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> Tech sufferers greatly from a "God Complex" syndrome, and it's exactly what will prevent it from getting better. Even the largest social platforms are not ins
by baryphonic 5y ago
> Tech sufferers greatly from a "God Complex" syndrome, and it's exactly what will prevent it from getting better. Even the largest social platforms are not insulated from bad leadership being accountable, and frankly, that's the reason why things really die a slow death these days.
I think I know what you mean, though I typically frame it almost like they have an Anti-god problem. Big tech leaders are often explicitly trying to avoid passing moral or ethical judgment, so instead rely on "data" or "numbers." What a lot of the "I-follow-data" cultists seem not to realize is that "data" is basically inherently meaningless per se, thus decision-making based on data alone builds interpretive value judgments into the decision rule being used. It also invites fanatics to start producing manipulated/biased/tendentious "data" that appears to be some impartial metric, but is in fact just veiled motivated reasoning exploited to drive an agenda.
Facebook and Google appear to have followed this to its logical extent, allowing literal algorithms to make decisions "based on data." So has Twitter, though Twitter's system is probably even more dysfunctional.
At least when God damns you, you can argue your case and be presented with the evidence and know who to complain to. Tech damnation involves receiving a vaguely-worded message about polices or "community guidelines" being violated (per some unknown interpretation), or no reason at all. You have no recourse or chance to argue your case, even though many times the damnation was an error.
- drewcoo 5y agoI have ample evidence of tech companies passing judgement and punishing people for things I often can't even understand. Despite the rumors, so far I have not seen or even heard of any evidence of a god doing that. Maybe gods need to get a "Tech Complex."
- baryphonic 5y agoWhy does "justice" as a concept exist? How did it evolve? Where is the advantage in it? After all, in non-human species, the runt of the litter tends to die. I have ample evidence that all humans are deeply concerned with this concept, however different their conceptions may be; yet I have seen or heard no evidence that could plausibly explain why it helped sustain us as a species.
- pmayrgundter 5y agoThere are plenty of folks who have studied this on biology and sociology.. this looks like a decent jump off point: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_morality#Primate_sociality https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_morality#Primat... Tho I'd look beyond, towards reciprocity and deception detection in other animals as well
- aklemm 5y agoReally? I can’t believe it needs to be said, but perhaps justice is about transcending the rules of mere sustainability. I’ve always been curious about this course. Maybe this thread will lead me to watch it. https://justiceharvard.org/ https://justiceharvard.org/
- hn_version_0023 5y agoIn my experience, big tech leaders are cowards and hide behind “data” to justify whatever actions they’re looking to take. I’ve watched as teams of “tech leaders” wait and massage “the data” until the data fits the narrative they’re trying to push. I’ll say it again: these are the actions of cowards. I’m ashamed these people are by default charting humanity’s course.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]