Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Facebook’s war on free will

theguardian.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 284 posts

Re: Facebook’s war on free will

#11

Post by ameister14 »

This was written so disrespectfully and dismissively of programmers, hackers and engineers that I have a hard time reading it, despite my extreme distaste for Facebook.

>In the labs of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) during the 60s and 70s, they broke any rule that interfered with building the stuff of early computing, such marvels as the first video games and word processors.

Also, Calling a 33 year old billionaire that has helmed the construction of one of the largest companies the world has ever seen a (paraphrasing) 'good boy that wanted to be a bit naughty' is just stupid. I understand why Foer did it - he hates Silicon Valley for ruining his life at the helm of a magazine formerly supported by more hands-off rich patrons. It makes his arguments worse, though.

Re: Facebook’s war on free will

#12

Post by lazer_beam »

ameister14 wrote: post #5
ue_ wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if this will be seen as when people say "Just stop using drugs" to drug addicts. Facebook for those who use it can have immense real or imaginary utility; it's not as simple as telling someone not to use it, unless they are a very casual user and do not rely on it for things like organising group events.

Stopping the use of Facebook and transitioning to another method of organizing group events does not cause physical illness or death.

Neither does stopping gambling.

Re: Facebook’s war on free will

#13

Post by harveywi »

ameister14 wrote: post #5
ue_ wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if this will be seen as when people say "Just stop using drugs" to drug addicts. Facebook for those who use it can have immense real or imaginary utility; it's not as simple as telling someone not to use it, unless they are a very casual user and do not rely on it for things like organising group events.

Stopping the use of Facebook and transitioning to another method of organizing group events does not cause physical illness or death.

Gambling can be an addiction, but does not result in physical illness or death upon termination. Still, it can be highly addictive. Same goes for Facebook.

Re: Facebook’s war on free will

#14

Post by moretai »

ue_ wrote: post #4
moretai wrote: post #2

Just get off facebook.

I wonder if this will be seen as when people say "Just stop using drugs" to drug addicts. Facebook for those who use it can have immense real or imaginary utility; it's not as simple as telling someone not to use it, unless they are a very casual user and do not rely on it for things like organising group events.

No it's pretty simple.

Re: Facebook’s war on free will

#16

Post by ikeyany »

You could take a year-long class on the psychological influence (some call it social engineering) of Facebook and you'd barely scratch the surface.

One example I find particularly interesting is how Facebook slowly expanded what would trigger a notification, keeping people fixated on that red box like rats to sugar water.

Re: Facebook’s war on free will

#17

Post by crispyambulance »

kfrzcode wrote: post #7
ameister14 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stopping the use of Facebook and transitioning to another method of organizing group events does not cause physical illness or death.

You're pigeonholing. Facebook is only part of the tapestry of social media poison.

You're right but I still wonder what will ever become of the idea of a "true" online social network.

Why do we have to hand over so much of ourselves in order to obtain social connection as a "side-effect" of the true business of social media operators like Facebook and Google? Are these companies the only way to have meaningful online social networks? I don't think it has to be that way, but I also can't fathom how a non-toxic social network can keep the lights on without selling stuff.

Re: Facebook’s war on free will

#18

Post by Knufen »

striking wrote: post #10
Knufen wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people are probably addicted to facebook, but for the vast majority I don't think your comparison is very good. In almost all cases you can switch to something different than facebook.

If all your friends are on Facebook: no, you really can't.

Yes you can, I have friends whom for various reason don't have a Facebook or stopped using it/deleted it. People will adjust and instead we contact them by mail or phone. Perhaps it's a bit of a annoyance, but you are not kept prisoner.

Re: Facebook’s war on free will

#20

Post by amelius »

Knufen wrote: post #18
striking wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If all your friends are on Facebook: no, you really can't.

Yes you can, I have friends whom for various reason don't have a Facebook or stopped using it/deleted it. People will adjust and instead we contact them by mail or phone. Perhaps it's a bit of a annoyance, but you are not kept prisoner.

I often get invited to events through Facebook. Without Facebook, I would miss out on a lot of events.

For this reason I'm basically stuck with Facebook, but I've unfollowed most of my friends, so this reduces the burden to some extent.

Post reply on HN