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I fucking hate these companies that exist solely to take the work and effort of individuals entering data into their systems who then turn around and lock it al

by heyoni 3y ago

I fucking hate these companies that exist solely to take the work and effort of individuals entering data into their systems who then turn around and lock it all up in the name of money. I’m keeping an eye on Wikipedia but the worst offender next to Reddit is IMBD. They aggregate information and reviews and ratings from users and for like, two decades? Share proper dumps of that information because why not…give back to the community. They wouldn’t exist without them. And then decide to strip those dumps of all useful information and paywall the rest behind some expensive API while what…expecting users to keep contributing? They’re all scum bags and the whole lot needs to be federated. I’m already paying $30/year for mastodon (as a donation) and I’m sure this can work with Reddit as well. I hear the front runner is Lemmy but haven’t explored it yet. Now I will and I hope it’s good.

Baeocystin 3y ago
Holding data hostage (to a subscription) is such a strong attractor that it has completely obliterated every other model. And I hate it. It makes everything worse, for everybody. I don't know what will replace it, but my clients are all already groaning under the load, and I don't blame them one bit. // On a completely different subject, but to end on a happier note, I want to thank you for recommending citrulline a couple weeks ago. It's made a surprisingly large difference for me, and it hadn't been on my radar as something to even try before you mentioned it. So, thanks!
- heyoni 3y ago
  You’re super welcome for the recommendation. Been taking it and it’s been good so far. Another one I came across is Tribulus and it seems like the NIH has good things to say about it but the Wikipedia entry for it has it backwards so I’m making it my homework to go over the NIG studies before suggesting edits. Here’s a link: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/dietary-supplements-marketed-for-weight-loss-bodybuilding-and-sexual-enhancement-science https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/dietary-su... Now back to IMDB…it really saddens me to see communities build really elaborate software around these websites just to have the rug pulled out from under them and turn their efforts into monoliths of nothing. We’ve had decentralized forums since the days of BBS’ (Usenet), spent 3 decades pouring knowledge into branded communities just to end up locked out of them and are now finally going full circle back into federated platforms. I hope the momentum sticks because now we have the potential to democratize and open source AI but that’s only possible if the zeitgeist isn’t paywalled. I’ve heard rumors that Reddit execs feel miffed about not turning a profit from the recent wave of LLMs because for a lot of people it really is the front page of the internet and lots of information has been poured into it. If that’s the case, then it’s as the old saying goes “good things are often ruined by the few”.
__david__ 3y ago
Don't forget Gracenote, who was founded on this very principle. It just keep happening and happening, too. https://thetvdb.com/ https://thetvdb.com/ is the latest one I've seen. User generated content, open API (with request throttling to prevent abuse) for years and now some media company swoops in, buys it and goodbye free API! It's spitting in the face of their entire community and really infuriating.
- heyoni 3y ago
  Got sold to Roku right? Yea, I’m just waiting for the day where they block us out of that one too. I have scripts that download all of their initial data and then daily diffs for a project I gave up on.

by heyoni 3y ago

Baeocystin 3y ago

Holding data hostage (to a subscription) is such a strong attractor that it has completely obliterated every other model. And I hate it. It makes everything worse, for everybody. I don't know what will replace it, but my clients are all already groaning under the load, and I don't blame them one bit. // On a completely different subject, but to end on a happier note, I want to thank you for recommending citrulline a couple weeks ago. It's made a surprisingly large difference for me, and it hadn't been on my radar as something to even try before you mentioned it. So, thanks!

heyoni 3y ago
You’re super welcome for the recommendation. Been taking it and it’s been good so far. Another one I came across is Tribulus and it seems like the NIH has good things to say about it but the Wikipedia entry for it has it backwards so I’m making it my homework to go over the NIG studies before suggesting edits. Here’s a link: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/dietary-supplements-marketed-for-weight-loss-bodybuilding-and-sexual-enhancement-science https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/dietary-su... Now back to IMDB…it really saddens me to see communities build really elaborate software around these websites just to have the rug pulled out from under them and turn their efforts into monoliths of nothing. We’ve had decentralized forums since the days of BBS’ (Usenet), spent 3 decades pouring knowledge into branded communities just to end up locked out of them and are now finally going full circle back into federated platforms. I hope the momentum sticks because now we have the potential to democratize and open source AI but that’s only possible if the zeitgeist isn’t paywalled. I’ve heard rumors that Reddit execs feel miffed about not turning a profit from the recent wave of LLMs because for a lot of people it really is the front page of the internet and lots of information has been poured into it. If that’s the case, then it’s as the old saying goes “good things are often ruined by the few”.

__david__ 3y ago

Don't forget Gracenote, who was founded on this very principle. It just keep happening and happening, too. https://thetvdb.com/ https://thetvdb.com/ is the latest one I've seen. User generated content, open API (with request throttling to prevent abuse) for years and now some media company swoops in, buys it and goodbye free API! It's spitting in the face of their entire community and really infuriating.

heyoni 3y ago
Got sold to Roku right? Yea, I’m just waiting for the day where they block us out of that one too. I have scripts that download all of their initial data and then daily diffs for a project I gave up on.