Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing • Hacker News Board

Re: Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing

#41

Post by incangold » Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 2:38 PM UTC

ecmascript wrote: post #5

So because Mark Zuckerberg won't censor people with different opinions he is complacent in spreading fake news and hate? Wow, that kind of rhetoric is dangerous imo. For once I actually think Facebook have made the right call. Censoring people is wrong and Facebook should refrain from doing it. Let me decide what is true and false, I don't need Facebook or other people to decide that for me. Good job Facebook, thanks…

So you’re saying that we should promote fascism to our children?

...obviously you did not say that- it’s a ridiculous straw man. As is your first paragraph.

This whole area is rife with complexity, nuance and extremely difficult trade-offs. There are bad actors to contend with, extreme asymmetries of information, and asymmetries in the effort required to produce and to police misinformation. No analysis as simplistic as your comment is going to cut it.

Re: Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing

#42

Post by Veen » Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 2:39 PM UTC

intsunny wrote: post #3

donw wrote: post #2

After the SSC debacle, NYT is likely to learn itself a thing or two about boycotts.

If we punish respected organizations (of any kind) for every gaffe, we would not have any left. In an era where the journalists are more under attack than ever, we might want to remember it is easier to tear things down than build them up.

What about gaffes like the 1619 Project, the shortcomings and errors of which the NYT steadfastly refused to correct in the face of criticisms from historians. At a certain point, when the gaffes all line up in one direction, one might reasonably suspect an underlying motive.

Re: Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing

#43

Post by slavapestov » Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 2:40 PM UTC

creaghpatr wrote: post #30

Given what they are trying to do to Scott Alexander, it's hard to take NYT's reporting angle seriously.

I’ve never read “Slate Star Codec” and I didn’t even hear about it until this week but I’m guessing it’s a blog about James Damore-style biological determinism. Can someone explain why this kind of material is so popular with San Francisco app developers?

Re: Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing

#44

Post by scarface74 » Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 2:40 PM UTC

ecmascript wrote: post #5

So because Mark Zuckerberg won't censor people with different opinions he is complacent in spreading fake news and hate? Wow, that kind of rhetoric is dangerous imo. For once I actually think Facebook have made the right call. Censoring people is wrong and Facebook should refrain from doing it. Let me decide what is true and false, I don't need Facebook or other people to decide that for me. Good job Facebook, thanks…

But FB will.

There was a story where a random FB user copied Trump’s posts verbatim. The user got censored. Trump didn’t.

Re: Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing

#45

Post by evgen » Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 2:41 PM UTC

donw wrote: post #2

After the SSC debacle, NYT is likely to learn itself a thing or two about boycotts.

Since absolutely no one, in either numbers or social importance, knows about or cares about “the SSC debacle” and none of those who do are likely to be subscribers the NYT is unlikely to be concerned.

Re: Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing

#46

Post by ciarannolan » Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 2:41 PM UTC

Veen wrote: post #42

intsunny wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If we punish respected organizations (of any kind) for every gaffe, we would not have any left. In an era where the journalists are more under attack than ever, we might want to remember it is easier to tear things down than build them up.

What about gaffes like the 1619 Project, the shortcomings and errors of which the NYT steadfastly refused to correct in the face of criticisms from historians. At a certain point, when the gaffes all line up in one direction, one might reasonably suspect an underlying motive.

What were some of the issues with the 1619 Project?

Re: Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing

#47

Post by meroes » Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 2:41 PM UTC

ecmascript wrote: post #5

So because Mark Zuckerberg won't censor people with different opinions he is complacent in spreading fake news and hate? Wow, that kind of rhetoric is dangerous imo. For once I actually think Facebook have made the right call. Censoring people is wrong and Facebook should refrain from doing it. Let me decide what is true and false, I don't need Facebook or other people to decide that for me. Good job Facebook, thanks…

Facebook censors a thousand different thing before it presents your feed.

Re: Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing

#48

Post by joubert » Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 2:41 PM UTC

donw wrote: post #2

After the SSC debacle, NYT is likely to learn itself a thing or two about boycotts.

Do you have a take on which companies or maybe kinds of companies that are likely to boycott the NYT over that?

Re: Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing

#49

Post by demygale » Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 2:43 PM UTC

ecmascript wrote: post #5

So because Mark Zuckerberg won't censor people with different opinions he is complacent in spreading fake news and hate? Wow, that kind of rhetoric is dangerous imo. For once I actually think Facebook have made the right call. Censoring people is wrong and Facebook should refrain from doing it. Let me decide what is true and false, I don't need Facebook or other people to decide that for me. Good job Facebook, thanks…

Most reputable media outlets will not run ads, especially political ads, that contain false information. There’s enormous latitude in this area. It hasn’t stopped attack ads or misleading information from entering political discourse.

Facebook is refusing to apply any standard of editorial control over these ads. It’s their platform, their decision. I think it’s harmful to society and will happily talk shit about Facebook because of it.

They control ever byte if content on the platform and censor and surveil their users with alacrity. Choosing to allow deceptive campaign advertising does not make Facebook a leader in free speech.

Re: Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing

#50

Post by EForEndeavour » Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 2:43 PM UTC

slavapestov wrote: post #43

creaghpatr wrote: post #30

Given what they are trying to do to Scott Alexander, it's hard to take NYT's reporting angle seriously.

I’ve never read “Slate Star Codec” and I didn’t even hear about it until this week but I’m guessing it’s a blog about James Damore-style biological determinism. Can someone explain why this kind of material is so popular with San Francisco app developers?

If you were going to comment on the general style of the blog, why wouldn't you take any time at all to gather data beyond literally "guessing"? What does this guess-based comment actually add?