I was once a Facebook fool • Hacker News Board

Re: I was once a Facebook fool

#11

Post by zerostar07 » Fri, Sep 23, 2011, 2:03 PM UTC

As a facebook app developer i am aware of what shaky ground it is. I must attest the best days of the platform was when Morin was in charge, people were actually flocking to make apps and the platform was adding features. Ever since he left, feature pruning started, policies were not enforced, facebook changed their designs every month and the platform team inexplicably started reinventing the wheel. Then at some point facebook banned our AdSense revenue stream, and soon after they required 30% cut of our virtual goods.

We have now switched to an external website using facebook connect and are happy with it. I am thrilled that Google+ is building a competing platform.

Re: I was once a Facebook fool

#12

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Sep 23, 2011, 2:04 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: I was once a Facebook fool

#13

Post by zerostar07 » Fri, Sep 23, 2011, 2:05 PM UTC

elliottcarlson wrote: post #7

"If you are entrusting your life data to Facebook, or if you are depending on Facebook and its platform for your livelihood, beware." I think you should always be careful when you are entrusting any third party with your livelihood. You can only plan so much, but when your business plan requires that one crucial system and you have no way to even have a contingency plan, then you have to realize that it could easily…

On the other hand that doesn't mean you can avoid them altogether. In the ideal case, you have the option to choose among competing platforms. The problem with facebook is that since the end of myspace, it's still the largest web app platform.

Re: I was once a Facebook fool

#14

Post by praptak » Fri, Sep 23, 2011, 2:05 PM UTC

eyko wrote: post #6

wccrawford wrote: post #4

Aren't there laws against things like this?

Against bad-mouthing big, powerful, businesses? Yeah, I think so.

I believe that "bad-mouthing" does not imply "lying". There are no laws against vilifying, criticizing severely, speaking unfavorably of big, powerful businesses as long as you have some backup in facts.

Edit: Supreme courts (or equivalents) in most countries make it very clear in their verdicts that protecting the right to expose scoundrels is very high on their priority list. Especially if the scoundrels are big and powerful. Public interest and all that.

Re: I was once a Facebook fool

#15

Post by brain5ide » Fri, Sep 23, 2011, 2:05 PM UTC

Could have happened at any other big company. No biggie. "Facebook" here is just headline making. I don't deny it being u-g-l-y and bad, just that it's not a Facebook issue.

Re: I was once a Facebook fool

#16

Post by mosburger » Fri, Sep 23, 2011, 2:07 PM UTC

I once worked for a startup that got screwed trying to build a Facebook music platform - promised the world, then the rug was pulled out from under us (by both the labels and FB, and our two major investors were the labels themselves... it was quite ridiculous). I think we were probably just a pawn used as leverage for their negotiations with other players.

Anyway, yeah, I have little doubt that this story is legit.

Re: I was once a Facebook fool

#17

Post by sid6376 » Fri, Sep 23, 2011, 2:07 PM UTC

A google search about numair faraz turned up this article http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/26/motorola-insider-tells-al... . An interesting read mainly because it was brave.

Re: I was once a Facebook fool

#18

Post by moondowner » Fri, Sep 23, 2011, 2:08 PM UTC

eyko wrote: post #6

wccrawford wrote: post #4

Aren't there laws against things like this?

Against bad-mouthing big, powerful, businesses? Yeah, I think so.

It depends on the country maybe.

That's why nowadays in almost every company in the agreement the employee signs one of the terms is that he is to never talk about the company in a way that will affect it's reputation negatively.

Re: I was once a Facebook fool

#19

Post by pge » Fri, Sep 23, 2011, 2:23 PM UTC

sid6376 wrote: post #17

A google search about numair faraz turned up this article http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/26/motorola-insider-tells-al... . An interesting read mainly because it was brave.

or one could conclude that he has a history of publicly blaming higher-ups and corporate management for failures in which he was involved. what's brave about embarrassing your boss and your company publicly? or making unsubstantiated claims about conspiracies against you?

Re: I was once a Facebook fool

#20

Post by gnaffle » Fri, Sep 23, 2011, 2:26 PM UTC

kanwisher wrote: post #9

Seems strange that Chamath was 'evil' wanting to get his friend's business in as the music app for facebook, but it was totally fine when the author was getting his friend in? Seems like a double standard

I missed the part where the author asked his friend to have other music apps pulled on order to promote his own app? Apparently this is what Chamath did, and what Morin tried to keep from happening.