Someone on reddit put this perfectly in my opinion. Saving you the trip:

You know how it goes: Some video game developer or publisher does something uncool - release a singleplayer game with predatory microtransactions, make a new game that is just a copy-pasted version of the last installment, lay off hundreds of employees for thinly disguised reasons, use some draconian DRM, get called out by an insider report for abhorrent labor conditions, etc. - and the forums and subreddits are full of comments like:

"They get away with that because you keep on buying their games!" "Hit them where it hurts: Vote with your wallet!" "They will continue to do so as long as the games sell!" “Just don't give them your money!” And I think this sentiment is utterly, totally and hopelessly naïve. Publishers don't care about your 60 bucks. They don't care about the 20 people you might convince to not make a purchase. They don't care about the loss of 1000 consumers that won't play a game because of some unpopular decision. All this is but a tiny drop compared to the sheer uninformed and uninterested masses that make up the bulk of consumers and their revenue.

The "vote with your wallet"-mantra is indicative of a culture that puts the burden of action on the individual instead of the collective. It banishes the obligation to act to the private sphere instead of the public or the political one. It's indicative of a mindset that every problem should be solved the capitalist way, i.e. by using or not using money.

I would even go one step further and say that it is actually harmful to achieving change. The political theorist Chantal Mouffe points out the importance of affects in politics: passion and emotions are strong motivator for calling for change and participating in collective movements. A person that cannels his emotions into the decision not to buy something will feel like they have done their part. This hinders their will to participate in other maybe more effective ways of problem-solving (lobbying for political regulation, exercising public pressure, initiating coordinated campaigns (petitions, shitstorms, etc.), take part in a union, etc.). […]

Link: https://reddit.com/r/truegaming/s/KnxzgKuk3o

I mean it obviously depends on a lot of factors. If you‘re white, speak fluent german and don’t tell anyone you‘re an immigrant, you get bullied less.

But generally, being black seems to be a problem. I’m not too informed about that except reading the occasional report. Having facial features usually found in islamic countries is definitely going to get you in hot water with the older folks and the uneducated.

Depending on the part of germany, you‘ll likely be met with a baseball bat (east germany).

It is normal in germany to make racist jokes and to make jokes about disabled people. The german government commissioned a recent study about this (https://www.demokratie-leben.de/magazin/magazin-details/rassistische-realitaeten-in-deutschland-131) and it came to the conclusion that nearly 25% of all (5000 people I think) have been victim to racism and over half have been present during racist encounters.

This and the fact that the new german nazi party just got voted in second place in the federal state of hessen should tell you most that you need to know.

Are there any tech co-ops or 100% employee owned companies? Could be a system forward.

I really enjoyed reading this. Do you have a blog or something? Have a good one.

We absolutely can. Break up every company at 999 mil and we‘re golden. It’s the lack of competition that makes enshittification possible.

And thats totally deserved. A population that is unable or unwilling to unionize against their oppressors is doomed.

It’s a fallacy. Why would I stop drinking alcohol, why would I stop smoking, why would I stop sunbathing without protection? Why would I leave the titanic? It is unsinkable. It works for you because you haven’t gotten to the bullet in the chamber yet.

The people here are trying to tell you that it’s not safe and that it will only get worse. And in opposition to your arguments, these facts are based on professional opinions and the known business practices of the companies these products are associated with.

I know you have your opinion but an opinion is not your personality. You can let go of it without ruining your life, again in opposition to keeping it and actually harming yourself, either financially or otherwise.

Why is it so hard to trust people who do this stuff for a living?

In opposition to your username, that makes total sense. I frequently get baffled by people doing this IRL.

I recently went to a concert where due to unforeseen circumstances, the view of like 100 people was completely obstructed. I mean sure, its a concert, you still can listen, but it massively impacts the value they get for their money in comparison to others.

So, being one of those 100 people, I went to the people managing the concert and asked what to do about it. I was given a free ticket for prime seats with great view which pretty much doubled the value I got for my money. I asked others who were impacted to follow me but they had other „priorities“ which then made me the only one getting an upgrade.

I felt pretty bad about it but that’s my own problem. The fact that people can’t be bothered to stand up for themselves is a mystery to me.

Have a good one. :)

I read it first and downvoted it after.

It is a giant pile of horseshit. Not only is the authors parler pretty famous for being a fascist hate speech platform but the fact that shutting that whorehouse down (which I cant find anything about) is attributed to „the oligarchy“.

Dude, this does the complete opposite of what this place here is for. We‘re trying to build a platform free of manipulation and control. Right wing propaganda has no place here.

Hear hear! Great promise indeed!

TL;DR: Internet drama. Some person is screaming bloody murder about the project lead (I assume) and makes up accusations and backs them up with more accusations which all dont seem to hold.

Completely idiotic and kindergarten stuff. Not even worth reading. Get a life, people.

Thank you for this. It means a lot that some people understand. :)