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“The only difference between your phone and China's social credit system is that China tells you what they're doing.” Weird take. There’s a massive difference
by rlt 1y ago
“The only difference between your phone and China's social credit system is that China tells you what they're doing.”
Weird take. There’s a massive difference between a centralized government-run system and a decentralized system run by individual companies.
Credit scores are closest but limited to financial behaviors
- causal 1y agoCredit scores are used for a lot more than finances. You could argue everything they're used for is tied to money some way, but since everything is being sold to us as a service that doesn't leave much out. They are also very much not decentralized.
- 0xffff2 1y ago> Credit scores are used for a lot more than finances. Such as? I'm wracking my brain, but I can't think of a single non-financial situation where someone has asked to pull my credit.
- causal 1y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_credit_scoring_systems_in_the_United_States#Discriminatory_effects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_credit_scoring_sy...
- hlhdlhcohcv 1y agohousing? security clearance? preemployment checks?
- 0xffff2 1y agoHousing is categorically a financial transaction. Clearances are a far broader investigation, but to the extent that they look at your credit, I believe it is also to establish your financial status, which is most definitely a significant component of the clearance process. Preemployment: I admit to not having started a new job in many years... Is there any evidence whatsoever you can present that companies regularly reject candidates not in a position of financial trust for having poor credit?
- causal 1y agoHey I see you're quibbling on details, maybe because you feel determined to win an argument to save face or something. I must point out that nobody here cares whether you were wrong, and digging in your heels even after multiple people provided multiple examples just drags the conversation to unproductive places. As I said in the first reply, there is very little behavior you cannot tie money to in some way, so you can go down this path forever of trying to find a reason why credit scores are totally valid proxies for all human behavior, and you would be technically correct while missing the point entirely.
- hiatus 1y agoWhat's your point? If people will extend you credit for things like an apartment (since there is risk you will stop paying) or for a car, it seems sensible to perform credit checks then. What else are scores used for that don't intersect with someone trusting you with their property?
- causal 1y agoAgain, missing the point - it is a system that has become a centralized digital scoring mechanism. This is dangerous because it centralizes power, giving institutions that are not even under democratic control the power to punish individuals or groups as they see fit across all sectors of life.
- hiatus 1y agoThis is sensational. You said > Credit scores are used for a lot more than finances. but you can't provide a concrete example. > giving institutions that are not even under democratic control Which institutions? Banks? Landlords? Other people trusting you with their property? > the power to punish individuals or groups as they see fit across all sectors of life. Where? How?
- ux266478 1y ago
- red-iron-pine 1y agohousing is definitely a thing -- arguably the largest / main use of a credit score. clearances don't apply to the population on the whole -- you have to willing apply to a cleared role. and you're going to be spending the gov's money and handling secrets, it makes sense to see if they can handle said money, cuz if they can't they'll sell secrets I've never heard of a pre-emplyment check requiring a credit score. sexually harassing a fellow employee and getting fired will not end up on your credit as long as you can pay bills, and even if you can't, the lack of bills is what shows up, not bad work behavior
- ActorNightly 1y agoThe thing about credit scores is that its deterministic. I.e no matter which ideology you come from, you can have a good credit score with deterministic practices. Meanwhile, in China, social credit is ideological in nature. I.e if you disagree, even if you are factually correct, you get penalized.