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Does Even Mark Zuckerberg Know What Facebook Is?

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Re: Does Even Mark Zuckerberg Know What Facebook Is?

#21

Post by Digit-Al »

I can see a number of potential reasons why Zuck wouldn't want to be US president.

Firstly, it seems to me that it could potentially poison his brand overseas. Everyone knows that Facebook can potentially exert a lot of influence in very subtle ways. How many countries would want most of their citizens under the potential influence of a company owned by the president of a potentially hostile country? It could cause Facebook to be banned in some countries (like it already is in China).

Secondly, it could be argued that the owner of Facebook already has more power than the US president, so it would be a step down. After all, Facebook has influence over more people than POTUS. And considering the subtle ways we can be manipulated by social media, it can surely be argued that he can influence people more directly and more powerfully than POTUS.

So it seems to me that becoming President gains him nothing but aggravation and stress, and stands to lose him valuable overseas business.

Re: Does Even Mark Zuckerberg Know What Facebook Is?

#22

Post by FabHK »

> “We have been working to ensure the integrity of the German elections this weekend,” Zuckerberg writes.

Excuse me, what? As an advertising company, you don't ensure the integrity of a sovereign nation's election. You can at most abstain from unduly interfering with it (and of course you should, it's not particularly laudable or supererogatory).

Re: Does Even Mark Zuckerberg Know What Facebook Is?

#23

Post by threatofrain »

rubber_duck wrote: post #14
amelius wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope, he doesn't. The dynamics of social networks are too complicated and are still being studied by researchers and probably will be forever. It's like saying the inventor of money would understand the economy, which obviously does not hold.

More like saying chairman of central bank would understand the economy.

Or it's like saying a founder understands their large business.

Re: Does Even Mark Zuckerberg Know What Facebook Is?

#24

Post by [deleted] »

jo0 wrote: post #8

Facebook is the biggest farm of data milch cows that has ever existed. How can he publically come out and say that? Yes there are, and will continue to be unintended effects on society for running such a large farm... But Everyone (trapped) employed in the credit fuelled consumption economy needs the farm to exist. Asking Zuckerberg to clarify the role of the farm is pointless. It's like asking why a gigantic herd of…

[deleted]

Re: Does Even Mark Zuckerberg Know What Facebook Is?

#25

Post by odiroot »

FabHK wrote: post #22

> “We have been working to ensure the integrity of the German elections this weekend,” Zuckerberg writes. Excuse me, what? As an advertising company, you don't ensure the integrity of a sovereign nation's election. You can at most abstain from unduly interfering with it (and of course you should, it's not particularly laudable or supererogatory).

You may be right here.

At most he/they took sides and interfered.

On the other hand it's hard to enforce election silence on social networks.

Re: Does Even Mark Zuckerberg Know What Facebook Is?

#27

Post by m12k »

dom0 wrote: post #3

Shouldn't the title be "Does Mark Zuckerberg Even Know What Facebook Is?"

It's the correct way to state what they mean to state ('not even Mark Zuckerberg knows what Facebook is' rephrased as a question). But certainly not an elegant or easy-to-read headline - I choked on it too. Reminds me of that old copy-pasta: 'Has Anyone Really Been Far Even as Decided to Use Even Go Want to do Look More Like?'

Re: Does Even Mark Zuckerberg Know What Facebook Is?

#28

Post by randallsquared »

bryanrasmussen wrote: post #17
erikb wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It means "it seems like most people don't know what facebook is, but you would expect that Zuckerberg knows. But we guess even he doesn't know it".

that works with a negative 'doesn't know it' but not with a positive 'does know it'. The question does even X know Y? Implies that X is somehow out of touch, and not knowing Y, but maybe they do - surprise! The question Does even X not know Y? Implies we would expect X to know Y, but what if even X does not? The question Doesn't X even know Y? Implies that X is stupid and doesn't know a lot of things, but can it be t…

There are a lot more nuances than your analysis admits, and one is the assumed inflection of the speaker.

Consider "Does anyone know Y?". Depending on how it is said, it could be either a straightforward question about whether anyone knows Y, or with an upward inflection on "anyone" it could mean "I doubt anyone knows Y, but it's possible someone does."

With that same inflection on a person's name, "Does even Person know Y?" has the same meaning as your "Does even X not know Y?"

Re: Does Even Mark Zuckerberg Know What Facebook Is?

#29

Post by lettergram »

Digit-Al wrote: post #21

I can see a number of potential reasons why Zuck wouldn't want to be US president. Firstly, it seems to me that it could potentially poison his brand overseas. Everyone knows that Facebook can potentially exert a lot of influence in very subtle ways. How many countries would want most of their citizens under the potential influence of a company owned by the president of a potentially hostile country? It could cause F…

Although I agree Facebook has a lot of subtle influence, it's only to a point. I firmly believe (no evidence) they are unable to change most peoples minds, they may be able to change their moods.

People create their own social bubbles outside of Facebook, Facebook then gives those social bubbles a way to communicate (messages, images, etc.) online - that's it. If Facebook started trying to do more manipulation, i.e. tried to change peoples minds or something, then people would likely stop using Facebook, because it would no longer be subtle.

Re: Does Even Mark Zuckerberg Know What Facebook Is?

#30

Post by dogruck »

Digit-Al wrote: post #21

I can see a number of potential reasons why Zuck wouldn't want to be US president. Firstly, it seems to me that it could potentially poison his brand overseas. Everyone knows that Facebook can potentially exert a lot of influence in very subtle ways. How many countries would want most of their citizens under the potential influence of a company owned by the president of a potentially hostile country? It could cause F…

I disagree that the head of an online advertising company has more power than the POTUS.
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