You mark my words; this is how we will be taken advantage of:
“Emotional Health” classes will be required in high schools. Where many things will be taught. And, somewhere around week 3 of the second semester will be an “avoiding addiction” module.
A certain large group of citizens, with a mysteriously large advertisement budget, will vehemently oppose teaching children such “politically correct nonsense”. Thus, the program will be underfunded, and the curriculum poorly developed; like DARE, sex ed, biological evolution…
Somehow, the same group of people are going to push for personal liability when it comes to managing your own addictions. The precedent set by the lawyers and courts, the litigation of which we won’t get to see, is that addiction management is a part of the core curriculum in high school and any accredited education facility. Therefore, “The Average Joe on the bus“ has already been equipped with the tools necessary to make educated decisions about what services they choose to participate in regardless of that service’s addiction-enabling behaviors and reinforced by a opaquely worded EULA’s. All of this being enabled by our cultural virtue of it “individual responsibility”.
Oh, and something-something Free Markets... something-something Regulations...
“User Engagement” Is Code for “Addiction”
341–349 of 349 posts
Re: “User Engagement” Is Code for “Addiction”
#342Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Normal people can't parse probabilities - otherwise nobody would play in the lottery. Yes, they would. The lottery is about giving up something of little value ($1 or $2) for some entertainment and the chance at a truly life-changing situation. I doubt anyone is unaware there's almost no chance they win, and that they're losing on every dollar they spend. Interestingly, the lottery is occasionally +EV to play. I ot…
A bit part of the lottery is that everyone knows that it's unlikely, but most people are capable of comprehending just how unlikely it is. Most people would probably say it's like "one-in-a-million", when it's really hundreds of times worse than that. People are just bad at understanding really big numbers. Everyone still feels like, "I know it won't, but it could happen to me," when even if you bought a lottery tick…
1 in 140 million for EuroMillions
1 in 293 million for Powerball
Just because someone wins doesn't mean it will be you
Re: “User Engagement” Is Code for “Addiction”
#343> Fake internet points (clickable, often animated icons with incrementing numbers. Likes, reactions, upvotes, retweets, etc.). This creates ADDICTION.
Sounds like the HN karma system ;-)
Re: “User Engagement” Is Code for “Addiction”
#344Earlier quoted context omitted.
I was in early and rode the wave from selling real games for $4.99, then $2.99, then $0.99, and finally... free. At which point the “real” part of making games was out the window and it was all user acquisition, LTVs, retention, and ugh. Couldn’t have been more happy to get out of casual and F2P games four years ago. I honestly thought I might be done making games after that experience. Thankfully, between doing the…
> Thankfully, between doing the indie thing for a few years and starting a new studio last year, it became clear it was the medium and not the craft that was the problem. Do you mean to say it's specifically a mobile issue?
100% mobile. I have no issues with F2P games that aren't predatory (like LoL or Rocket League). I've spent hundreds on these games for silly cosmetics that don't affect gameplay.
Re: “User Engagement” Is Code for “Addiction”
#345aka The Drug Dealers Business Model
Re: “User Engagement” Is Code for “Addiction”
#346Earlier quoted context omitted.
Even granting that AOC isn't "very knowledgeable in general", that's hardly the most important of Trump's qualities. Surely there are more important standards to judge a leader by than their intelligence. Kim Jong-un might be a brilliant man for all I know, but I don't think anyone should be emulating him. So no, I don't think you can say she's "a Trump".
I meant not very smart, but narcissistic and populist. Trump is also quite a psychopath, but he held a lot of power, we won't know if AOC would be like that or not until she has that kind of power (like a billionaire or president) exhibit A for narcissism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9uTH0iprVQ
That's an exhibit in narcissism? I was genuinely curious what you would produce. Let me tell you, that ain't it.
Re: “User Engagement” Is Code for “Addiction”
#347Earlier quoted context omitted.
With youtube you're one "recommended" video away from both morally dubious content targeting kids, and qanon conspiracy content.
Is that actually your experience on YouTube or is this just something people say to encourage deplatforming? I don't think I've seen anything at the level of flat earth or Q on my related videos since like 2017... I've even attempted to seek out some of these videos just to see the claims and it was difficult to maneuver past Youtubes search redirections. Want a non-conspiracy example? Search "obama is gone" on youtu…
It is mine. I don't watch much political content on YouTube, and I constantly get Steven Crowder and PragerU videos on my recommended feed. Needless to say I don't subscribe to their ideas (to put it lightly).
Re: “User Engagement” Is Code for “Addiction”
#348Earlier quoted context omitted.
Great example of how language is a tool for thinking, but it's also a tool for not thinking. If you want to ignore or obfuscate something, you can seal it off with euphemisms and misrepresentations, kind of like putting an interface in front of an implementation. And as you pointed out, you can use this tactic to deceive not only others but also yourself.
"we're supported by advertising" (pervasive surveillance and tracking)
The surveillance and tracking complement advertising, but aren't necessarily part of it. I'd call it brainwashing instead.
Re: “User Engagement” Is Code for “Addiction”
#349Earlier quoted context omitted.
Gaming today is not that different than gambling. I started playing some games on iOS recently, I got addicted too and spent way too much money I should have. Meanwhile ads displayed in the app offer me “real money” and “millions each month” playing cards or by “putting my finance at risk” or playing similar addictive games. (Yes, I paid for the game but there are ads for extra scores)
Except that with gambling, you get a rush and a chance of profit. In games, it's only a sad and short-lived rush.
...which is why i like video games and not gambling :)