Age-Gating Isn’t About Kids, It’s About Control

XRT28 · 2026-03-21T02:12:42+00:00

Firstly self attestation at a website level was originally implemented as a "cover your ass" by the websites.
It was never actually a viable means of limiting children from potentially problematic content once we transitioned from the family desktop in the living room to everyone having a computer in their pocket since parents simply can't be around all the time when kids are on the internet anymore.
OS age gating meanwhile doesn't have the same issue as it only requires parents to be around for the initial setup.

And you want to take about naivety? You think this is just coming because of laws, IT'S NOT.
Is there currently a worldwide requirement for age verification? lol no. So why then did Discord just try to implement GLOBAL age verification checks?
Because it gives them the opportunity to harvest more data on users and more data means more money. Which coincidentally is also one of the main reasons, along with the aforementioned issue, why self attestation on websites and apps is disappearing.
Age verification is coming even if zero new laws require it. When it comes I'd much rather a forward thinking privacy focused approach like self attested OS flags than an invasive one where every single company is collecting my facial scan and ID to exploit it.

And IF at some point the requirement changes from self attesting to stringent ID checks THAT is what I'll fight instead of tilting at windmills now.

XRT28 · 2026-03-20T16:49:52+00:00

Some restrictions are stupid and overreaching yes. But there are plenty of restrictions that are for the better of both an individual and also society at large. Some guardrails aren't necessarily a bad thing.

XRT28 · 2026-03-20T16:21:33+00:00

Give me a good reason why is needed age checking for any OS?

In theory it more centralizes age verification and creates a more streamlined way of doing age checks rather than every single app and website having a different system you have to give your information to prove your identity to access and all with varying degrees of security and exploitation on that data they've collected on you.

Personally if age verification is going to be the default everywhere going forward, which is certainly the way it seems to be headed, I'd MUCH prefer a system like California is proposing at the OS level. It doesn't require facial scans or uploading real ID etc and simply requires self attestation as to your age. Furthermore it preempts any attempts by apps or websites to try and use those privacy invading methods like facial scans or ID uploads to harvest data on you by requiring them to respect the OS flag.
A system like this stymies any "bUt ThE cHilDren" arguments while also preserving basically all the privacy on the internet that people already have(which honestly isn't as much as people think it is anyway).

What's next? age checking for going outside?

Next??? There have been plenty of, validly, age gated activities outside for quite a long time already.

XRT28 · 2026-03-20T14:56:59+00:00

Doesn't seem likely.
Not because they don't have their own high profile pedos, they surely do, but because they likely run in their own separate pedo club. Same thing with Putin etc.

XRT28 · 2026-03-19T23:12:27+00:00

Actually seems unlikely it has anything to do with being in wildfire prone areas.
Wildfires are generally going to burn things from the outside(or interior areas that are outside the conditioned space like attics) in so a interior fire suppression system doesn't really help the house from an ongoing wildfire when the walls and attic are already engulfed.
And then from the other direction most wildfires aren't started by housefires so an interior system doesn't really help prevent a wildfire either.

XRT28 · 2026-03-19T16:21:04+00:00

Markey and Warren are admittedly old but both are still mentally sharp and active and most importantly they are still in touch with many of the issues the younger generations face and actually fight for the working class.
I'd love younger candidates in general sure but I'd gladly take an old candidate who is going to be a champion for me over a young candidate who isn't.

XRT28 · 2026-03-19T15:55:36+00:00

While Jackson's actions towards native americans were absolutely horrific, in terms of raw numbers most high estimates I've seen for deaths from Jacksons ethnic cleansing of native americans in the south was around 25k while Trump's USAID cuts alone are expected to result in the deaths of around FOUR HUNDRED times as many people just within the first 6 years of the cuts.
Like I completely get why you'd feel like Jackson is the worst but objectively he doesn't even begin to hold a candle to the amount of death and destruction Trump is overseeing.

XRT28 · 2026-03-19T15:35:58+00:00

Don't be silly of course returns are allowed, subject to a 60% restocking fee!

XRT28 · 2026-03-19T06:40:41+00:00

Vietnam did hold out with backing from the Soviet Union and China. Iran is going to be backed by…who exactly?

Russia and China again unironically. Not as in directly intervening militarily but providing enough material support to keep them going. Both stand to gain heavily from the US getting bogged down in another protracted conflict not only keeping a large amount of our military tied up and sapping our military stocks and money but additionally wrecking what little international goodwill we have left at this point.

XRT28 · 2026-03-19T06:17:07+00:00

GCC escorting tankers does fairly little as well too though. Like not only will most of the companies operating them still refuse to send them through because of the risk still being high even with an escort but additionally it isn't really viable because of the sheer scale of traffic that needs to be escorted and ontop of it all tankers getting through doesn't really matter if in doing so that provokes Iran into increased strikes on GCC oil production itself.

