That quote hits really hard. What really bothers me, is that deep down most people actually understand how important it is to choose if something should remain private or not. Since, most people freely choose to lock their doors and have curtains in their windows. However, if one talks to them about surveillance capitalism, they simply shake it off by saying "I have nothing to hide" or "they already know everything anyway".
I am really on the fence - but it is so hard to unfriend people, especially if they are relatives. How do you handle your relations with relatives?
It's sad, but I keep them superficial, weather-like conversations, even though even the weather is becoming a controversial subject now :(
Your post also reminded me of something I wrote a while ago, unfinished and never published...
In The Second Realm Book on Strategy, there is the concept of a First Realm (that I loosely interpret as "normie-land"). This realm full of NPCs (Non-Player Characters) is where most of us are officially identified by the State and have to maintain personal and/or work relationships.
The Second Realm is where we thrive; it should be composed of independent freedom cells where a Web of Trust can easily be enforced (under 150 people, see Dunbar's Number). Note that each of those cells could exist in a physical and/or digital form.
Our identity in the First Realm should be strongly separated from our profiles/pseudonyms in the Second Realm. We should control what each network knows about us and how much we are part of other networks.
Every relationship in the First Realm is considered weak and/or untrusted, while relationships in the Second Realm are strong and trusted, based on principles, meritocracy, recommendations, and consistency.
reply
deleted by author
reply
Reading Havel is an inspiration for anyone who thinks you cannot thrive under tyrannical regimes.
reply
deleted by author
reply
I have tried getting high with them and bringing up topics they should be aware of. Sometimes they can sense that it's an important topic but they decide it's too far out of their comfort zone to invest in understanding.
reply