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Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

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Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#301

Post by HNaTTY »

schabernakk wrote: post #181
HNaTTY wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Internet Relay Chat (I'm into simple solutions)

I really like using email for staying in touch, also works with groups. But besides the fact that my friends aren't really into the whole tech thing (lot of them are still using their old non-smartphone) Inlining videos, photos and threading conversations is something I really like for such a software to have.

One other idea that comes to mind is that you could create a private subreddit on reddit.com and make it closed/invite-only. Reddit doesn't ask for personally identifying data.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#302

Post by tlogan »

eropple wrote: post #153
tlogan wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I completely agree with you on "If your company can't exist without being shitty, your company shouldn't exist.". However, here in VC-stanm the behavior like this is considered "hacking the growth" and something which is not considered a bad thing. So unfortunately, you cannot play the game here (ok, you can play but no big money will bet on you) if you not ready to do things like this.

I'm OK with that game not being played. That spam-calling random people at 6AM is not an immediate "get the fuck out of my office" is probably a pretty good indication that something is deeply rotten in, as you put it, "VC-stan." But you can get on TechCrunch, so it's gotta be okay, right? :(

And we also need to understand that all these social networks are in business of spamming people ("growing the network"). Hey I remember back in 2006 (maybe 2005?) Facebook invited all my all my Gmail contacts to Facebook (including people who interviewed me ...). That is the key of their existence, so I'm not sure how anybody in right mind can expect anything else. Maybe I'm too old and see these things as they are...

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#303

Post by [deleted] »

rzt wrote: post #155
austenallred wrote: post #84

At times like these I feel the best I can do is pay with my downloads (or vise versa). I just deleted Path; I recommend others do the same.

I just deleted my account as well. I never really used the app due to a lack of traction within my own circle of friends, but now I have an even better reason to rid myself of the thing.

[deleted]

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#304

Post by polymathist »

I just went to the path app on the Google Play store and marked every user review that mentions the spamming as helpful. People should know about this before they download, but most only read the first three reviews and don't look closely at permissions.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.path&f....

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#305

Post by obviouslygreen »

gsk wrote: post #251
obviouslygreen wrote: post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Definitely not. I'm saying it's never "right" in a moral/ethical sense, but when you're put in certain (fairly common) positions, the moral high ground is not a feasible option for most people. It comes down to whether you consider stability for those who depend on you more or less important than doing or refusing to do something based on whether you consider it right or wrong... that's something that's easy to judge…

This sounds patronizing. As adults, you make your choice and face the consequences. That you may have dependents does not reduce your moral responsibility one bit.

Clearly you don't know how it feels to actually have "dependents" or what that responsibility entails. This will sound patronizing, but it's absolutely valid: Come back and comment on this in 10 to 20 years. At that point you might have the perspective you clearly lack now.

[edit]To be clear: I do not have dependents, but I also don't have an employer (who isn't me), and I do have people that depend on me. What I also have is a lot of experience in a lot of situations that are very much "gray" in terms of what less-experienced people seem to consider moral/ethical absolutes, which simply do not exist. That last part is what you don't understand but are likely to figure out as life teaches you the things your parents and teachers would like to but simply can't.[/edit]

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#306

Post by pjbrunet »

I blame Google and Android and its Play Store. So many apps ask for ridiculous access to everything, they should really discourage this. There should be a big red flag on any apps that ask for "superuser" access to my phone.

After getting a "smartphone" I've had 50x more spam calls. I never had this problem pre-Android. Coincidentally, spam peaks when I'm using my phone, which makes me wonder if these apps are telling spammers I'm near the phone.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#307

Post by saraid216 »

mjolk wrote: post #228
angersock wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You really come off as an amoral jerk here. What happens if an app for job seekers texts your boss? What if a casual hookup site texts your new girlfriend--even though you signed up a year before meeting her? What happens if your app calls an old person and they crack a hip trying to answer a phone--when everyone that knows them personally knows not to call until they're awake and their caretaker is in? These may sou…

>You really come off as an amoral jerk here. I'm okay with this. I'd rather be calculating than have my head in the sand about the business models of social networking what-have-you applications. >What if a casual hookup site texts your new girlfriend--even though you signed up a year before meeting her? While I don't and won't have to experience this, your imagined relationship suffers more from lack of trust and ho…

> Our industry doesn't need yet another pointless, embarrassing ethics/integrity campaign when the people writing the code don't care.

When was the last one?

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#308

Post by saraid216 »

darxius wrote: post #141
darxius wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's a great idea. Drafting a version of it right now.

I wrote up something quite quickly: http://maxmackie.com/2013/04/30/The-Turing-Oath:-The-Promise... "The Turing Oath" is on Github ( https://github.com/maxmackie/Turing-Oath/blob/master/README.... ) and I recommend people contribute and we grow this to become something people recognize.

I'd object to the name first and foremost if I knew Turing wasn't involved or directly responsible for its creation. It's still lying.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#309

Post by [deleted] »

angersock wrote: post #207
creativityland wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe that's why we've been seeing Path more in App Store top charts recently? Another app doing similar spamming is Circle: http://discovercircle.com - surprised no one talked about that...

Growth hacking through grey-hat tricks? This is an outrage! (your winnings, sir.)

[deleted]

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#310

Post by mehrzad »

pmarca wrote: post #294

This is not a comment specifically on Path -- I don't know anything about what they are doing or not doing. But more generally: one of the most interesting parts of startups is the tension between "Don't Be Evil" and "Don't Fail". It would be good to be able to discuss this more openly -- "Don't Be Evil" by itself is too utopian. Many of the most successful companies in the world did things in their early days -- or…

I, and I think most of us here, know of this concept, but I'd say you articulated it well. If a company needs to be semi-evil, being upfront may help them.
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