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Watch live: Zuckerberg, Dorsey testify before Senate [video]

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Re: Watch live: Zuckerberg, Dorsey testify before Senate [video]

#131

Post by MuffinFlavored »

dx87 wrote: post #71
MuffinFlavored wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm curious what other people think the informational value of these hearings are. I want to hear from conservatives why they think most of (if not all) of big tech is "in the pockets of the Democrats". Why do all of these software engineers/IT field workers typically end up as left-leaning? Is it a matter of education/intelligence? Empathy? I feel like the split has to be at least 85% Democrat / 15% Republican in…

It's a coastal thing, plus it's not a stretch to think that big tech is in the pockets of Democrats when Facebook told the Obama campaign "we're on your side", and google had executives crying on stage after Trump won.

> It's a coastal thing

Why do New York and California vote so heavily blue?

Re: Watch live: Zuckerberg, Dorsey testify before Senate [video]

#132

Post by furyofantares »

blhack wrote: post #28

Let me give a preview for anybody who can’t tune in: Democrats all say that disinformation is a threat to democracy. Republicans say that freedom of speech is essential to our democracy. Jack and Mark preface every answer with “senator thank you for this question” and don’t answer anything. They both insist that the humans making editorial decisions are somehow impartial. Republicans yell a lot. Somethings they say d…

It's not your fault that this is the top comment in the thread at this time, but I find it somewhat ironic that I watched the testimony on disinformation -- and it didn't go too much like this comment suggested it would -- and then came here to find the top post is dismissive, incorrect speculation about the content.

Re: Watch live: Zuckerberg, Dorsey testify before Senate [video]

#133

Post by greesil »

esja wrote: post #77
dx87 wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Saying that he called for beheading is deliberately misunderstanding what he said. "Put their heads on pikes", "heads will roll", etc., are hyerpbolic phrases, and shouldn't be taken literally. It'd be like saying that someone should get kicked out of office is threatening to physical harm, or that saying someone should be fired means their belongings should be thrown out of the office and set on fire.

Something strange seems to have happened to America in the past ten or so years. People seem to have become hyper-literal and unable to detect any sarcasm, hyperbole, etc. I wonder whether this is due to spending more and more time communicating via the written word.

It probably wasn't a death threat, but I could see how someone might interpret that way. In the past 10 years? Deliberate misinterpretation of a joke or sarcasm is not a new thing.

Re: Watch live: Zuckerberg, Dorsey testify before Senate [video]

#134

Post by Dirlewanger »

elicash wrote: post #61
blhack wrote: post #28

Let me give a preview for anybody who can’t tune in: Democrats all say that disinformation is a threat to democracy. Republicans say that freedom of speech is essential to our democracy. Jack and Mark preface every answer with “senator thank you for this question” and don’t answer anything. They both insist that the humans making editorial decisions are somehow impartial. Republicans yell a lot. Somethings they say d…

"Nothing happens" mostly because people disagree about things. As a result, seems like a good thing that these hearings broadcast different views on these issues so that the public can know how those views differ. Then, after knowing those views, people get to weigh in during election seasons. In this very recent election, of course, the public weighed in and likely delivered divided government, so we can expect some…

This is Zuck's 3rd time doing this. His first time was 2 years ago. What meaningful legislation, if any, has been introduced/passed since then?

Congress is full of decrepit baby boomers that don't know/don't care to know shit about technology.

Re: Watch live: Zuckerberg, Dorsey testify before Senate [video]

#135

Post by ludocode »

ethbr0 wrote: post #126
kemonocode wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many rich people are incredibly miserable and basically stuck in a position they cannot escape from. That doesn't mean they aren't doing a lot of harm (they are) or they aren't aware of it (again, they are) but they might not see a viable way out of it. I remember when Zuckerberg was just seen like a nerdy, awkward kid suddenly put in big boy pants and people empathizing with him, and not like the eldritch abominatio…

> a viable way out of it 1. Give Larry Page & Sergey Brin a call. 2. Ask them what to do when you have too much money, but don't want public attention anymore. If Zuckerberg is still in the public eye, it's because he makes a choice to be.

Exactly. We're supposed to believe Zuckerberg is stuck in a position from which he cannot escape, and that he somehow deserves sympathy? Sorry, but no. He lives in a free country. He could walk away this minute if he wanted to. He could even spin it as a good thing, i.e. "My work is done and I'm leaving the company in more capable hands".

Zuckerberg is in charge because he wants up be. There's a reason he negotiated his shares to have much higher voting power than common shares. He wanted control of his company, he still does, and he is responsible for everything it does.

Re: Watch live: Zuckerberg, Dorsey testify before Senate [video]

#136

Post by crusso »

elicash wrote: post #99
crusso wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you watch the hearings, you'd know that both of your contentions are strawmen of what each side claims to want.

I just edited for clarity, so maybe that helps? My entire point is that you were using such a vague straw man that it's impossible to know which direction you meant it. That's why I intentionally showed how it can be a straw man in either direction. Also, I've been watching the hearing. So you're correct, I suppose -- that's how I was able to accurately summarize. I'm assuming from comment history that you have a lib…

The Republicans are pretty clearly wanting to remove legal protections of section 230 of the CDA for social media companies that are acting as quasi-publishers by suppressing the speech of users on their platforms.

The Democrats want more effort made by social media companies to fight what they perceive as online misinformation... and are asking for more suppression of speech on social media platforms.

Nobody is hiding the ball here. These are direct statements made in the opening remarks by the leadership of both parties.

No, my statement was not ambiguous - unless you haven't listened to what is being said by the mainstream representatives of both parties.

Re: Watch live: Zuckerberg, Dorsey testify before Senate [video]

#138

Post by ethbr0 »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #41
blhack wrote: post #28

Let me give a preview for anybody who can’t tune in: Democrats all say that disinformation is a threat to democracy. Republicans say that freedom of speech is essential to our democracy. Jack and Mark preface every answer with “senator thank you for this question” and don’t answer anything. They both insist that the humans making editorial decisions are somehow impartial. Republicans yell a lot. Somethings they say d…

If you were to write three questions for someone on that panel, what would they be and why?

1. Would you agree to fund an editorially-independent news organization (or partner with same), producing 1 hour of content-equivalent a night, with proceeds from your businesses?

2. What would you suggest the US Government do to help your company support free speech around the world, including in countries where it's limited?

3. Many of the negative effects of your platforms have been blamed on private ranking and/or broadcasting algorithms. What kind of transparency will you commit to with regards to these algorithms?

Re: Watch live: Zuckerberg, Dorsey testify before Senate [video]

#139

Post by jacobwilliamroy »

I truly think the only correct move this year would have been to turn off all social media (including the chans) until the next president is inaugurated. It's already been demonstrated that this stuff can topple countries, and I see no reason why the U.S. would be an exception. Acknowledge these platforms for what they are: information weapons. The management at these corporations cannot compete with nation-state level adversaries intent on waging an information war and that is clearly what we have been up against for at least the last two years. Someone is screwing with the U.S., and they're using social media to do it.
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