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Private companies must never be the arbiters of truth on the internet. Zuckerberg is doing the right thing, against huge internal resistance. You'd think Ameri

Private companies must never be the arbiters of truth on the internet. Zuckerberg is doing the right thing, against huge internal resistance. You'd think Americans, out of all countries, would understand this.

bttrfl 6y ago
FB/Google/Twitter/... are already the arbiters of the truth through their algorithms deciding what to show to people. I don't think they should censor posts though, instead they should make their algorithms transparent and reduce the reach of posts and ads.
humanrebar 6y ago
I think it's fair for private companies to provide curation as a service. I don't think it's a good business model to be both a curator and a platform at the same time outside of maintaining an overall level of safety and decency (pornography, snuff, overt racism, etc.). I don't see why it's wrong for facebook to stay out of it other than reporting violent language to relevant law enforcement. Seems like assault is already a felony.
jlebar 6y ago
If you say something, and I say, here's some evidence that you're wrong, does that make me an arbiter of the truth on the Internet? I mean, how is what you did (saying something) any different from what I did (also saying something)?
- ManlyBread 6y ago
  You are merely trying to have a discussion; you aren't a third party with a power to alter or silence the ones you deem to be wrong
- MrBuddyCasino 6y ago
  In that scenario you're a regular participant in a discussion, presumably as another user of a platform, standing on equal footing with others. This NOT what this is about! If you're the owner of the platform, and prominently inject your POV, thats starting to get problematic. I understand the impulse to do that, but people aren't thinking about the 2nd order effects.
  - jlebar 6y ago
    So the difference is prominence, highlighting this one particular reply because it was written by the platform itself? I'm still not seeing how this is a big deal. What are the second-order effects?
rramach 6y ago
Yes, I agree. This issue is super-nuanced and I believe Mark has spent years (since the 2016 election fiasco) looking into this as well as being advised by top minds to arrive at his current position. These employees are acting emotionally now but will realize the value of Mark's position over time (in my opinion).
- MrBuddyCasino 6y ago
  > These employees are acting emotionally now but will realize the value of Mark's position over time Classical liberalism has never been a majority position. The reason it exists is due to smart people thinking hard about the problem of governance, and imposing its rules top-down. But maybe thats just me being european.

bttrfl 6y ago

FB/Google/Twitter/... are already the arbiters of the truth through their algorithms deciding what to show to people. I don't think they should censor posts though, instead they should make their algorithms transparent and reduce the reach of posts and ads.

humanrebar 6y ago

I think it's fair for private companies to provide curation as a service. I don't think it's a good business model to be both a curator and a platform at the same time outside of maintaining an overall level of safety and decency (pornography, snuff, overt racism, etc.). I don't see why it's wrong for facebook to stay out of it other than reporting violent language to relevant law enforcement. Seems like assault is already a felony.

jlebar 6y ago

If you say something, and I say, here's some evidence that you're wrong, does that make me an arbiter of the truth on the Internet? I mean, how is what you did (saying something) any different from what I did (also saying something)?

ManlyBread 6y ago
You are merely trying to have a discussion; you aren't a third party with a power to alter or silence the ones you deem to be wrong
MrBuddyCasino 6y ago
In that scenario you're a regular participant in a discussion, presumably as another user of a platform, standing on equal footing with others. This NOT what this is about! If you're the owner of the platform, and prominently inject your POV, thats starting to get problematic. I understand the impulse to do that, but people aren't thinking about the 2nd order effects.
- jlebar 6y ago
  So the difference is prominence, highlighting this one particular reply because it was written by the platform itself? I'm still not seeing how this is a big deal. What are the second-order effects?

rramach 6y ago

Yes, I agree. This issue is super-nuanced and I believe Mark has spent years (since the 2016 election fiasco) looking into this as well as being advised by top minds to arrive at his current position. These employees are acting emotionally now but will realize the value of Mark's position over time (in my opinion).

MrBuddyCasino 6y ago
> These employees are acting emotionally now but will realize the value of Mark's position over time Classical liberalism has never been a majority position. The reason it exists is due to smart people thinking hard about the problem of governance, and imposing its rules top-down. But maybe thats just me being european.