While I understand that this is a serious debate, I have but one suggestion: If you don’t like Facebook, don’t join it! I’d like to remind you that Facebook is both completely free and voluntary. If you don’t like the Privacy Policy, delete your account.
You know, if I had a dime for every time someone responded to a similar discussion by saying "well, if you don't like it, don't use it, 'cause nobody's forcing you to", I'd probably be a lot better off than I am.
It's not that it's an incorrect statement. On the contrary, it's almost always true. What bothers me is that it doesn't really contribute anything to the discussion. Is Apple doing the right thing with their anti-Flash iPhone policy? Who cares, nobody's forcing you to use iPhone or develop for it. Is the privacy of an average Facebook user steadily eroding or not? If so, why is Facebook doing this? Who cares, if you don't like their privacy policy, don't use Facebook.
Enough people doing that is bound to draw some of Mark’s attention.
Why do you think so many people are making a fuss over Facebook's privacy issues? It's not just about one's own privacy settings, it's also about raising awareness. Sure, if I had real use for my Facebook account I could keep fiddling with my privacy settings until they're just right, instead of deleting my account. But just because those details will probably go over my 60+ year old mother's head, doesn't mean she will want everyone to have access to what used to be private or to what she expects to be private.
I think the worry is that we are already locked in and Facebook will turn into a Microsoft type company we'll be stuck with a system where it's very hard for anyone to compete effectively and innovate.
You have to least have an account to find out what most of friends and family are doing, so not having an account is not really a viable option for most. Saying you won't have an account on Facebook, at this point is like saying you won't have phone because you don't like the phone company and that's ok because you can use some alternative that not connected to the system everyone else uses.
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[ 2.6 ms ] story [ 19.0 ms ] threadYou know, if I had a dime for every time someone responded to a similar discussion by saying "well, if you don't like it, don't use it, 'cause nobody's forcing you to", I'd probably be a lot better off than I am.
It's not that it's an incorrect statement. On the contrary, it's almost always true. What bothers me is that it doesn't really contribute anything to the discussion. Is Apple doing the right thing with their anti-Flash iPhone policy? Who cares, nobody's forcing you to use iPhone or develop for it. Is the privacy of an average Facebook user steadily eroding or not? If so, why is Facebook doing this? Who cares, if you don't like their privacy policy, don't use Facebook.
Enough people doing that is bound to draw some of Mark’s attention.
Why do you think so many people are making a fuss over Facebook's privacy issues? It's not just about one's own privacy settings, it's also about raising awareness. Sure, if I had real use for my Facebook account I could keep fiddling with my privacy settings until they're just right, instead of deleting my account. But just because those details will probably go over my 60+ year old mother's head, doesn't mean she will want everyone to have access to what used to be private or to what she expects to be private.
Reddit has had more intelligent discussions. How is this on the front page of HN?
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1395410
You have to least have an account to find out what most of friends and family are doing, so not having an account is not really a viable option for most. Saying you won't have an account on Facebook, at this point is like saying you won't have phone because you don't like the phone company and that's ok because you can use some alternative that not connected to the system everyone else uses.