“Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply” • Hacker News Board

Re: “Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply”

#11

Post by fsloth » Thu, Sep 08, 2016, 9:07 PM UTC

Facebook - context oblivious censorship on the other hand - reality-bubble forming curator algorithms on the other. Somehow the term "negative feedback loop" comes to mind every time Facebooks mechanisms to filter and market content is brought forth.

I don't think internet search engines should try to be helpful. Guessing what the recipient would like to see removes chance for serendipity and creates and information bubble with a radius given by the algorithms parameters... and then, for what is brought out, they remove the too-saucy bits. This is worse than censorship.

Re: “Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply”

#12

Post by davesque » Thu, Sep 08, 2016, 9:08 PM UTC

howeyc wrote: post #8

howeyc wrote: post #6

Facebook removes post. The fact that other people believe this post should stay (for whatever reason) is immaterial. It's not their site. Water is wet, news at 11.

Sorry for the honesty folks. This is what happens when you give up control to a central authority that has absolutely no requirement for consistency or even a requirement to allow anything.

Yes, and that's the point of the article. So why are you trying to downplay it?

Re: “Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply”

#13

Post by hiddenkrypt » Thu, Sep 08, 2016, 9:09 PM UTC

> "Facebook is for the pleasure and benefit of the whole world, myself included, on a number of levels."

Wrong. Facebook is for making money. If providing users with pleasure or benefits makes them money, then that's lucky for the users.

> "Facebook has become a world-leading platform for spreading information, for debate and for social contact between persons. You have gained this position because you deserve it."

Also wrong. The second sentence, I mean.

I agree with the intent here. I agree with the outrage at Facebook. The author of this piece, too, seems to understand the futility of this open letter, and I do think it's a good thing that he's making the statement regardless. I just think that maybe he's being too generous to Mark and Facebook.

Re: “Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply”

#14

Post by howeyc » Thu, Sep 08, 2016, 9:09 PM UTC

davesque wrote: post #12

howeyc wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry for the honesty folks. This is what happens when you give up control to a central authority that has absolutely no requirement for consistency or even a requirement to allow anything.

Yes, and that's the point of the article. So why are you trying to downplay it?

Because the point of the article is to shame Facebook. I'm making a different point.

Re: “Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply”

#15

Post by riboflava » Thu, Sep 08, 2016, 9:09 PM UTC

Torgo wrote: post #10

You're a serf on the content farm, begging your lord for a favor.

At least he knows who the lord is and in principle the lord can set things straight. A step above complaining to the void or casting a throwaway vote.

Re: “Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply”

#16

Post by hga » Thu, Sep 08, 2016, 9:11 PM UTC

howeyc wrote: post #6

Facebook removes post. The fact that other people believe this post should stay (for whatever reason) is immaterial. It's not their site. Water is wet, news at 11.

You tell me when I can open a segregated lunch counter, or refuse to bake a gay wedding cake, and I'll consider your argument to have merit. Otherwise, it's only a matter of time until Facebook and company are brought to heel under that "public accommodation" approach.

Re: “Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply”

#17

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Sep 08, 2016, 9:12 PM UTC

hga wrote: post #16

howeyc wrote: post #6

Facebook removes post. The fact that other people believe this post should stay (for whatever reason) is immaterial. It's not their site. Water is wet, news at 11.

You tell me when I can open a segregated lunch counter, or refuse to bake a gay wedding cake, and I'll consider your argument to have merit. Otherwise, it's only a matter of time until Facebook and company are brought to heel under that "public accommodation" approach.

[deleted]

Re: “Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply”

#18

Post by mavrc » Thu, Sep 08, 2016, 9:14 PM UTC

hiddenkrypt wrote: post #13

> "Facebook is for the pleasure and benefit of the whole world, myself included, on a number of levels." Wrong. Facebook is for making money. If providing users with pleasure or benefits makes them money, then that's lucky for the users. > "Facebook has become a world-leading platform for spreading information, for debate and for social contact between persons. You have gained this position because you deserve it." A…

> Wrong. Facebook is for making money.

I know you're not wrong here, but at what point does social responsibility trump profit? Should it?

Re: “Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply”

#19

Post by rocky1138 » Thu, Sep 08, 2016, 9:17 PM UTC

Am I the only one getting a 404 for the image in question?

Re: “Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply”

#20

Post by rocky1138 » Thu, Sep 08, 2016, 9:18 PM UTC

finid wrote: post #2

A VIP reason to have popular alternatives to services like those provided by the likes of Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter that are not controlled by monster corporations.

I run a GNU Social install for local hackers. Feels good to run my own shit.