Proton Mail is already junky and slow yet I bought into the mission. I admit that I was fooled. Subscribed earlier this year until 2028, though, so I’ll be on this sinking ship for a while.

Nothing, of course. We are going to continue to be tracked and spied upon regardless. Anyone with a phone in their pocket is already being spied upon 24/7. So-called smart devices and security cameras have also been recording us for years. Even our TV sets are now recording audio.

But having a rallying cry is enough for some people who want to rage and break things to not feel as bad about committing crimes. Anything to avoid that cognitive dissonance. Same group of criminal losers that have been calling for political assassinations and that riot and destroy people’s property and businesses. There’s always an excuse, but they just want to kill and steal. Not actually to solve anything, just to satisfy themselves.

We might stop the surveillance state somehow, but not by following childish suggestions like OP’s that are nothing but pretext.

Agreed, they’re absolutely useful for more than just exercise. Even a non-cargo e-bike with a crate and panniers on the back can get a week’s worth of groceries or so.

MythBusters

Come to Quark’s, Quark’s is fun, come right now, don’t walk. Run!

And you don’t need to be an extreme athlete or have all the equipment, don’t need to compare your abilities to others, it’s not about weight loss, etc. There are fanatics, purists and gatekeepers in every area you can imagine, but just ignore all that. As long as heart rate is up, muscles are being used, and you’re not hurting yourself in the process: you’re good. And if you find exercise you actually enjoy rather than simply endure: even better. And don’t worry about setting goals. Goals will eventually happen automatically, and will probably change over time as well.

Personal example: For me it was an e-bike that finally got me moving. The boost of acceleration was addicting, the feeling of the wind at 25+ mph, and before I knew it I was pushing myself harder and harder, and on minimum assist. The cycling purists would say that I’m robbing myself by not riding a regular bike. But that completely misses the fact that I wouldn’t be riding at all if I wasn’t enjoying myself. And the gains are real.