Re:Tumblr will ban all adult content on December 17th
by davemp on Monday December 03, 2018 @03:48PM
(#18592814)
The loose association, engagement suggestion algorithms are seriously dangerous. The suggestions can cause a "thermal run-away" [1] feedback loop for the mind.
Even in a less egregious example than the OP, take modern English for example. If search engines loosely relate English words to some moving abstract concepts, humans no longer have direct control over the colloquial. In a world that defines terms with Google Search, the implications can be disturbing.For example ::
Search: "the beatles are an antiquated band"
-- Results -> "Beatlemania in 1964: 'This has gotten entirely out of control' ...", "Quincy Jones: 'The Beatles were the worst musicians in the world ...", etc.
And: "the beatles are an obsolete band"
-- Results -> "We'll Never See a Band as Big as The Beatles Again — Here's Why - Mic", "Is the notion of a rock band obsolete? - Quora", etc.
__note:__ these results come from a computer with little google finger printing.
Definitions: [2]
-- Obsolete :: "no longer in general use; fallen into disuse:"
-- Antiquated :: "continued from, resembling, or adhering to the past; old-fashioned:"
-- Antiquated :: "no longer used; obsolete or obsolescent: "
Why are these almost synonymous, benign words related to love of and hate of? I honestly fear for what could be unethical software engineering [3] in these critical resources. Thermal run away of hardware is taken very seriously--see the Samsung Note 7 battery fires.
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[1]: In a circuit, current through a resistor causes heat generation. Increasing heat on a resistor also lowers its resistance. Lowering resistance can increase current (V = IR). Ad infinitum or until catastrophic failure.
[2]: definitions from Dictionary.com on 12/2018
As a thought exercise, try replacing "current" with "negative emotions", "resistor" with "mind".
Even in a less egregious example than the OP, take modern English for example. If search engines loosely relate English words to some moving abstract concepts, humans no longer have direct control over the colloquial. In a world that defines terms with Google Search, the implications can be disturbing.For example ::
Search: "the beatles are an antiquated band"
-- Results -> "Beatlemania in 1964: 'This has gotten entirely out of control' ...", "Quincy Jones: 'The Beatles were the worst musicians in the world ...", etc.
And: "the beatles are an obsolete band"
-- Results -> "We'll Never See a Band as Big as The Beatles Again — Here's Why - Mic", "Is the notion of a rock band obsolete? - Quora", etc.
Definitions: [2]-- Obsolete :: "no longer in general use; fallen into disuse:"
-- Antiquated :: "continued from, resembling, or adhering to the past; old-fashioned:"
-- Antiquated :: "no longer used; obsolete or obsolescent: "
Why are these almost synonymous, benign words related to love of and hate of? I honestly fear for what could be unethical software engineering [3] in these critical resources. Thermal run away of hardware is taken very seriously--see the Samsung Note 7 battery fires.
---
[1]: In a circuit, current through a resistor causes heat generation. Increasing heat on a resistor also lowers its resistance. Lowering resistance can increase current (V = IR). Ad infinitum or until catastrophic failure.
[2]: definitions from Dictionary.com on 12/2018
As a thought exercise, try replacing "current" with "negative emotions", "resistor" with "mind".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_runaway#Electrical_eng...
[3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_ethics