Except that this holds true for everything. For example, I only just today found out about this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8yo7_Inikg&t=1157s, ie, Oracle's apparent complicity in genocide. Now that I know this, I now have to rethink things: what am I using that depends on Oracle that I need to migrate away from? This wasn't something I was concerned about just 24 hours ago. This is not to say it's not a valid concern: we should divest from companies and organisations complicit in genocide, but this is demonstrably a case where I have given myself more work, more worry, from gaining knowledge.

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Henchman21 3 hours ago | parent [-]

You’re aware IBM was not just complicit but essentially made the Holocaust possible with their counting machines? Had technicians permanently staffed in the fucking camps? The the numbers on people’s arms corresponded to IBM punch cards?

Are you aware of the world you live in?

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Defletter 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I wasn't aware of that, no. I can say that it wasn't a feature of our history lessons in school, nor in various Holocaust documentaries I have watched, nor something that came up in conversation with friends and colleagues, nor have I personally seen it when it's been posted to HackerNews (if this is anything to go by: https://hn.algolia.com/?query=IBM%20holocaust&sort=byDate&ty...). I only learned about Oracle's complicity because it has resurfaced in coverage regarding the current ongoing genocide. But you are proving my point: what do I do now with this information?

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zahlman 2 hours ago | parent [-]

> But you are proving my point: what do I do now with this information?

I would use it to question the premise

> we should divest from companies and organisations complicit in genocide

which in reality I decided was obviously wrong the first time I heard it, many years ago. In fact, I don't think this concept of "complicity" is morally valid at all.

	▲	Defletter 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Continuing the red/blue pill metaphor from earlier, what you're describing is not dissimilar to Cypher's betrayal to be plugged back in.

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mitchdoogle 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Mass genocide happened plenty of times before the advent of computers, so I take issue with your assertion that IBM made the holocaust possible.

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lucianbr 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Are you aware of the world you live in?

Certainly this world comprises many other things than the Holocaust and IBM's support of it. Perhaps your awareness is lacking if you think that is the main thing to be aware of in this world.

	▲	zahlman 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> Perhaps your awareness is lacking if you think that is the main thing to be aware of in this world. I don't think that's what GP was saying at all.