Peeple app for rating human beings causes uproar

I'm absolutely wary of any technology that's going to enable/encourage bullying or trolling. I think there's a fine line between censorship and ensuring a safe community (especially in the wake of the Oregon shooting and corresponding reddit thread), but I see this app leading to Bad Things happening.

That said, the thing I'd like to see the discourse focusing on is not necessarily an app that encourages bullying, but bullying itself. I think the intensity of the uproar this is causing is throwing up a huge red flag - people as really scared about bullying. I think we as a community/country/world should absolutely talk about Peeple, but in talking about the symptom, I hope we can also get to talking about the root cause and what we can do to treat it.

They really aren't doing themselves any favours here:

'Peeple co-founder Julia Cordray told the BBC: "With any new concept there is naturally fear. "When the people found out that the Earth was round instead of flat and that we revolved around the Sun instead of the Sun revolving around us, naturally people were upset and confused and they pushed back with all that they had.'

Somehow I don't think that the heliocentric model is a useful comparison to make to your idea for a website...

This is alarming, yes. You know what is more alarming? The fact that hardware and websites have conspired together along with brick~mortar retailers, and cell phones, to create an entire profile about everything I do.

Then at some point in the future someone can buy this information. Then some young HR person who has read too many pop psychology books will determine "You're not a good fit" or much, much worse.

I wouldn't really say it's PR, it's more like it just went viral. As in, I wouldn't say the Bedroom Intruder guy or Charlie Bit My Finger had great PR. They just did something that touched a nerve and people pounced.

That "Peeple Watching Webisode" was so cringeworthy.