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> Cloudflare is not a public service, Isn't it, though? I see people are still desperately clinging to this "websites aren't public services" narrative but as
by bakugo 4y ago
> Cloudflare is not a public service,
Isn't it, though?
I see people are still desperately clinging to this "websites aren't public services" narrative but as the years go by it's becoming increasingly clear that it just isn't entirely true.
The whole logic behind the "it's a private space/service so they can deny service to whoever they want" argument is that, if a user is denied service, they can seek service from an alternative provider elsewhere, usually without much difficulty. If the other providers also don't want to provide the service, fair enough. But this isn't really the case in the modern web because you often don't have alternatives. If you are denied service by cloudflare, you can't just go to another cloudflare down the street. Same with many other major online services that are effectively monopolies in their field.
- nightpool 4y ago> If you are denied service by cloudflare, you can't just go to another cloudflare down the street ... Why not? Fastly, AWS, CDN77, Google, etc all still exist.
- bakugo 4y agoWhich of those provide a similar feature set to cloudflare for the same price? Even ignoring the fact that none of them have a free plan, they all cost significantly more than cloudflare's base paid plan and almost certainly provide less. I can't even see Fastly's prices without signing up.
- sfe22 4y agoThat means cloudflare is such a good company for offering cheap and good service, yet somehow we find a way to attack them because their competition is not “as good”. What a shame that this company that is not supporting their competitors?
- tambourine_man 4y ago> Isn't it, though? Nope. Do we elect the board? Do they charge mandatory taxes in the currency only they can emit and will they have an armed force arest you if you don't pay? > But this isn't really the case in the modern web because you often don't have alternatives. Facebook and Google really are a monopoly in the West and that's a problem with must deal with. Cloudflare, thankfully, is far from being a monopoly anywhere but in our tech bubble.
- bakugo 4y agoI'm not speaking in a strictly legal sense. Because this isn't a strictly legal issue.
- sfe22 4y agoI have been waiting for someone to mention this board stuff. A question for you: If facebook opened up their board for votes by public, imposed mandatory taxes on Americans and had a police to control the population, would we still be living in a democracy?
- tambourine_man 4y agoThe only way I can kind of envision what you’re saying is for Facebook to be nationalized. Is that what you’re referring to? If so, sure, it’s a democracy still.
- sfe22 4y agoThe will make sure to nationalize themselves or whatever no worries, just making sure it is still democracy.