Um, this is not an example of hypocrisy? If I punch you in the nose, I am not a hypocrite if I block your attempt to punch me back.

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GorbachevyChase 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

There is no rule based order, and when it comes to state security establishments, the US or any other, there are no good guys.

	▲	tptacek 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I agree with that too, but that doesn't make the "hypocrisy" line make any more sense.

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fooqux 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm pretty sure they don't care about hypocrisy. They have the power to do this and get away with it, so they do.

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tptacek 3 hours ago | parent [-]

Oh, I agree, but the article says:

There is an element of hypocrisy in all this because American intelligence agencies were previously caught intercepting Cisco-made routers on their way to customers

No there isn't! That's not hypocritical! Words mean things!

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orwin 3 hours ago | parent [-]

I agree it's not hypocrisy, but I can see the element of hypocrisy, if I understand their meaning correctly.

	▲	tptacek 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Can you help me understand it then? I assume it's some kind of "turnabout is fair play" thing?

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CoastalCoder 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Good point.

If people are calling this hypocrisy, then I suspect there's a larger moral argument that hasn't been articulated.

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3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[deleted]

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convolvatron 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

apparently the kind of people that whine the most loudly about being punched turn out to be real avid punchers themselves.

	▲	tptacek 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		People who are good at punching tend also to be good at avoiding punches.

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esafak 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

No-one will be sad if you do get punched in the nose.

	▲	adventured 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The US hasn't really needed that kind of sympathy since the 1860s Civil War. Other nations being sad when you get punched in the nose is only useful if you have no effective way to respond. Half the world disliked the US during the Cold War. People act like any of what is going on is new.

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keybored 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

US domestic propaganda is built on hypocrisy (we need to stop X from doing Y... which we or our allies are doing already). It might not be explicitly stated right here, on this matter (contrary to The Register), but that’s the backdrop.

Calling it hypocrisy is at the very least good propaganda to try to wake Americans up from their stupor.

Admittedly though with Trump there’s no hypocritical propaganda any more. He just says he “wants the oil” or whatever.

	▲	tptacek 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		It is not my argument that the US isn't generally hypocritical.

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nclin_ 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Power revels in hypocrisy: Rules protect the in-group but do not bind them, and bind the out-group but do not protect them.

It's not just logical, it's affective: There is a real pleasure in domination, and a real fear in any loss of control. It feels good to be strong, to be in control, to be protected but not bound. Domination is hegemony, hegemony is safety.

These billionaires genuinely feel themselves to be oppressed if their power is threatened in any way. [1]

---

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RpPTRcz1no

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tptacek 3 hours ago | parent [-]

Life is a mystery. Everyone must stand alone!

	▲	tialaramex 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The version of CryptoPals we wished for but didn't deserve? I listen to "Ice Ice Matrix" more often than I'd like to admit and every time I hear "Did you stop?" "No, I just drove by" I remember years ago solving these toy examples.