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If you read through Facebook's guidelines for developers, there is a subtle but consistent undertone: don't do anything that makes people feel uncomfortable. Ba

by unconed 14y ago

If you read through Facebook's guidelines for developers, there is a subtle but consistent undertone: don't do anything that makes people feel uncomfortable. Basically, they want Facebook to be a completely positive experience which strokes your ego to boost. No dislikes, no exposure to people you don't like. It's designed to be the ideal filter bubble.

nnq 14y ago
That's the problem: their mindset is excellent for accelerated growth, but not for "healthy" social interaction. I hope they get over this "growth" phase or that their competitors get more traction (though they'll have to use the same "growth accelerating" tactics with their side effects). People need negative experiences too! Negative experiences make "good" people and keep people "good"! (if not overdosing them) "Goodness" is relative, but any sub-group can choose its definition of good/bad by liking/disliking certain things. You can't have constructive or productive interaction without negative feedback, and even Fb knows this: as I last heard Fb engineers of some groups have a star rating and dislike buttons on their profiles to receive and give feedback about their work. And social interaction that's constructive or "productive", even just at an emotional level is the only one that should be encouraged! Anything else is basically informational masturbation, and you do get "blind" from too much of it...
ryguytilidie 14y ago
Great point and I think this is my biggest problem with Facebook actually. Now that most of my peers are doing fairly well, no one seems interested in anything but complete, feel good narcissism. Important issues in the world? I don't want to think about that because it will make me sad. Oh look my friend is drinking on the beach? LIKE. The best part is how predictable it is. I definitely refrain from posting "important" things if I know people would react poorly because they aren't just straight feel good garbage, whereas today I'm in Hawaii and posted a pic of the beach and it got a ton of likes. It makes me feel like people become accepting (read: ignorant) of sad stuff in the interest of liking every pretty, fun, positive thing they see.

by unconed 14y ago

nnq 14y ago

That's the problem: their mindset is excellent for accelerated growth, but not for "healthy" social interaction. I hope they get over this "growth" phase or that their competitors get more traction (though they'll have to use the same "growth accelerating" tactics with their side effects). People need negative experiences too! Negative experiences make "good" people and keep people "good"! (if not overdosing them) "Goodness" is relative, but any sub-group can choose its definition of good/bad by liking/disliking certain things. You can't have constructive or productive interaction without negative feedback, and even Fb knows this: as I last heard Fb engineers of some groups have a star rating and dislike buttons on their profiles to receive and give feedback about their work. And social interaction that's constructive or "productive", even just at an emotional level is the only one that should be encouraged! Anything else is basically informational masturbation, and you do get "blind" from too much of it...

ryguytilidie 14y ago

Great point and I think this is my biggest problem with Facebook actually. Now that most of my peers are doing fairly well, no one seems interested in anything but complete, feel good narcissism. Important issues in the world? I don't want to think about that because it will make me sad. Oh look my friend is drinking on the beach? LIKE. The best part is how predictable it is. I definitely refrain from posting "important" things if I know people would react poorly because they aren't just straight feel good garbage, whereas today I'm in Hawaii and posted a pic of the beach and it got a ton of likes. It makes me feel like people become accepting (read: ignorant) of sad stuff in the interest of liking every pretty, fun, positive thing they see.