Meta-Streisand
March 20, 2025 1:49 AM Subscribe
Meta [the other one] is trying to censor Sarah Wynn-Williams' new book Careless People, a "tell-all" about her time as a senior exec at the company. Her publisher stands behind her and the book is now a best-seller.
Bought it and read it. It's a good and horrifying read. Total pit of sociopaths. The stuff about Sheryl Sandburg was the biggest surprise.
posted by Rhedyn at 3:21 AM on March 20 [7 favorites]
posted by Rhedyn at 3:21 AM on March 20 [7 favorites]
I haven't read the book yet. I did read the "wildest details" article and the Slate one and tbh was expecting more on actual political tampering and less about how these people only cared about their personal lives and comfort, which I think was already clear. I can't decide if the focus on gossip-type details detracts from the more important stuff or whether it's important for people to focus on that too.
I did like this article in Wired (which Slate links to) that punctures some of the many hypocrisies surrounding the book.
I also like the title.
What I like most is that she broke an NDA to write the book. Would that more people would take that path.
posted by trig at 4:04 AM on March 20 [21 favorites]
I did like this article in Wired (which Slate links to) that punctures some of the many hypocrisies surrounding the book.
I also like the title.
What I like most is that she broke an NDA to write the book. Would that more people would take that path.
posted by trig at 4:04 AM on March 20 [21 favorites]
Enjoy the Streisand Effect, Meta executives!
posted by mmoncur at 4:24 AM on March 20 [9 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 4:24 AM on March 20 [9 favorites]
Meta is a terrible company and I am happy this person broke her NDA and is giving them bad press, but if that “wildest” article lives up to its name, there’s seemingly very little revelatory about the behaviour of wealthy narcissists.
The real story seems to, overall, be the title of this post. What an own-goal, narcissists!
posted by Captaintripps at 4:27 AM on March 20 [5 favorites]
The real story seems to, overall, be the title of this post. What an own-goal, narcissists!
posted by Captaintripps at 4:27 AM on March 20 [5 favorites]
@trig there was plenty about political tampering, but I think it was mostly at a strategic direction level, at least that's what stuck with me. The biggest point imho was that FB purposefully aimed to become a political tool that politicians would be dependent on, as a way to avoid regulation.
posted by Rhedyn at 4:27 AM on March 20 [7 favorites]
posted by Rhedyn at 4:27 AM on March 20 [7 favorites]
It was both horrifying and funny. I bought an extra copy after I read it, to give to my adult kid and because I wouldn’t be surprised if they managed to withdraw the Kindle version I read.
We need a lot more publicity about how profoundly stupid and arrogant most of these people are; I have to do way too much one-on-one work convincing people it’s possible to be rich and famous without actually being smart or capable.
posted by Peach at 4:31 AM on March 20 [22 favorites]
We need a lot more publicity about how profoundly stupid and arrogant most of these people are; I have to do way too much one-on-one work convincing people it’s possible to be rich and famous without actually being smart or capable.
posted by Peach at 4:31 AM on March 20 [22 favorites]
there’s seemingly very little revelatory about the behavior of wealthy narcissists.
Perhaps. But I have trouble convincing people to stop propping up the company, to get them to stop using any Facebook-related products. Perhaps this will help make more people aware of just how shitty Facebook/Meta is.
posted by Ayn Marx at 4:33 AM on March 20 [5 favorites]
Perhaps. But I have trouble convincing people to stop propping up the company, to get them to stop using any Facebook-related products. Perhaps this will help make more people aware of just how shitty Facebook/Meta is.
posted by Ayn Marx at 4:33 AM on March 20 [5 favorites]
I have to do way too much one-on-one work convincing people it’s possible to be rich and famous without actually being smart or capable.
There are few concepts more pervasive in the States (and maybe the Anglosphere in general) and less tethered to actual reality than, “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?”
posted by thecaddy at 5:00 AM on March 20 [18 favorites]
There are few concepts more pervasive in the States (and maybe the Anglosphere in general) and less tethered to actual reality than, “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?”
posted by thecaddy at 5:00 AM on March 20 [18 favorites]
Facebook needs to be dismantled, and the excuses people keep making for Facebook need to go, but I feel like we've known this for years and yet nothing changes. It's like a tobacco company.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 5:40 AM on March 20 [16 favorites]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 5:40 AM on March 20 [16 favorites]
Facebook is too “useful” to go away, unfortunately. Are there alternatives? Sort of.. Are they as quick and easy to use? Oh, hell no. We’ve had years to build up a Pavlovian response to Facebook and taking it away now would be senseless.
