Browser Politics

Ayespy

I'd say that in the left's eyes (at least a huge chunk of the left), valuing reality and morality and all makes you part of the "evil racist hateful right".

I agree this is a popular misconception concerning "liberal" thinking among persons who have been taught to hate and fear a fictitious type of person labeled as "liberal." There is not actually anyone alive who thinks that way. If there were, and that were liberalism, then indeed liberalism would be a bad thing.

It's tough to deny, however, that folks who shout for the death of elected representatives based on a fictitious narrative while storming a seat of government really do exist, and that they really do hold "liberals" to be the embodiment of evil. 'Cuz, really, they say it out loud and put it in writing all the time. I personally know folks who think like this, have no choice but to do business with them, and I am cautious never to let any word concerning political ideology escape my lips. Because they would cut me off as soon as look at me. So consider that. Knowing how they would react if they knew my politics (and I know because they say out loud what "ought to" happen to "people like me," I keep that a secret. Still, knowing their politics, I smile and make nice and do business with them. Hm.

So, yeah. The world is divided. But not everyone on both sides of the divide harbors the same kinds of attitudes toward each other. They just don't.

Eggcorn

@Ayespy said in Browser Politics:

...a fictitious type of person labeled as "liberal."

I don't think that type of person is as fictitious as you think it is. But if I explain why I think that, this thread would likely become a shitstorm (plus, it'd be off-topic). So if we're going to continue this conversation, we should take it to PM.

Ayespy

@Eggcorn And that's why Vivaldi has no politics. Jon definitely has political views and positions, as do everyone else on the team, but the closest Vivaldi comes to politics is, "The internet ought to be open, and people should be allowed their privacy. Personal data should not be monetized." That's pretty much it.

Eggcorn

@Ayespy Well, that makes me feel bad for Jon. If he publicly expresses even a mild political position (outside of the open Internet thing), it could blow up in his face and Vivaldi's face!

Edit: Or for that matter, a social position. The divide in society isn't just political, it isn't just related to how government should be run. It's also (perhaps even primarily) social, about what society's values should be and all.

Ayespy

@Eggcorn Part of the price of being in business, especially on the internet. You can't afford to make anyone feel unwelcome.

I think as least one internet business has recently learned that the hard way.

Eggcorn

@Ayespy
That's fast becoming a impossible task. Even Abraham Lincoln makes people feel unwelcome! At least, according to the San Francisco school board:

Not even revered former presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson are safe from "cancel culture," it appears. The American icons were among a list of historical figures whose names will be removed from San Francisco’s public schools following a 6-1 vote by the school board Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

Eggcorn

This does present an opportunity for Vivaldi. People hate big tech, more then they did before! So we can (honestly) present Vivaldi, as a politically neutral alternative to the browsers from big tech companies. As a way to get away from big tech. Especially in right-wing, pro-Trump, and anti-censorship circles.

Ayespy

@Eggcorn Frankly, I don't see Vivaldi (ever) making a political pitch.

Eggcorn

@Ayespy Well, this might be more of an anti-political pitch. But more to the point: I'm thinking less of something from the Vivaldi company. And more like world of mouth advertising, from Vivaldi users.

Say, you like Trump. Or at least, you don't like the way Big Tech banned Trump. And you're with your buddies, who feel pretty much the same way you do. You can promote Vivaldi to them.

Edit: Plus, it's not like the right has a monopoly on hating Big Tech. I said especially in right-wing circles, not only in right-wing circles.

Eggcorn

@guigirl That's the point: Vivaldi is just a browser, it's not getting political.

Eggcorn

@guigirl Well, it's news to me if there are other threads (aside from the search-engine and Dissenter threads). But as for this thread: There has been worthwhile discussion here. Maybe the discussion is at an end, maybe it's not. But I don't see the point in locking this thread.

Eggcorn

@tmaxcontact said in Browser Politics:

DDG is not innocent either. I don't necessarily know how it all works, but despite their searches appearing impartial, their image searches appear to yield exactly the same results as Google. If I search for "black couple", I'll be presented with pictures of happy black couples. If I search for "Asian couple", I'll be presented with pictures of happy Asian couples. If I search for "gay couple", I'll be presented with pictures of every racial combination of happy gay couple. If I search for "white couple", well, try it for yourself.... (I'm a brown person, and I have to admit that I laughed heartily and lengthily when this was shown to me).

To be fair, that might not reflect the political leanings of DuckDuckGo itself. But political leanings of sites that are popular enough, to appear on the first page of DDG's image search-results.