5 ms·

I wish even 1/10th of the people demanding that the government regulate or break up Facebook would do the same. It astounds me that so many people are complain

I wish even 1/10th of the people demanding that the government regulate or break up Facebook would do the same. It astounds me that so many people are complaining about a free product that nobody is forcing them to use, but which they refuse to quit.

Barrin92 7y ago
You seem to be unfamiliar with the concept of a collective action problem. There are many cases in which services or activities may be detrimental to society at large, but individually leaving comes with a great cost to the individual. So for example it is totally possible that a social network has a net negative impact on society, yet you closing your account comes with significant disadvantages to yourself as long as you don't get everyone else on board at the same time. This is immediately obvious to anyone who thinks about these situations for five minutes.
- natechols 7y ago
  Then maybe the people whining about Facebook (who refuse to quit it) should start a boycott instead of just whining and demanding that the government save them from themselves. As far as "great cost to the individual", sorry, I'm not buying this. Nobody is being forced to use Facebook and nobody is being penalized for not using it. I still don't have an account and have no plans to change that.
  - SolaceQuantum 7y ago
    What is an elected government saving people who elected them from themselves but the biggest boycott of all?
  - Barrin92 7y ago
    >Nobody is being forced to use Facebook and nobody is being penalized for not using it. I know several people working in journalism who are as part of their job forced to maintain a social media presence and nowadays it is often the only way to even reliably contact or communicate with sources. Not to mention that even more fundamental aspects like dating are increasingly moving onto digital platforms. So yes, for many people social media presence is part of their job, and for many young people it is increasingly becoming the primary gateway to maintaining social relations.
    - natechols 7y ago
      Journalists are an interesting counter-example that I hadn't thought of. Are there any other examples where maintaining an account is effectively a requirement of the job? As for kids these days and their strange lifestyles, modern humans managed to survive and propagate for thousands of years without Facebook, and if the entire company was burnt to the ground tomorrow, I'm sure we'd adapt. It's only a "problem" because many people seem to think they absolutely must follow the cutting edge of hot social trends, like staring at your smartphone all day instead of talking to actual people face-to-face, or else risk being uncool and out-of-touch. Those of us who were always uncool and out-of-touch just roll our eyes when we're told this is such an essential part of their lives that they can't possibly give it up.
      - dudely0253 7y ago
        I run a brick and motor. I don't have a tool better than Facebook/Insta for communicating with our members/customers/community. We often (probably twice a month) ask if FB is still a requirement. Not because it doesn't preform well, but because we see the problem. We don't have a solution to replace it. EVERYONE says they don't use it. That doesn't seem to be the case.
  - anigbrowl 7y ago
    If I am a facebook user who is upset about this, and I boycott, how does FB know that my boycott is in relation to working conditions especially? Maybe it thinks I am boycotting because Mark Zuckerberg isn't paid enough.
dudeManTheGreat 7y ago
The market doesn't regulate itself.
throwanem 7y ago
It's cute that you assume we who make such demands also use Facebook.

Barrin92 7y ago

You seem to be unfamiliar with the concept of a collective action problem. There are many cases in which services or activities may be detrimental to society at large, but individually leaving comes with a great cost to the individual. So for example it is totally possible that a social network has a net negative impact on society, yet you closing your account comes with significant disadvantages to yourself as long as you don't get everyone else on board at the same time. This is immediately obvious to anyone who thinks about these situations for five minutes.

natechols 7y ago
Then maybe the people whining about Facebook (who refuse to quit it) should start a boycott instead of just whining and demanding that the government save them from themselves. As far as "great cost to the individual", sorry, I'm not buying this. Nobody is being forced to use Facebook and nobody is being penalized for not using it. I still don't have an account and have no plans to change that.
- SolaceQuantum 7y ago
  What is an elected government saving people who elected them from themselves but the biggest boycott of all?
- Barrin92 7y ago
  >Nobody is being forced to use Facebook and nobody is being penalized for not using it. I know several people working in journalism who are as part of their job forced to maintain a social media presence and nowadays it is often the only way to even reliably contact or communicate with sources. Not to mention that even more fundamental aspects like dating are increasingly moving onto digital platforms. So yes, for many people social media presence is part of their job, and for many young people it is increasingly becoming the primary gateway to maintaining social relations.
  - natechols 7y ago
    Journalists are an interesting counter-example that I hadn't thought of. Are there any other examples where maintaining an account is effectively a requirement of the job? As for kids these days and their strange lifestyles, modern humans managed to survive and propagate for thousands of years without Facebook, and if the entire company was burnt to the ground tomorrow, I'm sure we'd adapt. It's only a "problem" because many people seem to think they absolutely must follow the cutting edge of hot social trends, like staring at your smartphone all day instead of talking to actual people face-to-face, or else risk being uncool and out-of-touch. Those of us who were always uncool and out-of-touch just roll our eyes when we're told this is such an essential part of their lives that they can't possibly give it up.
    - dudely0253 7y ago
      I run a brick and motor. I don't have a tool better than Facebook/Insta for communicating with our members/customers/community. We often (probably twice a month) ask if FB is still a requirement. Not because it doesn't preform well, but because we see the problem. We don't have a solution to replace it. EVERYONE says they don't use it. That doesn't seem to be the case.
- anigbrowl 7y ago
  If I am a facebook user who is upset about this, and I boycott, how does FB know that my boycott is in relation to working conditions especially? Maybe it thinks I am boycotting because Mark Zuckerberg isn't paid enough.

dudeManTheGreat 7y ago

The market doesn't regulate itself.

throwanem 7y ago

It's cute that you assume we who make such demands also use Facebook.