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Reasons not to use Facebook

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Re: Reasons not to use Facebook

#121

Post by anigbrowl »

TheSpiceIsLife wrote: post #112

As a complimentary perspective: For those who haven't seen it, I think Slavoj Žižek and Paul Holdengräber on "Surveillance and whistleblowers" is worth a watch. The part about surveillance starts at 21:14 so this link will take you there https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIPjmmmh_os#t=21m14s Žižek: "The most dangerous unfreedom is the unfreedom you don't even experience, as such. If some of you are feminists ... every…

Žižek's first hand experience of communism and being (somewhat) punsihed for being a dissident (by being unable to get employment for several years despite his strong academic credentials) are quite insightful, although he does take the scenic route when it comes to articulating his points. That's OK though, I find his talking pleasant to listen to even though I've heard most of his jokes many times now.

Re: Reasons not to use Facebook

#122

Post by killerpopiller »

vvpan wrote: post #39
abdias wrote: post #20

Considering that Zuckerberg is a great admire of China and apparently socialism[0], it doesn't come to me as a huge surprise that these "ethics" are guidelines for Facebook. “I’ve also bought copies of this book for my colleagues,” Zuckerberg was quoted as saying by a Chinese news website. “I want them to understand socialism with Chinese characteristics.” [0]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/1…

You say "socialism" like it's a bad thing.

the zuckerberg variation might be even more totalitarian like the ones before! The STASI would have loved facebook for what it is.

Re: Reasons not to use Facebook

#123

Post by russgray »

ffn wrote: post #88
paulsecwhatt wrote: post #45

I honestly don't understand why people value Stallman's opinions on these matters so highly. I completely disagree with him on essentially everything he writes about these topics. Granted, he's an incredible programmer who contributed immensely to the development of our modern operating systems and the tools we use, and people here love to bring that up ("what - you DON'T KNOW WHO STALLMAN IS? SHAME? HOW DARE YOU CRI…

Most people don't view Stallman's words as gospel, he's actually kind of a running joke nowadays - a sort of the caricature of the software profession, all neckbeard, tin-foil, and wizard powers. And it is true a lot of Stallman's ideas are sadly unrealistic for a large corporation operating in many highly complex environments. And although nearly every single point on his rant regarding facebook's policies is ridicu…

The problem I have with these rants is I just don't recognise this characterisation of a facebook user at all. I have an account. I check it on my phone a couple of times a day, never post anything apart from the occasional baby photo to a family group, comment on a post maybe once a month, never 'like' anything other than birthdays or weddings. I've been doing that for about 4 years now and never felt any urge to expand my use. My wife is the same. So too my younger sister. I don't know anyone who spends so much time on it that it affects their life, and whatever mundane information facebook has on me isn't going to give me sleepless nights.

Re: Reasons not to use Facebook

#124

Post by zo1 »

vvpan wrote: post #39
abdias wrote: post #20

Considering that Zuckerberg is a great admire of China and apparently socialism[0], it doesn't come to me as a huge surprise that these "ethics" are guidelines for Facebook. “I’ve also bought copies of this book for my colleagues,” Zuckerberg was quoted as saying by a Chinese news website. “I want them to understand socialism with Chinese characteristics.” [0]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/1…

You say "socialism" like it's a bad thing.

Well, to some it is a bad thing. Then again, we do all have our own opinions. And we, as a society, have not yet achieved consensus/agreement on whether socialism is good/bad.

Re: Reasons not to use Facebook

#125

Post by killerpopiller »

esfandia wrote: post #46

Here's one thing I like about Facebook: it has stopped the flood of chain-emails I used to receive from random "friends". They post that stuff on Facebook now instead. It's the perfect honeypot.

why not make a list of good things FB has done for you and compare?

