[gsharm]

That most folks in the tech community completely missed this is what makes them such easy prey to manipulative scumbags who just use them.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but if it helps even 1 person out there: don't allow yourself be made a means to an end and don't make other means to ends, if possible. I acknowledge in an imperfect world it's not always possible, but we should at least: 1. be aware of it and 2. do our best to mitigate it.

In 2020 for many in media and big tech, the end was to ensure Trump wouldn't win, and even the truth itself was distorted and made a means to that end. Indefensible.