It's pretty sad that loonies like this get a platform at all.
The ultimate irony is that New Yorker in this case is writing an article about him, mocking his views...yet legitimizing them at the same time by associating their name with this kind of person at all.
How is this guy different from any other of the thousands moderately-successful tech people with an obscure hobby project (Urbit). Just because of his far-out-there views?
The only fascinating thing here is the phenomenon that no matter what nonsense you come up with, someone on the Internet will agree with you, think it's a good thing, and maybe even form a fan club.
His views are being implemented by the sitting US government. I understand the moral dilemma of it not being good to platform and broadcast these views, but under the circumstances, I'd argue there's also a duty to inform people of this looming danger.
> yet legitimizing them at the same time by associating their name with this kind of person at all.
Discussing things does not "legitimize" them. No one is required to read The New Yorker.
> Just because of his far-out-there views?
Probably the length of time he's held and promulgated them.
> someone on the Internet will agree with you
We used to think that connecting disparate groups of people together was a good thing. I have no idea when that changed but apparently it's the style now to use the awesome power of the internet to deny people their individuality out of gross fear.
> think it's a good thing
You should have to prove it's a bad thing. Not the other way around.
> Discussing things does not "legitimize" them. No one is required to read The New Yorker.
Well, good thing you put that in quotes, because you seem to be using some definition of the word legitimize that is only apparent to you and not the general public. Discussing things does legitimize them, because it allots them time that could have been used for something else.
> Probably the length of time he's held and promulgated them.
Many people hold views their entire lives, or at least decades. I don't see New Yorker or Wikipedia write articles about them.
> You should have to prove it's a bad thing. Not the other way around.
You understand what context means, or just trolling?
>How is this guy different from any other of the thousands moderately-successful tech people with an obscure hobby project (Urbit). Just because of his far-out-there views?
Did you read the article? Because he sits in immediate proximity to the power of the executive branch of the federal gov't, wherein a number of its most prominent members are devout fans of his who espouse his work...
The ultimate irony is that New Yorker in this case is writing an article about him, mocking his views...yet legitimizing them at the same time by associating their name with this kind of person at all.
How is this guy different from any other of the thousands moderately-successful tech people with an obscure hobby project (Urbit). Just because of his far-out-there views?
The only fascinating thing here is the phenomenon that no matter what nonsense you come up with, someone on the Internet will agree with you, think it's a good thing, and maybe even form a fan club.