In this dream of reality...
Reflecting on Weblogs 14 and 16: Both techno-optimism and Light sold me a specific dream that is actually good.
A world without crime isn't a bad goal. Technology that connects humanity, democratises knowledge, and harmonizes with the nature is not a bad goal. The dream itself is clean. I can't be embarrassed for having wanted it.
And then the execution reveals what the dream costs, and what it does to the person holding it. Light doesn't become corrupt in some obvious cartoon way - he follows the logic. Each step is defensible from the previous one. That's exactly what makes it uncomfortable to watch and hard to exit cleanly. The Overton window moves one rationalisation at a time.
My techno-optimism works the same way. Each concession felt reasonable in the moment. Of course platforms need engagement metrics. Of course algorithms should surface relevant content. Of course network effects create efficiency. And here we are.
I guess the real question is: at what point does the dream become the rationalization?
And maybe the full answer is still uncomfortable.
Is this what happens to ideologues? Years later, we're left asking ourselves - how could they let it happen?