Google and Facebook are creating "1984"

[JTHunter]

For your consideration.

How Google and Facebook Will Turn the Nation Against Gun Owners
You probably think Facebook and Google are throwing off geysers of money by dominating an industry known as “online advertising”, but those of us who’ve spent time on the inside of this beast know the industry by its true name: mass behavior modification.
It’s only a matter of time before these two companies openly go on the attack against American gun ownership, and when they do, they’ll form a foe far greater than any we’ve faced before. If you don’t believe that they can turn the tide of public opinion on firearms, a tide that lately seems to be going in our favor, then you’re not paying attention.
http://www.alloutdoor.com/2016/09/1...ent=2016-09-17&utm_campaign=Weekly+Newsletter

Part of the info in the article above links to two others. Here's one from The Guardian.

Facebook reveals news feed experiment to control emotions
It already knows whether you are single or dating, the first school you went to and whether you like or loathe Justin Bieber. But now Facebook, the world's biggest social networking site, is facing a storm of protest after it revealed it had discovered how to make users feel happier or sadder with a few computer key strokes.
It has published details of a vast experiment in which it manipulated information posted on 689,000 users' home pages and found it could make people feel more positive or negative through a process of "emotional contagion".
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/29/facebook-users-emotions-news-feeds

 

[Jeff White]

This is off topic here and even though it's an important subject, it's not a fit in ST&T.

I'll ask the other mods if they think it fits in any of the other sub forums.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[230RN]

It is an important subject, but I'd like to see more concrete references. I reckon it would fit well in general... not sure if it's too political for that, though --you know, "1984," et alia.

However, with the critical importance of the upcoming election (and don't tell me "Wul, all elections are critically important"), I'd like to see THR loosen up the rules about political discussions a wee bit.

Terry

 

[RX-79G]

Is there some particular reason to believe Facebook or Google will bother to invest themselves in gun control? Does gun control make them wealthier?

 

[barnbwt]

Does gun control make them wealthier?

Yes. They've closely aligned themselves with a political party to benefit from favorable regulation, and that party happens to be staunchly anti-gun. Are you new here, RX?

 

[230RN]

Is there some particular reason to believe Facebook or Google will bother to invest themselves in gun control? Does gun control make them wealthier?

Particular reason? Sure. Try passionate self-righteousness, same as that restaurant owner in Maine, as well as other examples.

(Even though the "righteous" part of it is questionable.)

 

[orionengnr]

Facebook reveals news feed experiment to control emotions
It already knows whether you are single or dating, the first school you went to and whether you like or loathe Justin Bieber.

Ah, no...it doesn't.
And that is by my choice.
You are free to make the same choice.

 

[hso]

This isn't the place to wring our hands or rant. We're supposed to try to come up with ideas on how to work on the identified problem.

Currently FB is getting international news attention for editing content and that discussion is an opportunity to pointerview out not only the nanny tendencies, but suppression of the flow of information and discussions that FB abuses as part of a social agenda. For an organization that fought for Internet freedom, to claim impartiality and "filter" pro 2A news feed content is a form of social engineering.

 

[Tirod]

IIRC Google was already complicit with banning urls in China and limiting search results, so it's not news they already despise an open net.

As for Facebook their policy has been turning into an anti gun atmosphere for a long time.

Given that the mainstream media has been doing that in print and tv for decades, how have we come to this moment where there are more gun owners and guns than ever? Apparently their efforts weren't that successful - we've gone from a handful of states with CCW to 45, and the AWB was a failure.

If Facebook alone can alter the mood of the nation in light of this election, why haven't they already? Just ramp up the feelz for those who indulge and it will be all rainbows and unicorns already.

Nope, FB doesn't have that kind of impact. It's why competing forms of social media keep getting invented - and every time their admins come up with some form of censorship, it creates more demand for a completely uncensored source. Of note are the number of posters who declared they have abandoned FB and moved on to other sites. Many already did when it became overpopulated with mainstream commercial interests. It's not the site a significant number of millenials even bother with any more.

Nope, tin foil hat article.

As for google some DON'T use Chrome anymore and moved to Firefox. My last phone was on Opera for a browser and the present one may be "smart" but I'm smart enough not to surf the net on it. It's a communications device only - not my primary internet portal.

That is just one example of how the article fails to explain where the manipulation of millions is taking place - if you don't participate you aren't being targeted in the first place.

