[tiffanyg]

The incessant Apple (iOS) / Google [and manufacturers] (Android) sniping is truly a sight to behold.

People going out of their way to declare (or at least make clear with varying degrees of intensity) just exactly which feudal overlord they're ready to "bleed for" (i.e., give money, personal data, and free promotion to). People who often act as if they have an appropriately suspicious view of corporations in just about any other interaction, come out boldly declaring that this company or that company is GREAT when it comes to privacy, or consumer choice, or <fill in the blank>.

One of the strongest and most consistent weaknesses of human psychology is the effect "flags" have on otherwise reasonable minds.

[Y_Y]

> "From my tutor, [I learned] to be neither of the Greens nor the Blues, the Parmularius nor the Scutarius; to bear hard work and have few needs; to do my own work and mind my own affairs; also — have nothing to do with gossip."

That's Marcus Aurelius in the ”Meditations" talking about supporting teams at the chariot races and gladiator fights. It seems very human to get all tribal about something subjective and inconsequential. Ancient Rome had the same fanboyism, just in a different arena.

(I have a phone that just runs Alpine Linux, but I know better than to try and tell anyone about it.)

[alvarezbjm-hn]

During a conflict, that mindset requires a large quote of power to be exercised. If you don't belong to a tribe, you will be declared an enemy. Picking no tribe doesn't make you "neutral" It makes you everybody's enemy.

[2OEH8eoCRo0]

> People going out of their way to declare (or at least make clear with varying degrees of intensity) just exactly which feudal overlord they're ready to "bleed for"

What about people who hate their overlord?

> (I have a phone that just runs Alpine Linux, but I know better than to try and tell anyone about it.)

I wish you would! That sounds interesting!

[quaintdev]

Marcus Aurelius thoughts have survived 2000 years. He did not even wanted them to be published. What a legend!

> I have a phone that just runs Alpine Linux, but I know better than to try and tell anyone about it.

What phone is this?

[Y_Y]

Sibling comments are correct, it's a pinephone (non-pro, with keyboard)

[noja]

Could be https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Pine64_A64_LTS

[Moto7451]

Possibly the Pine Phone.

[tiffanyg]

Thank you for this insightful comment!

(Love the aside at the end ... seriously, though, Aurelius had an incisive eye, his writings have great value and much to teach just about anyone ...)

[tester457]

How does your phone's alpine linux setup work?

[stronglikedan]

The best thing about us Samsung fans is that we get to give our personal data to both Samsung and Google!

[SketchySeaBeast]

My theory is that if everyone has my data it becomes useless.

[amelius]

Based on what, if I may ask?

[JumpCrisscross]

> People going out of their way to declare

Isn’t this a bit dramatic? It’s a demo to which people are replying with their preferences. Some fly flags, but most debate features and priorities.

[samstave]

Said "flags", typically, have the ability to tax, control, imprison and murder you either domestically or send you into a meat grinder in the name of "national security" etc..

So yeah, people tend to fall in line under a flag through a lifetime of indoctrination and threat of financial or physical violence...

[tiffanyg]

There's something more fundamental, though - humans are a "social species". Evolutionarily, we are adapted to requiring (generally) at least something of a group / tribe. Other organisms solve survival (of the species, ultimately) problems differently - incredible and 'cheap' reproductive capacity, strength and versatility enough to be much more solitary as a rule, etc. - those niches are somewhat to rather different.

In any case, at this point in human history especially, I'd argue it's time to consider "the group" to be ALL humans - "by default". There are nuances, and I'm out of time for commenting further right now, but, that's my take on it.

Hopefully, this comment is of some use to you / someone / etc. - hope y'all have a great day!

[MonaroVXR]

One of them can record calls, the other doesn't that's enough for me.

[blep-arsh]

Still needs root on my non-US Samsung phone...

[MonaroVXR]

No, it doesn't on my non-us Samsung phone...