4 ms·

Why is this the top voted comment? Leaving WhatsApp is nothing at all like cutting off your internet connection. It is just one out of literally dozens of ava

Why is this the top voted comment? Leaving WhatsApp is nothing at all like cutting off your internet connection. It is just one out of literally dozens of available text messaging apps, and it is owned by one of the least ethical companies that exists today.

TheRealSteel 6y ago
"It is just one out of literally dozens of available text messaging apps" It baffles me people are still saying this. You can only message people that are using the SAME messaging app as you. I can't just up and switch apps and expect my 30+ friends and relatives and housemates and coworkers to switch with me!
- 51Cards 6y ago
  Not if you are content to send SMS/MMS messages. I text all of my friends, clients, and family networks and avoid propritary platforms and none of them have ever complained.
- boogies 6y ago
  > You can only message people that are using the SAME messaging app as you. No, Matrix supports bridging with about two dozen protocols,¹ many of which support multiple clients (at least 7: IRC, RSS, Email, SMS, Mastodon, libpurple —actually a library supporting multiple protocols including IRC and XMPP— and Twitter) — some of which have dozens if not hundreds of clients. ¹IRC, Slack, RSS, Gitter, Discord, RocketChat, iMessage, Facebook Messenger, Email, SMS, Mastodon, libpurple, GroupMe, Skype, WeChat, Tox, Mumble, Twitter, Mattermost, Keybase (Edit: this one was discontinued), Google Hangouts, Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Signal — https://matrix.org/bridges/ https://matrix.org/bridges/
  - upofadown 6y ago
    The linked to page does not mention XMPP...
    - boogies 6y ago
      Right, it mentions libpurple (represented by the purple square https://matrix.org/bridges/#libpurple https://matrix.org/bridges/#libpurple), which is a library (probably best known for use in the Pidgin frontend) that can use 10 protocols without plugins, including XMPP: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgin_(software)#Supported_protocols https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgin_(software)#Supported_pr...
      - upofadown 6y ago
        OK. Perhaps a better way to approach the issue: What XMPP address format can I use to talk to a Matrix user ID? ... and vice versa...
notsureaboutpg 6y ago
In many countries (think India, Middle East, etc) WhatsApp is basically assumed to be your phone/sms solution. Many shops advertise their numbers to call on whatsapp (they may not even be able to accept phone calls/sms over other than WiFi/data). If you order a delivery or taxi or other service, the person will inevitably try to whatsapp you if they need to get a hold of you. Some countries have mandated their own version of WhatsApp so they can do the spying instead of WhatsApp (UAE has BOTIM for example), but the same critical nature of this application is there. Merchants, workers, and other important non-colleagues / non-friends / non-family only accept or expect communication through WhatsApp
pbhjpbhj 6y ago
It's not the app or company, it's the network [of people]. You can't switch unless you can convince literally everyone you know (I'm in UK) to switch.
psychart 6y ago
Its like saying: "Why you still on internet, there are dozens of BBS available"

TheRealSteel 6y ago

"It is just one out of literally dozens of available text messaging apps" It baffles me people are still saying this. You can only message people that are using the SAME messaging app as you. I can't just up and switch apps and expect my 30+ friends and relatives and housemates and coworkers to switch with me!

51Cards 6y ago
Not if you are content to send SMS/MMS messages. I text all of my friends, clients, and family networks and avoid propritary platforms and none of them have ever complained.
boogies 6y ago
> You can only message people that are using the SAME messaging app as you. No, Matrix supports bridging with about two dozen protocols,¹ many of which support multiple clients (at least 7: IRC, RSS, Email, SMS, Mastodon, libpurple —actually a library supporting multiple protocols including IRC and XMPP— and Twitter) — some of which have dozens if not hundreds of clients. ¹IRC, Slack, RSS, Gitter, Discord, RocketChat, iMessage, Facebook Messenger, Email, SMS, Mastodon, libpurple, GroupMe, Skype, WeChat, Tox, Mumble, Twitter, Mattermost, Keybase (Edit: this one was discontinued), Google Hangouts, Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Signal — https://matrix.org/bridges/ https://matrix.org/bridges/
- upofadown 6y ago
  The linked to page does not mention XMPP...
  - boogies 6y ago
    Right, it mentions libpurple (represented by the purple square https://matrix.org/bridges/#libpurple https://matrix.org/bridges/#libpurple), which is a library (probably best known for use in the Pidgin frontend) that can use 10 protocols without plugins, including XMPP: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgin_(software)#Supported_protocols https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgin_(software)#Supported_pr...
    - upofadown 6y ago
      OK. Perhaps a better way to approach the issue: What XMPP address format can I use to talk to a Matrix user ID? ... and vice versa...

notsureaboutpg 6y ago

In many countries (think India, Middle East, etc) WhatsApp is basically assumed to be your phone/sms solution. Many shops advertise their numbers to call on whatsapp (they may not even be able to accept phone calls/sms over other than WiFi/data). If you order a delivery or taxi or other service, the person will inevitably try to whatsapp you if they need to get a hold of you. Some countries have mandated their own version of WhatsApp so they can do the spying instead of WhatsApp (UAE has BOTIM for example), but the same critical nature of this application is there. Merchants, workers, and other important non-colleagues / non-friends / non-family only accept or expect communication through WhatsApp

pbhjpbhj 6y ago

It's not the app or company, it's the network [of people]. You can't switch unless you can convince literally everyone you know (I'm in UK) to switch.

psychart 6y ago

Its like saying: "Why you still on internet, there are dozens of BBS available"