053227420 | 4 years ago | on: Apollo completes its $5B acquisition of Verizon Media, now known as Yahoo
053227420's comments
053227420 | 4 years ago | on: Forget privacy: you're terrible at targeting anyway (2019)
> while the stalking victim to which this stuff has actually happened cannot get anyone to listen.
Which creates a rare and dangerous situation where a high functioning schizophrenic (someone who has developed coping mechanisms, such as reality testing) will actively dismiss the warning signs of stalking. Possibly for years. As will the people in the schizophrenic's support system, people accustomed to helping them through paranoia.
I have no doubt this has occurred in the past. Tech puts concentrations of neuro-atypical people in close proximity to groups of ruthless status seekers (who I suppose are more likely to participate in the group activities you mention).
The long term consequences must be absolutely devastating.
053227420 | 4 years ago | on: Forget privacy: you're terrible at targeting anyway (2019)
> Like how evil-overlord can this be if they can't even get this basic stuff right?
Imagine living with schizophrenia in this era. It's a nightmare.
You're primed to see connections (and threats), even when there is no plausible mechanism to create the connection. In earlier years you could reason yourself out of it by saying "that is not technologically possible" or "that is not cost effective".
Nowadays you can end up with insane ideas like, "my forum posts are being de-anonymized via stylometry and someone is broadcasting threatening messages using language that mirrors my recent post." It's insane and unrealistic, but technologically possible. That makes it harder for a schizophrenic to dismiss.
When websites adapt to your behavior, it just gets worse. A/B testing isn't just annoying, it feels threatening. That's why HN is great.
Using anonymizing tools is one way to cope. It helps you avoid feeling "targeted".
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$5bn for 9e8 MAU seems cheap.