Sandra
@Sandra@idiomdrottning.org
Idiomdrottning demonstrates a new and often cleaner way to solve most systems problems. The system as a whole is likely to feel tantalizingly familiar to culture users but at the same time quite foreign.
idiomdrottning.org
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@Sandra@idiomdrottning.org
CW: unironic use of the word "hella"
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95% of Swedes have smartphone and 85% of those in turn have NFC. That leaves one fifth of the population that can’t use the new ID. I have not figured out what I’m personally going to do to solve this for me.
And, you know I always say how that (“it sucks for those that don’t join”) is the weaksauce argument compared to the true argument which is that we shouldn’t hand over control of our life-sustaining infrastructure to these giants who rapidly became the mightiest and richest entities in history by selling us what we already had in a way that lets them attach their strings fully?
Well, in this case even the “weak” argument is pretty darn strong as the mandate is buy a glass slab that spies on me, shines a bright light into yomyur eyes, is fragile, is very, very bad for the environment, and costs like several months of rent. And is hella addictive. And creates an awkward overlap with my existing devices and routine. Like do I give up on my light phone + e-reader dual device combo or add a third device into the mix? It’s so stupid and redundant and space-consuming and unappealing and sad. We all know how ACAB but I guess the B stands “bad at making ID” or “buying into megacorp propaganda”. A smartphone has more than double the LCA CO2e than a typical e-reader has. It’s about 23 bovine hamburgers of climate impact. 🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔 (or hundreds of vegetarian burgers).
I could upgrade my tablet/e-reader (RIP environment) but there is absolutely no sign that tablets or e-readers are going to get NFC in the future either. I’ve been happy with my Paper 7 + Light Phone combo but now the future looks pretty difficult.
So problem one is that I don’t know how to comfortably comply. I hate the smartphone form factor and smartphone lifestyle. I’m nearly nine years smartphone free. I love being able to walk away while still being emergency reachable through calls. I don’t want to give up all that in a very real and practical sense. I have an addictive personality. I can’t have internet in my pocket constantly, I’d die. I’d become a screen zombie.
Problem two is that I don’t really want to comply. I think philosophically and politically it’s a sick and wrongheaded idea to tie our identities to Google and Apple and to a handful of chip makers. I would want to boycott that even if it were easy and joyful to comply. Which it isn’t.
I’m expected to twist my own arms off in despair daily in order to comply with what I think is the wrongest decision in over eighty years.
It’s like “hi can I ask you a favor?” “Sure, what is it?” “Eat some poison please.” “Ew why? This poison is so bitter and jagged… and did you put mayo in here?” “So that I can steal your lungs and your heart and your collection of seashells and use all that as shrapnel in landmines for kids.” It’s a favor that’s both really uncomfortable in-and-of-itself and for a really really bad cause.
