Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

"Those who give up freedom for security deserve neither."



The real quote is more nuanced: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety". It's a balance, obviously. I'm happy to have guardrails if they improve non-technical users' safety.


> I'm happy to have guardrails if they improve non-technical users' safety.

Not at the expense of expert freedom.


Safety is paramount for experts. Those who disregard the importance of safety are likely not experts in their field.

If the "console" analogy doesn't resonate, think of Apple as NASCAR. NASCAR has created a private ecosystem. Participating in NASCAR as a team or a driver is a choice, contingent upon meeting their requirements and paying entry fees. NASCAR implements numerous safety measures — SAFER barriers, catch fencing, HANS devices, etc. — to protect everyone involved, whether spectators (users) or drivers and teams (developers and vendors).

NASCAR prioritizes the ecosystem first, then spectators, then teams and drivers — in that order. It doesn’t compromise the ecosystem or spectator safety to accommodate individual teams or drivers. Driver safety is crucial, not just because NASCAR values them, but because incidents involving drivers can negatively impact the ecosystem and spectators.

Those wishing for NASCAR to resemble the Baja 1000 are tilting at windmills. Similarly, people who want iOS to be like Android aren't just wasting their time, but also disregarding the preferences of users who prioritize platform safety.


Sounds really cool, but I don’t buy it.

> Those wishing for NASCAR to resemble the Baja 1000 are tilting at windmills. Similarly, people who want iOS to be like Android aren't just wasting their time, but also disregarding the preferences of users who prioritize platform safety.

How providing ability to sideload and having ability to use custom browser engine compromise the system? How having ability to use terminal disregard platform safety?

All of those are artificial limitations and you know it.


People don't join the Apple cult for the safety. They join it because it's a status symbol and they don't want to be bullied.


Most users have no idea the tradeoffs between the two. Or the dominance both have in their respective realms. Or the possibilities of having more viable platform choices.




Consider applying for YC's W25 batch! Applications are open till Nov 12.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: