareness of decentralized web hosting in the hopes more people will adopt it leading to a higher likelihood that the problems will be solved.

m-joneson Privacy Implications for OpenStreetView

Cock-up before conspiracy.

OpenStreetView isn't intended to intrude, it is just naivety on the creators part. It will be solved in some capacity sooner or later, if not for genuine concern for peoples privacy, to avoid negative media attention.

m-joneson Cognitive behavioural therapy is falling out of favour

4mg of Fluoxetine daily for a little over two years.

Additional: Occassionally I may forget to take it and I won't feel any different however those around me pick up on it straight away as I become reclused and start constantly sweating.

m-joneson Ask HN: Is SteemIt a scam?

Steemit provides an example of the failings of an oligarchy. When you give power to a limited few it is exceedingly rare that any equal distribution of power and wealth is to exist.

Democracy tries to solve this, however whilst it is not direct (also known as true) we still have an oligarchy, just an elected one. It shares all flaws with an oligarchy except how permanent those in power stay as usually a new election is held every 4 or 5 years within a representitive (or false) Democracy.

m-joneson Cognitive behavioural therapy is falling out of favour

I have been through three courses of CBT. On the third I was dismissed after six weeks because "I already knew it all" and the pediatrician thanked me as I had helped them "gain a better understanding". I found that it was only after receiving medication that I returned to mental stability.

I resent that you make a false assumption, having been through CBT so many times I feel I might even have a better knowledge of it than professionals whose only experience is from a text-book.

m-joneson Cognitive behavioural therapy is falling out of favour

People aren't depressed because they want to be, CBT relies upon the false assumption that people are able to change their mood if they will it enough.

If we wish to treat depression, we should focus on life not being so depressing to begin with, not persuading people that actually it isn't once they have already spiraled into despair.

m-joneson Everyday ‘Placebo Buttons’ Create Semblance of Control

The illusion of control is not limited to the placebo effect. When you consider that our Universe is causal and that all actions (including that of a human) result from a set of conditions determined by previous actions, it is quite easy to discount the existence of free will.

Without getting existential, I would like to raise that not only does pushing a placebo button give you no control, but the choice even to press that button was not one you took but one which was predefined. This means that even if that button wasn't a placebo, you would still ultimately have no control over what happens as the choice to push the button is not yours.

This extends further questions as to who you are as you are defined by your actions which were not your choice to make. This obviously has serious implications with our legal system where by a person could not be held accountable for commiting a crime however it is also worth noting that the notion of awards would be invalidated as a person had no choice in doing good thing X.

m-joneson Ask HN: Is SteemIt a scam?

  if money=="involved":

      print("It's a Trap!")

m-joneson Plugging in Kindle is crashing Windows 10 after summer update

What made you chose the Debian distribution of GNU/Linux?

m-joneson Plugging in Kindle is crashing Windows 10 after summer update

The major benefit of switching from a proprietary operating system to a free operating system is the communities ability to investigate a problem and freely document how to fix it. It could be described as a decentralized troubleshooting process as it has no single point of failure and is free for all to contribute to.

The freedom these operating systems give us is something I think should be emphasised more as people tend to focus on the technical challenge.