jackstraw42

It's worse than "the idea is better than the execution." You are offering a lot of leniency in the meaning of your words there, and that should bother you more than it seems to but here we are.

The "idea" that was executed on here was a non-starter to begin with. You don't get anywhere by lighting everything that seems like waste on fire and burning it to the ground, learning its effects later. A modern government is not something that is riddled with waste so much that it does nothing. Their first target, USAID, as far as I could tell had no idea what was coming. They didn't even seem to bother to look into what they did, just the cashflows. Which of course will seem wasteful if you don't have a human heart with feelings, it's called U-S-A-I-D. Saying the idea was good here is like giving them the benefit of the doubt that sure maybe they can't read or understand anything, but let them axe these things without a second thought? Come on, you shouldn't let Elon off that easy.

Flock (YC S17)

Ah, and there it is. Why shouldn't Y-Combinator be a force for evil like the rest of them? Paul Graham has been off his rocker for about as long as I can remember now, unfortunately my memories of people like this doing anything good for the world are so far in the past, they're fading. What a shame.

I think I'll be looking for yet another messaging service after this.

You should always be doing this on a regular basis if there's any question marks around your current solution, with Telegram I have a few of those.

for those of us who have tried to keep our soul while working in tech, what would you recommend going forward?

This right here, it's fine until it's not. And the best-designed threats make sure you don't become aware of them.

Hey, I can tell you are on the right track here. Don't get too discouraged! That's the main thing I would tell myself back in high school to make sure I don't lose sight of some important stuff like that, trust me not everyone feels something like that kind of resonance you do with open source and educating regular people about it. It will be confusing at times and seem like maybe you were way off from the very beginning, but do your best to just take that as a sign that more work or clarification is needed, and of course you have the energy for this stuff right? I'd bet money on it, based on how you are writing your comments and how I used to write about the same things like after installing Linux, realizing everything we do we could be done the right way instead of the greed-based or other coercive systems in place that absolve a lot of responsibility by pushing much of the responsibility on the user without even attempting to educate them about what they're consenting to. Most of the time it's doing some simple task like uploading a photo to share but if an uninformed grandma tries to do that with her vulnerable Android phone... it's scary the life-changing situations that simple desire can happen to a person if they accidentally click the wrong link these days. Most of us here on Hacker News have long been aware of all the tracking and data collection and likely take steps to avoid it, but I cannot stress enough how we are a tiny tiny group of exceptions doing things right because it's meaningful to us. Regular folks are still doing the normal meaningful things to them in their lives, but the opposite sort of people who you and I are trying to be see this as an opportunity to trap them at every possible opportunity. The work you want to do is VERY important.

EDIT: just had another thought. You mentioned the FSF and the Free Software Conservancy, you should email them if you haven't already and ask them for some ideas about what you can do or how you can help their organizations. They may have something specific ideas for your area too, there are people like us everywhere. Get in touch with those folks for sure!

I have no idea how people who start non profits actually do and how they get enough money to work in correct circles and so on and how that would work, I will still get a degree of course and I am thinking of starting a fundme page

My wife works in non-profit consulting and has mostly worked with people who have great ideas but need help learning how to get funding and structure their non-profit for success. I asked her if there is a website to share with you that has good info, and she said your local library should have people who can help you with anything related to getting a non-profit rolling (try the next library over if not). I had no idea they have these resources either, but public libraries are amazing places and here's further proof.

Here's a page from a library where we used to live: https://poudrelibraries.org/business/

Scroll down to the section for "Nonprofit Success" and maybe you can find some ideas that will help you. I think you're on the right track about open source education and evangelizing (the tech world used to call its influencers stuff like "open source evangelist" or ".NET evangelist"... not sure if it's still that culty or not).

Best of luck with everything, and if you have any questions or want to chat I just followed you on Github. You can email me at my-github-username at protonmail dot com anytime, if you have non-profit questions I can ask my wife for her thoughts, she's been doing this for years and seems to have it pretty well mastered from what I can tell. She's built a business by herself from scratch and does so well she's the bigger earner of the family. So anyway, she just helps non-profits and makes a living from it, so you can definitely do something with open source! Work on making your writing and communication more effective and I think you will find the people to help you reach your dreams along the way.

