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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Jan 30, 2024, 1:26 PM

    "Matt, tracking on the web, it's just how it is. If we get rid of it so many companies will die off."

    There were companies before tracking tech. There was advertising before tracking tech.

    Tracking tech is just how they can pay the least, to get the most. It's not a right. It's not a given. It's not required.

    How did it work before? You made good products and the stuff that was most popular rose to the top.

    Ban tracking tech. Hamstring predatory and scammy products that survive on targeting.

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Replies

  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Jan 30, 2024, 1:29 PM

    You think those unsafe "revolutionary heating systems" products would exist if they weren't able to target specific demographics - the poorer people with less tech savvy? Of course not. Shitty products that prey on people are enabled by tracking tech.

    You think the gambling games would be as successful without targeted advertising to known addictive personalities?

    If there was no tracking tech they'd have to compete to find their audience, and they *would fail to do that*.

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  • Paul Chernoffpaulc
    Jan 31, 2024, 2:37 PM

    @mattwilcox @antonyjohnston I wish con men would go into medicine because they are better at identifying people with dementia than most neurologists.

    We need to hit hard that the most vulnerable people are targeted for scams. Our newer technology makes it easier to target the vulnerable

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  • OggieOggie@woof.group
    Jan 31, 2024, 6:09 PM

    @mattwilcox A huge portion of these companies will fail literally no matter what, as well. They aren't designed to succeed, they are designed to take up VC, scale with 'infinite growth ', because there are infinite people on the earth using internet, then everyone gets out and sells to the greater fool before the house of cards collapses.

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  • fanf42fanf42@treehouse.systems
    Feb 2, 2024, 6:29 AM

    @mattwilcox but Mat, the torment nexus, it is how it is! If we get rid of it, so many companies will die off! Cool ones, with brillant mind, well founded, contributing so much to our economy and advancing the state of the art!

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  • Jeromedl2jml@mastodon.radio
    Feb 2, 2024, 6:56 AM

    @mattwilcox Actually, "revolutionary heating systems" which violated the first principle of thermodynamics existed long before the Internet. That and cars running on tap water, etc...
    Just go to your local library and read the advertisements in old magazines.

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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Feb 2, 2024, 7:03 AM

    @dl2jml I was talking about the specific ones illegal to sell in the uk which were advertised on YouTube, and are known fire hazards with counterfeit fuses and prone to burning up. They’re just electric resistive heaters.

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  • Jeromedl2jml@mastodon.radio
    Feb 2, 2024, 7:05 AM

    @mattwilcox I wouldn't know as I don't watch YouTube. But I dispute that fake heaters would not exist without tracking as they did exist before tracking.

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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Feb 2, 2024, 7:07 AM

    @dl2jml I didn’t say they didn’t exist before that. I said the companies today that exist selling them exist because they can target specific users who are most vulnerable to fall for it.

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  • Billy SmithBillySmith@social.coop
    Feb 4, 2024, 9:41 PM

    @mattwilcox

    Not to mention the drive-by malware-installation powered by the categorisation of machines used and OS's used.

    Bad actors will specify that their adverts are only shown to vulnerable machines, and the ads will connect to 3d-party ad-servers that automatically install malware.

    Best option: Look at the minimum requirements mandated for by insurance companies that provide anti-hacking insurance, and use those as the baseline to work from.

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  • Dan Sugalskiwordshaper@weatherishappening.network
    Jan 31, 2024, 1:51 PM

    @mattwilcox When I hear complaints from these companies over tracking and privacy regs, it all sounds like "Matt, my business is *predicated* on punching people in the face. If we stop allowing companies to punch people in the face then an entire industry of face-punching companies will die off!"

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  • Skjeggtrollskjeggtroll@mastodon.online
    Jan 31, 2024, 2:23 PM

    @mattwilcox

    > "Matt, tracking on the web, it's just how it is. If we get rid of it so many companies will die off."

    "If we make murder illegal, what will happen to our vibrant and colourful murdering subculture and our many hard-working and dedicated murderers?"

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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Jan 31, 2024, 3:46 PM

    @Crell I wish that were true. Seems like most business models of the super wealthy are *exactly* this though.

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  • synlogicsynlogic@toot.io
    Jan 31, 2024, 4:28 PM

    @mattwilcox reminds me of the whole "pronouns mafia" fad of recent years

    "Gee, however did we survive before that?"

