> "From my tutor, [I learned] to be neither of the Greens nor the Blues, the Parmularius nor the Scutarius; to bear hard work and have few needs; to do my own work and mind my own affairs; also — have nothing to do with gossip."

That's Marcus Aurelius in the ”Meditations" talking about supporting teams at the chariot races and gladiator fights. It seems very human to get all tribal about something subjective and inconsequential. Ancient Rome had the same fanboyism, just in a different arena.

(I have a phone that just runs Alpine Linux, but I know better than to try and tell anyone about it.)

Thank you for this insightful comment!

(Love the aside at the end ... seriously, though, Aurelius had an incisive eye, his writings have great value and much to teach just about anyone ...)

Marcus Aurelius thoughts have survived 2000 years. He did not even wanted them to be published. What a legend!

> I have a phone that just runs Alpine Linux, but I know better than to try and tell anyone about it.

What phone is this?

Possibly the Pine Phone.

Could be https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Pine64_A64_LTS

Sibling comments are correct, it's a pinephone (non-pro, with keyboard)

During a conflict, that mindset requires a large quote of power to be exercised. If you don't belong to a tribe, you will be declared an enemy. Picking no tribe doesn't make you "neutral" It makes you everybody's enemy.

> People going out of their way to declare (or at least make clear with varying degrees of intensity) just exactly which feudal overlord they're ready to "bleed for"

What about people who hate their overlord?

> (I have a phone that just runs Alpine Linux, but I know better than to try and tell anyone about it.)

I wish you would! That sounds interesting!

How does your phone's alpine linux setup work?

What does human psychology say about people who feel superior to the plebs who post online on whether they like iOS or Android?

Interesting that my reply pointing out the ad hominem and rhetorical / propaganda techniques here was "flagged"...

Seems fitting - thank you universe for providing yet another teaching example.

The best thing about us Samsung fans is that we get to give our personal data to both Samsung and Google!

My theory is that if everyone has my data it becomes useless.

Based on what, if I may ask?

Said "flags", typically, have the ability to tax, control, imprison and murder you either domestically or send you into a meat grinder in the name of "national security" etc..

So yeah, people tend to fall in line under a flag through a lifetime of indoctrination and threat of financial or physical violence...

There's something more fundamental, though - humans are a "social species". Evolutionarily, we are adapted to requiring (generally) at least something of a group / tribe. Other organisms solve survival (of the species, ultimately) problems differently - incredible and 'cheap' reproductive capacity, strength and versatility enough to be much more solitary as a rule, etc. - those niches are somewhat to rather different.

In any case, at this point in human history especially, I'd argue it's time to consider "the group" to be ALL humans - "by default". There are nuances, and I'm out of time for commenting further right now, but, that's my take on it.

Hopefully, this comment is of some use to you / someone / etc. - hope y'all have a great day!

"Enlightened" people are so fucking insufferable

Right, jaded cynics are much better entertainment.

Halp

Am I the cynic? Did I fuck up, ELI5 your interpretation of my comment?

> People going out of their way to declare

Isn’t this a bit dramatic? It’s a demo to which people are replying with their preferences. Some fly flags, but most debate features and priorities.

One of them can record calls, the other doesn't that's enough for me.

Still needs root on my non-US Samsung phone...

No, it doesn't on my non-us Samsung phone...