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Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next to “Insurrection” Posts

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Re: Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next to “Insurrection” Posts

#231

Post by titzer »

jjk166 wrote: post #229
titzer wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, I might suggest de-escalation, but yeah, feed that bear some more crazy. That'll work out fine.

I would consider switching from weapons designed to be used against any innocent person to weapons designed specifically to deal with those looking for a fight to be de-escalation.

A better de-escalation would be to reduce the number of and need for weapons as well as counter hate speech and radicalization. I don't think body armor is going to do the trick, frankly.

(aside: this conversation has jumped the shark IMHO, so this is where I'm getting off. peace, literally)

Re: Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next to “Insurrection” Posts

#232

Post by manigandham »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #188
manigandham wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have no idea about my background so let's stick to the actual argument. Selling items and running ads is not the same as supporting or fostering a bad act. People can similarly buy knives or many other potential and actual weapons, it's still the user that's ultimately at fault.

When you run an ad for weapons next to articles inciting retaliation against the government, it does become the same as supporting or fostering an insurrection. Now, sure, it can happen because you unleashed an algorithm on the world and don't know what it does, but you're still responsible for it.

People are responsible for their own actions.

Perhaps you want the government to tell you what you can say but I would prefer to go in the opposite direction and completely divorce speech from action, and stop trampling on our rights over the actions of a few. This endless shifting of blame solves nothing.

Re: Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next to “Insurrection” Posts

#233

Post by libertine »

jakearmitage wrote: post #220
libertine wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can not buy semiautomatic rifles in Portugal, even if you are a collector I think but for that you might need to have some sort of special requirement. These are the types of licences we have: http://armas.mai-gov.info/obtencao-de-licencas/ Now you can buy weapons of the same caliber, for hunting (but you need hunting licensing). Edit: Ok I need to clarify this. Because we have a different name for specific weapo…

I know the argument here has been towards being able to buy or not a specific platform (AR-15), but I would like to address this: > So yes, you can buy some specific models of semiautomatic rifles (for hunting), but you can't buy military grade semiautomatic rifles The semi-automatic rifles that you can buy in Portugal include the Remington 700 and the Thompson Performance Center T/C. Both can come chambered in .308…

>So, why is in your opinion the AR-15 platform "military grade", and the hunting rifles available in Portugal not? Knowing that both platforms have been used by the military in combat situations, and knowing the hunting platforms usually have much more powerful cartridges?

This is a question you'd need to ask to the portuguese authority that manages weapons importation at the customs, which curiously, it's a procedure that must be done in the presence of a customs oficial, an expert of the Police (PSP), and the General Management of Weaponry and Defense Equipment (Direcção-Geral de Armamento e Equipamento de Defesa).

So I think it's their opinion and expertise that dictates such decisions? No idea! But I don't see it written anywhere that such specific weapon/platform is banned/forbidden.

Curious fact, just came across this information, apparently not so long ago civilians could buy fully automatic rifles in Portugal , you just had to belong to a "club"! It was one of the few countries that allowed that, like Pakistan an Yemen - I had no ideia just found this out. Law changed from pressure of EU and UN.

Re: Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next to “Insurrection” Posts

#234

Post by libertine »

jakearmitage wrote: post #222
libertine wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most baffling thing to me is the fact that body armor, and military grade weapons, are sold in USA... Like, we're discussing ad delivery, not the fact that a country allows companies to sell all kinds of weapons, and equipment to the general public... so I think that accurate ad targeting is the least of the problems.

You can buy body armor in Portugual too: http://www.engardeportugal.com/produtos.htm And apparently it is much needed: https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/procurado-por-tenta... https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/homem-ameaca-mulher... https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/gnr-em-alerta-maxim...

Nah, not needed at all. Such scuffs do happen but are very rare, usually revolve around some sort of treason - wife/friend/land dispute.

Plus we don't have terrorist attacks (domestic and foreigners), we don't have religion fanatics that go on killing sprees, we have a good public healthcare system that helps mentally hill (we don't have serial killers, and the ones we had didn't achieve the pop culture status), we have drug addiction under control, so yeah... it's really not useful to have body armor.

