Seriously, and for argument's sake, the "do whatever provides value" mantra is too simplistic and provides no value to entrepreneurs or engineers (or hybrid types) whatsoever. Let alone that it doesn't contradict to any of the "lame" stuff you listed. For example, understanding how Facebook works both at the social level and technically may help you in building something that provides value to 600,000,000 Facebook users.
Finally, listing "how we are losing our civil liberties" somewhere between "who's hanging out with who" and "how much to pay for a domain name" is the best way to bury the remains of our civil liberties.
Finally, listing "how we are losing our civil liberties" somewhere between "who's hanging out with who" and "how much to pay for a domain name" is the best way to bury the remains of our civil liberties.
Thank you for raising this issue. "Who's hanging out with whom" is in the category that's both unimportant and very hard for an individual to change. The loss of civil liberties is a matter where it's very hard for a person to effect change, but it's an extremely important issue. I don't think it's very useful to spend 4 hours per day on the Politics section of Reddit, but to call politics "unimportant" just because it's impossible for an individual (in most cases) to make changes is short-sighted and wrong.
The loss of civil liberties is a matter
where it's very hard for a person to effect change
I disagree.
In short I think good work in software and internet communications tools, like Tor, can actually have a profound effect on shaping government policy. (Tor is one of the darling s/w projects of the Swedish government.)
Slightly longer: I thought it was essentially impossible to influence government policy four or five years ago. I was interested in environmental issues and thought I would have to become a politician to be able to change things (heavens forbid). Then I fell into an opportunity where we started an open source software foundation to build online project, transparency, donation, visualisation tools for development aid.
Fast forward four years and we are working closely with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Get invited to publicly review the work of the Swedish counterpart and sit in on bilateral talks between the USA and the Dutch on aid transparency. I see public policy change before my eyes. Of course, this is not only because something which we did, but we are at the right time and place with the right effort. However, I do know that our work changes the way policy is being shaped.
If you are curious to read more check out a couple of my blog posts:
but to call politics "unimportant" just because it's impossible for an individual (in most cases) to make changes is short-sighted and wrong.
Politics is important in the sense that someone needs to take care of it, but due to the reason you outlined it's unimportant to me. Given that, I'm happy to save time ignoring political stories and issues but I still think it's important and if no-one else were willing to take care of those important issues, I'd need to step up to the plate. Thankfully, they are, so I'll let them get on with it ;-)
Finally, listing "how we are losing our civil liberties" somewhere between "who's hanging out with who" and "how much to pay for a domain name" is the best way to bury the remains of our civil liberties.