Don't lose hope if you can help it, things like the news and politics are discouraging right now but I find that times like this light a fire in me to make sure I'm doing the right things and help keep us from getting in deeper problems. I get complacent more during less chaotic times, so I try to make the best of it and it usually works out. Take care, friend!

edit: I just realized that from the local times you mention, you are likely not in the United States. I'm not sure if libraries in Europe and elsewhere have this information or not. Maybe it can give you an idea of what kind of information to look for in your local resources.

I think that's one of the most mysteriously insightful comments I've ever read anywhere on the internet. I can see why some might be dismissive without considering it further though, maybe like my initial comment in this thread that I feel like was misinterpreted, when really I wanted others to consider this same thing, their honest opinion about whether the last 17 years of mobile OS experience was worth it to get to where we are now. If we could avoid it, would we do it differently or would we do it all over again? After commenting in this thread all day I feel like we should be smart enough to avoid it, but I don't have an answer of how we would either, so it seems like it would just happen again how it did.

There were lots of excerpts from your comment that I highlighted and hit Ctrl+C, then thinking "well this would be better to comment on or this would be better or now maybe the other way....". It's not important how I would pick apart your comment (and in a really nice way, I don't mean "pick apart" like criticize down to the last detail... but right there's something that would get lost in communication normally, I expect). This was my favorite part of your comment though, and I was going to say something like, Reagan thought we needed trickle-down economics but what we really need is growth with love, all the way down to the roots:

"Yes we are human but dear reader, I feel like corruption only goes to top if it reeks from bottom too as well. Its messed up but maybe we can all try to acknowledge it and try to just know that we are all gonna die anyway and well, giving a other unique human smile and happiness might be the most precious thing."

Make sure you have a nice day yourself, dear reader.

My impression is that the very first thing a privacy-conscious person would do with a new Android device is install a secure keyboard. Is that not the case? Why should people trust any old software keyboard the company selling it sets as the default?

For a very long time, Apple didn't allow installing custom keyboards. And I would still bet a bit of money that they are more restrictive than the keyboards Android allows.

Thank you for the info. Pixel 8a was my choice, and I did end up paying about $50 more than what would have been the best deal, to make sure that it specifically said it's bootloader unlockable to allow for custom OS installations.

Wow! Well you never know where simple frustrations will lead, or in your case noticing something that you just can't shake that no one else seems to think is important. I'd say keep me posted, but that's not on you especially while you're developing that app. I wish you the best of luck, and it sounds like you're doing it with a really unique and authentic perspective that I wouldn't be sure that any of the apps that become popular on either App Store can guarantee. Seriously, the world might depend on you :)

I had a feeling about what you described with GrapheneOS would be the case, and that's what kept me from really considering it as a replacement for my iPhone until talking with some folks in this thread. I really don't see myself getting out of using an iPhone as my "main phone" tied to my phone number since my wife is neck-deep in the whole Apple ecosystem (and I truly believe that being flexible in this regard is worth it and makes our lives a whole lot better, even when the issue in question is what I would consider a simple moral non-negotiable, securely protecting my and my family's personal data. just means that I have more solving to do before the solution).

My solution for now is to always run everything through a trusted VPN and NextDNS on the iPhone, or as much as iOS will let me I guess, and using this as my new Pixel's gateway to the internet when I'm away from a trusted connection. I will also be running everything through the VPN when I'm using GrapheneOS, so when I am out and about I'm not treating my not-entirely-trustworthy iPhone any differently than a Starbucks hotspot. Sometimes the convenience really makes a difference, not all the time but it does matter occasionally.

Thank you for taking the time to write your comment, too. I think it's extremely important that all sides of communication come together ASAP and discuss most of the things that might have been very polarizing in our near past. For the sake of not just our country (speaking to fellow Americans here) but humanity overall.

this is what I'm talking about. I wish more folks in this thread had gone this direction.

I think those types of people like your MIL represent a very concerning bulk of Android users. So people are walking around with god knows what in their pockets, doing every single thing in their life through them these days. I thought others who had arrived at this thought would be alarmed too, but I'm not sure what to think anymore I guess.

