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Social Media Moderation

Rexedgar

Rexedgar

Yo-Semite!
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How would you like to work in tech as someone who monitors FB, Instagram and the like for offensive content?
Is there an algorithm for that?
 
Rexedgar said:
How would you like to work in tech as someone who monitors FB, Instagram and the like for offensive content?
Is there an algorithm for that?
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My cousin has worked in that role for FB. Says it's a river of stuff that shocks the conscience, and is incredibly disturbing to view hour by hour, day by day, take some of the worst stuff you can imagine, and double or triple it.

Yes, there are algorithms for lots of it - that's what he did, try to design them - but there are still humans at terminals viewing and deleting a torrent of the worst humanity has to offer all day every day.

That's why any talk of "free speech" on these platforms is so stupid, IMO. Bottom line is it's a very tough, thankless task, that we all who are on any of those platforms would be grateful for if we were allowed to see just one day of unmoderated content.
 
JasperL said:
That's why any talk of "free speech" on these platforms is so stupid, IMO. Bottom line is it's a very tough, thankless task, that we all who are on any of those platforms would be grateful for if we were allowed to see just one day of unmoderated content.
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It's really amazing to see how totally the left has abandoned the concept of free speech.
 
AmNat said:
It's really amazing to see how totally the left has abandoned the concept of free speech.
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You get that this forum is “non-political?” Doncha?
 
AmNat said:
It's really amazing to see how totally the left has abandoned the concept of free speech.
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Private companies aren't bound by the 1A. That's a good thing, actually, as it respects private property rights.
 
JasperL said:
My cousin has worked in that role for FB. Says it's a river of stuff that shocks the conscience, and is incredibly disturbing to view hour by hour, day by day, take some of the worst stuff you can imagine, and double or triple it.

Yes, there are algorithms for lots of it - that's what he did, try to design them - but there are still humans at terminals viewing and deleting a torrent of the worst humanity has to offer all day every day.

That's why any talk of "free speech" on these platforms is so stupid, IMO. Bottom line is it's a very tough, thankless task, that we all who are on any of those platforms would be grateful for if we were allowed to see just one day of unmoderated content.
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This is why I don't do much social media. Anonymity makes monsters of people.

Ever read The Hollow Man?
 
KevinKohler said:
This is why I don't do much social media. Anonymity makes monsters of people.

Ever read The Hollow Man?
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Same problem here although I will take this opportunity to commend you for acting like a dignified human being most of the time.
We don't always agree but I nevertheless look forward to your posts...most of the time ;) :lamo

Yes, the anonymity is a form of poison masquerading as a security blanket.
As you might probably agree, some of the worst people in this forum would most likely act very meek and mild if they thought for one second that their anonymity was about to be compromised.

For me, personally, the notion of "anonymity" is a thin illusion, so I don't believe there is much of it in reality, so instead I try to remember that I am communicating with a real person. I am not by any stretch perfect at it but I do try to bear it in mind.
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
Same problem here although I will take this opportunity to commend you for acting like a dignified human being most of the time.
We don't always agree but I nevertheless look forward to your posts...most of the time ;) :lamo

Yes, the anonymity is a form of poison masquerading as a security blanket.
As you might probably agree, some of the worst people in this forum would most likely act very meek and mild if they thought for one second that their anonymity was about to be compromised.

For me, personally, the notion of "anonymity" is a thin illusion, so I don't believe there is much of it in reality, so instead I try to remember that I am communicating with a real person. I am not by any stretch perfect at it but I do try to bear it in mind.
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Back at you. My position is of unflinching honesty. Comes from my tendency (addiction?) To alcohol. I am forward and honest about, which is kinda like pouring rubbing alcohol on a wound at times...it can hurt, but it won't get infected.

Same here. If I can't be who I am online...if I have to adopt a persona...that speaks volumes about me, doesn't it? Jus be happy with who you are...or work to change that, you know? Anonymity lets us play pretend...but if you have to do it...maybe its time to get loaded on some substances, turn on the bathroom light, stare at yourself in the mirror, and get really honest with yourself.
 
KevinKohler said:
Back at you. My position is of unflinching honesty. Comes from my tendency (addiction?) To alcohol. I am forward and honest about, which is kinda like pouring rubbing alcohol on a wound at times...it can hurt, but it won't get infected.

Same here. If I can't be who I am online...if I have to adopt a persona...that speaks volumes about me, doesn't it? Jus be happy with who you are...or work to change that, you know? Anonymity lets us play pretend...but if you have to do it...maybe its time to get loaded on some substances, turn on the bathroom light, stare at yourself in the mirror, and get really honest with yourself.
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I'm not sure how to interpret the bolded.
Although I never was a drinker, I've followed the career of Charles Bukowski and his writings my entire adult life.
Buk described himself as an unrepentant alcoholic, although by age 65 he did manage to quit drinking for the most part and stuck around until his eightieth birthday.

So, are you saying you are a bit like Bukowski or that you just like to crack open a sixer once in a while?
The former, in the words of Bukowski, takes "endurance" while the latter just means you're a typical guy, aka "Joe Six Pack".
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
I'm not sure how to interpret the bolded.
Although I never was a drinker, I've followed the career of Charles Bukowski and his writings my entire adult life.
Buk described himself as an unrepentant alcoholic, although by age 65 he did manage to quit drinking for the most part and stuck around until his eightieth birthday.

So, are you saying you are a bit like Bukowski or that you just like to crack open a sixer once in a while?
The former, in the words of Bukowski, takes "endurance" while the latter just means you're a typical guy, aka "Joe Six Pack".
Click to expand...

