Gregory's Server"there are no algorithms in our software" is rhetorically isomorphic to "there are no chemicals in our food product"
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 @darius Mastodon's post ranking algorithm: - Post shows up Yet it's still an algorithm
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 @darius that's a good point! Both are correct based on popular usage but incorrect based on dictionary/technical definitions.  water is a chemical compound, sorting by post time is an algorithm. neither chemistry nor smarter sorting are bad by definition. the question worth asking is how it can bring benefits and to whom. it is a social/political issue, not technical. i hope to see mastodon frontends with more options to control, filter and sort my timeline, so i could benefit from them. i have no problems with people who don't want that, but i do with those who want to deny this option for others. @lritter   @darius related discussion on birdsite on "algorithm" in social science: https://twitter.com/simulo/status/1511695001968943104  @darius one of the most irritating conversations I ever had was with someone who insisted that they were allergic to "all chemicals" @darius I totally agree! But does really someone claim to have software without algorithms? @lyrokain define "really". I definitely see people saying [insert social media alternative] is better because "there are no algorithms". @darius I see. It is only the abridged version of “a chronological timeline as opposed to one that is optimized for drawing attention”. Quite squishy, indeed. |
@darius what a perfect analogy!