From f36f2ee6b23a6f318a2ecb81487ea8f167a31690 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: alex Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 16:48:20 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] Add misc/take-the-less-traveled-road --- misc/take-the-less-traveled-road.md | 32 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 32 insertions(+) create mode 100644 misc/take-the-less-traveled-road.md diff --git a/misc/take-the-less-traveled-road.md b/misc/take-the-less-traveled-road.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be5fb72 --- /dev/null +++ b/misc/take-the-less-traveled-road.md @@ -0,0 +1,32 @@ +# Take the less traveled road + +> Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—\ +> I took the one less traveled by,\ +> And that has made all the difference. + +(Robert Frost, [The Road Not Taken](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59824/pg59824-images.html#THE_ROAD_NOT_TAKEN)) + +[Infrastructures](https://xkcd.com/743/), by Randall Munroe + +The prisoner's dilemma describes situations where people can choose to act in their own interest or collaborate with others. +I believe the prisoner's dilemma is present everywhere in our daily life and can explain many behaviors and situations. + +One such scenario is when we choose services to use on the Internet. + +Frequently, we choose services that are easy, popular, and even have no cost. + +In the past, even non-technical people got shared hosting and ran WordPress to blog, with nearly total control about their communication. +Nowadays, mostly everyone uses something like Twitter and cedes control to a company. + +Using Twitter is easier than self-hosting WordPress. +Twitter is so popular, that your message will likely reach more users on Twitter than on an independent blog. +And you can use Twitter for free, whereas shared hosting costs you money and time. + +Twitter became dominant and nowadays, many are frustrated by how Twitter has changed. + +Dominance implies lack of competition, which is nearly always bad for the consumer. + +Which means choosing which services to use frequently is a difficult choice. + +We all have limited time and energy, but I propose that whenever you can, you should take the less traveled road. +The easy alternative likely benefits you in the short term, but can easily contribute to a monoculture that will damage everyone in the end, including you. -- 2.47.3