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Sorry, being childish/petty != being fun. I get some people have their pet causes/conspiracy theories - but is doing this at your friend's place really the pla

Sorry, being childish/petty != being fun. I get some people have their pet causes/conspiracy theories - but is doing this at your friend's place really the place to be getting on your soapbox? If you want to make a change - go run for office, or campaign for something. Don't just be a armchair jerk. I know plenty of people like this that have their pet causes (usually government surveillance, or the industrial-corporate machine, or eating meat etc.) - proselytising and ranting to your friends is one thing (and look, we all rant at times, so give some, take some) - but being a jerk about it is childish and immature.

unethical_ban 10y ago
I agree with everything you say! Except that making a joke at Alexa's expense is childish and immature.
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  Making a joke at Alexa's expense is fun. Making it at your friend's (possibly huge) expense? Not fun. I mean, what would 'nepthar do if for some reason the police actually showed up? Or if he/she found out later that their neighbour was denied boarding because TSA pulled some logs from somewhere? I mean, besides having a story to leak to papers, how would 'nepthar feel about getting their friend in life-threatening trouble? As minuscule as the possibility is, the joke seems funny mostly because this possibility exists (or at least is perceived to exist). This all is akin to doing pranks to scare the shit out of random people. It all sounds funny until you realize that some of those people may have heart conditions and could get seriously harmed by such a pranks.
  - rl3 10y ago
    Maybe nepthar was making a joke because nepthar has a sense of humor. Maybe that joke was highlighting the absurdity of having an unsecured, always-on listening device in your home that may be used against you. Instead, Hacker News tries to rip him apart for not observing the chilling effect said device creates, despite the complete legality of it. Ironic.
rl3 10y ago
>... but is doing this at your friend's place really the place to be getting on your soapbox? Who said it's a soapbox? Personally I'd find it hilarious watching a friend scramble to unplug their poorly-designed voice assistant—assuming they even cared, which they probably wouldn't. >... proselytising and ranting to your friends is one thing ... What about to people on the internet, telling them they're childish, immature jerks for not giving a shit about chilling effects when they're in private?
- victorhooi 10y ago
  If your friend bought it, maybe they don't consider is a "poorly-designed voice assistant"? Maybe they think you're just trying to misuse their device, and being a bit silly? It's the equivalent of going to somebody's unlocked laptop and typing in "XXX bum photos" or "how to kill the president. Or yelling "Fire! Fire!" to scare somebody. Yes, it's probably quite funny when you're young (and you shouldn't leave unlocked laptops around) - but come on, really? Look, we're obviously talking at different levels here - so I think I'm going to withdraw from this fight. There's little I have to gain here. BTW - To nepthar, unethical_ban, and rl3 - if any of you actually are under the age of 16 - then I'm sorry, I apologise and withdraw my earlier comments - have fun, buddy - try to squeeze in all the pranks/stupidity you can before you have to be an adult =).
  - rl3 10y ago
    >If your friend bought it, maybe they don't consider is a "poorly-designed voice assistant"? Maybe they think you're just trying to misuse their device, and being a bit silly? I'd like to think people are the best judges of how their own friends will react, but maybe that's naïve. >It's the equivalent of going to somebody's unlocked laptop and typing in "XXX bum photos" or "how to kill the president. Or yelling "Fire! Fire!" to scare somebody. Those examples aren't even comparable to each other, let alone to a bunch of orders made via voice assistant that probably end up instantly canceled. >Yes, it's probably quite funny when you're young ... >Look, we're obviously talking at different levels here ... >... There's little I have to gain here. >... if any of you actually are under the age of 16 >... before you have to be an adult ... You may have overdone the condescension there just a little bit.

unethical_ban 10y ago

I agree with everything you say! Except that making a joke at Alexa's expense is childish and immature.

TeMPOraL 10y ago
Making a joke at Alexa's expense is fun. Making it at your friend's (possibly huge) expense? Not fun. I mean, what would 'nepthar do if for some reason the police actually showed up? Or if he/she found out later that their neighbour was denied boarding because TSA pulled some logs from somewhere? I mean, besides having a story to leak to papers, how would 'nepthar feel about getting their friend in life-threatening trouble? As minuscule as the possibility is, the joke seems funny mostly because this possibility exists (or at least is perceived to exist). This all is akin to doing pranks to scare the shit out of random people. It all sounds funny until you realize that some of those people may have heart conditions and could get seriously harmed by such a pranks.
- rl3 10y ago
  Maybe nepthar was making a joke because nepthar has a sense of humor. Maybe that joke was highlighting the absurdity of having an unsecured, always-on listening device in your home that may be used against you. Instead, Hacker News tries to rip him apart for not observing the chilling effect said device creates, despite the complete legality of it. Ironic.

rl3 10y ago

>... but is doing this at your friend's place really the place to be getting on your soapbox? Who said it's a soapbox? Personally I'd find it hilarious watching a friend scramble to unplug their poorly-designed voice assistant—assuming they even cared, which they probably wouldn't. >... proselytising and ranting to your friends is one thing ... What about to people on the internet, telling them they're childish, immature jerks for not giving a shit about chilling effects when they're in private?

victorhooi 10y ago
If your friend bought it, maybe they don't consider is a "poorly-designed voice assistant"? Maybe they think you're just trying to misuse their device, and being a bit silly? It's the equivalent of going to somebody's unlocked laptop and typing in "XXX bum photos" or "how to kill the president. Or yelling "Fire! Fire!" to scare somebody. Yes, it's probably quite funny when you're young (and you shouldn't leave unlocked laptops around) - but come on, really? Look, we're obviously talking at different levels here - so I think I'm going to withdraw from this fight. There's little I have to gain here. BTW - To nepthar, unethical_ban, and rl3 - if any of you actually are under the age of 16 - then I'm sorry, I apologise and withdraw my earlier comments - have fun, buddy - try to squeeze in all the pranks/stupidity you can before you have to be an adult =).
- rl3 10y ago
  >If your friend bought it, maybe they don't consider is a "poorly-designed voice assistant"? Maybe they think you're just trying to misuse their device, and being a bit silly? I'd like to think people are the best judges of how their own friends will react, but maybe that's naïve. >It's the equivalent of going to somebody's unlocked laptop and typing in "XXX bum photos" or "how to kill the president. Or yelling "Fire! Fire!" to scare somebody. Those examples aren't even comparable to each other, let alone to a bunch of orders made via voice assistant that probably end up instantly canceled. >Yes, it's probably quite funny when you're young ... >Look, we're obviously talking at different levels here ... >... There's little I have to gain here. >... if any of you actually are under the age of 16 >... before you have to be an adult ... You may have overdone the condescension there just a little bit.