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mostlysignssomeportents · 2 months

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Meatspace twiddling

I'm on tour with my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me next weekend (Mar 30/31) in ANAHEIM at WONDERCON, then in Boston with Randall "XKCD" Munroe (Apr 11), then Providence (Apr 12), and beyond!

"Enshittification" isn't just a way of describing the symptoms of platform decay: it's also a theory of the mechanism of decay – the means by which platforms get shittier and shittier until they are a giant pile of shit.

I call that mechanism "twiddling": this is the ability of digital services to alter their business-logic – the prices they charge, the payouts they offer, the particulars of the deal – from instant to instant, for each user, continuously:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/19/twiddler/

Contrary to Big Tech's own boasting about its operations, the tricks that tech firms play to siphon value away from business customers and end-users aren't very sophisticated. They're crude gimmicks, like offering a higher per-hour wage to Uber drivers whom the algorithm judges to be picky about which rides they'll clock in for, and then lowering the wage by small increments as a way of lulling the driver into gradually accepting a permanent lower rate:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/12/algorithmic-wage-discrimination/#fishers-of-men

This is a simple trick. The difference is that tech platforms like Uber can play it over and over, and very quickly. There's plenty of wage-stealing scumbag bosses who'd have loved to have shaved pennies off their workers' paychecks, then added a few cents back in if a worker cried foul, then started shaving the pennies again. The thing that stopped those bosses was the bottleneck of payroll clerks, who couldn't make the changes fast enough.

Uber plays crude tricks – like claiming that a driver isn't an employee because the control is mediated through an app – and then piles more crude tricks on top – this algorithmic wage discrimination gambit.

Have you ever watched a shell-game performed very slowly?

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-do-penn-tellers-famous-cups-and-balls-trick-in-12-steps

It's a series of very simple gimmicks, performed very quickly and smoothly. Computers are very quick and very smooth. The quickness of the hand deceives the eye: do crude tricks with superhuman speed and they'll seem sophisticated.

The one bright spot in the Great Enshittening that we're living through is that many firms are not sufficiently digitized to to these crude tricks very quickly. Take grocery stores: they can get up to a lot of the same tricks as Amazon – for example, they can charge suppliers for placement on the most prominent, easiest-to-reach shelves, reorganizing your shopping based on which companies pay the biggest bribes, rather than offering the best products and prices.

But Amazon takes this to a whole different level – beyond simply organizing their product pages based on payola, they do this for search. You ask Amazon, "What's your cheapest batteries?" and it lies to you. If you click the first link in a search-results page, you'll pay 29% more than you would if you got the best product – a product that is, on average, 17 places down on the results page. Amazon makes $38b/year taking bribes to lie to you:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/06/attention-rents/#consumer-welfare-queens

Amazon can do more than that. Thanks to its digital nature, it can continuously reprice its offerings – indeed, it can simply make up each price displayed on every product at the instant you look at it – based on its surveillance data about you, estimating your willingness to pay. For sellers, Amazon can continuously re-weight the likelihood that a given product will be shown to a customer based on the seller's willingness to discount their products, even to the point where they go out of business:

https://www.businessinsider.com/sadistic-amazon-treated-book-sellers-the-way-a-cheetah-would-pursue-a-sickly-gazelle-2013-10

Twiddling, in other words, lets digital services honeycomb their servers with sneaky wormholes that let them siphon value away from one kind of platform user and give it to another (as when Apple silently began spying on Iphone owners to create profiles for advertisers), or to themselves.

But hard-goods businesses struggle to do this kind of twiddling. Not for lack of desire – but for lack of capacity. Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon Fresh – an online grocery store – can change prices and layout millions of times per day, at effectively zero cost. Jeff Bezos, owner of Whole Foods – a brick-and-mortar grocer – needs a army of teenagers on rollerskates with pricing guns to achieve a fraction of this agility.

So hard-goods businesses are somewhat enshittification-resistant. It's not that their owners are more interested in the welfare of their customers, workers and suppliers – they merely lack the capacity to continuously rejigger the way their business runs.

Well, about that.

Grocers have been experimenting with "electronic shelf labels" in order to do "dynamic pricing" – that means that prices change quickly, in response to circumstances:

https://www.npr.org/2024/03/06/1197958433/dynamic-pricing-grocery-supermarkets

This doesn't have to be bad! As @planetmoney points out, it's a little weird that grocers don't discount milk whose sell-by date is drawing near. That milk is worth less to shoppers, because they have to use it more quickly lest it expire. Instead of marking down the price of perishable goods – day-old lettuce, yesterday's bread, etc – grocers put them on the shelves next to fresher, more valuable products, leading to billions of dollars' worth of food-waste and and unimaginable quantities of methane-producing, planet-cooking landfill.

In Norway, ESLs are pretty well established and – at least according to Planet Money's reporting – they are used exclusively to offer discounts in order to reduce waste. They make everyone better off.

But towards the end of the story, they note that Norway's grocery sector – which alters prices up to 2,000 times per day – has been accused of using ESLs to rig prices, hiking them and blaming them on pandemic supply-chain problems and loose monetary policy. Greedflation, in other words.