Getting rid of the psychopaths and sociopaths in charge is maybe doable, though. Wouldn’t bet on it.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 6:01 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
Getting rid of the psychopaths and sociopaths in charge is maybe doable, though. Wouldn’t bet on it.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 6:01 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
I wouldn’t be surprised if they managed to withdraw the Kindle version I read
(Yet another reason to de-drm your kindle books... or buy them elsewhere)
posted by trig at 6:09 AM on March 20 [3 favorites]
(Yet another reason to de-drm your kindle books... or buy them elsewhere)
posted by trig at 6:09 AM on March 20 [3 favorites]
Getting rid of the psychopaths and sociopaths in charge is maybe doable, though. Wouldn’t bet on it.
That is probably the least possible thing. Because of Meta's shareholder structure, and his shareholding of so-called "Class B" shares, he effectively maintains control over the corporation, regardless of how many other shareholders there are.
posted by hankmajor at 6:15 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
That is probably the least possible thing. Because of Meta's shareholder structure, and his shareholding of so-called "Class B" shares, he effectively maintains control over the corporation, regardless of how many other shareholders there are.
posted by hankmajor at 6:15 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
Zuckerberg refused to take meetings before noon, even with heads of state
Damn never thought I'd relate to this idiot but here we are.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:23 AM on March 20 [25 favorites]
Damn never thought I'd relate to this idiot but here we are.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:23 AM on March 20 [25 favorites]
“Facebook is too “useful” to go away, unfortunately.”
I sort of used to think this, but it became less useful over time. I closed my Meta accounts three months ago and haven’t missed a thing. All my online local connection and activism happens elsewhere and I’ve just been emailing, texting, and calling friends and family more often. I don’t miss it at all.
posted by Captaintripps at 6:58 AM on March 20 [9 favorites]
I sort of used to think this, but it became less useful over time. I closed my Meta accounts three months ago and haven’t missed a thing. All my online local connection and activism happens elsewhere and I’ve just been emailing, texting, and calling friends and family more often. I don’t miss it at all.
posted by Captaintripps at 6:58 AM on March 20 [9 favorites]
If NIH research isn't too useful to go away, then Facebook isn't either.
I mean, the rule is that if it's a private corporation run by a wealthy narcissist and has destabilized several governments including our own, it's too useful to go away, but if it's something that benefits us all it can be canceled at the whim of a billionaire.
What we really mean is that it's too profitable to go away.
posted by Frowner at 7:05 AM on March 20 [22 favorites]
I mean, the rule is that if it's a private corporation run by a wealthy narcissist and has destabilized several governments including our own, it's too useful to go away, but if it's something that benefits us all it can be canceled at the whim of a billionaire.
What we really mean is that it's too profitable to go away.
posted by Frowner at 7:05 AM on March 20 [22 favorites]
My neighborhood HOA does its business via Facebook, so I definitely need to keep my account active. Additionally, far too many local businesses use Facebook as their webpage. And, no, "just don't patronize them, then" isn't a useful answer.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:23 AM on March 20 [6 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 7:23 AM on March 20 [6 favorites]
Another interesting point:
What goes unmentioned, though, are some of Wynn-Williams’ own areas of ignorance, and how those color the narrative. As Wired’s Steven Levy aptly notes: “Though she may not admit it, she’s one of the careless people too … sometimes offering objections—but ultimately going with the flow.”
I have yet to read the book but I will for sure read it skeptically.
On another point, while this particular arbitration that Meta has engaged in has had a Streisand effect, its intent was surely to chill others who might want to come out with similar tell-alls. In that sense, while their tactics may appear to have backfired in this particular case, it doesn't mean that it was irrational for them to take this course of action. It may well dissuade other would-be whistleblowers from spilling the beans, particularly if they have beefed up their NDAs in the meantime.
posted by hankmajor at 7:25 AM on March 20 [3 favorites]
What goes unmentioned, though, are some of Wynn-Williams’ own areas of ignorance, and how those color the narrative. As Wired’s Steven Levy aptly notes: “Though she may not admit it, she’s one of the careless people too … sometimes offering objections—but ultimately going with the flow.”
I have yet to read the book but I will for sure read it skeptically.
On another point, while this particular arbitration that Meta has engaged in has had a Streisand effect, its intent was surely to chill others who might want to come out with similar tell-alls. In that sense, while their tactics may appear to have backfired in this particular case, it doesn't mean that it was irrational for them to take this course of action. It may well dissuade other would-be whistleblowers from spilling the beans, particularly if they have beefed up their NDAs in the meantime.
posted by hankmajor at 7:25 AM on March 20 [3 favorites]
My neighborhood HOA does its business via Facebook, so I definitely need to keep my account active. Additionally, far too many local businesses use Facebook as their webpage. And, no, "just don't patronize them, then" isn't a useful answer.
