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   <title>Gopher.ICU - Philosophical-ramblings</title>
       <updated>2025-06-21T16:07:09+00:00</updated>
   <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog</id>
   <author>
       <name>IanJ</name>
   </author>
   <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog"/>

    <entry>
      <title>Barriers-to-entry</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Barriers-to-entry.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Barriers-to-entry.md</id>
      <updated>2024-01-23T13:30:35+01:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# Barriers to entry

The barrier to entry into some technology or discipline is there to
ensure the worthiness of the participant. When these barriers are
artificially reduced, by technology companies wishing to allow mass
access or by the easing of some entrance exam or personal investment
on the part of the would be participant. The result is reduced
quality of those new participants. This is usually much to the
annoyance of the existing participants in that technology or
discipline.

Maybe you feel that your particular profession or hobby is dying and
needs some new blood, but at what cost?

If people don't have to earn their place they will not appreciate it.
Because of this the technology or discipline is doomed anyway.

Keep those barriers high!]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>Convergence</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Convergence.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Convergence.md</id>
      <updated>2023-12-12T19:10:04+01:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# Convergence

```
Convergence is the fact that two or more things, ideas, etc. become
similar or come together.
```

Like all things, there are both good and bad aspects to convergence.
However, I perceive it as mostly detrimental.


Convergence of mobile electronics (PDA, phone, camera, music players,
..) means that we're not hauling about a lot of separate
devices. However, once your phone breaks or the battery runs out then
all of these functions stop working.

Convergence of communications seems to be bringing everything to the
internet. The majority of consumed media (music, radio, movies and tv
services) are now streamed over the internet. Our PSTN telephone
services are being updated so that they are essentially VOIP and our
messaging applications and email too all run over the internet. This
has the same issue in that it's a single point of failure, no
internet connectivity means all these services are unavailable.

Convergence presents single points of failure, centralisation for
control, big targets for espionage or ransomware, surveillance and
censorship.

The more we converge the more load we put on the infrastructure, the
more likely it is to fail, the less choice there is and the less
resilient we are.


Hold onto your radios, tv-tuners, music players, cameras and hard
media (CDs, dvds, bluerays, records, ...). If we stop using discrete
services, devices and media they will steadily disappear.

```
Two is one and one is none.
```]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>Degrowth</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Degrowth.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Degrowth.md</id>
      <updated>2024-01-30T12:16:41+01:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# Degrowth


> 1) A negative growth (i.e. a reduction) of an economy or a
>    population.
> 2) A political, economic, and social movement based on ecological
>    economics and anticonsumerist and anticapitalist ideas.)


Let's establish some fundamental truths before proceeding:

* Our planet is a limited resource which sustains our species and
 many others.

* Developed nations consume these resources for greed rather than
 need.

* False markets are created by advertising and we buy things for
 desire, not things that we require.

* Things that we buy are often designed with a limited lifetime so
 that we have to re-purchase and continue the consumer cycle.

* Many green technologies are in fact just as destructive and
 require mining and energy intensive processes for their
 production (solar panels, lithium batteries, ...).

* Our current expansionism is unsustainable.


Since the 1930s the measure of a nation's wealth has been it's GDP
(gross domestic product). This has lead to a constant striving toward
growth.

The only way out of this cycle is to step back from it, as consumers
and as producers.


## We are the problem

Your government is not going to make this problem go away.

We are both the labour force which facilitates all of this and the
tax payers who finance it.


## We are the solution

If we are to save this planet from becoming a scorching desert for
future generations then *we* need to change.


## Prevention is always better than the cure

As with personal health, if you smoke, drink, don't exercise and eat
lots of junk food, you should expect to suffer in later life.  Our
planet too is a living organism which we, and other species, depend
upon for survival.

Don't wait until it is too late or leave it to someone else. We must
all take responsibility and play our part.


## What can we do?

We all have choices which can directly influence organizations that
are having a negative impact on the environment and our society by:

1. Not working for them

2. Not financing or purchasing from them


We can also make efforts to live lightly.

