4 ms·

> Youtube is a sewer giving outright conspiracy nutcases a platform, they continuously promote Breitbart, infowars and other despicable websites Well, glad you

> Youtube is a sewer giving outright conspiracy nutcases a platform, they continuously promote Breitbart, infowars and other despicable websites Well, glad you're not in charge, then. If these publications really are crackpots then surely people will stop reading them? Freedom of speech and all that. Disclosure: Googler.

mrmonkeyman 6y ago
Serious? People love crackpots and bullshit. At least until shit hits the fan, then they all need fucking scientists to get their precious vaccines. No amount of bullshit is going to produce working science.
jacquesm 6y ago
This has nothing to do with free speech, if you want to make that argument then please at least familiarize yourself with what the term actually means in this context. Google is actively promoting these sites, which has nothing to do with censoring them. If you really are a Googler - any anonymous coward can say that - you're not doing Google a service.
respondo2134 6y ago
Googler but still throw away account? You must not feel too strongly about your convictions. You also obviously don't understand what free speech means, which is depressing of someone skilled & intelligent enough to work at the big G. Free speech is not the right to say what ever you want. It's the responsibility to stand behind and defend what you speak with real evidence.
- throwaway45349 6y ago
  I advocate for my beliefs on public accounts as well as internally - this account just happened to be what I was logged into is all. The simple fact is these publications are promoted because they are popular, making no comment on accuracy. A massive corporation, even if I trust them as my employer, should never have such massive influence on our public conversation. Popularity is a poor metric, but at least it's not censorship. I think even putting the thumb on the scales is dangerous. Edit: I do see what you're saying, and I'm not advocating for a society where anything can be said without social consequence. I just think it's far too dangerous for FAANG companies to have that power all to themselves. The most well intentioned people can do terrible things...
  - jacquesm 6y ago
    The power to promote is just as dangerous if not more dangerous than the power to suppress because it is much harder to make a case against it but can have the exact same effect.
    - throwaway45349 6y ago
      Promotion of any content results in the suppression of other content (inventory isn't infinite). If you were in charge of the algorithm, what would you promote? Considering half of America views CNN the same way you view Breitbart, do you consider that to be a despicable source too? It's really not as simple as you think.
      - jacquesm 6y ago
        How half of America views something doesn't really matter, what matters is that there is an observable factual difference between Breitbart and CNN. I don't have a dog in the race and that's pretty easy to establish. Or do you really believe that CNN also promotes conspiracy theories and outright nonsense? If so I guess the conversation is over.
        throwaway45349 6y ago
        > CNN also promotes conspiracy theories and outright nonsense Yeah, I do. These outlets are all as bad as each other. The only difference is a right-leaning individual is biased in favor of Breitbart propaganda and a left-leaning individual is biased in favor of CNN.

mrmonkeyman 6y ago

Serious? People love crackpots and bullshit. At least until shit hits the fan, then they all need fucking scientists to get their precious vaccines. No amount of bullshit is going to produce working science.

jacquesm 6y ago

This has nothing to do with free speech, if you want to make that argument then please at least familiarize yourself with what the term actually means in this context. Google is actively promoting these sites, which has nothing to do with censoring them. If you really are a Googler - any anonymous coward can say that - you're not doing Google a service.

respondo2134 6y ago

Googler but still throw away account? You must not feel too strongly about your convictions. You also obviously don't understand what free speech means, which is depressing of someone skilled & intelligent enough to work at the big G. Free speech is not the right to say what ever you want. It's the responsibility to stand behind and defend what you speak with real evidence.

throwaway45349 6y ago
I advocate for my beliefs on public accounts as well as internally - this account just happened to be what I was logged into is all. The simple fact is these publications are promoted because they are popular, making no comment on accuracy. A massive corporation, even if I trust them as my employer, should never have such massive influence on our public conversation. Popularity is a poor metric, but at least it's not censorship. I think even putting the thumb on the scales is dangerous. Edit: I do see what you're saying, and I'm not advocating for a society where anything can be said without social consequence. I just think it's far too dangerous for FAANG companies to have that power all to themselves. The most well intentioned people can do terrible things...
- jacquesm 6y ago
  The power to promote is just as dangerous if not more dangerous than the power to suppress because it is much harder to make a case against it but can have the exact same effect.
  - throwaway45349 6y ago
    Promotion of any content results in the suppression of other content (inventory isn't infinite). If you were in charge of the algorithm, what would you promote? Considering half of America views CNN the same way you view Breitbart, do you consider that to be a despicable source too? It's really not as simple as you think.
    - jacquesm 6y ago
      How half of America views something doesn't really matter, what matters is that there is an observable factual difference between Breitbart and CNN. I don't have a dog in the race and that's pretty easy to establish. Or do you really believe that CNN also promotes conspiracy theories and outright nonsense? If so I guess the conversation is over.
      - throwaway45349 6y ago
        > CNN also promotes conspiracy theories and outright nonsense Yeah, I do. These outlets are all as bad as each other. The only difference is a right-leaning individual is biased in favor of Breitbart propaganda and a left-leaning individual is biased in favor of CNN.