Now, lets include Win 10 and the significant efforts being made to shut off it's data gathering and app it with blockers. See the point? People aren't mindless sheep being harvested by political interests as much as some fear.

Next step Linux - to get away from Microsoft. Most of us don't need Windows just to surf the net, the first product out that can boot itself up for that will be a major seller.

 

[boom boom]

Tirod,
Opera browser was bought by the Chinese last month. Even before that, it was only a skin (look and feel with some extensions) of chrome.

Open source version of Chrome is called Chromium which might appeal and if you like Linux--there are quite a few browsers out there.

If you want to circumvent Google's collection of your search links--try ixstart.com which is European based and uses semi secure https interface.

Twitter also now is banning scores of users for badthink, even the mighty Instapundit (Law Professor Glenn Reynolds) yesterday.

Be careful out there.

 

[230RN]

Yeah, I use ixquick dot com too. To me, even if they aren't as "secure" and "private" as they say, I hate Gargle with an abiding red passion.

I won't even spell that name out.

My passions are few but furious.

I wouldn't mind seeing ixquick come out with a browser.

Terry

 

[Tirod]

Yes, before Opera was allied to Chrome it was it's own code. So now it's just camoflaged and no better.

I dumped IE, moved to Chrome, when it became bloated moved to Firefox. Tried Opera on a feature phone and considered it until someone pulled the curtains aside to see who the man was behind it pulling the levers.

Linux and TOR seem the next best step in whatever combo. Since my footprint is minimal on the net with few financial transactions I'm ok so far, the DOD hack was a bigger failure in opsec, now Yahoo has been mined for 500 million users data and Win 8 is compromised. I was thinking not upgrading to 10 was the better choice but it's now moot.

Commercial interests have been data mining their customers since newsboys reported back what neighborhoods were better to sell papers in when breaking news editions came out. You go where people and money are. It's no different today. To get our money they will still have to grudgingly come to us for it - or abandon the market, which makes them NO money.

IIRC the CA Teachers Union still owns stock in Remington, financials and moneymaking usually outvote politics. If they sell off they lose millions because they would be the reason the prices are so low. It gets complicated, like sitting on a metric ton of diamonds or 10,000 S&W third gen guns. You don't want to flood the market and tank it. You have to trickle them out.

FB is going to leave some hooks in their system to retain customers - one dodge has been to make a page listing guns for sale a private group only unavailable to the public. So those who look for them aren't finding any and it makes it seem as if the problem is getting solved. Not so much.

 

[v35]

Google's anti-gun stance is a well established fact. If you question that, and you should, see for yourself:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=google+anti-gun

Solution: don't use their products. Oh, but how can you do that you say? You need Google!

No you don't. Google is not your friend. Google isn't even the best search engine any more. Far from it. Their search results are skewed toward targeted advertising and their business model depends on constantly Hoovering up your personal information "by whatever means necessary" on whatever device you use, however you use it. You are the product Google sells. Those are not my words, they are the words of a federal judge dismissing a privacy case brought against them years ago. If you want the reference I'll find it – and I don't need Google to do that.

This forum is about activism? Boycott Google's products. For one suggestion, examine the above link. All web browsers allow you to choose your search engine. You're using a web browser right now. There will never be a better time than right now for you to change it.

Google also developed the Android system that they give away for free. If you use an Android phone, you are supporting Google. If you use Chrome you are supporting Google. They make lots of products available for free. Why do you think they do that? How did they become so outrageously successful by giving stuff away? Think about it.

It's also well-established fact that their company spends has been spending lavishly on lobbying Congress and the White House, the most of any technology company, by far. Why do you suppose that is? Oh guess what tech company is not far behind Google? That's right, Facebook. (source http://disclosures.house.gov/ld/ldsearch.aspx)

Do you agree THR participants tend to be self-reliant? Those who reject the herd mentality? Or do you just think you do? Put your money where your mouth is. Don't be a sheep. Don't use Google.

As for Facebook I wouldn't know, I never had any use for it. Nothing good ever comes from using Facebook.

 

[AZAndy]

Since operating systems and browsers have been mentioned, this privacy recommendations website may be of interest. Computers are what I do for a living, and it's what I point people to when I get questions about online safety. There are browser and search engine suggestions, as well as VPNs and such.

 

[Pilot]

Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, etc are all virulently anti legal gun ownership, and anti American values. They, along with our Federal government, and many state governments are social engineering society to be totally dependent on government, and that means removing legally owned guns from law abiding citizens.