Greedflation is rampant in the grocery sector, all around the world. Remember when the price of eggs doubled and they blamed in on bird-flu, even as the CEO of the one company that owns every egg brand you've ever heard of boasted about how he could hike prices and suckers would just pay it?

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/23/cant-make-an-omelet/#keep-calm-and-crack-on

In Canada, grocers rigged the price of bread, the most Les-Mis-ass form of corporate crime you can imagine (do you want guillotines, Galen Weston? Because this is how you get guillotines):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_price-fixing_in_Canada

EU grocers – another highly concentrated industry – also collude to rig prices:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/17/how-to-think-about-scraping/

Which is all to say that while these companies don't have to use the twiddling capabilities that come with ESLs to enshittify their stores, we'd be pretty fucking naive to assume that they won't.

And here's the bad news: US grocers like Whole Foods (owned by Amazon, the company that wrote the enshittification playbook) are already experimenting with ESLs. So is Alberstons/Safeway, the massive, inbred conglomerate that has already demonstrated its passion for using twiddling to fuck over their workers:

https://knock-la.com/vons-fires-delivery-drivers-prop-22-e899ee24ffd0/

Economists love "price discrimination" – where prices change based on circumstance, trying to match the perfect price with the perfect customer. On paper, that sounds plausible: if I need a quart of milk for a recipe I'm making tonight and I get a 50% discount on some about-to-expire 2%, then everyone's better off. I get a discount and the grocer gets some money for milk they'd have to throw away at the end of the day.

But these elegant, self-licking ice-cream cones only emerge if the corporation offering the deal is constrained. Perhaps they're constrained by competition – the fear that you'll go elsewhere. Or perhaps they're constrained by regulation – the fear that they'll be punished if they use twiddling-tech to cheat you.

The grocery sector, dominated by a cartel of massive companies that routinely collude to rip us off, is not constrained by competition. And for years, regulators let them get away with ripping us off (though finally that might be changing):

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/21/us/politics/grocery-prices-pandemic-ftc.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ek0.t2Pr.g4n2usbxEcoa

For neoclassical economists, the answer to all this is "caveat emptor" – let the buyer beware. If you want to make sure that ESLs are only used to offer you discounts and not to gouge prices, all you need to do is note the price of everything you buy, every time you buy it, and triple-check it every time you go back to the grocery store. Just be eternally vigilant!

Thing is, the one thing computers are much better at than humans is vigilance. With ESLs and other twiddling mechanisms, you're a fish on a hook, and the seller is tireless in giving you a little more slack, then a little less, until you finally drop your guard.

Economists desperately want these elegant models to work, but "efficient market hypothesis" is a brain-worm that always turns into apologetics for fraud. Dynamic markets sound like a good idea, but they are catnip for cheaters. "Just be eternally vigilant" is miserable advice, and no way to live your life:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/24/passive-income/#swiss-cheese-security

In his brilliant novel Spook Country, @GreatDismal describes augmented reality as "cyberspace everting" – that is, turning inside-out:

https://memex.craphound.com/2007/07/31/william-gibsons-spook-country/

The extrusion of twiddling technology from digital platforms into the physical world isn't cyberspace everting so much as it is cyberspace prolapsing.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/26/glitchbread/#electronic-shelf-tags

#pluralistic #fraud apologetics #caveat emptor #twiddling #competition #groceries #price discrimination #norway #electronic shelf tags #planet money #enshittification #constraints #greedflation #efficient market hypothesis brain-worms

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junipercastor · 11 days

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that very brief but supercharged amount of time in 2020 that 'hyperpop' was at the forefront of popular music... yeah im glad we got past that

#it was partially cool because a lot of young artists got their start from it n there was a lot of light on the underground #but the music was not good #im glad a lot of the artists evolved their sounds or ditched the label completely it was kind of insulting anyways #bc of spotify n tiktok the music conglomerates wld just label any type of electronic music as hyperpop especially so they cld market it #hyperpop ended up being kind of like a claw machine where music labels wld snatch up white boys with a penchance for autotune n distortion #n then other artists were left in the dust i especially feel that quinn/osquinn/p4rkr shouldve gotten more kudos but oh well

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techtimechronicles24 · 13 days

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🇺🇲 Let's explore the captivating rise and fall of Virtuality Group, a pioneering force in virtual reality gaming that made a lasting impact on the industry!

📑 Virtuality Group was originally founded in October 1987 as "W Industries", named after Dr. Jonathan D Waldern, and later rebranded as Virtuality in 1993. The company quickly became a trailblazer in VR technology, crafting immersive gaming experiences that ignited the imaginations of players worldwide. Their innovative arcade systems offered unprecedented levels of interactivity and immersion.

🚀 Virtuality's timing was impeccable, coinciding with a surge in public interest in virtual reality technology in the early 1990s, fueled in part by the film "Lawnmower Man." Recognizing gaming as the primary market for VR devices, Virtuality released the 1000CS arcade variant of the 1000SU in 1991, leveraging the "cyberspace" branding that resonated with the era's VR buzz.

