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A Readable Techcrunch Feed

readable_techcrunch.mvlab.workers.dev

31–40 of 43 posts

Re: A Readable Techcrunch Feed

#31

When I first started using TechCrunch, I found myself overwhelmed with the cluttered and overloaded user interface, which made it difficult to quickly find the information I was looking for. That's why I decided to create "A Readable TechCrunch Feed," a simplified version of TechCrunch that focuses on delivering the most important news and updates in a clean and easy-to-read format. As I developed the tool, I found m…

Yes, who cares about the ad-dollars that TechCrunch relies on to survive, right? What a great innovation. Do you also have a workaround to use UPS without any charges? How about avoiding a way to pay utility bills?

In what Bizarro-world morality am I obligated to care about supporting their business model?

When I think about such things at all, my train of thought tends towards pursuing only two ideas:

1. That advertising in general is either the worst outcome in some prisoners' dilemma game theory game, in that it never seems to inform potential customers and business spend inordinately trying to outspend everyone else.

2. That advertising may not actually meet the criteria to be considered speech/expression either in general, or when performed by corporations instead of individuals.

Re: A Readable Techcrunch Feed

#32
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a complete lack of slang, the sentences are verbose, generally use more difficult and formal words (ChatGPT would say 'vocabulary' here), and the final "Overall," reads like a student essay rather than a comment. I agree with other posters about the information/word density being low.

> This looks like a nice project, but you lose a lot of credibility by having ChatGPT write your comment. > There's a complete lack of slang You're like a modern day Blade Runner, "Holden : The tortoise lays on its back, its belly baking in the hot sun, beating its legs trying to turn itself over, but it can't. Not without your help. But you're not helping. Leon : [angry at the suggestion] What do you mean, I'm not h…

Leon: [angry] as an AI language model…

Re: A Readable Techcrunch Feed

#33
post #10

I understand that TechCrunch supports RSS: https://techcrunch.com/feed/ so it is trivial to move from one format to the other. Is it?

That was essentially my thoughts. I have had what OP built and I have had it for about 2 decades now. It is called an RSS reader. OP's problem statement is exactly why RSS readers are so amazing. It also means I can aggregate content from all my sites into one place.

This tech has been around forever but has fallen out of favor, yet still supported by every major site.

Just like how kids now are realizing the fun of film cameras and instant Polaroids as an alternative to digital photography, I keep hoping that a similar renaissance for RSS (or an alternative feed format) comes into vogue again. It really was a superior internet.

The benefit of feed readers is that you are just aggregating original content that is still owned by the original owners. In OP's scenario they are violating copyright law with their site by using ChatGPT to read TechCrunch and regurgitate it onto their own site. This is textbook copyright fraud, and for those shouting "fair use", this wouldn't qualify because it is designed as a replacement to the original. After reading OP's site, I have no need for going to Techcrunch, which makes it no longer fair use. If OP was quoting (with citations) and commentating on techcrunch's article then that would be fair use.

Re: A Readable Techcrunch Feed

#34
Who's going to tell OP about RSS Feeds?

After that I want to hear when OP learns about copyright law. You can't just republish another site's work (especially one that has lots of lawyers) as your own.

Re: A Readable Techcrunch Feed

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, who cares about the ad-dollars that TechCrunch relies on to survive, right? What a great innovation. Do you also have a workaround to use UPS without any charges? How about avoiding a way to pay utility bills?

In what Bizarro-world morality am I obligated to care about supporting their business model? When I think about such things at all, my train of thought tends towards pursuing only two ideas: 1. That advertising in general is either the worst outcome in some prisoners' dilemma game theory game, in that it never seems to inform potential customers and business spend inordinately trying to outspend everyone else. 2. Tha…

> In what Bizarro-world morality am I obligated to care about supporting their business model?

I think this is pointing out that the content theft has a harm here. Harming other people is the typical reason we are meant to not steal things. You aren't "obligated" to care about supporting their business model, but the comparison clarifies that it's in the same way that you're not "obligated" to care about the impact of shoplifting.

Re: A Readable Techcrunch Feed

#37
post #9
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This looks like a nice project, but you lose a lot of credibility by having ChatGPT write your comment. This kind of post instantly repels any desire to seriously interact with you in any meaningful way (at least in me). If English is not your first language, I'd simply say so and then run your own text through deepl.com or something if you think you have to. If your grammar is lacking, use whatever tool for that on…

You mean the parent is written by ChatGPT? How did you know that? I'm an ESL speaker and feel nothing wrong with the parent (beside being a bit too dense). Curious how natives or more fluent speakers would feel out of it.

For me the tell was this sentence:

> As I developed the tool, I found myself constantly frustrated with the bloated and cluttered nature of the original TechCrunch site, and I knew that others in the tech community would benefit from a streamlined version that focused solely on the content.

ChatGPT responses tend to have this "loop back" where they refer back to the original point (Techcrunch is bloated) multiple times. If he just mentioned he was overwhelmed by the UI, why would he mention it _again_ when talking about developing the app?

Re: A Readable Techcrunch Feed

#38
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In what Bizarro-world morality am I obligated to care about supporting their business model? When I think about such things at all, my train of thought tends towards pursuing only two ideas: 1. That advertising in general is either the worst outcome in some prisoners' dilemma game theory game, in that it never seems to inform potential customers and business spend inordinately trying to outspend everyone else. 2. Tha…

> In what Bizarro-world morality am I obligated to care about supporting their business model? I think this is pointing out that the content theft has a harm here. Harming other people is the typical reason we are meant to not steal things. You aren't "obligated" to care about supporting their business model, but the comparison clarifies that it's in the same way that you're not "obligated" to care about the impact o…

Where is the theft?

If that website allows him to download the pages without a 401 or a 403, then how is it any of their business how be prefers to consume that content?

No theft has occurred. Not even in the half-assed "copyright infringement is theft" meaning that some slack-jawed quarterwits have started to use the last decade or two.

It is not harming you to decline to buy something from you, not even if you really really want me to buy it from you, or even if you need me to do that. But if that is true, then it must be especially so that I am not harming you when I turn down your Amway or timeshare sales pitch.

The only moral obligation, the only actual contract that is relevant here is the peering arrangement. Don't put things on the public www unless you're willing to serve them up to everyone. Definitely don't serve them up and then whine that they weren't allow to make the http request.

No shoplifting occurred. Just better software.

Re: A Readable Techcrunch Feed

#39
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In what Bizarro-world morality am I obligated to care about supporting their business model? I think this is pointing out that the content theft has a harm here. Harming other people is the typical reason we are meant to not steal things. You aren't "obligated" to care about supporting their business model, but the comparison clarifies that it's in the same way that you're not "obligated" to care about the impact o…

Where is the theft? If that website allows him to download the pages without a 401 or a 403, then how is it any of their business how be prefers to consume that content? No theft has occurred. Not even in the half-assed "copyright infringement is theft" meaning that some slack-jawed quarterwits have started to use the last decade or two. It is not harming you to decline to buy something from you, not even if you real…

Do you see no distinction between

* downloading and transforming a document for one's own consumption (as with e.g. ad blockers)

and

* rehosting it with no permission from the writer?

Re: A Readable Techcrunch Feed

#40

Who's going to tell OP about RSS Feeds? After that I want to hear when OP learns about copyright law. You can't just republish another site's work (especially one that has lots of lawyers) as your own.

Yep and worth mentioning that TC’s feed is not truncated, unlike many other feeds from sites covering tech.

They deserve credit for still delivering full articles via RSS, after all those years and changing owners.

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