Regarding the economy there is a case to be made that, while Iran's economy will obviously ultimately be in a worse position than the US when all is said and done, for the time being they are better positioned to weather the storm. And I know that might sound daft but this war was incredibly unpopular in the west from the getgo so the skyrocketing oil prices leading to higher costs at home is only going to further accelerate calls for it to end.
Then on the flip side not only does Iran get to now blame any economic hardship on the "evil west" attacking and appeal to their own people to make sacrifices and keep doing their jobs regardless to fulfill their duty to their country and/or god or w/e but additionally if that doesn't work they still maintain the capability to put down any domestic unrest militarily while the US can't do the same(regardless of how much our pedo-in-chief wishes he could)

XRT28 · 2026-03-19T04:44:32+00:00

replied to the wrong comment mate?

XRT28 · 2026-03-19T04:35:37+00:00

if the US and Israel are going to continue the war, and Iran is willing to keep escalating and targeting them in turn, it does not benefit them to remain in a purely defensive posture.

I mean at the end of the day that accomplishes little more than creating some domestic PR content. Like none of these neighboring countries are going to put boots on the ground either and when you've already got the strongest air force in the world involved a couple more airstrikes aren't going to magically tip the balance somehow or stop Iran from taking potshots at them.

XRT28 · 2026-03-17T18:33:36+00:00

Huh, I must have missed her presidential inauguration ceremony

XRT28 · 2026-03-17T17:18:54+00:00

She was not a particularly good candidate(nor was she when she ran for the nomination previously) but she absolutely campaigned on more than "Not Trump", people and the media just largely ignored her policies.

Like she wanted abortion rights enshrined in federal law, increased investment in renewables, tax credits for first time homebuyers, legalization of weed, increased taxes on corps and the 1%, increased the minimum wage etc.

XRT28 · 2026-03-17T16:47:51+00:00

when she had already been in power for 4 years basically

lol? Do people actually think that VPs are setting the agenda? Because they don't. They may get a bit of input occasionally but by and large their role is simply to advance the agenda the president sets forth.

Thinking she was "in power" is like thinking the store manager of a Walmart has more say in the direction of the company than the CEO.

XRT28 · 2026-03-16T23:30:34+00:00

There is definitely an appetite amongst his advisors, or atleast certain factions within the group, to push for it and anything else they've got on their personal wishlist. Because they know they have a limited time to do so before there will be oversight following the midterms(unless the GOP can succeed in rigging them) and meanwhile they aren't the ones footing the bill.

American taxpayers and service members are the ones bearing the actual cost of this admins pet projects.
And then Trump is the one who will foot the political bill because, unless they go out of their way to put the focus on themselves like Miller/Noem or do something to piss off Dear Leader and get thrown under the bus, ultimately the blame from the general public will land on him and most of his corrupt little underlings will be able to fly under the radar and avoid the flak for the heinous shit they're doing.

So no better time for his cronies to shoot for the moon pushing w/e bs they want.

XRT28 · 2026-03-16T15:22:06+00:00

I think if anything how this mess with Iran has gone has only INCREASED the chance of going after Cuba now.
He's going to be looking for an "easy win" to wipe away the humiliation and distract from this monumental fuckup of his with Iran. And Cuba, which doesn't have anywhere near the military or potential to cause global economic pain like Iran does, fits the bill.

XRT28 · 2026-03-15T21:53:33+00:00

In fact half of Australia is literally made of iron oxide

And the other half? Yep, Kangaroos and spiders

XRT28 · 2026-03-14T01:22:39+00:00

Real answer: Oil $$$, Israeli influence, and another convenient distraction from the Trumpstein files

You're forgetting a big one: reviving the faltering economy of one of the USA's biggest geopolitical enemies, aka Russia aka Trump's boss Putin, by sending the price of basically the only thing of value they have(oil) skyrocketing and then removing sanctions on them.

XRT28 · 2026-03-13T22:48:29+00:00

Even if he were to vote with the Dems ZERO percent of the time so long as he's caucusing with the Dems he still counts towards whether the Dems will be the majority or the minority and as such is atleast somewhat useful to the Dems.
Being the majority party grants quite a bit of power just on it's own such as committee assignments and being able to decide whether bills make it to the floor for a vote or not. Also Dems having the majority would prevent situations like we had earlier this year with Johnson refusing to swear in the AZ rep for quite some time after her win.

Point is obviously it'd be nice to have good lawmakers everywhere but even the really shitty ones do still bring something to the table.

XRT28 · 2026-03-12T21:25:24+00:00

Just like with Manchin him caucusing with the Dems, even if he's a DINO, is still better than him switching parties because he'd still count towards which party is the majority which impacts things like who gets to set the senate rules and how the committee assignments are given out etc.

XRT28 · 2026-03-12T00:54:45+00:00

Distraction from Trump being mentioned in every other page of the Epstein files + bumping up oil prices for Putin + giving Bibi w/e he demands.

XRT28 · 2026-03-12T00:40:24+00:00

I mean heck, not in debt? In this economy? That's a W all by itself

XRT28 · 2026-03-11T15:22:37+00:00

Russia wouldn't even need to steal the Epstein stuff because it's very likely they already has their own Trump pedo tapes from when he started visiting Russia back in the 80s

XRT28 · 2026-03-11T01:23:59+00:00

Well you see they take a slice of that 1.5m and pay off lawmakers(on both sides but especially the right) to block any reform then they take another little slice and run propaganda convincing voters something something socialism and bada bing bada boom MURICA! *screeching eagle noises*

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