4 ms·

This fallacy of "private entity" when talking about a corporation that's more powerful than most governments is truly ridiculous. It's okay if the East India C

This fallacy of "private entity" when talking about a corporation that's more powerful than most governments is truly ridiculous. It's okay if the East India Company enslaves and exploits the savages and mongrels, murders opponents, rigs elections, installs corrupt politicians and destroys communities; it's a private company and it only hurts stupid people! Just stop buying their tea if you don't like it, amirite? Start your own company!

zepto 5y ago
Except not. Google isn’t more powerful than most governments. They can’t kill or imprison people, or seize land or property. This is simply a false analogy.
- evv555 5y ago
  Google isn't a "private entity" in the sense of a small business either. More like a utility company. False analogy
- prohobo 5y ago
  I recommend reading this article for a quick overview of the current political landscape: https://theconversation.com/who-is-more-powerful-states-or-corporations-99616 https://theconversation.com/who-is-more-powerful-states-or-c... The fact is that states and corporations collude and compete with each other for political control internationally, and corporate power outranks the vast majority of state powers. Weirdly though, I can't find Alphabet Inc. in the power rankings.
- ostenning 5y ago
  What is your definition of "power"? Because I think your perspective is incredibly naive. Google has immense power, far more than most governments. Governments all around the world are often manipulated by corporations like Google, laws are written based off these influences of power, shaping democracy, all the time. If they really wanted to they could do almost anything to you. They could easily steal your identity, they could frame you, they could put you in prison, they could do basically anything. Is this legal? Obviously not, but power extends further than what is legal.
valeness 5y ago
I don't see this same energy when peope want to nationalize internet or electric companies. Why is it that only when media companies moderate the content available on their platform do we suddenly not care about property rights? If we're talking about regulating large corporations because they're monopolizing resources I'd much rather start in the energy sector to set some precedent before we just force youtube and facebook to allow nazis and anti-vaxxers to spout off whatever they want during a global crisis.
- prohobo 5y ago
  Internet and electric companies don't have international political influence, nor major monopolies. I'd rather have an honest discussion about dealing with a global crisis instead of having some asshole decide he's right and shut everyone else out - surely you can imagine the damage caused by a dictator who's wrong?
- NaturalPhallacy 5y ago
  >moderate the content Censor. The word you're looking for is censor.
- oblio 5y ago
  > electric companies You do know that those in many places are called "utilities" and they <<are>> nationalized, right?
  - lp0_on_fire 5y ago
    Even when they aren't nationalized they are more often than not subject to _very_ stringent regulations.
- humanrebar 5y ago
  > Why is it that only when media companies moderate the content available on their platform do we suddenly not care about property rights? I can't speak for what you're paying attention to, but plenty of people are wary of big cats in corporations and big cats in government. You can be against both. The real false narrative is that choosing team red or team blue is the only interesting question and then you can turn your skepticism off.

zepto 5y ago

Except not. Google isn’t more powerful than most governments. They can’t kill or imprison people, or seize land or property. This is simply a false analogy.

evv555 5y ago
Google isn't a "private entity" in the sense of a small business either. More like a utility company. False analogy
prohobo 5y ago
I recommend reading this article for a quick overview of the current political landscape: https://theconversation.com/who-is-more-powerful-states-or-corporations-99616 https://theconversation.com/who-is-more-powerful-states-or-c... The fact is that states and corporations collude and compete with each other for political control internationally, and corporate power outranks the vast majority of state powers. Weirdly though, I can't find Alphabet Inc. in the power rankings.
ostenning 5y ago
What is your definition of "power"? Because I think your perspective is incredibly naive. Google has immense power, far more than most governments. Governments all around the world are often manipulated by corporations like Google, laws are written based off these influences of power, shaping democracy, all the time. If they really wanted to they could do almost anything to you. They could easily steal your identity, they could frame you, they could put you in prison, they could do basically anything. Is this legal? Obviously not, but power extends further than what is legal.

valeness 5y ago

I don't see this same energy when peope want to nationalize internet or electric companies. Why is it that only when media companies moderate the content available on their platform do we suddenly not care about property rights? If we're talking about regulating large corporations because they're monopolizing resources I'd much rather start in the energy sector to set some precedent before we just force youtube and facebook to allow nazis and anti-vaxxers to spout off whatever they want during a global crisis.

prohobo 5y ago
Internet and electric companies don't have international political influence, nor major monopolies. I'd rather have an honest discussion about dealing with a global crisis instead of having some asshole decide he's right and shut everyone else out - surely you can imagine the damage caused by a dictator who's wrong?
NaturalPhallacy 5y ago
>moderate the content Censor. The word you're looking for is censor.
oblio 5y ago
> electric companies You do know that those in many places are called "utilities" and they <<are>> nationalized, right?
- lp0_on_fire 5y ago
  Even when they aren't nationalized they are more often than not subject to _very_ stringent regulations.
humanrebar 5y ago
> Why is it that only when media companies moderate the content available on their platform do we suddenly not care about property rights? I can't speak for what you're paying attention to, but plenty of people are wary of big cats in corporations and big cats in government. You can be against both. The real false narrative is that choosing team red or team blue is the only interesting question and then you can turn your skepticism off.