Because a LOT of people are missing the point:

[mark@mastodon.fixermark.com]

@cstross The most compelling argument I've heard for putting datacenters in space (in the "didn't immediately discount it as a stupid idea but took some time to engage with it" sense) was from Scott Manley, notorious fan of everything space-related, and even he concluded that it only makes sense as an end-run around terrestrial regulation (i.e. it's a stupid and expensive idea but in the grand scheme of markets it may be cheaper than "buying enough politicians to steal a community's water rights out from under them so you can get the permits to build on land").

Which... Yeah, when that's the forcing function, maybe we tech folk should sit and have a think about the entire project.

[rk@mastodon.well.com]

@mark @cstross

Like, we already have trouble keeping things cool in space and there’s also the whole “space is a deadly laser” radiation thing. I really can’t imagine how there’d be any benefit to putting a data center in space. Like, at all.

[mark@mastodon.fixermark.com]

@rk @cstross Exactly. It's literally a "This is a stupid idea and the only reason we do it is we were forbidden from putting it on Earth" kinda thing.

As I said at one point or other, to paraphrase myself, "Sure, there's no convenient cooling and radiation will scramble your data, but just think how much CSAM you can store out of reach of any terrestrial law... Until you try and download it and they bust your ass the moment it hits a radio dish!"

[retech@defcon.social]

@cstross I'm going to start a betting squares pool on the looming Kessler event. We've already got enough shit in orbit, it's time to bet on it crashing.

Side Note:

Do you remember when McDonald's and some start up company planned on putting a LEO 1 sq mile billboard up? It was an unfolding mylar advert that would degrade and burnup within 3 months. But during that time, everyone in the Northern Hemisphere would get the sun blotted out at least 1x day.

Batshit crazy, space, and billionaires just seem to gravitate together like blackholes.

[buermann@mastodon.social]

@mark @cstross

Any idea where I can find the figure for how much radiator mass needs to be accelerated into orbit per 400W of tensor core resistance heater?

[vgoller@nrw.social]

@cstross Markets eat all his sf shit without hesitation. No checking of facts or realism. They are driven by one thought, and one thought only: what if he knows more than we and he actually pull it off - and we have not invested!!

[jackwilliambell@rustedneuron.com]

@cstross @ApostateEnglishman

My rules for brain implants:

1. I will not alpha or beta test; in fact I think waiting for v3.25 is probably for the best

2. Must run Open Source software *not using any dependencies requiring a Package Manager*

3. Must not require *any* kind of 'cloud' to operate, must work fine without a network connection, and must be locally configurable

4. You know what? Even if it meets rules 1 to 3 I'm still not too hot on the idea…

[jackwilliambell@rustedneuron.com]

@cstross @ApostateEnglishman

NOTE: Those rules used to be much simpler. More along the lines of, "Not anything using Microsoft or Oracle software."

ETA: Insert joke about, "Blue Screen of Death."

[brainsmoke@mastodon.social]

@cstross When Kessler syndrome happens, do I get fractional shares?

[emma@orbital.horse]

@jackwilliambell @cstross @ApostateEnglishman

A few years back, Bruce Sterling was doing his thing on stage and talking about how fucked anyone with an implant would be under the DMCA and planned obsolescence.

[micron@mastodon.social]

@cstross Data centers in orbit are the new "Solar roadways" scam.

[jackwilliambell@rustedneuron.com]

@emma @cstross @ApostateEnglishman

And now we have proof of that on the ground with audio implants and heart defibrillators stopping working because the company went out of business.

Really? DRM should be banned from *anything* medical related for incredibly obvious reasons; although banning DRM altogether isn't a bad idea either.

[lazarou@mastodon.social]

@jackwilliambell @cstross @ApostateEnglishman I like technology you can take off when it goes wrong.

[johnzajac@dice.camp]

@jackwilliambell @cstross @ApostateEnglishman

We know so little about the brain's real mechanics that brain implants can't be any more sophisticated than plugging a phone into a potato.

Brain implants today are like using a railgun to crochet lace.

[chip_unicorn@im-in.space]

@polypunk

@bitterkarella just transcribes what's happening. Reality has lapped satire.

[frog@frogdrool.net]

@jackwilliambell @cstross @ApostateEnglishman I'd add to that a physical bypass. I want a switch that I can flip that will completely disable the device. This switch can't be flipped with software, and it is impossible for the device to function (think "airgap in the power supply") without the switch in the on position.

Still probably a "no" for me.

[jackwilliambell@rustedneuron.com]

@frog @cstross @ApostateEnglishman

Yeah, adding that to the list.

NOTE: I use a phone with physical switches for the mic, GPS, and network connections for reasons.

[7666@comp.lain.la]

@cstross @ApostateEnglishman I would argue that it is the tireless work of engineers and not leadership that allows for his success, which, thinking about it, is true for most companies actually.

[supermoosie@mastodon.au]

@hermlon @cstross

Or to have it structured, so profits and content are outside the jurisdiction of any country.

Why have your ai create digital pedophile and invastive non consensual images here on earth, where you are subject to laws about such stuff, when you can do whatever you want in space.

[jb@masto.hackers.town]

@woozle

Space is a little more hostile than the deepest parts of the ocean. Except in one way: there's no atmosphere to block the nastiest bits of radiation out there.

Computers really do not like radiation. They like it less than DNA does, and are more sensitive to it. And the smaller the fab size of the chip is, the more sensitive it'll be to ionizing radiation.

@cstross