[Zetice]

Computers are built these days mainly to talk to other computers, due to the considerable value gained by offloading computational effort to a central location. Not wanting a computer to talk to other computers is like not wanting your oven to heat food except by friction.

And "overly paranoid, bordering on luddite" is no insult, it's a description that your comments fit. If these words are insulting, stop fitting so well to them!

[JohnFen]

Eh, whatever. I think you're more interested in picking a fight than engaging in a useful or interesting conversation.

[Zetice]

I think you're dismissing what I'm saying because you don't have a good reason to disagree with it, but you find it important to ape the "pro privacy" line, as that's what you see others do online.

[JohnFen]

You haven't really said anything for me to dismiss. It looks to me that the only assertion of fact that you've made is "Computers are built these days mainly to talk to other computers", which I didn't comment on at all. I will here, though -- that assertion is untrue by being overly broad. Many are built with that in mind, but many are not.

Everything else you've said is asking me for details about my opinion and stating that you disagree with my opinions. Which is totally fair, but I'm not sure what response you expect from me about that aside from "I disagree".

> you find it important to ape the "pro privacy" line, as that's what you see others do online.

Another personal attack.

[Zetice]

...and I'm the one just here to argue?

This is your ~60th comment on HN today. Maybe take a break, go outside, touch some grass. Not one thing you wrote here is reflective of the conversation you and I were having.