iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 17/05/2026

Travis McGee on Enshittifcation

There is something self-destructive about Western technology and distribution. Whenever any consumer object is so excellent that it attracts a devoted following, some of the slide rule and computer types come in on their twinkle toes and take over the store, and in a trice they figure out just how far they can cut quality and still increase the market penetration. Their reasoning is that it is idiotic to make and sell a hundred thousand units of something and make a profit of thirty cents a unit, when you can increase the advertising, sell five million units, and make a nickel profit a unit. Thus the very good things of the world go down the drain, from honest turkey to honest eggs to honest tomatoes. And gin.

There is something self-destructive about Western technology and distribution. Whenever any consumer object is so excellent that it attracts a devoted following, some of the slide rule and computer types come in on their twinkle toes and take over the store, and in a trice they figure out just how far they can cut quality and still increase the market penetration. Their reasoning is that it is idiotic to make and sell a hundred thousand units of something and make a profit of thirty cents a unit, when you can increase the advertising, sell five million units, and make a nickel profit a unit. Thus the very good things of the world go down the drain, from honest turkey to honest eggs to honest tomatoes. And gin.

By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 17/05/2026

(1974)

janetinthenorth.bsky.social @janetinthenorth.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Our Travis was right about a lot of stuff. Like the only total freedom is throwing all mail away unopened. good reminder to revisit Travis McGee and John D. I haven’t read Condominium yet because I suspect I’ll just get angry, but maybe I’m ready for it now

The Great Beast @the-great-beast.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Hands off my fucking Gin, or it's Travis McGee's Closet for you. #obscurereference #oldasdirt

Raymond Craib @raycraib.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

And gin.

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elephantgerald.bsky.social @elephantgerald.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Definitely rings true - I like to think about it as realizing a brand itself has outsized value that can be traded on like social currency

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bjkeefe @bjkeefe.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Delightful to find someone younger than me who likes T. McGee!

Blue Meme @bluememe.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

And hey, if Corvairs and Pintos kill a bunch of folks before the cost-cutting is exposed, we'll just pay out in a few lawsuits and proceed apace.

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Berserker Coach @berserkercoach.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

wrote my college application essays about McGee as an aspirational role model

Riggsveda @riggsveda.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Hendrick’s is still good.

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Corneil du Plessis @corneil.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Design by accountant.

rtizard.bsky.social @rtizard.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

You might have to explain slide rules to your audience!

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