Just to give you some perspective - I live for 11 years in the capital, and even lived near a social project where there was shady people and A LOT of police activity, and never heard a single gun shot.

Re: Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next to “Insurrection” Posts

#235

Post by hnick »

inglor_cz wrote: post #205
ghostbrainalpha wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Micro Targeting can absolutely be abused and you have done a good job outlining the dark side of targeting. But to say nothing would be lost from banning it because its always used without regard for health and dignity is way to far. Brands like Zappos Adaptive which sells adult shoes that don't need to be tied to people with Autism. Its very hard to do this kind of sales without targeting people affected by disabili…

Would "people who bought this book also bought books X,Y,Z" count as microtargeting? Because I actually find these recommendations valuable.

I think it would, and it's in a similar category to YouTube constructing an alternate reality based on videos I watched. The difference is that it takes longer (and I personally have to overcome more inertia) to read a book than to binge watch outrage media or something on YouTube.

Re: Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next to “Insurrection” Posts

#236

Post by Rebelgecko »

DIVx0 wrote: post #59

I'll pile on an anecdote. I still have a facebook account but its not something I use very often except the past week given the situation in the USA. My facebook account is very old, when i was more of an active user I did all the usual posts/photos that a lot of liberal urban types contribute. Anyway, after posting some anti-insurrection posts I start noticing all sort of "tacti-cool" gear ads or targeted T-shirt s…

What do they say when you click the "Why am I Seeing This Ad" button?

Re: Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next to “Insurrection” Posts

#237

Post by scanny »

JeremyNT wrote: post #227
shoemakersteve wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? You can't imagine any? Regardless of how unlikely it might be, there's a very real risk that shit's gonna go down in the next week and who knows what might happen. Even if nothing does happen, there's been an increasing amount of unrest in the past few years, it doesn't hurt to be prepared for the worst. You probably won't ever need to use the spare tire in your trunk, but it's reassuring to know that it's th…

I'd be interested in better understanding the threat model here - the scenario where it's actually useful. Call it a failure of imagination, but to me it seems exceedingly unwise for a law abiding civilian to be entering a situation where body armor would be helpful (and I say this as a firearm owner).

I would think that any industry where shrapnel could be present:

Civilian weapons R&D, mining where explosives are being used, private security work, civilian firearm instruction, protection for targetted individuals e.g. Malcom X / MLK, Journalists in conflict zones (you saw them warn in DC during the protests as well)

Albiet the U.S. has and always will be a special case due to high firearm ownership and rather open ownership of those sorts of things.

Re: Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next to “Insurrection” Posts

#239

Post by hyperdimension »

nataz wrote: post #66
rreichel03 wrote: post #7

As an anecdote, since July they've started showing me ads for body armor almost nonstop whenever I actually open the app. Just the other day it was a body armor ad then an ad for a tactical communication earpiece.

I'm seeing adds for illegal pistol and rifle suppressors (aka "silencers") only barely disguised as "fuel filters" and "solvent traps". The companies selling the suppressor kits claim they are legitimate auto parts. They clearly aren't. Some people have claimed that it would be legal to buy these if you applied for a license to manufacture a suppressor, but good luck arguing that in federal court, especially since th…

Well, in that case, can I interest you in any keyboard cleaner, VHS head cleaner, or car wheel polisher?

(Not 100% sure of the last one, but I know I'm close.)

Re: Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next to “Insurrection” Posts

#240

Post by Vecr »

dillondoyle wrote: post #195

Repeal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act and additionally add weapons of any type and in this case add military style gear - e.g. the storm trooper stuff. Add more advertising regulations like alcohol/tobacco. FB already prohibits weapons, alcohol, tobacco ads etc.. Gun manufacturers would have to KYC like banks, probably have to add big insurance costs and ultimately charge (significantly) higher prices whic…

Judges can usually see intent behind laws like that, similar things have been tried with abortion, attempting to make it harder/more expensive or similar, with not great success.
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