Wow, posted something about Mozilla not long before going to bed. Woke up to... quite a few angry replies.
People really do put their entire FOSS hopes and dreams into them, don't they?
Discussion
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@dajb Aw, I missed it... where is it?
@dajb You're tapped into a whole world there that I never see on my quiet digs here on mastodon.social
@Downes Oh interesting
@dajb Yeah, I read the thread there and almost didn't comment as a result, but I did.
I never worked at Mozilla, but have a bunch of friends who did, and I was definitely a fan (presented at MozFest back in the day, etc, etc).
I think it's less about people putting their entire hopes and dreams into them (although some might) and more about a disconnect between what they claim and what they do, and the boldness with which they walk into that breach.
And...
@dajb Pair that with the reality that, at this point in time, here in the US we see tech billionaires - some strictly AI, and some general tech pushing AI-based products - tripping over themselves to kiss the ring of a fascist authoritarian who is murdering our neighbors in the streets - for a lot of people, Tech == AI == alignment with fascism.
Your post was about sharing content, but I'd wager a lot of people read it in a different context.
@funnymonkey I am not responsible for how people conceptualise tech companies any more than I'm responsible for how people conceptualise their mother.
@dajb I thought that post might provoke a pile-on!
I think the main issue is that they big-upped themselves as the saviors of the internet… like they are the standardbearers. Hence the extremely high expectations and shattered hopes/dreams
@janet Yeah, I get it. What I don't get is the anger after all these years.
Like, there are some people I don't speak to any more and some products and services I don't use. I'm not retaining anger about any of that.
With Mozilla, I retain a healthy skepticism and realise that no organisation is perfect. But if you want things at scale then compromises are kind of par for the course.
@dajb Well, maybe think of it as grief for the internet that could have but will probably never exist? I agree the sentiment is *strong*
I remember chatting with Mitchell Baker about climate breakdown at Mozfest ten years ago (zero interest) and thinking: these people do not have a global outlook. Trapped in a Silicon Valley, blindered paradigm
@janet Well, indeed. She spoke eloquently but a capitalist at heart