- less chain mails -

Re: Reasons not to use Facebook

#126

Post by zo1 »

gaadd33 wrote: post #7

> Algorithmic filtering can affect history, not just hide history. Facebook's filtering algorithm suppressed news about the thug riot in Ferguson until after it became national news. Calling all of the protestors in Ferguson "thugs" seems pretty off base. I'm surprised he characterized everyone there like that when his previous few points seemed to be in favor of the ability to protest the government. I guess he only…

"Calling all of the protestors in Ferguson "thugs" seems pretty off base"

Well, if he's referring to peaceful protestors, sure no one can agree that it's okay to call them "thugs". Because there is absolutely nothing wrong with peaceful protesting.

Now, on the other hand, if he's referring to violent protestors that damage property, loot, incite violence, and hurt innocent people. Then yeah, he's well in the green to refer to them as "thugs" because he's describing what some would consider "thuggish" behavior.

Re: Reasons not to use Facebook

#127

Post by zo1 »

ramigb wrote: post #61

From an avid FB user who spent three hours a day to someone who has his account deactivated for more than a month, that is how much convinced i am that FB is nothing but utter garbage and i just had enough with it.

I've also noticed a stark reduction in content from friends. Perhaps we're all growing up and posting less, perhaps Facebook's algorithms are hiding all their posts for some arbitrary reason, I don't know.

All I know, is that if it weren't for the few vocal friends and pages that keep things mildly interesting, I would have no reason to be on Facebook at all.

Re: Reasons not to use Facebook

#128

Post by [deleted] »

MCRed wrote: post #95
kragen wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People value Stallman’s opinions on these matters so highly because he has a remarkable history of being right about them ten or fifteen years before it becomes clear to everyone else that he was right, and he takes the risk of saying what he sees even when it will offend people. In fact, that’s why he’s famous; he’s certainly a good hacker, but the world has quite a number of good hackers who aren’t famous because t…

Can you give an example? For instance, I was aware of Stallman in the 1980s, read his writings back then, didn't think they were correct, and the future he predicted has not come to be. Yes there are some of us who are that old. Specifically, he said that without the virility of his license, there would be no free/open source software and that all software would be locked down and proprietary. The entire open source…

[deleted]

Re: Reasons not to use Facebook

#129

Post by tome »

MCRed wrote: post #95
kragen wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People value Stallman’s opinions on these matters so highly because he has a remarkable history of being right about them ten or fifteen years before it becomes clear to everyone else that he was right, and he takes the risk of saying what he sees even when it will offend people. In fact, that’s why he’s famous; he’s certainly a good hacker, but the world has quite a number of good hackers who aren’t famous because t…

Can you give an example? For instance, I was aware of Stallman in the 1980s, read his writings back then, didn't think they were correct, and the future he predicted has not come to be. Yes there are some of us who are that old. Specifically, he said that without the virility of his license, there would be no free/open source software and that all software would be locked down and proprietary. The entire open source…

> virility of his license

Ah, that was a typo for "virality". I was scratching me head there for a minute.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virility http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_phenomenon

Re: Reasons not to use Facebook

#130

Post by killerpopiller »

stinos wrote: post #90
muyuu wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree with Stallman on many things but I cannot see anything wrong with that collection of real issues about Facebook, and also with the general message that most people should avoid using Facebook completely or use it exclusively with fake identities and several other provisions.

This. For instance the "Psychological Harm" chapter. That is not even an opinion, rather a fact, so I feel the OP's 'disagree with essentially everything he writes about it' is too strong - you cannot disagree with facts. Actually a lot of what Stallman writes on that page are just facts, and a lot of them also apply to tons of other services on the web. Maybe not all at once though which why he picked FB I guess.. S…

and still you talk about him like a pariah. I really don't get the resentiment here about RS. What has he done to you americans? Bursting the bubble of harmless tech? I say americans cause I am sure, if we would make a poll, those who disregard RS points, without even try to proof the opposite, seem to be US.

What if Peter Thiel or Paul Graham would have compiled such a list. Cheering waves of agreement I figure.

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