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"These reports don’t for one minute think that this is just a fun app — an app that most people will run once, laugh heartily (or a little nervously), and then
by silentscope 15y ago
"These reports don’t for one minute think that this is just a fun app — an app that most people will run once, laugh heartily (or a little nervously), and then never look at it again."
For most people the sentence above is true. But I don't think anyone's surprised to hear that there are dangerous people in the world. Yep, they exist and they can hurt people--they HAVE hurt people. Closing your eyes to something doesn't make it disappear, just harder to see.
We're not worried about "cyber rapists" because there are no such thing as a "cyber rapists". Rape happens in the real world.
This app won't change nightlife into a horrible dangerous place--but it doesn't make the world a better place either. This is the dark side of technology because it makes the world cheaper, less incredible. It's alienating and scary and makes people more cautious. It does society a disservice--the only people it does a service for are the people who's motives are questionable.
I'm not saying you don't have a point. You do. We can discuss this without being so up-in-arms about it. But one extreme is just as bad as the other. When the counterpoint bar is set at 'We'll look at it then just delete it,' I think we can agree that this app is a problem. The question is how bad is it?
- georgieporgie 15y agothere are no such thing as a "cyber rapists". Rape happens in the real world You're being obtuse.
- DanBC 15y agoMany people were being raped before this app appeared. Many people will be raped after this app, but none of those will have any connect to this app. Most women who are raped are raped by someone who knows them. There are serious problems with privacy settings of various websites, and this app is a nifty creepy way to highlight those problems. But suggesting it is "rapetastic" is just hyperbole and unhelpful.
- silentscope 15y agoYou're right. But as a society, it's up to us to make the world a better place, not excuse it for what it is. I have no idea what happens "mostly" with rape, nor would I use it as a reason why this app isn't bad. There are many problems with online privacy, and I partially blame every app that takes part. The app isn't "rapetastic." It's not inciting violence, it doesn't have a google maps "getaway" feature. It just makes the world more dangerous at worst and more mediocre at best. In cases such as this, I err on the side of more criticism, not less. But that's just me...