💰 Virtuality's groundbreaking VR systems found diverse applications, from networked telepresence experiments at British Telecom Research Laboratories to corporate use by companies like Ford, IBM, Mitsubishi, and Olin.

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💔 Despite early success, Virtuality Group encountered significant challenges that led to their bankruptcy. Factors like high production costs, limited consumer adoption of VR technology, and fierce competition in the gaming market contributed to their decline. The shift towards home gaming systems accelerated the decline of arcade sales, and Virtuality's attempts to penetrate the home VR market fell short, ultimately leading to bankruptcy in 1997.

🌐 Virtuality Group's legacy endures as a testament to the early days of VR gaming, highlighting the risks and rewards of innovation in the tech industry. Their collaborations with Sega and Atari continue to inspire advancements in VR technology today.

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v5-it-solution · 1 year

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Budget Friendly Laptop Now in Noida India 📍📍📍

Call For Demo @9625257424

#gaming #v5itsolution #v5care #digital marketing #electronic #laptop #refurbished #dell india

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djmachinegunrichie · 12 days

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#soundcloud #new music #my music #musician #electronic music #youtube #marketing #youtube music

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solarwinning · 27 days

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Summer is the season of light, airy fabrics and vibrant colors, making it the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe with stylish women's clothing. From flowy dresses to chic tops and shorts, summer fashion offers endless possibilities to express your personal style and stay cool in the heat.

One of the key trends for summer 2021 is the resurgence of bold prints and patterns. Whether you opt for tropical florals, retro polka dots, or geometric designs, incorporating playful prints into your wardrobe can instantly elevate your look and add a touch of fun to your outfits. Pair a floral maxi dress with strappy sandals for a feminine and effortless summer ensemble, or mix and match different prints for a fashion-forward statement.

Another must-have for summer is lightweight and breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk. These natural fibers are not only comfortable to wear in hot weather but also exude a sense of elegance and sophistication. A linen button-down shirt paired with high-waisted shorts is a classic summer look that never goes out of style, while a silk slip dress can take you from day to night with ease.

When it comes to colors, pastels and bright hues are dominating the summer fashion scene this year. Soft shades of lavender, mint green, and baby blue evoke a sense of serenity and tranquility, while bold colors like hot pink, neon yellow, and electric blue make a statement and demand attention. Experimenting with color can be a fun way to inject energy into your wardrobe and showcase your personality.

Accessories play a crucial role in completing your summer outfits. Straw hats, oversized sunglasses, and woven bags are all essential accessories that not only add flair to your look but also provide practical sun protection. Layering delicate gold jewelry or statement earrings can elevate even the simplest of outfits and add a touch of glamour to your summer style.

In conclusion, summer fashion is all about embracing lightness, color, and creativity. Whether you prefer bohemian vibes, minimalistic chic, or bold and edgy looks, there are endless possibilities to explore and experiment with in the world of women's summer clothing. So go ahead, have fun with your style, and let your wardrobe reflect the sunny spirit of the season!

#clothing #gadgets #electronic #jewlery #marketing

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whatzitoyuh · 1 month

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I have an oscilloscope now.

#got it at a flea market out the back of a dudes van #I'm so hype #but can someone tell me how to use it #oscilloscope #vintage electronics #retro

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maxmvo · 2 months

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Spotify Playlist Cover, 'Deep City Mood' Spotify playlist cover project. The playlist focus on a side of Contemporary Jazz that has a lot of experimentation and 'edgyness' on it. So the cover tried to follow this mood with a very contemporary design dialect.

Playlist Cover, 'Synth City' Spotify playlist cover project. The focus was to try to convey the grittiness and urban pose electronic music has in it's context of being.

#spotify playlist #music playlist #electronic music #contemporary jazz #jazztronica #graphic design #art direction #typography #design #branding #marketing

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nerdyqueerandjewish · 1 year

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Remembering as a kid having a distinct preference for non-electronic, “old school” toys and it’s like… what on earth inspired me to be a hipster at such a young age

#don’t even talk to me unless you yearned for the heyday of marbles #also it wasn’t that they were being marketed as cool or classic to me they were all literal hand me downs lol #if something was electronic or lit up that was a mark against it because I felt like it was tacky or something lmao

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electronicmarket · 1 year

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Laptops Under 30000

#electronic #electronic market #laptop

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roxsas · 8 months

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oh,,,,the market for tfa pwowl is,,, ,, n o t g o o d

#the electronic bay lets me down once again #...jazz market tho..#roxy.exe

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markitonline7 · 5 months

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#music #electronic music #artists on tumblr #musica #musician #social media marketing services #music advertising #digital marketing for music artists #social media marketing near me #platforms for social media marketing

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u-hubtechnology · 6 months

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#tech #technology #technews #the black phone #smartphone #computer #cellphone #electronic #electronic music #mobile.#mobile suit gundam #iphone #macbook #apple music #samsung #stock market #laptop #desktop #computer accessories

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