<![CDATA[New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly:]]>New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly:

https://deadsimpletech.com/blog/no-such-thing-as-just-a-tool

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/b406ce3a-5695-46fd-ac09-01d6e2835c88/new-article-this-time-we-use-heidegger-to-explain-why-the-it-s-just-a-tool-line-that-often-comes-up-in-tech-is-so-very-sillyRSS for NodeThu, 03 Sep 2026 08:58:10 GMTSat, 29 Aug 2026 09:13:14 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 06:41:20 GMT]]>@iris_meredith thank you! That was a terrific read.
But I just have to mention Frank Elavsky's rant here: https://www.frank.computer/blog/2025/05/just-a-tool.html

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/confuseacat/statuses/117183091870076766https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/confuseacat/statuses/117183091870076766Sun, 30 Aug 2026 06:41:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 06:37:52 GMT]]>@iris_meredith Bookmarked & boosted. It also made me realize I can describe Heidegger to developers in dev terms. Like so: You see, Heidegger is kind of the React of 20th century philosophers, 😃.
Cheers, happy Sunday.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/salixsericea/statuses/117183078252143922https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/salixsericea/statuses/117183078252143922Sun, 30 Aug 2026 06:37:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 06:10:11 GMT]]>@iris_meredith a pet peeve of mine is forbidding the word "just" (as in easy) in professional settings, because it's hiding real decisions people have to make. It's sloppy, in the Leslie Lamport "thoughts are sloppy, writing is sharp" way.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/morten_skaaning/statuses/117182969390141754https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/morten_skaaning/statuses/117182969390141754Sun, 30 Aug 2026 06:10:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 06:04:37 GMT]]>@iris_meredith I remember when I discovered (indeed, at a sichuanese restaurant) that you are not supposed to eat all the chili 🙂

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.gougere.fr/users/bortzmeyer/statuses/117182947473217252https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.gougere.fr/users/bortzmeyer/statuses/117182947473217252Sun, 30 Aug 2026 06:04:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 05:43:10 GMT]]>@iris_meredith yeah that's true.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://catcatnya.com/users/elexia/statuses/117182863157658855https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://catcatnya.com/users/elexia/statuses/117182863157658855Sun, 30 Aug 2026 05:43:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:12:11 GMT]]>@elexia
Honestly, the biggest worry I have with guns is the propensity we have to use them on ourselves. I know quite a few gun owners (who universally are very careful with that influence), and that's consistently my biggest fear.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/iris_meredith/statuses/117182505391561441https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/iris_meredith/statuses/117182505391561441Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:12:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 03:42:38 GMT]]>@iris_meredith this isn't really gonna make us feel different about LLMs (which we don't and don't intend to use) but it is making us more seriously consider the implications of having a gun (which we currently do not but have wanted to, it just wasn't enough of a priority and financially unviable). while it's certainly not a new idea that carrying one does influence the wielder, we should consider that simply being aware of it doesn't make us immune to such influence. not that we would be allowed to carry a gun here anyway.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://catcatnya.com/users/elexia/statuses/117182389164539400https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://catcatnya.com/users/elexia/statuses/117182389164539400Sun, 30 Aug 2026 03:42:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 03:32:02 GMT]]>@mrsbeanbag I think the blog and the reasoning in it is really good. I’m going to use it in the future. But I also agree with you that LLMs really strain the definition of “tool”.

The same person giving the same LLM the same exact input more than once to solve the same problem more than once will get 2 different outputs (probably similar, but not at all identical). That makes it a strange “tool,” indeed.

And there’s so much cargo culting around just the right phrases to prevent this problem or that problem. People can develop expertise with a tool. But LLMs’ non-determinism limit the value of past experience with respect to future performance.

@iris_meredith

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/paco/statuses/117182347496663990https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/paco/statuses/117182347496663990Sun, 30 Aug 2026 03:32:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:24:57 GMT]]>@iris_meredith Interesting, although I don't think I agree with the premise of what "just a tool" means. (Or at least that's not the way I would use the phrase.) Still, there are some insightful points in there.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://techhub.social/users/diazona/statuses/117182083750801917https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://techhub.social/users/diazona/statuses/117182083750801917Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:24:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:18:51 GMT]]>@iris_meredith This is the kind of thing I bookmark for later reference.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.ridetrans.it/users/Andres4NY/statuses/117182059722519332https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.ridetrans.it/users/Andres4NY/statuses/117182059722519332Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:18:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:16:42 GMT]]>in case someone doesn't know what I'm referring to: this resolution https://www.debian.org/vote/2026/vote_002 was decided this week.

@iris_meredith

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/bignose/statuses/117182051315128960https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/bignose/statuses/117182051315128960Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:16:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:08:52 GMT]]>Thank you @iris_meredith, this is very timely given this week's terrible resolution by the project (to explicitly take no stand against any of the harms of “just a tool”).

