Of course. It seems that one of the foundational truths of antifascism is the approach that fascism, operates in all tenets of life, not just on the debate floor, and so if one resigns themselves to only confronting fascism using the establishes channels (i.e. voting), they are “leaving the back door open”, so to speak.
This leads to a certain suspicion toward all things; for example, not accepting trump’s dismissal of project 2025, because it is a forgone conclusion that lying about something that is exactly something a fascist would do.
However, I think that worldview can complicate (and at times create tension with) other discussions, i.e. Proton. Someone who may not consider themselves fascist or antifascist, and just wants to degoogle, may look up Proton and feel as if they don’t have the tools to separate the stuff which isn’t in the scope of their inquiry from the stuff that does, which what I think is going on here.
To put it another way, it’s like someone saying they want a burger and asking if mcdonald’s is good, then being told that mcdonald’s sucks because their food is unhealthy, they facilitate factory farming, and they take advantage of the economically disadvantaged. While those data points are important to the person sharing their opinion, and may very well extend to the life of the individual asking, it doesn’t say anything about whether the food tastes good or not, thereby leaving the initial question unresolved.
So while the data points about proton’s CEO (and anyone else who may be implicated) may be true, and while there may be wider implications as well, it can serve to muddy the waters for those who are coming in perpendicular to the conversation.
I think longer writeups help to provide for the inevitable nitty-gritty (you can’t click the button because it’s not there, etc) while also provide for holistic development, kind of like how incognito mode doesn’t really mean anything because google is still tracking you.
A few things motivate me to move to Linux. I’ve been made aware of the privacy concerns with Microsoft, and since they’re sunsetting Win10, I expect there’s a bunch of security exploits that will be leveraged almost immediately. I also don’t like doing things I can’t lay out logically, and I haven’t been given good enough reasons to get a new OS/machine, especially because tech is a very small part of my life (I have a thinkpad from 2012 and use it like your grandma uses her PC). Improved UI, inclusion of AI, and whatever other capabilities are things I didn’t ask for. That leads into the principle of the argument, I just won’t be in an abusive money-based relationship with anyone, person or corporation. Microsoft doesn’t seem like they’d be a good friend, or even a good business partner, and I don’t like the underlaying vibe I get from the services they provide, so I just won’t participate in whatever they’ve got going.
Linux, on the other hand, seems to be functional enough to meet my needs and comes without all of the other stuff Microsoft does that I’ve already complained about. In other words, Linux seems like a Honda Civic, and I’m good with that.
I appreciated your description of the depression loop that came from the exposé youtube videos on Win11. It’s something I’m deeply aware of within my own life (I started with the Christine Chubbuck thing) and have taken leaps to get away from that whole cycle of mental torture (it feels kind of Plato’s allegory of the cave). Have you been able to develop/connect/apply that line of thought elsewhere in your life?