They're all kissing rings.<p>Sad to watch the era of relative democracy and freedom seeming to come to an end, let's hope it's just a near-death experience.
They're also adding Starlink to iPhones. And they renamed the Gulf of Mexico in Apple Maps. Donated a million to Trump, and Cook attended his inauguration.<p>Twice is coincidence. But five examples of collaboration is a clear message.<p>I've used Apple devices my entire life, all the way back to when the Macintosh was made by Apple Computer. This is the first time I've ever felt like Apple doesn't want my money.<p>Is anyone maintaining a list of technology companies that <i>aren't</i> collaborating with the far-right?
I've been trying to think about the cognitive dissonance that I might fall victim to as well as what I think I see in online discourse. Cognitive dissonance, but also binary thinking.<p>For example, if one were to compress a lot of the recent narrative we see, an alternative take on this news would be something like: <i>"Apple supports far-right billionaire who gave Nazi salute and is transphobic"</i>. An alternative (gaslighting version) could be <i>"Gay billionaire gives money to richest man on the planet who pushes Nazi propaganda"</i>.<p>If one is principled or a social justice advocate, should one then not decry (boycott) Apple and Tim Cook's actions? What about the shareholders of Apple? What about Apple employees?<p>And if you don't, is it because you don't really believe those accusations against said billionaire OR is that you would rather have your devices or your salary or your AAPL stock?
I'm a bit surprised by the reactions here on Apple following the path of highest profitability since this is what they've always done and is what gave them the highest valuation on the stock market.<p>When the previous regime was pushing nonsensical things like 'men can get pregnant' Apple added emoji of pregnant men to their products. Now that a new government has landed which does not hold with such nonsense but which does include the owner of X in a significant advisory role Apple joins the fray. If the pregnant-men-lunacy ever raises its head again Apple will fairly quickly - but not as a first mover, that is not their thing - start adding more pregnant men again. They follow the money and have always done so which makes the often religiously tinted adherence to the Cult of Apple all the more ridiculous. If one thing is to come from this it will be the lessening of the zeal with which the cultists praise their Holy Corporation for which I will gladly say 'Thank you, Elon Musk, for making these people remove the blinds from their eyes even if unintended.'