Random Fashion Thoughts (Part 3: Style farmer strikes back) - our general discussion thread

[kjb]

 

[smittycl]

I love the idea of discovering new things, and that's also why I asked that question. I feel that at least half of the new music that I discovered and started listening to, is because of the Apple Music engine and some of their "similar artists" nudges. Of course, you can also listen to radio shows, shazam stuff you hear, ask friends for recs, etc... to discover new music. But I do find that helpful

Similarly, I don't mind seeing something new but I have no use for ads that are totally untargeted to me - I don't need to see ads for organic tampons or pet food if I don't have a pet.

I'm thinking of this from both ends and while I do believe there are clear benefits for the advertisers to narrow down the field and not waste impressions on unqualified audiences, I also kinda like the idea that advertising networks know a little bit of who I am to keep those banners somehow in the right ballpark...

Music is a great example. I really do not need the corporate algorithm steering me toward an artist. I listen to indie radio, check out music blogs and magazines like Paste (I miss their paper issues with the sampler cds. They were Godsends while living in rural places). Anyway, I spend a lot of time listening and searching. I do not need Zuckerberg and crew subtly steering me toward whoever is paying them the most.

 

[Coffandcig]

Pretty interesting piece in the NYT this past Sunday. Coined an apt new phrase of "Surveillance Capitalists." Exactly in line with what you just posted.

Opinion | You Are Now Remotely Controlled (Published 2020)

Surveillance capitalists control the science and the scientists, the secrets and the truth.

www.nytimes.com

Lulz. My cookie settings and adblocker won't let me read that.

 

[Alexidb]

semicolons aren't used to link an independent and a dependent clause. they can be used in place of (or along with) conjunctions, but only when both clauses are independent (i.e., capable of standing alone as grammatically complete sentences). the other use for a semicolon is to separate a list of phrases that already include punctuation marks (e.g., commas). this doesn't apply to the case in hand.

apologies for the boring pedantry. i was just chiming in with pet tampon humor.

I was thinking along this rule:

“When you have a conjunctive adverb linking two independent clauses, you should use a semicolon.”
“Example: I needed to go for a walk and get some fresh air; also, I needed to buy milk.”

but I guess “or” is not a conjunctive adverb.
Would a semicolon had worked in: “I don't need to see ads for organic tampons; also, pet food if I don't have a pet.”

 

[smittycl]

Lulz. My cookie settings and adblocker won't let me read that.

It's well worth your time.

 

[erictheobscure]

okay mr. korean english professor

instead of apologizing for boring pedantry, can you apologize for insulting korean food? :foo:

i quote a line from Representative Ted Lieu's recent letter to Devin Nunes's lawyers upon being threatened with some sort of bogus libel/slander lawsuit: "As you know, truth is a defense."

 

[momentoftruth]

Music is a great example. I really do not need the corporate algorithm steering me toward an artist. I listen to indie radio, check out music blogs, and magazines like Paste (I miss their paper issues with the sampler cds. They were Godsends while living in rural places). Anyway, I spend a lot of time listening and searching. I do not need Zuckerberg and crew subtly steering me toward whoever is paying them the most.

I ascribe to the general sentiment, but then again when I had Spotify their weekly discovery playlist was pretty amazing. Netflix can go suck on a craggy rock though

 

[mak1277]

View attachment 1325995

No match for Golden State!

 

[cb200]

I like the Spotify new releases section tailored to past listens or searches. You can go to http://everynoise.com/new_releases_by_genre.cgi and really get into discovery mode but the automation does help make me aware of new releases or new licencing for artists I've listened to in the past.

 

[smittycl]

I ascribe to the general sentiment, but then again when I had Spotify their weekly discovery playlist was pretty amazing. Netflix can go suck on a craggy rock though

Yeah, I check out their stuff quite often but prefer to look on my own, don't want to come across as a tinfoil hat dude. Reading the paper on Sunday mornings I usually play one of their lazy morning mixes. Nothing wrong with that stuff in general.

 

[clee1982]

Music is a great example. I really do not need the corporate algorithm steering me toward an artist. I listen to indie radio, check out music blogs and magazines like Paste (I miss their paper issues with the sampler cds. They were Godsends while living in rural places). Anyway, I spend a lot of time listening and searching. I do not need Zuckerberg and crew subtly steering me toward whoever is paying them the most.

I’m the opposite I’m the I don’t care, so Spotify algo is all i get (or in the old FM days, too 50/100)...

 

[shopcanoeclub]

I don't know, I really love what Spotify finds for me throughout the different genres I frequently listen to. A lot of times it is a new record by a band I haven't heard in a year or so, or pulling back some tunes from a record I played regularly maybe 5 or 6 years ago.

 

[dieworkwear]

Music is a great example. I really do not need the corporate algorithm steering me toward an artist. I listen to indie radio, check out music blogs and magazines like Paste (I miss their paper issues with the sampler cds. They were Godsends while living in rural places). Anyway, I spend a lot of time listening and searching. I do not need Zuckerberg and crew subtly steering me toward whoever is paying them the most.

This is actually more prevalent in the pre-internet days. Magazines and radio were driven by who pays them the most. Sites such as Spotify are much more organic by comparison.

In the 90s, I worked on an ad targeting technology company. This was in te earlier days of the internet and we had a few rounds of VC funding. But, eventually, we ran up against privacy concerns. Back then, people were almost in hysterics about online privacy.

Then DoubleClick came along and did all the stuff we wanted to do, and no one cared. IMO, this stuff comes and goes in waves. The current wave of online privacy concerns are mostly driven by the 2016 election, but even this wave isn't as strong as the one in the 90s. I assume it'll also pass and that, with each passing generation, people will be more comfortable with the internet.

I also think that some privacy concerns are not unlike "big government" concerns. Conservatives, rightly or wrongly, are deathly concerned about the government even when regulation can achieve more optimal outcomes they care about (all the stuff about how you have to arm yourself against the gov, etc). Liberals are the same way about corporations. I don't really get either concern, to be honest. There's a huge leap between tracking someone's activity online personalizing it to an actual person. Granted, it can be done, but it's a big step and an important distinction. Just because someone knows that an IP address likes X product and listens to Y music doesn't necessarily mean they know it's Z person.

But even then, I've never understood why anyone cares if someone knows they listen to X music or consume Y product. Back in the day, this was done through Costco Club cards and grocery cards anyway.

 

[Benesyed]

This guy never watched any dystopian sci fi crime prediction movies

 

[dieworkwear]

This guy never watched any dystopian sci fi crime prediction movies

First they came for my shopping preferences, and I didn't speak out ...

Then they came for my music preferences, and I didn't speak out ...

Then they came for my wife.