Just rewatched Lord of the Rings.
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@Colman @Pynoh @Richard_Littler I think the lesson Tolkien was going for was “there’s no incorruptible all-seeing-eye-technology so don’t pursue it”.
@CynAq @Colman @Pynoh @Richard_Littler also made by feanor who did the silmarils. The lesson of hubris and overreach of mortals trying to control and touch the divine and so falling to corruption couldnt be clearer.
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/@Richard_Littler i thought that was fox news
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/It's technically not Sarons but he does make use of them.
They were created at the beginning of the first age of middle earth a Mastodon instance run by the Elves.
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/@Richard_Littler Well, it was probably that or the flaming eye of Mordor, not exactly spoiled for choice.
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/@Richard_Littler We also have Palantir in some states of Germany (like Bavaria), it's used for "crime prevention" - at least according to our politicians
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/we need some hobbits
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@Richard_Littler And Thiel isn't being ha ha funny or anything. He's a robot, the name just makes sense. That description exactly fits it.
Thanks for saying something, the more people who know the better for all of us.
your occasional reminder that "Peter Thiel" is an anagram of "The Reptile"
make of that what you will
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/@Richard_Littler The Palantiri were originally made by the Elves, but Sauron got his hands on one and did what he could to corrupt them, have them show the users only what he wanted them to see.
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/The people awarding the contracts think they're Aragorn (who could bend the palantir to his will against the direct resistance of Sauron). They're not Aragorn.
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your occasional reminder that "Peter Thiel" is an anagram of "The Reptile"
make of that what you will
@benroyce @Sempf @Richard_Littler so he's more like Voldemort and not like Sauron?
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@benroyce @Sempf @Richard_Littler so he's more like Voldemort and not like Sauron?
@epistomai @Sempf @Richard_Littler
i don't follow you
who are you talking about?
are you referring to Tom Marvolo Riddle?
i don't see any connection
(/s)
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/@Richard_Littler I've started calling him Sauron.
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/@Richard_Littler Thiel names all his endeavours after Tolkien's work. However he seems to have the understanding of a 14 year old boy engulfed in the manosphere of the messages on those works.
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/They say 'Evil people don't know they're Evil' but I have my doubts.
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@Colman @Pynoh @Richard_Littler I think the lesson Tolkien was going for was “there’s no incorruptible all-seeing-eye-technology so don’t pursue it”.
@CynAq @Colman @Pynoh @Richard_Littler
I think the lesson is that the making of the world was corrupted at the start, and it is EVERYONE's job to fix what they can, with what they have, whereever they are. That should be your purpose in life.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
-- Gandalf -
Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/@Richard_Littler To correct or probably more to nerd out here: the Palantír where corrupted by Sauron. While I looked up the term it came to mind that there's Palantir the company, but there is also Palantír the orb.
Effectively the reptile acted like Sauron by abusing the use of an existing in itself neutral technology. -
@Richard_Littler I've started calling him Sauron.
@VerenaRupp @Richard_Littler That would be an insult to Sauron.
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@VerenaRupp @Richard_Littler That would be an insult to Sauron.
@thaodan @Richard_Littler But that name literally means "abhorrent".
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@epistomai @Sempf @Richard_Littler
i don't follow you
who are you talking about?
are you referring to Tom Marvolo Riddle?
i don't see any connection
(/s)
@benroyce @Sempf @Richard_Littler it's a fan/nerd joke. Palantir is from lord of the rings' lore, Voldemort from Harry Potter. Voldemort could speak with serpents, and shaped as a viper kinda monster.
I'm only fan of Tolkien
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Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/@Richard_Littler Gotta go for that Britch Mythological Pride, y'know. Surely that is not hurbis that will come back and bite them