I fervently wish that this was understood by more of the people voting in that resolution. The fight continues, I hope.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/bignose/statuses/117182020460407880https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/bignose/statuses/117182020460407880Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:08:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:05:47 GMT]]>@voltagex has left me no option, I have to repeat one of my favourites:

“What part of “gestalt” don't you understand?”

i'll see myself out, thanks

@iris_meredith

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/bignose/statuses/117182008347737570https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/bignose/statuses/117182008347737570Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:05:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:31:37 GMT]]>@AndyDearden
I've not read a terrible amount of Latour, but definitely worth a thought.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/iris_meredith/statuses/117181638077562288https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/iris_meredith/statuses/117181638077562288Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:31:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:36:55 GMT]]>@iris_meredith I appreciate the way you piece together the way a tool’s design influences thinking, actions, and the resulting reality we bring into the world.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://indieweb.social/users/dandean/statuses/117180479303462512https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://indieweb.social/users/dandean/statuses/117180479303462512Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:36:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:50:18 GMT]]>@mrsbeanbag @iris_meredith I think that’s why certain kinds of people love them so much.]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://magrathea.space/objects/af77e13f-38e9-48f4-97c4-612ea24c8ce7https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://magrathea.space/objects/af77e13f-38e9-48f4-97c4-612ea24c8ce7Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:50:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sat, 29 Aug 2026 16:23:51 GMT]]>@iris_meredith Aaah! Finally someone scratching where it used to itch for thirty years. Thanks!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://troet.cafe/users/Daseinsappeal/statuses/117179720118841524https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://troet.cafe/users/Daseinsappeal/statuses/117179720118841524Sat, 29 Aug 2026 16:23:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sat, 29 Aug 2026 15:43:55 GMT]]>@iris_meredith Yeah, if industry is good at one thing it's good at skirting responsibility. It's a thing everywhere, the government is meant to push back against it. The food industry and the FDA, big oil and the EPA, big tech and the GDPR, etc..

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/gudenau/statuses/117179563082543266https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/gudenau/statuses/117179563082543266Sat, 29 Aug 2026 15:43:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sat, 29 Aug 2026 14:25:32 GMT]]>@iris_meredith

Good point. Essentially, it boils down to the fact that using the object intelligently turns it into ‘just a tool’ and a part of our (expanded) cultural existence.
For people who use forks without any interest in or knowledge of their specific capabilities, a fork is simply a magical device that either helps or seems threatening – in a way that people do not want to understand.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/_RyekDarkener_/statuses/117179254885033927https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/_RyekDarkener_/statuses/117179254885033927Sat, 29 Aug 2026 14:25:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sat, 29 Aug 2026 14:18:53 GMT]]>@iris_meredith Great essay! I've been thinking about these sorts of issues, too, from the perspective of an aerospace engineer.

"Technology is neither good nor evil, it's how you use it! Now, we shall proceed with developing this new technology for which the use case was defined in advance, and the use case is....uh...."

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/jpshoer/statuses/117179228717653545https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/jpshoer/statuses/117179228717653545Sat, 29 Aug 2026 14:18:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:55:36 GMT]]>@iris_meredith I do wnder whether Bruno Latour should also be cited in this argument. Are these gestalts equivalent to actants?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.green/users/AndyDearden/statuses/117179137150636435https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.green/users/AndyDearden/statuses/117179137150636435Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:55:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:36:29 GMT]]>@KatS @iris_meredith Huh, I didn’t expect to see Tailwind mentioned here but I guess it aligns with a recent rant of mine about it: friendica.mrpetovan.com/displa…]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://friendica.mrpetovan.com/objects/735a2029-446a-92e0-5d3a-d31389938169https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://friendica.mrpetovan.com/objects/735a2029-446a-92e0-5d3a-d31389938169Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:36:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:33:30 GMT]]>@mrsbeanbag @iris_meredith No, I’d argue it’s still a tool, but end users are part of the input/output of the tool, the people who are wielding it are only the ones making it.]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://friendica.mrpetovan.com/objects/735a2029-286a-92df-aa64-2b6435015747https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://friendica.mrpetovan.com/objects/735a2029-286a-92df-aa64-2b6435015747Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:33:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New article: this time, we use Heidegger to explain why the "it's just a tool" line that often comes up in tech is so very silly: on Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:52:56 GMT]]>@iris_meredith

This seems very very close to "The original sin of design is control".

I've found that concept an essential touchstone since I first heard it maybe 10 years ago.

I don't know who said it originally and I thought it was a reasonably widely known concept amongst the types of people we might find on fedi, but when I search the web for it i get nothing.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sunny.garden/users/xenogon/statuses/117178890765003128https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sunny.garden/users/xenogon/statuses/117178890765003128Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:52:56 GMT