a big chunk of the people who read HN are the exact people responsible for the systems and algorithms that create (and perpetuate) the solipsistic hell-mirror described in the article
my least favorite part of engineering is that it is led by smart, capable humans who diligently build systems to destroy the best things about being a human
Facebook was actually fun until monetization and creepiness destroyed the vibe.
Now you get reminded every two friend posts (of those that still do) of a creepily targeted ad, and then of course another 1-2 posts mixed in from "friends" trying to monetize their daily reiki personal training life coach bullshit, but you keep them around because you've known them for a long time.
Manipulative ads that are coarsely targeted I think we got used to from television. But manipulative ads with foreknowledge of your medical google searches is fucking creepy.
The engineers were following the orders of the businessmen. Does it excuse it? No, but I'm hard pressed to see any salaried employee not actively working against the greater interests of mankind and the world.
Hell is truly us. We are our greatest and only true enemy.
> Facebook was actually fun until monetization and creepiness destroyed the vibe
The same can be said of social media generally. Some manage to disguise it better than others, but they are all selling you, the user, your data and your attention, to sell ads. To do that, they work hard to show you a world that they think you want to see.
I’m still hoping it’s slowly getting better though.
I just recently had some eye-opening actual seeing-forest-from-the-trees moment myself through this book and the different insider perspectives collected therein:
There were a lot of smart capable humans working for the Nazis as well. The issue is not so much the individual, as the social/economic system they're a part of.
my least favorite part of engineering is that it is led by smart, capable humans who diligently build systems to destroy the best things about being a human