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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Jan 31, 2024, 4:46 PM

    @synlogic Hmm, unsure what you mean with that.

    FWIW - I can't see how this is like any pronouns thing, but I aren't familiar with the "mafia fad".

    I'll happily call anyone what they want to be called, because that's just the polite thing you do. I'm very certain that not calling people what they want to be called is a historical thing that's caused a ton of harm, pointlessly. A lot *didn't* survive, precisely because too many people didn't allow people to self-identify.

    @arcade

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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Jan 31, 2024, 7:10 PM

    @linuxjj @synlogic @arcade I find this an issue that doesnt require “positions”. You don’t look at a Dr Paul and decide you want to call them Sir George. You wouldn’t argue that their position on their identity is *as valid* as your position on their identity. You just call them what they say they identify as.

    This is basic respect of another person. Gender is no different. Except that people feel ok to make assumptions and not correct when told otherwise.

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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Jan 31, 2024, 7:21 PM

    @linuxjj @synlogic @arcade I sometimes wonder whether a lot of the sticking points with people who struggle with this is them not wanting to feel embarrassed, or to have been wrong.

    It’s fine to make an assumption and be wrong. It’s weird to stick to your guns when told otherwise. Especially when it makes literally no difference to yourself, but means a lot to someone else.

    Here’s hoping you change your mind. It costs you nothing. It means a lot.

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  • jjlinux | X unverified 😅linuxjj@mastodon.social
    Jan 31, 2024, 8:36 PM

    @mattwilcox @synlogic @arcade I was not going to reply, mainly because I find this subject to be sort of a lost cause, some of us stick to black, others to white and then there are the shades of gray. But you appear to be a decent person, and I would have a hard time leaving you mid-conversation. My demeanor in most of these disagreements (to me that's all they are) is that I say my piece, and because of what I mentioned before, usually just change the subject and move on. (Cont.)

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  • jjlinux | X unverified 😅linuxjj@mastodon.social
    Jan 31, 2024, 8:40 PM

    @mattwilcox @synlogic @arcade my reasoning behind this is that either we all have the choice to think however we see fit, or none of us do. In most cases (certainly not all) one side will try to force their idea in the other, instead of just accepting how the other thinks, and choosing if they are willing to put up with it or not, and act accordingly by staying or leaving. I respect everyone's train of thought, but few people do that, so I find it useless to continue moving forward in (cont.)

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  • jjlinux | X unverified 😅linuxjj@mastodon.social
    Jan 31, 2024, 8:55 PM

    @arcade @mattwilcox @synlogic it may very well be, but, at least in my native language, for me details are paramount, which to me means that nothing is really "just" anything. We humans are extremely complex creatures, so much so that deaths have come from a simple misinterpretation. That's probably why I love animals so much. They are simple minded, and a great escape from human interaction. Don't get me wrong, I love people too, but point in case, I need to take breaks from humans, lol.

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  • jjlinux | X unverified 😅linuxjj@mastodon.social
    Jan 31, 2024, 8:44 PM

    @mattwilcox @synlogic @arcade discussion that very rarely ends up with people just agreeing to disagree. This thread is a perfect example of that. I expressed my disagreement, and you are the one person I have found in all my life that gives your point of view without any animosity whatsoever, using valid arguments. In all honesty, this is actually refreshing. Even with the people that think like I do, I try to stay away from topics like this one, as most act like fanatics. I really appreciate..

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  • jjlinux | X unverified 😅linuxjj@mastodon.social
    Jan 31, 2024, 8:46 PM

    @mattwilcox @synlogic @arcade how you handle yourself, and I certainly will try harder to display more empathy, since its evident that my limited English doesn't really allow for that just yet. I commend you on your demeanor, you're a great example that we can all get along and have good discussions without hindering or vexing others.

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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Jan 31, 2024, 9:08 PM

    @linuxjj @synlogic @arcade Oh I can be judgemental; used to be much more. But, in general, I’m slower to do it now, and don’t have such a rigid mindset as I used to.

    Most people are trying to do their best, and if everyone had more practice at imagining how other people’s lives must be like, we’d all get along a lot better.

    IMO, if it’s easy to help make someone’s day better, and they told you how, and it made no difference to your own day - why not do it

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  • jjlinux | X unverified 😅linuxjj@mastodon.social
    Jan 31, 2024, 9:50 PM

    @mattwilcox @synlogic @arcade not only do I agree, but I also really appreciate you taking the time to educate me (and probably others) in the best possible way. I can be shown when I may need to rethink a stand, and your arguments make a lot of sense to me. I need to be more sensitive and empathic with others, and there is always room for improvement. Thanks, sincerely.