I have lost faith in Apple as a current best choice because of the things you say. Maybe it's dumb for me to think of it this way, but I was just expressing that I'm happier overall with how Apple handled it while I've had an iPhone. I felt like I was in better hands, even though I know just about all their shortcomings that have been made public. Still, I don't think there was a better choice for the general average Joe than an iOS device. They have kept my parents safe from identity theft, any malware (that I know of), stolen credit cards, etc. And I think they deserve some (intangible, feelings-based) credit for that.

This morning I ordered a Pixel phone after realizing they are available in my price range after all (thanks to this discussion, specifically one of the few who didn't try to argue with me) so GrapheneOS is what I would personally recommend if anyone was thinking I was trying to say "iOS is better, prove me wrong". I was more looking for others to share similar thoughts, not attempt to shut me down, but such is life.

So everyone really did read what I was saying as an argument. Maybe you can help me here and clarify what you interpreted as a point I was trying to argue? I believe that it was a better decision for the average mobile phone user to use iOS in a smart way between 2008-2025 than Android. Both ecosystems are in a sad state currently, but Android is the clear choice now. Did you think I was making the old iOS vs. Android debate? People really need to move on from that winning side thinking and think more about what matters, if that's what happened. Anyone care about talking about anything else besides that shit anymore?

the thing is, I didn't mean to argue. I'm merely responding to people's comments, who started an argument?

I am very, very concerned about our ability to communicate with each other as human beings these days. Maybe this thread was meant to be an example of that, I don't know. I didn't realize everyone was trying to prove me wrong with this. sheesh.

further, I am seeing why some folks decided to close themselves off completely to stuff like this. I enjoy intellectual curiosity and try to find others who do, but I realize many people don't enjoy it and many even hate it. it's not because it's a lack of intelligence. It's that everyone seems uninterested in the thoughts that made me type that initial comment, they're more concerned with proving me wrong. Am I accurate in this assessment, or can I trust you to not treat this question as an argument, if that is a better way to put it?

I'd rather not speculate on that, surely you understand? I'm not saying a general "save the children" but would you consider thinking of them, if that doesn't sound too trite?

Probably so. But still, I feel like Apple did a better job than Google did and I understand that’s an opinion and everyone has one.

wait are you serious? I will buy one right now if those are available. paid $100 for the cheapest acceptable android I could find (samsung galaxy a05s). but I was seeing $500+ for Pixel phones. coming from iOS, I have no idea about any of this. I am right now going to look again. I just wish it was easier for my mom and dad to switch to something safe like GrapheneOS. Feels like we are a ways off from that.

edit: Pixel ordered and GrapheneOS incoming, goodbye iOS.

Still not what I'm saying. I think we are paying the price for Android being so open right now, with the chaos happening in the US and worldwide. 17 years of messy Android evolution got us to a point where we could possibly start to examine what this has done to us. But based on how my original comment was received, I have much less hope than I did before I wrote it. Especially since I would consider some of the best minds on the internet to be regulars of Hacker News, and before we can even address this issue we need to clarify and understand it. I'm trying to do that here.

I'm not sure what your point is, though.

Ok. I am saying GrapheneOS and F-Droid is the answer, but I don't think 17 years of what I would describe as Early Access Android was the way to get there.

Listen, I don't disagree with any of that. I think a lot of confusion is happening because people think I'm talking about how to inform consumer choices better or what exactly about either OS to fix to make them meet the standards that I'm trying to describe. What I think is very important if not one of the most important things facing us as a species is that we need a better mobile OS option than what we have. And you don't have to convince me on GrapheneOS. I am in the process of moving to Android and F-Droid until I can afford a Pixel phone with GrapheneOS.

What I am attempting and apparently failing to describe effectively is that this excellent option we have now (GrapheneOS + F-Droid) was in NO way accessible to any general user of mobile phones since their use has become widespread. What we have had since 2008 is two shitty options, and my point was that Apple has actively done more to keep users safe than Google has. No one seems to be arguing on that at all, but there are many people pointing out the failing of Apple's efforts over the years. Does that make them a complete failure? Absolutely not in my eyes, but I'm not going to tell you what to think.

So, I feel like Android's ecosystem set us up for a HUGE minefield from various entry points from an American's perspective by allowing such an open system into the wild. It has been Early Access level of quality up until recently I would argue. GrapheneOS + F-Droid is safe enough to protect idiots from themselves, probably. If not now, then with time.

