Discussion
Last January 37 percent of Americans would support a data center constructed near where they lived while only 28 percent opposed it.
This July only 24 percent would support while 41 percent oppose.
This wild swing in public opinion has happened even as most mass media has been very positive about data centers.
The original numbers are similar to the support and oppose rates for projects such as factories and distribution centers. These are also annoying but there is a key difference: jobs.
On the surface a data center is like any other mega project in an ugly rectangular building. A new walmart might be a place to shop and provide some employment. A distribution center will make traffic worse but also have some jobs for the locals.
With data centers? You get nothing. And they are much more industrial and taxing on local resources than these other projects.
I think the sporadic and not well publicized footage of people in community meetings protesting had a big impact too.
When you see that people in other communities are trying their best to stop these things you have to stop and ask "is this good?" --
I also think a lot of the backlash is a way to find a target for the misery and ugly ness AI has brought into our worlds.
I know very few people who like AI content. When they notice that it is AI it makes them angry, when they don't notice they feel tricked.
And here are the places that manufacture all of the slop.
But I think we should congratulate and shout out the local protests and people flooding community feedback meetings to oppose data centers.
It's working! By being there with you homemade sign you might inspire others to do the same.
Keep it coming.
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