My Email to Tim Cook

Posted yesterday.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45486872

My response:

Do not obey in advance [0]

> Historian Timothy Snyder’s first lesson in his book On Tyranny is “Do not obey in advance.” To obey a tyrant before you are compelled to do so teaches them what they will be able to get you to do, easily, without even needing to expend the resources and energy it takes to carry out that part of their agenda.

And I emailed that to Tim Cook.

[0] https://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2024/11/09/do-not-...

For years, the App Store was defended by one rationale; "don't like it? buy a new phone!"

One must wonder why the situation is different now. Tim Cook felt no empathy removing Fortnite, why would he start caring when it's IceBlock? This is what customers wanted - not control, not choice, but Apple's extremely luxurious discretion. If the deal changed, maybe you're not their customer anymore. No shame in admitting it - Europe has nearly kicked Apple out over this issue.

FAANG+ has a long track record of selling you the idea that they add value to you, whereas the structure of their design makes it clear that your true purpose is to add value to them. This is considered your privilege. Be grateful.

Take a civics class!