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361 points gloxkiqcza | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.317s | source
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klipklop ◴[] No.45010448[source]
The game Alpha Centauri had the most hard hitting quote that I think applies now.

"As the Americans learned so painfully in Earth's final century, free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny...Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master. Commissioner Pravin Lal, 'U.N. Declaration of Rights' "

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amelius ◴[] No.45011646[source]
> As the Americans learned so painfully in Earth's final century, free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny.

This had until recently been only tested for top-down information. Nowadays, everyone can be a broadcaster and we're seeing quite different results.

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mlnj ◴[] No.45012275[source]
The only sources of information we currently see about protests happening across the US are by small broadcasters. There is plenty of news that is being systematically being suppressed by the top-down information chain because it is so effective in clamping down dissent.

IMO, free flowing information still remains the best safeguard against tyranny.

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amelius ◴[] No.45012323[source]
But the tyranny we're seeing today is arguably a result of individual broadcasters ...
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miningape ◴[] No.45014060[source]
Doesn't this imply that what we're seeing today and calling tyranny is more free than what came before? (anyone can become an individual broadcaster)

Put another way - is this a case of the tyrannical calling the free tyrants? If Orwell or Huxley taught us anything it's that this how a state maintains its illusion/power - manipulating language and perception to make their control seem necessary/liberating.

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1. amelius ◴[] No.45024065[source]
I'd say no, because this new free world came from the old world, so the latter must have been free.