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YouTube Sponsored Freedom of Expression Award Goes to YouTube CEO [video]

127 points| kyleblarson | 4 years ago |youtube.com | reply

81 comments

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[+] mc32|4 years ago|reply
At least when the Nobel committee awarded the peace prize to Obama before he trotted into the Middle East they have the excuse of not having a crystal ball into the future.

Here despite all evidence to the contrary and its being a commercial endeavor, which entails conflict of interest, they grant this antithesis to freedom of expression an award for freedom of expression. Excuse me if I feel disturbed by their apparent lack of awareness or gross farce.

[+] whatshisface|4 years ago|reply
>At least when the Nobel committee awarded the peace prize to Obama before he trotted into the Middle East they have the excuse of not having a crystal ball into the future.

That's not much of an excuse, typically people wait for after something happens to deliver an award for it.

[+] the-dude|4 years ago|reply
HN Title used to read : YouTube Sponsored Freedom of Expression Award Goes to YouTube CEO
[+] greatgib|4 years ago|reply
Orignal title was so much more better, or at least mention that it is for her incredible work at Youtube censoring videos...
[+] jsnk|4 years ago|reply
It's a way better title indicating the corporate sponsored nature of the award and the blatant conflict of interest on the award committee and Youtube.
[+] thedanbob|4 years ago|reply
You'd think there would be at least one person involved with enough self-awareness to say, "You know, maybe we should disable comments and voting on this video."
[+] Anon1096|4 years ago|reply
Good thing Youtube plans to remove the dislike button soon. If there's only a thumbs up button, that means that 100% of voters liked the content!
[+] jetrink|4 years ago|reply
Votes currently stand at 34 likes to 11,000 dislikes. Is that a record low ratio on a video with a non-trivial amount of votes?
[+] breakfastduck|4 years ago|reply
You'd hope that there wouldn't be a single person involved with such a lack of self-awareness to suggest that a video about a freedom of expression award should have user expression blocked.
[+] blacktriangle|4 years ago|reply
Because nothing says freedom of expression like silencing people.
[+] not1ofU|4 years ago|reply
"How do you make sure everyone has a voice" (edit: I would like to add, Shenanigans)
[+] proactivesvcs|4 years ago|reply
I almost posted a funny reply in the throng of the comments, then realised I don't want to jeopardise my Google account. I didn't reply.
[+] teddyh|4 years ago|reply
This right here. Many people say things like “Google would never…”, and they might be right. But that’s not what matters, what matters is people’s beliefs about what Google would do. And this is why Google should have absolutely no influence over your web browser, your programming language, etc. Again, that’s perceived influence, not actual influence. The fear exists regardless.
[+] notdang|4 years ago|reply
The title on HN was also changed.
[+] plank_time|4 years ago|reply
Lol YouTube giving their CEO an award for freedom of expression is just about the most Orwellian thing I’ve seen in a long, long time.

And it seems like they did it without it being a joke which is absurd and scary too. They are so far in their own bubble and echo chamber they have no idea what the real world thinks or cares.

[+] vmception|4 years ago|reply
Title changed does nothing dang, a youtube free expression award is paradoxical and ironic even before they awarded to themselves and by themselves I mean the CEO
[+] nuisance-bear|4 years ago|reply
It's like military officers in failed states. They are covered head-to-toe in medals an epaulets.

"Honors is epaulets. My pop pop taught me that." -RPF

[+] thaumasiotes|4 years ago|reply
This is also true of non-failed states. Is there a lesson to draw?
[+] endominus|4 years ago|reply
I just did a cursory search. This video was posted a few days ago, but there seems to be zero chatter from American news sites (at least, ones with recognizable names) about it - not even Fox. I'd expect at least some of them to be firing back about "trolls" and "sexists" harassing and insulting Susan Wojcicki, like what happened with [female-protagonist-led Hollywood movie]. The silence is interesting, given the previous narratives. I wonder what's different now.
[+] DiabloD3|4 years ago|reply
I can't tell if this is a tone deaf joke or not.
[+] Qw3r7|4 years ago|reply
Its up there with GM receiving awards from JD Power lol.

But there is nothing stopping itself from being a joke and tone deaf!

Is there a way an award that is for industry that isnt the Nobel prize for something like this?

[+] bpodgursky|4 years ago|reply
It looks real to me... which is pretty astounding.
[+] stackedinserter|4 years ago|reply
Aside of the absurd nomination/awards: how come that YouTube is CEO-less company for media?

When FB screws up, Zuck's grim is everywhere in media, but when YouTube does the same orwellian stuff, it's just... YouTube, like there's no person behind it.

[+] chaps|4 years ago|reply
Rackspace did similar a few years back when they awarded their CEO with their most fanatical award or whatever it was called. Don't think he stayed at the company for much longer, either.
[+] theparanoid|4 years ago|reply
The irony considering YouTube's step up of purging channels with alternative viewpoints.
[+] TheAdamAndChe|4 years ago|reply
What's interesting is that the majority of her speech is discussing the suppression of free expression, saying how "authoritative" sources are given priority, advertiser-friendly videos are rewarded and given priority, and others are suppressed.

You can argue the necessity of those actions, but trying to call those actions examples of free expression is the kind of corporate double-speak that erodes trust.

[+] the-dude|4 years ago|reply
How dare you to think different.
[+] otterley|4 years ago|reply
I'm not sure what you mean by "alternative viewpoints," but there's no shortage of videos from multiple points of view on YouTube.
[+] dTal|4 years ago|reply
Do they... do they not realize how this looks?
[+] grej|4 years ago|reply
Farcical. I was going to downvote it, but didn’t want to find myself surprise locked out of my Gmail account a few months from now with no explanation.
[+] bassman9000|4 years ago|reply
Which is why you should start preparing for it ASAP.
[+] DevKoala|4 years ago|reply
Similar to getting the Nobel Peace award for 8 years of war.
[+] vmception|4 years ago|reply
Our Freedom of Expression award comrades
[+] lvs|4 years ago|reply
That is an Onion headline if I ever saw one.