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I've never said they're "selling privacy", whatever that means. Presumably, that's shorthand for selling access to personal information, which is a simplistic c

by vor_ 14y ago

I've never said they're "selling privacy", whatever that means. Presumably, that's shorthand for selling access to personal information, which is a simplistic characterization but not entirely inaccurate with respect to how targeted advertising works. However, I don't understand how it is spreading FUD to point out that an advertising company sells eyeballs. It seems like you're focusing on connotations of terminology, but rephrasing what Google or NBC does doesn't change what it is they do: selling eyeballs. Why do you think Super Bowl spots are so expensive? Maybe this clashes with the image you have of Google as a benevolent group of engineers who just want to make the world a better place. Certainly, a company can be comprised of employees who care about technology but also rely on a business model that might be cynically criticized or, at the least, described in a way that may not appear as benevolent as you previously thought. However, that wasn't even my intent. I was just being concise.

stanleydrew 14y ago
I can appreciate conciseness. And I agree that you were being concise. I also agree that I am focusing on the connotations of the words you used. That's the thing about FUD: usually the words are technically accurate. But the connotation ensures that a deeper, scarier message is conveyed. I do take you at your word though that it was not your intention. Take this discussion then as a warning that your statement may not have come off as you intended it to. It is not FUD to point out that a company sells eyeballs. If you had said "Google sells users' eyeballs to its customers: advertisers" you would have received no complaint from me. Adding that single word, "eyeballs", entirely clarifies your statement. Without it, people will need to fill in something else since we all know Google isn't literally selling its users to advertisers. A lot of people will interpret your statement as "Google sells users' personal information to its customers: advertisers." Leaving out the clarification made it seem as though you wanted to allow the reader to draw a more frightening conclusion about Google's business model than is justified by reality. Anyway I think we both agree. I have friends at Google, but they are in ad sales and HR not engineering. So I certainly don't think of Google as merely a "benevolent group of engineers." I have no problem calling out their business model for what it is. But accuracy and precision is important, especially when being concise.

by vor_ 14y ago

stanleydrew 14y ago

I can appreciate conciseness. And I agree that you were being concise. I also agree that I am focusing on the connotations of the words you used. That's the thing about FUD: usually the words are technically accurate. But the connotation ensures that a deeper, scarier message is conveyed. I do take you at your word though that it was not your intention. Take this discussion then as a warning that your statement may not have come off as you intended it to. It is not FUD to point out that a company sells eyeballs. If you had said "Google sells users' eyeballs to its customers: advertisers" you would have received no complaint from me. Adding that single word, "eyeballs", entirely clarifies your statement. Without it, people will need to fill in something else since we all know Google isn't literally selling its users to advertisers. A lot of people will interpret your statement as "Google sells users' personal information to its customers: advertisers." Leaving out the clarification made it seem as though you wanted to allow the reader to draw a more frightening conclusion about Google's business model than is justified by reality. Anyway I think we both agree. I have friends at Google, but they are in ad sales and HR not engineering. So I certainly don't think of Google as merely a "benevolent group of engineers." I have no problem calling out their business model for what it is. But accuracy and precision is important, especially when being concise.