Here are some suggestions how we might do that:

* Reducing our energy consumption as much as possible

* Growing some of our own produce

* Learning practical skills to make useful things or be useful

* Trading or exchanging, skills, items or produce with others locally

* Repairing and repurposing items (recycling should be a last resort)

* Sourcing items with no, minimal or recyclable packaging

* Sourcing items which can be repaired and will last

* Sourcing used items where possible

* Sourcing only things that we need]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>The-flywheel-effect</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/The-flywheel-effect.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/The-flywheel-effect.md</id>
      <updated>2024-08-12T12:07:42+02:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# The flywheel effect

A flywheel takes a little time and energy to put into motion, but
once in motion it maintains momentum and smooths out small
fluctuations in acceleration or deceleration. However, if the drive
stops completely, it will gradually slow and eventually stop.

I believe groups of people are subject to a similar phenomenon. There
are usually only a handful of movers in a group, the driving force.
They are the ones who put in their time and energy to further their
shared goals. Maybe they are doing this for selfish motives, but the
momentum, enthusiasm and energy they generate carries the whole
forward, giving momentum to the group.

If for some reason these people are stifled, they will move on to
somewhere else to continue their work. The momentum will slow and
eventually stop and the group will become largely inactive with no
one willing to expend energy, even for their own sake.

If you have such movers among you, let them do their work. Keep them
happy and they will continue to add momentum.]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>Surveillance-capitalism</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Surveillance-capitalism.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Surveillance-capitalism.md</id>
      <updated>2024-12-03T21:31:21+01:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# Surveillance capitalism

Often in the past I have had moments where I have seen adverts that
related to something unusual that had been discussed at home. Enough
to suspect that conversations within the home were being listened to
for keywords that could be used for advertising.

Today it happened again. This morning my mom had a Whatsapp video
conversation with my aunt, a cousin of mine is getting divorced. Mom
asked if my cousin had gotten divorced yet, something that would have
never been discussed or searched for here. A couple of hours later I
am browsing some website on something completely unrelated and in the
banner advert at the bottom of the page appears "Quick easy divorce -
Axis solicitors Birmingham". Birmingham being our nearest city...

Coincidence? I think not!


## A gift that just keeps giving

Beware all these internet connected gadgets of convenience you are
bringing into your most private spaces. They are watching, listening,
tracking your position (how else does google know how busy a place
is?) and learning.

Do someone a favour, maybe yourself, and leave them on the shelves
this Christmas. If we are going to be subjected to mass surveillance,
at least make the would-be surveillers work for it. Don't pay for it
and install it yourself?

Have a Merry Christmas!]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>Technology-and-responsibility</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Technology-and-responsibility.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Technology-and-responsibility.md</id>
      <updated>2024-12-19T16:43:20+01:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# Technology and responsibility

I read yet another post today, around 42 minutes of it, decrying the
practices of tech giants like Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Google...
The title of it was 'never-forgive-them'.

Let me say simply this. No one forced you to get that social media
account, buy that phone, choose that operating system. All along the
way you had choices.

If you are regretting those choices, then make a better choice and
get on with life. I tire of hearing people crying about their choices
yet unwilling to do anything about it.

Do something positive, or shut up!]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>Convenience-is-the-devil</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Convenience-is-the-devil.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Convenience-is-the-devil.md</id>
      <updated>2025-02-24T16:17:53+01:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# Convenience is the devil


           Lured by conveniences.

               Seeing only their promises.

                   Not that, which is taken in lieu.

                   No critical thought.

               Giving ground by the day.

           Slavery sure to ensue. ]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>Outliers</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Outliers.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Outliers.md</id>
      <updated>2025-05-19T11:52:17+02:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# Outliers

> An outlier is a person, thing, or fact that is very different from
> others in a set or a place.

No matter how much you are compelled to be part of some group, at
some point you have to break free.

Tension builds gradually between other members of any group.
Personality conflicts, ego, call it what you will. But there comes a
point where you can no longer hold yourself back for some perceived
shared goal or ideal once disillusioned.

Uncompromising the outlier pushes on where others would settle,
friends and allies left in their wake. Where they will rest a while
next is unknown, all I know is they won't stay for long.

The path of the outlier is one of solitude.]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>Modularity</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Modularity.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Modularity.md</id>
      <updated>2025-06-03T17:32:05+02:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# Modularity

It strikes me that the ever increasing drive toward miniaturization
and integration of chips and circuitry has lead to an enormous
current and future waste problem.

