Posted on 01/11/2021 6:31:00 AM PST by ProgressingAmerica
There can't be much doubt in anybody's mind: The way to strike back and strike hard against big tech is through their pocket books - and there's no bigger door for opportunity than the myriad of easily downloadable open source technologies. But one of the biggest "bigs" of the big tech world has largely gone with less scrutiny than the rest: Microsoft. Here, look at the image:
Trump certainly noticed. Now it's not that Microsoft doesn't give huge amounts of money to progressive causes, because they do. It isn't that Microsoft really doesn't want conservative customers, because in reality, the people who work at Microsoft are exactly of the same mind as the people who work at Twitter and Amazon and Google and any other big tech company you would name. If you're a conservative, they do not want you nor your money. Let's get that straight right now. Twitter doesn't want it, Apple doesn't want it, none of them do. Do you see Microsoft out there telling the rest to slow things down a bit? Of course you don't. That's what it is.
However as luck would have it, Microsoft isn't in a position to visibly silence conservatives, as has been done by the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Apple, and many others. That's why they've missed the heat. They don't have a social platform nor the direct ability to strike a blow to a social platform, otherwise they'd be doing it too.
So it is that reality is a tough cookie. If Facebook needs to be dealt with, and they do. And if Google needs to be dealt with, and if Twitter, Amazon, Apple, and others, let's be real here. They do need to be dealt with. But leaving one out just extends the problem further down the road in terms of time and years. Microsoft needs to be brought down a few notches as well. Big tech needs to be made a little smaller. All conservatives now know this instinctively. The only question left, is how to strike the blow.
For every one of us, it's no more simple than taking a glance over there to the side - that's right, right over there at your computer tower. There are plenty of companies out there who contribute to an abundance of open source technologies, but let's be real. It's a platform that they can't really control. It's a platform that can't entirely be monetized because it was built from the ground up by developers who don't want to be under the thumb of a corporate entity. Any corporate entities who are writing small patches here and there, are only doing so in places that benefit their organizations personally. Anything that benefits you or I, its a matter of coincidence. That wasn't their intent to benefit you. They rely very heavily on you remaining on a controllable platform. It's time to force the issue, but that could only happen if there was a larger user base.
Now, I've never been one for boycotts myself. My past blog posts will ilustrate this. I never really thought they worked so why call for them. The continued march toward progressivism that corporate entities have taken over the last 5, 10, and 20 years would lend proof to the claim that they haven't really worked. I switched to Linux years ago for the fact that in many ways, it's simply easier to use Linux than Windows, due to the software being less bossy. So I can't be called a "boycott'er" in that sense. I switched out of practicality and ease of use. But hey why not jump on the bandwagon while it's hot and fast moving?
If you want to hurt big tech, by all means, cancel your Amazon subscription and never order from them again, cancel your Netflix account, shut down your Facebook and Twitter accounts, never ever buy an Apple product again, and any other ways you can find to shut your wallets. But don't forget, whatever you do, don't forget to also wipe your Windows drive and install an open source operating system on it. It's the consistent thing to do. The big stock and trade for the progressives at Microsoft really isn't that licence fee that's paid in the beginning, it's the ongoing market dominance that's promoted every single day by continued usage.
Every one of you has a weapon against big tech sitting right there at your desk. It's your choice whether or not you use it.
My sentiments and experience mirror the points in the column.
Have used Linux as my home system for about 15 years.
And, in most respects, I find Linux system administration for everyday matters to be far easier than Windows.
Find Linux easier to use in most cases with the rare-as-hen’s-teeth exception of trying to do something that is tied proprietarily to the Windows (or, as I call it, “Microsoft Updates”) platform.
The author refers to Linux software as “less bossy”. I concur 100%. Use Brave as your browser. No real need for Microsoft Updates.
They have hidden tracking ware, and Brave is blocking that, So you can’t get in without white listing them. I can’t with NoScript either. They have it rigged so that you have to accept it all or nothing. Dirty pool...
. Ugh. Oh well. I am using a VPN, but they likely get around that too
I would like to switch to Linux. Will be buying a new computer. Dont most computers come with Windows? Is there a brand that comes with Linux?
VPN can be deceiving sometimes.While no one acn see what is going through the connection, the end point can still detect both browser settings and IP address. If it is unsure it just doesn’t allow access at all until all the boxes are checked allowing them to completely control it.
thanks, i aint too up on all this- I wonder if Tor browser would connect and allow sign in on to Youtube or other sites like that?
Dell does.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/overview/cp/linuxsystems
13 places to buy Linux Computers:
https://itsfoss.com/get-linux-laptops/
There is a 14th place:
Build your own. I did my first linux install in 1994. It was done from 10 3-1/2” floppies and had no graphic user interphase. It was running UMSDOS (under MS DOS) It was called Pygmy linux. It actually worked very well.
In my opinion, Linux installs today are actually easier than Windows Installs. You can still run into driver issues, but not nearly as common as you might think.
Know what? I can check later to see. I have a tails stick and can see. You should make one too man. It comes with TOR by default. Only issue I am finding with TOR is that some of the website servers security features do not like some of the exit node IP addresses and makes you go through a Google captcha session.
We need to put satellites in space. Preferably ones with the ability to take out other satellites.
First install with Graphic user inter-phase was Redhat 5.0. It was a slow dog until I installed XFCE Graphic user inter-phase. Also ran several versions of Mandrake and several other distributions.
Later Xubuntu, and Debian XFCE.
ah that’s right, i remember you saying that before about TOR. I’ll check out about doing a tails stick- need something for when on the road using public wifi.
ah that’s right, i remember you saying that before about TOR. I’ll check out about doing a tails stick- need something for when on the road using public wifi.
I’ll likely have to get some kind of android app similar to Tails though for on the road computing
So much for that.
"IceDragon features privacy and performance enhancements
over the Firefox core browser as well as additional
features such as SiteInspector malware scanning, Comodo
Secure DNS and improved social media functionality."
That is what I have heard, Thank you! I was actually headed that way to try it out next. I have been testing several of them out. :)
If you have your PC you can use Tails and hot spot or tether your phone in as a modem and data connection?
That is what I do where I am, but I tether and turn my laptop radio off, just using the phone as a gateway to the net. Tails should still protect everything you are doing through it.
One setback about IceDragon. I forgot to mention that, as far as I know, they don’t have a Linux version :/
On Linux, I use Brave and Chromium.
Well I would have had an issue there. I am all linux...
And that is why I have settled so far with Waterfox. I like it because I can use NoScript and Ghostery which are absolutely imperative for me. These two addons together kick butt on Brave. But they are available for Chromium too.
i tried to look into all that but it seemed too far above my pay grade to do
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