F*ck Your Data Center Gaslighting, You F*ckers!

You know, I was going to write a thoughtful, well-researched little article on hyperscalers, data centers, and AI. I was going to include links to numerous articles and radio shows/podcasts discussing the myriad documented, inarguable health and environmental risks of the data center buildout. I've heard two such conversations on NPR in recent days. Both made my blood boil. It ain't good for the ol' mental health.

I was going to link to the AI industry's talking points--especially their response to the overwhelming public hatred of data centers--which are mostly horseshit rhetorical trickery.

Then I was going to refute those talking points.

Can I be honest? I don't have the energy. Odds are good that you're one of the 70% of Americans who would oppose a data center in your area. These numbers are increasing. The rage we're seeing at town council meetings is getting more heated, and the undemocratic quelling of those voices in those meetings is getting more ridiculous.

Instead of writing that kind of article, I'll take for granted that you know how fucked up data center expansion is right now; that you know how corrupt the industry's dealings with municipalities is; that something about all of this just doesn't feel right to you.

Having said that, I want to speak on a personal note about a feeling I'm having.

I feel that we're hemmed in and the perimeter is closing tighter. Like the fix is in and even our rare display of bipartisan agreement on this issue isn't enough to overcome the demonic logic of corrupt politics and its alliance with monopolistic Big Tech and its lie about deterministic progress and what it demands. We're sacrifices to the Silicon Valley Moloch and there's nothing we can do about it.

That's how it feels to me.

The saving grace is that so many other people feel the same way.

But there are those who will try to gaslight us.

They tell us that the data center boom is good for construction and electrician jobs. Good union jobs. This is probably true and, as a union guy, I love union jobs being created. I don't blame the workers for taking the job. Get your money. Zooming out, though--all money isn't good money. You know what else is a good union job? Building an oil refinery on pristine wildnerness land. Doesn't make the project less fucked up just because somebody is putting food on their table off it.

They tell us that concerns about water and electricity usage is blown out of proportion. I heard an industry guy on an NPR story call these concerns outright fabrications. He also said that data centers use less energy than agriculture and transportation. Even if that were true, who gives a fuck?

First, last I checked adding more of something (even if it's less than other things) means...let me run the numbers...MORE TOTAL THINGS YOU STUPID SHITS.

Second, so you're saying agricuture and vehicle pollution demands are even worse? Well, don't tempt me with a good time. Fuck Big Ag and Big Oil too while you're at it!

Big AI and the data center builders know they're losing the public relations battle, which is why theyre doing at least two things: 1. Tightening the talking points, emphasizing jobs and the "democratic possibilities" of AI, and 2. Bypassing the public altogether, instead making municipalities sign NDAs so they can build what they want without the public even knowing about it until its built.

I don't care if you support data centers or not--are you okay with companies swooping in and completely circumventing the communities they're looking to build in? This is fucking fascist. Period.

I'm going to start wrapping up here, I promise.

This article isn't discussing the potential value of limited AI usage. I could see some use cases. This is about the enormous infrastructure needs being built out to satisfy mass AI use today and tomorrow. This is about the inarguable damage these buildings are doing to the physical, mental, and aesthetic health of communities without consent.

I will eventually talk about the other kinds of gaslighting that are on the horizon:
-Anti-AI people will be considered unpatriotic and in some cases terroristic.
-People will eventually try to argue that being AI-suspicious is an unenlightened position to take. Anti-social, even.
-AI will be and in fact already is being mindfulnesswashed. Or utopiawashed. However you want to say it. It's the idea that once AI has taken off so much of the "menial" work, people will be free to explore their passions and creativities. This will only be a reality for a very few. For most, it'll mean subsistence wages if anything at all and existential malaise.

In sum. Fuck data center buildouts. Fuck the AI bubble. Fuck the corporate rats selling it. Fuck the municipalities making these Faustian bargains. Fuck it all.

Also, here's my beautiful Olive enjoying a rainy evening on the front porch.