Manufactured consent requires media complicity to achieve acceptance of Hobson's choice Accept or Don't Use EULAs and corporate, technofeudal non-ownership and the "shame" of specialized knowledge, tinkering, and modifying things. Nerds were frowned upon until electronics and software people became billionaires in the 80's, and technical vocations are still frowned upon in socially most of America.

PS: While he maybe in effectively hospice now, at least he outlived Kissinger.

"Manufactured consent requires media complicity to achieve acceptance of Hobson's choice Accept or Don't"

Right, I've never fully understood why the media was (and still is) so complicit. There's a long history of the media, especially the tech media, mags etc. ass-licking the likes of Microsoft, Google et al. It's been horrible sight to watch over the decades. Perhaps it's because of kickbacks, fear of exclusion from events, press releases, or handouts—free software etc., or that many had/have shares in such entities—or the belief that those who run such entities are only one step removed from the gods—hero worshiping.

We users would now be in a damn side better prosition if the media had done its job professionally.

"technical vocations are still frowned upon in socially most of America."

Right again, and America is not the only place, such thought is endemic across the anglosphere.