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PaperclipPerfector  6mo ago (text post)   2707 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for October 29, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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What eInk readers do you use? I have an ancient kindle, but I'd like something with better contrast. Ideally, it wouldn't require me to create an account - I could just transfer books to it. My ideals are simplicity of features, speed, being easy to read, and most importantly no annoying bullshit. I never want to install a single software update, for example.

Any suggestions?

Kindle Paperwhite. The version with no ads (amazing that an ad supported version even exists, how tacky, but I digress).

I had to sign into my amazon account when I started using it. And it installed a firmware update or something. After that I've kept it in offline mode. It's simple to use. I just dump all my ebooks into it by connecting via usb to my pc. It's a decent device. Good in darkness as well as direct sunshine. Great battery life.

Ugh yeah ads on a kindle are annoying as hell. Amazon is so fucking tacky it kills me.

Hey, better to have the option than not though, right?

No. It's not better. Ads are one of the largest evils we endure in our society. Mass psychological warfare leading to a destruction of attention, virtue, and restraint for the chase of short term profits by a class that's already wealthy. I say we ban all but text advertising, and keep it black and white.

Fun fact: that was the "sensible centrist" (literally Neoliberal) position back in the 30's. I was taken aback when I first read it, but now I think they kinda had a point.

Interesting! I'd love to read more about it if you recall where you found that.

I have also read occasional accounts similar to that idea in reaction to the original PR firms from Edward Bernays. Honestly if I could choose one figure to erase from history, he is high on the list. That sort of instrumentalist thinking about how to turn propaganda into a fundamental part of a market economy is truly evil.

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