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Thieves of Experience: How Google and Facebook Corrupted Capitalism

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Re: Thieves of Experience: How Google and Facebook Corrupted Capitalism

#61

Post by disishhsha »

bluebeard25 wrote: post #59
disishhsha wrote: post #57

It really speaks to the great improvement of the human condition, that the big complaint about the top companies of today is that they are showing us personalized ads, rather than burning the earth or poisoning babies.

You say that like top companies aren't doing either of those things anymore. They are very much doing those things.

Good point. It’s almost as though the tendency of activists to punch up at The Man du jour results in their own priorities reconfiguring in opposition. Seems a little myopic to me. Maybe we should be celebrating these companies for finding a way to generate economic growth by increasing the efficiency of the economy, instead of putting more carbon in the atmosphere or enslaving people.

Re: Thieves of Experience: How Google and Facebook Corrupted Capitalism

#62

Post by mhss »

anth_anm wrote: post #5

It's not a corruption of capitalism, it's just capitalism. They found a market, they sell on that market. They dominate that market. That's capitalism, no need to make up a new term.

Not sure why you're being downvoted. I upvoted you. Those were my exact thoughts when reading. It appears to paint a rosy view of capitalism. As if some pure and moral capitalist rules were in place and they were 'corrupted' by evil Google and Facebook. I also wish we took some responsibility in this whole thing. We've let those companies grow by using their products and services, many times even knowing the personal data they mine. I don't think it's entirely their fault.

Re: Thieves of Experience: How Google and Facebook Corrupted Capitalism

#64

Post by harryh »

mudil wrote: post #46
yourapostasy wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For the importance to hold true, the profession as a whole must solve the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gell-Mann_amnesia_effect

Wow, when statement that journalists are important is downgraded, we truly live in dystopia.

It's downvoted because the statement, while true, was irrelevant to the question at hand.

Re: Thieves of Experience: How Google and Facebook Corrupted Capitalism

#65

Post by jfoutz »

chii wrote: post #47
ezoe wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't overestimate the customer. "I don't like Google Maps and I deleted it. Now I can't see the map! Fix it now!" "I see. There are competing map services available." "That's not the map I want. I want the map!(Google Maps)" "You can use a browser." "Browser? What is it? I simply want to use map!" "If you really wan to use the Google Maps from the app. Then you have to install the app called Google Maps" "I don't un…

> I don't like Google Maps and I deleted it. Now I can't see the map! i mean, is it common for a user to hold contradictory thoughts like that?!

How are those contradictory? I get rid of my dictionary, my other books still work.

I, personally, understand the shortcut. Do you want to not break stuff or educate consumers? One of those sounds really expensive.

I mean, it’s a clever threat. I think it overestimates people at their most angry. A rational person wouldn’t break stuff. An irrational person will double down on their belief that you broke other stuff.

Re: Thieves of Experience: How Google and Facebook Corrupted Capitalism

#66

Post by MarkMc »

> Without permission, without compensation, and with little in the way of resistance, the company seized and declared ownership over everyone’s information.

No, Google has permission - it's given when you click I Agree in Android, or when you sign up for a Google account, or when you continue to use a website that has a 'terms of use' page.

Re: Thieves of Experience: How Google and Facebook Corrupted Capitalism

#67

Post by ppod »

>Many people, it seems clear, experience surveillance capitalism less as a prison, where their agency is restricted in a noxious way, than as an all-inclusive resort, where their agency is restricted in a pleasing way.

The possibility that a free, democratic publishing platform increases the agency of the average citizen is not permitted here.

Re: Thieves of Experience: How Google and Facebook Corrupted Capitalism

#68

Post by cageface »

I’m a bit concerned about how much data Google has on me and I do think Apple is genuinely more concerned about user privacy. But what’s the difference in practical terms really? Google uses my data to target ads at me but doesn’t actually give any of my data to its ad-buying customers. Apple doesn’t do this but is obliged to turn over my iCloud data to the government with a subpoena. Since this is really the scenario we should be most concerned about and since all tech companies are required to comply with the law it seems to me that the only way to have any meaningful online privacy is to not use cloud services from any vendor.

Re: Thieves of Experience: How Google and Facebook Corrupted Capitalism

#69

Post by mudil »

boomboomsubban wrote: post #60
mudil wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, when statement that journalists are important is downgraded, we truly live in dystopia.

Even if you agree with the statement, it was a meaningless reply to the question asked.

Journalists are professional and have to be paid. And they are not being paid, because Google is an unethical business. And that's why your local newspaper is struggling and why content is not created on internet and why there is no VC investment in the media and content. That's the answer.

Re: Thieves of Experience: How Google and Facebook Corrupted Capitalism

#70

Post by sliken »

chii wrote: post #47
ezoe wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't overestimate the customer. "I don't like Google Maps and I deleted it. Now I can't see the map! Fix it now!" "I see. There are competing map services available." "That's not the map I want. I want the map!(Google Maps)" "You can use a browser." "Browser? What is it? I simply want to use map!" "If you really wan to use the Google Maps from the app. Then you have to install the app called Google Maps" "I don't un…

> I don't like Google Maps and I deleted it. Now I can't see the map! i mean, is it common for a user to hold contradictory thoughts like that?!

The google intent system makes it easy for apps to call other apps. Things like location -> map. Or need an barcode scan -> scanner pops up. Need an email -> email client pops up. Click on a movie and youtube or netflix pops up. So sure, people may think "I'll never need that apps" without realizing that it breaks opening that kind of file/website/link.

The bindings between intents or filetypes and the apps that open them is a rather common support issue across numerous platforms.

For whatever reason it's pretty common for users to think ... "I'll never need excel on this computer", but then be rather irate when they can't open an excel attachment.

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