How in the world anyone here is saying Google's hands-off approach was the way to go... well it is how we got our acceptable option, finally, but surely you don't think that every mobile phone company with a custom fork of Android kept its users more safe than Apple did?

The point I'm trying to make is less about what Apple and Google are doing for us, and more about what their policies allow developers to do with their apps on their platforms.

downloading ROMs helped me learn how to do things the right way too. but even back then those kinds of places were filled with traps, remember pop-ups and pop-under ads? from that point forward, learning how to safely download ROMs and whatever else I wanted to do on the internet just felt natural.

What worries me though is that maybe we weren't the norm, maybe we were the exceptions.

Safer from apps that do insane but legal data collection is what I am worried about. Why would a foreign adversary need a hacking team when they can just buy what they need from an American company built to sell detailed personal information on Americans using shitty malware-riddled products?

Perhaps the barrier to entry is a bit higher to discourage some low-hanging fruit, but Apple does very little for the 30% commission it takes.

As someone who is diligent about staying on top of these things, I thank you for sharing this because this is what I'm talking about: it is not clear at all to an average user who is trying to do task X with their phone (note that's *not* "do task X securely while protecting personal data").

I figured Apple didn't do a whole lot, but I still feel the policies must do something. Please do tell if you know specifics though. And I am very disappointed with all the near-literal shit that's flooded the iOS app store the last few years. Overall, my opinion about it all is that we need to take some time to think about everything we've learned and rebuild something new from the ground up. GrapheneOS seems promising.

Quickly looked at all those links and without any more commentary from you, I guess I feel like my point stands.

Those all fall under the category of shitty apps I would never install on my iPhone or Android phone. So, Apple's privacy standards and policies, and walled gardens for better or worse, kept me closer to what I was looking for regarding personal privacy and security than I could have gotten with Android. Who knows if anyone checked those same apps I use to see if the Android versions are different or contain malware, but my sense is that it's much easier to slip it in the Play Store than Apple's App Store.

I am aware. I've been around a while.

I'm not worried about nation-state surveillance. What I am worried about is all the keyloggers on kids' Android phones these days, since I've seen a shady game company or two in my day.

No, I feel like rather you are misunderstanding my main point.

I do understand that I am stuck with the Apple equivalent of the Google Play Store. Android is more like a completely open ecosystem, Apple's is much more closed filled with walled gardens. Still, walls provide protection if the ones building them know what they're doing.

So, I feel like Apple has the edge with what we have, over Google's stance of "do nothing" rather than trying to give users a good sense of privacy. If Apple were fully open and allowed such a thing as F-Droid to exist on their OS, you would have a point.

edit: and both OSes are not perfect. That was also part of my main point, not that Apple's is clearly far superior. All I said was I'm glad I trusted my instincts and explained why.

last edit: I've read back the comments to try and see where the misunderstandings are coming from and hopefully have addressed them. While the most secure App Store does exist on Android, it's taken us a while to get there (I know F-Droid has been around a while as well). I am talking about the time period since very early Android and iOS up until now. If I had been using Android, no doubt I would have tried to do it the proper way, but knowing what I like to do freely on my mobile device instead of feeling like I need to worry about privacy with every. single. app. I pick iOS for my mobile OS from 2008-2025 again and I am glad that I did. None of the exploits, vulnerabilities, etc have affected me and I have to give Apple the credit for at least giving me my money's worth on that.

Sorry, Google and Apple are American companies so "here" was the USA in my comment.

I agree completely with you about the Android forks. That does allow for people do things right more than the way Apple does it. But it also allows people to do things wrong, and how many predatory mobile phone companies would see an opportunity to spy on customers if they won't notice? Just like none of us would buy a computer and use it without formatting and reinstalling the OS first, there are tons of people who didn't reinstall the OS and kept installing shitty malware. That's the case that I'm worried is much more prevalent among the American population than we realized. Tons of factors go into it, but I think the fact that we distilled all of our information received regularly down to something that's processed thru two operating systems before reaching human eyes and ears is something worth looking more into. Or at least I think it's a damn good reason to start over and begin with doing things the right way, given everything that we know now.