I won't allow myself to drink more than once per week, I never allow hard alcohol in the house, and after parties, I make people take the leftover beer, if there's a lot of it.

That 1 night I do drink, I drink enough to kill small mammals, typically 12 beers, craft, so anywhere between 7% app, to 11%. And if I bought more, I'd drink more. Lately, I am able to get by most days without thinking about how bad I want to get loaded, but as my "night off" approaches, I think about it more, get excited, etc. If I allowed myself to, I'd be a raging drink, I think.

Honesty keeps it in check. Honesty with my wife, friends, coworkers, etc.
 
Helix said:
looks like they are contractors.

Facebook content moderators expose disturbing working conditions

don't work as a contractor if you can avoid it. one reason that large wealthy companies pretend that full time employees are independent contractors is so that they can pay them a lot less and avoid some labor laws.
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Trump won't address it, but whoever follows him, needs to fix those laws, along with the internship situation we have.
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
I'm not sure how to interpret the bolded.
Although I never was a drinker, I've followed the career of Charles Bukowski and his writings my entire adult life.
Buk described himself as an unrepentant alcoholic, although by age 65 he did manage to quit drinking for the most part and stuck around until his eightieth birthday.

So, are you saying you are a bit like Bukowski or that you just like to crack open a sixer once in a while?
The former, in the words of Bukowski, takes "endurance" while the latter just means you're a typical guy, aka "Joe Six Pack".
Click to expand...

on the rare occasions I drink liquor, its either bourbon or aged rum, and ill kill the bottle that night. I only do that if I have a buddy with me, else I might do something stupid, like drive to get more.
 
KevinKohler said:
Trump won't address it, but whoever follows him, needs to fix those laws, along with the internship situation we have.
Click to expand...

i don't really expect the other side to address it, either.
 
Helix said:
looks like they are contractors.

Facebook content moderators expose disturbing working conditions

don't work as a contractor if you can avoid it. one reason that large wealthy companies pretend that full time employees are independent contractors is so that they can pay them a lot less and avoid some labor laws.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. Here's the main article referenced in that CNBC piece. It's pretty disturbing.

Facebook moderators break their NDAs to expose desperate working conditions - The Verge
 
JasperL said:
Private companies aren't bound by the 1A. That's a good thing, actually, as it respects private property rights.
Click to expand...

Muh Private Company
 
AmNat said:
Muh Private Company
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I'm not sure what that means, sorry.

Are you not a fan of private property? Have you read the 1st Amendment? Do you understand private property owners aren't bound by it?

Did you know that where you're posting now, this very forum, can kick you off for any or no reason, and you have no recourse, no right to sue, no right even to a hearing or to send an email and have it read and responded to by our Dictatorial but Benevolent Moderating Team (who do a great job and whose efforts I appreciate!).
 
Helix said:
i don't really expect the other side to address it, either.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I agree.

That's why, after Trump, I'm gonna vote for his opposite in the Dem party. And they WILL run someone like it...
 
KevinKohler said:
Yeah. I agree.

That's why, after Trump, I'm gonna vote for his opposite in the Dem party. And they WILL run someone like it...
Click to expand...

we'll see. i'm not ready to make a prediction about who they will run. i will vote against him, though.
 
JasperL said:
I'm not sure what that means, sorry.

Are you not a fan of private property? Have you read the 1st Amendment? Do you understand private property owners aren't bound by it?

Did you know that where you're posting now, this very forum, can kick you off for any or no reason, and you have no recourse, no right to sue, no right even to a hearing or to send an email and have it read and responded to by our Dictatorial but Benevolent Moderating Team (who do a great job and whose efforts I appreciate!).
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of giant corporate monopolies dictating the terms of public discourse. The left is obviously just fine with that, however.
 
Helix said:
we'll see. i'm not ready to make a prediction about who they will run. i will vote against him, though.
Click to expand...

Oh no, I'm talking about after Trump. At their present course, the Dems are well on their way to handing Trump 4 more years, lol. Which is amazing, when you think about it.

No, I'm talking, 8 years from now. We have a fresh start.
 
AmNat said:
I'm not a fan of giant corporate monopolies dictating the terms of public discourse. The left is obviously just fine with that, however.
Click to expand...

Facebook isn't public.
 
KevinKohler said:
Oh no, I'm talking about after Trump. At their present course, the Dems are well on their way to handing Trump 4 more years, lol. Which is amazing, when you think about it.

No, I'm talking, 8 years from now. We have a fresh start.
Click to expand...

it's too early to accurately predict at this point.
 
AmNat said:
I'm not a fan of giant corporate monopolies dictating the terms of public discourse. The left is obviously just fine with that, however.
Click to expand...

I'm actually opposed to giant corporate monopolies existing, and believe that there is where the real issue is, not with the fact that Facebook does what the forum you're posting on now does, which is moderate content.

Just for example, if Facebook had 10 major competitors (and it kind of does in some ways but this is an example), then what they do or don't censor wouldn't matter all that much, because if you were booted from FB or Twitter, you had other options. If Twitter was too mean to right wingers, OK, then there would be another option for all you oppressed conservatives. It's only a problem because there's little competition to some of these outlets. If YouTube bans you, and that's how you make money, through video and ads on them, then you're kind of screwed. But the core problem isn't YouTube banning you, it's that there are few options.

As a comparison, if someone goes into a restaurant with their MAGA hat and gets banned, who cares? It might be inconvenient, unfair!, but there are 100s of MAGA supporting restaurants around here, and so 100s of options for that person to get a bite to eat and a cold beer. He could tell all his MAGA friends to boycott that restaurant! Etc. One can't boycott YouTube and have the same access to billions of potential viewers.
 
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