Some thoughts on privacy (based on 1984)

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“If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.”
-George Orwell, "1984"

I just read 1984 and audio-booked The Handmaid's Tale. At the same time. There's a depressing combination.

But I finally understand the 'privacy matters' argument.

Knowledge is power, power is knowledge. If all of my data (biological info, transit patterns, texts) are shared with higher powers (companies, government), it can be both good and bad.

The good part is these higher powers can use it to make our lives better. Health can improve, traffic can move faster, and crimes can be stopped (maybe). Plus, it's all encrypted, so no one will really know it's me, anyway.

But as 1984 taught me, our freedom is the right to think "I'M FREE" without anyone knowing it. Even if it's encrypted. And as The Handmaid's Tale taught me, our freedom lies in illogical, irreverent actions without any supervisor.

Where do I stand? Privacy is freedom, and I'd be naive and idealistic to argue against that. On the other hand, society can improve if we all share information! On the other hand, isn't that literally what communism is? On the other hand, it's encrypted!

And that's the end of Adriel's weekly rant without any conclusions. Please respond here with a photo of your passport and most recent text messages.

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Be in touch with your audience

If you're looking for thoughtful meets goofy with a tech twist, sign up for my newsletter. Below is a taste of what you'll get. -- "People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it." -Simon Sinek So I was at Synergy Global Forum last week. Speakers included Richard Branson, Jack Welch, Robin Wright, Jimmy Wales. I'm so inspired, I might go start a podcast. Oh wait... Simon Sinek was one of the most highly anticipated speakers. The crowd went wild, circa Madonna 1987. In case you don't know, Sinek is a best-selling author about business and leadership theory. He's the Einstein of modern business- all theory, no practice, and lots of celebrity. He was speaking in big-time metaphors. Connecting the Vietnam War to Apple to modern leadership. "It is our role as leaders to build teams that play the infinite game!" And the crowd goes wild. I was watching a security guard watch this preaching. This guard, about 25 years old and as far removed from tech gospel like 'innovation' and 'disruption' as possible, was incredulous. Every minute, he would turn around and say to no one in particular, "What is this guy talking about?" or "I can't believe people LIKE this!" or, simply, "This is stupid". The dichotomy was comical. On the one hand, 3,000 of the most ambitious and successful people in tech and innovation. In awe at the magnificent widoms. On the other hand, a man who makes his blue-collar living working hard every day. Also in awe, but for a very different reason. Many leaders have taken up Sinek's cry of "Start with the WHY." We build the things we do to 'make the world better!' and 'distribute technology to the people!' It's noble and true and just and looks great in a TED Talk. But 'the people!' whom we are so excited to help call us out on the BS of our theoretical, metaphorical inspiration. They do it to our face. And it's hilarious. So yes, let's build 'for the people!' And let's get inspired by great theorists. But let's get our heads out of the clouds sometimes, because we can come off as real assholes.

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Why bother traveling to space

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"The probability of success is difficult to estimate. But if we never search, the chance of success is zero."
-Giuseppe Cocconi

NASA's 2015 budget was $17.5 billion. That's enough money to buy 29 trillion pounds of bananas. And that's not even at Costco prices.

I don't know why I made a comparison to bananas, but that's a lot of money.

That much money can be used to feed America's hungry (with or without bananas). It can house millions of people. It can be invested in schools. It can almost buy me that new iPhone X.

So we're at an ethical conundrum. On one hand, space is cool, and getting a man on the moon was an ontological accomplishment. On the other, there are 45 million Americans living below the poverty line. But on the other hand, who can put a value on the classic Neil Armstrong line, "To Infinity, and Beyond!"

Or was that someone else?

Here is why space exploration is important (in addition to the medical and technological advances NASA has pioneered). It's the same reason that art is important. Or kindness. Or philosophy.

We are creatures of metaphor, stuck in a practical world. The ideas - the symbols - of curiosity, exploration, and wonderment are what make life fun and diverse. Knowing that there are things left unknown is a unique feature in our wonderful world, and I would defend that principle, the very one supported by a proposition like space exploration, to the end.

That said, I acknowledge that I can afford the privilege of a few metaphors. I live in a happy home and have lots of bananas to eat.

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A Treatise on Political Correctness

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"I am absolutely opposed to political correctness. You cannot confront hate speech until you've experienced it. You need to hear every side of the issue instead of just one."
-Jane Elliott

Political correctness is this funny thing that I don’t really understand.

You see, I was raised in a Russian-Jewish home. And in such a home, the Dr. Seussian (PhD?) parable of ‘say what you mean and mean what you say’ lives on the far end of that spectrum in which any remark - no matter how caustic, derogatory, or crude - is permissible.

Permissable, but simultaneously debatable. Say what you will, but you better be ready to back it up. Arguments may start half-baked and crude, but it is your job to...

a) dig deep to understand the reason behind what you say and
b) LISTEN to what the other argument is. Especially if you disagree with it.

It is thing b that is missing from most conversations these days. People seem to dismiss labels, not arguments. We blanket groups by demographic, not by opinion. And, worst of all, we judge as soon as we think we know what someone will say, without waiting for them to say it.

Republicans are insensitive. Democrats are naive. This race is deserving. That race is opportunistic. Tall people deserve higher salaries. Short people got little hands, and little eyes, and they walk around, tellin' great big lies...

The most dangerous aspect is that most of our friends agree with us. So if we make an argument and are judged before we are really heard, we will be judged well and agreed with. Contradictions are dangerous and undesired, so they are rarely offered.

Learning only happens under pressure, but echoes can exist in a cave. So find some pressure.

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