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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Jan 31, 2024, 10:25 PM

    @linuxjj @synlogic @arcade Hey, thanks for listening and considering. Its appreciated. The fun of getting older is noticing how we grow. Personally, I hope I never stop learning how to be better - and at the same time I wonder what future me will be irritated with current me for still thinking. lol!

    PS; I there’s something about Kenpachi becoming his strongest only when he learned to listen to his Zanpaktu. But my memory is real bad.

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  • jjlinux | X unverified 😅linuxjj@mastodon.social
    Jan 31, 2024, 10:39 PM

    @mattwilcox @synlogic @arcade you just hit my weak spot. Zaraki, when the thousand year blood war starts, is the only Captain that doesn't even know the name of his Zampakuto (Nozarachi) or rather doesn't know his lieutenant Yachiru IS his Zampakuto. I've still to reach the part where he figures this out, but it starts when Unohana (previous Kenpachi) let's him kill her to absorb her reiatsu. That's him at his strongest, but his Zampakuto is as strong as he is. Imagine that. I like you more now!

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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Jan 31, 2024, 10:49 PM

    @linuxjj @synlogic @arcade I know there’s a “new” series out which is supposed to be back up to the good stuff, but I’ve not watched Bleach since the original runs, and trailed off after Aizen was defeated. So it’s been… well over a decade I guess. Closer to 15yrs probably. So many cool episodes; but also a lot of filler. It’s a shame it kept overtaking the manga run in production.

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  • jjlinux | X unverified 😅linuxjj@mastodon.social
    Jan 31, 2024, 10:55 PM

    @mattwilcox @synlogic @arcade I've watched the old series 4 times already, and the one you are mentioning is the Thousand Year Blood War, it came out last year, I think they're in season 3 right now. But my wife and I binge animes, so we're waiting for it to be at season 5 completed. While i wait I'm "spending" my time re-reading all of Jack Ryan's universe (Tom Clancy). I'm currently halfway through Patriot Games.

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  • Matt Wilcoxmattwilcox
    Feb 1, 2024, 8:43 AM

    @linuxjj I'll have to check that out when it's all complete - cheers for the heads up!

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  • jjlinux | X unverified 😅linuxjj@mastodon.social
    Jan 31, 2024, 10:46 PM

    @mattwilcox @synlogic @arcade sorry, got completely distracted the moment you brought up Kenpachi. I keep pishing that in my life every day. When I wake up, my first thought is "I want to be 1% better today", and that goes for everything. Better human, husband, father, friend, human, professional, gamer, and so on. I believe that if we all did that, eventually we would live in some sort of a utopia.

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  • Kichae@catodon.social
    Jan 31, 2024, 5:49 PM

    @arcade @synlogic @mattwilcox Sounds like "I shouldn't be made to feel bad for publicly disrespecting trans people, and I'm going to insert that statement into totally unrelated discussions whenever I can", but maybe they have a speech impediment or something.

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  • Josh Triplettjosh@joshtriplett.org
    Jan 31, 2024, 6:56 PM
    Exactly. "If we get rid of it so many companies will die off" - don't threaten me with a good time, those companies *should* die if they can't reinvent themselves.
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  • railmeatrailmeat@fosstodon.org
    Jan 31, 2024, 7:36 PM

    @mattwilcox

    Companies dying off when we get rid of tracking is a feature, not a bug. Kill all tracking companies.

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  • JanCjanc@fosstodon.org
    Jan 31, 2024, 11:38 PM

    @mattwilcox a good start would be if we had an ad network that we can trust not to track users...

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  • r-holdrhold@norden.social
    Feb 1, 2024, 8:41 AM

    @mattwilcox some ->advertisers<- even think it's a scam.
    It's pretty expensive with doubtful benefits for most companies besides giant tech.

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  • 0xC0DEC0DE07EAc0dec0dec0de@hachyderm.io
    Feb 1, 2024, 4:01 PM

    @mattwilcox “But so much of the US GDP is based on it!”
    We built this damn country on slavery and abolished that at a time when practically the whole of the US economy depended upon it. The privacy violations here aren’t on the same order of evil, but the idea that we can’t outlaw a lucrative business is just ahistorical bullshit.

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