The positive is that they are smaller, lighter to carry and are more
power efficient. The trade off is that they are tomorrows land fill,
as they are not upgradeable or repairable.

Even if physically possible, the expertise needed to do the job would
far outweigh the cost of replacement. More often than not they expire
due to the iterative changes in software API's and the end of
manufacturer firmware upgrades to keep those devices functional.
When they do physically break you probably lose the functionality of
several items in one swoop. For example, your phone may double as
your watch, calendar, camera, audio player and computer...

Modularity of functionality and modularity of componentry gives you
some freedom to choose individual items which can be repaired or
updated only when that specific item or component requires it.

A phone with a glued in battery vs one with a user replaceable
battery. A computer with replaceable RAM, CPU, graphics or sound
card. A separate wrist watch, MP3 player or camera.

Items designed and made for a specific task are usually much better
at it and much better quality. The UNIX philosophy of doing one thing
well is a universal truth.

I still have one or two AT/ATX motherboards where every function,
apart from maybe serial/parallel ports, is provided by individual
daughter cards (AGP, PCI, ISA). If one component died or became
outdated you could replace it with another, up to a point.

A significant investment in a piece of electronics you would expect
to have around 10 years service from and repair it should it break.


## Hardware choices

My daily driver computer is a second hand HP T620 (16Gb SSD, 4Gb
RAM), both RAM and SSD are user replaceable. It consumes just 15w
which compared to an old ATX is very little. My conscience rests
easier buying used items, I had nothing to do with driving the
marketing forces which caused them to be produced. With me it has a
second life and I'm very happy with its performance. I am already
considering getting another, or the later T630, as a backup system in
case this one should break and I'm unable to fix it.

For portable work I have a Lenovo Thinkpad X61s, which was very
generously given to me, with a recently replaced after-market
battery. Thankfully the quality and appreciation for these laptops
has ensured parts are still available for them.  I love the square
screen format and classic IBM build quality. It's fast enough and I
enjoy using it when I have occasion to.

My phone is a Nokia E72. I have maybe 3 spare batteries and a spare
case and keyboard (yes it has a keyboard!). I broke the screen a
couple of years ago when it fell off my dashboard. I bought one for
spares off eBay that turned out to be in better physical condition
than my own so I swapped the internals from my original. You just
can't do that with a modern phone.

I use it primarily as an MP3 player and for text messaging (remember
SMS?) as I don't use any of the modern messenger services. I also use
it occasionally as a phone and for satellite navigation.

For taking photos I have a compact Panasonic Lumix TZ-18 and for
anything more serious a Nikon D40X along with a couple of lenses to
cover most situations.


## There's no excuse

It's a pity that all our developed engineering ability has been used
primarily to increase profitability and not product quality and
longevity. There is absolutely no excuse, we can make products to
last decades, modularly upgradeable and repairable, but this doesn't
make manufacturers and shareholders money.

My love for old hardware is not merely nostalgia. These dinosaurs of
the digital age are infinitely more sustainable than your iThing,
googlebox or fruitySBC.]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>Striving</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Striving.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Striving.md</id>
      <updated>2025-06-16T16:21:02+02:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# Striving


           There are many paths to the summit.

           There is no one true way.

           The enjoyment is in the journey.

           The steps we take each day.]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>Adherence-is-a-choice</title>
      <link href="gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Adherence-is-a-choice.md"/>
      <id>gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Philosophical-ramblings/Adherence-is-a-choice.md</id>
      <updated>2025-06-18T10:45:59+02:00</updated>
      <content><![CDATA[# Adherence is a choice

No one can make you follow a standard or best practice. Whether it be
cooked up by some billion dollar blue chip or bedroom hacker.

You have to consider if people willingly put their egos aside, would
we better off having some basic agreements so that we could interact
more easily.

Adherence is to put self aside for the chance of something better
collectively.

So next time you want to adopt the f*ck you attitude, write lines a
mile wide and act in defiance, because you can. Ask yourself, who am
I hurting?]]></content>
      <author><name></name></author>
    </entry>
</feed>

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