4 ms·

Isn't `conversion therapy` what the opponent is calling it? If the app doesn't violate TOS, i'd rather it stay. People can choose not to download it (at least a

Isn't `conversion therapy` what the opponent is calling it? If the app doesn't violate TOS, i'd rather it stay. People can choose not to download it (at least as I see it). Another group might have as issue with, say, astrology. I wouldn't think taking down astrology apps would be a solution either.

qntty 8y ago
Seems somewhat more likely that this would do harm compared to astrology. There's a very real possibility that someone who doesn't know any better might take the concrete advice of the app. Most astrology apps aren't very specific about what they recommend you doing, and don't tend to recommend things that are clearly bad advice for everyone.
- themacguffinman 8y ago
  But do we really want to expand the app banlist to include "contains harmful advice"? That's a very broad, vague, and politically charged category. Seriously, how far do people want Apple & Google to go in protecting their mental bubble?
  - qntty 8y ago
    Helping people live in a mental bubble of homophobia is precisely the problem. People who would be vulnerable to an app like this would be people from places that don't give them access to too much good information about sexuality.
  - fzeroracer 8y ago
    If an app for kids said that you could reach a magical land of unicorns and rainbows by drinking a cup of Bleach, do you believe Google should be obliged to host that app? If we can establish that yes, some advice is far too harmful to allow propagate, then we can accept that we have to draw lines as to what constitutes harmful advice. Which then brings us back to the core point: Would conversion therapy constitute harmful advice? Considering statistically it seems to increase the rate of suicide in people exposed to it and does not actually succeed at what it's supposed to do, I think it would be reasonable for a person to consider it harmful advice.

qntty 8y ago

Seems somewhat more likely that this would do harm compared to astrology. There's a very real possibility that someone who doesn't know any better might take the concrete advice of the app. Most astrology apps aren't very specific about what they recommend you doing, and don't tend to recommend things that are clearly bad advice for everyone.

themacguffinman 8y ago
But do we really want to expand the app banlist to include "contains harmful advice"? That's a very broad, vague, and politically charged category. Seriously, how far do people want Apple & Google to go in protecting their mental bubble?
- qntty 8y ago
  Helping people live in a mental bubble of homophobia is precisely the problem. People who would be vulnerable to an app like this would be people from places that don't give them access to too much good information about sexuality.
- fzeroracer 8y ago
  If an app for kids said that you could reach a magical land of unicorns and rainbows by drinking a cup of Bleach, do you believe Google should be obliged to host that app? If we can establish that yes, some advice is far too harmful to allow propagate, then we can accept that we have to draw lines as to what constitutes harmful advice. Which then brings us back to the core point: Would conversion therapy constitute harmful advice? Considering statistically it seems to increase the rate of suicide in people exposed to it and does not actually succeed at what it's supposed to do, I think it would be reasonable for a person to consider it harmful advice.