Thank you for making this point. I was waiting for the deluge of "I don't even watch TV"-type responses. Big platforms like Meta/FB raise a whole set of problems that the existing legal framework isn't up to dealing with. Berating people with no choice but to engage in the modern world feeds into the problem rather than solving it.
posted by hankmajor at 7:29 AM on March 20 [11 favorites]
Thank you for making this point. I was waiting for the deluge of "I don't even watch TV"-type responses. Big platforms like Meta/FB raise a whole set of problems that the existing legal framework isn't up to dealing with. Berating people with no choice but to engage in the modern world feeds into the problem rather than solving it.
posted by hankmajor at 7:29 AM on March 20 [11 favorites]
Hey it turns out you don't need HOAs either and you don't need to check on them every day even if you do have one.
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:06 AM on March 20 [3 favorites]
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:06 AM on March 20 [3 favorites]
Berating people with no choice but to engage in the modern world feeds into the problem rather than solving it.
In most of Europe, Meta-owned WhatsApp is texting. SMS messages are reserved for 2-factor authorization and official government communications, no one uses them for personal or business communication. Opting out of Meta here is basically opting out of modern social life altogether.
posted by nanny's striped stocking at 8:17 AM on March 20 [11 favorites]
In most of Europe, Meta-owned WhatsApp is texting. SMS messages are reserved for 2-factor authorization and official government communications, no one uses them for personal or business communication. Opting out of Meta here is basically opting out of modern social life altogether.
posted by nanny's striped stocking at 8:17 AM on March 20 [11 favorites]
I was waiting for the deluge of "I don't even watch TV"-type responses.
FB has been hugely useful to me in my local history work, especially in connecting with interested people / potential donations for my institution that are outside my usual circles. I ran a large, related community page (~50K followers) there for over a decade. I have my current job in part as a result of that.
It is also essential for keeping up with local events, especially music, since many people around here use Meta platforms as their main publicity tool.
Between the tsunami of AI slop, Zuckerberg's immediate genuflecting to Trump, the influence of fascist propaganda on FB on my own relatives and the election, and it being very clear that the current regime is going to use our digital footprints to harass, threaten, and possibly jail and deport us, though, I'm done. I'm downloading the data I can, snapshotting a few beloved posts, and am going to delete my account by the end of the month.
I'm doing this in spite of its great utility to me, because all of that doesn't outweigh the fact that it feels toxic and increasingly very, practically dangerous to my family and community.
posted by reedbird_hill at 8:23 AM on March 20 [7 favorites]
FB has been hugely useful to me in my local history work, especially in connecting with interested people / potential donations for my institution that are outside my usual circles. I ran a large, related community page (~50K followers) there for over a decade. I have my current job in part as a result of that.
It is also essential for keeping up with local events, especially music, since many people around here use Meta platforms as their main publicity tool.
Between the tsunami of AI slop, Zuckerberg's immediate genuflecting to Trump, the influence of fascist propaganda on FB on my own relatives and the election, and it being very clear that the current regime is going to use our digital footprints to harass, threaten, and possibly jail and deport us, though, I'm done. I'm downloading the data I can, snapshotting a few beloved posts, and am going to delete my account by the end of the month.
I'm doing this in spite of its great utility to me, because all of that doesn't outweigh the fact that it feels toxic and increasingly very, practically dangerous to my family and community.
posted by reedbird_hill at 8:23 AM on March 20 [7 favorites]
I mean... Meta -- nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.
I have two copies of this on order, one to donate to the Seattle library system. I will gladly read it, and will read it critically given that this person was clearly happy to be a part of this problem until they weren't. I'm glad to hear there is at least something in there about politics. I will once again encourage everyone to read "Mindf*ck," by Chris Wylie, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, to set the context for some part of this story.
If there is one thing I would like to have repeated over and over again until everyone understands it, it's that the people at the top of that company started to realize they could affect the mood of their users and very shortly decided to make everyone angrier and more unhappy. We have literally been living within the consequences of that decision ever since.
The thing is, these are all just parts of the story. I don't know if we will ever get a real and complete accounting of what has happened inside that company, but there is no question in my mind that they are a blight and that every one of the apps they control should be completely annihilated.
posted by Smedly, Butlerian jihadi at 8:24 AM on March 20 [4 favorites]
I have two copies of this on order, one to donate to the Seattle library system. I will gladly read it, and will read it critically given that this person was clearly happy to be a part of this problem until they weren't. I'm glad to hear there is at least something in there about politics. I will once again encourage everyone to read "Mindf*ck," by Chris Wylie, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, to set the context for some part of this story.
If there is one thing I would like to have repeated over and over again until everyone understands it, it's that the people at the top of that company started to realize they could affect the mood of their users and very shortly decided to make everyone angrier and more unhappy. We have literally been living within the consequences of that decision ever since.
The thing is, these are all just parts of the story. I don't know if we will ever get a real and complete accounting of what has happened inside that company, but there is no question in my mind that they are a blight and that every one of the apps they control should be completely annihilated.
posted by Smedly, Butlerian jihadi at 8:24 AM on March 20 [4 favorites]
Add me to the list of people who know Meta isn’t great but found the shocking revelations to be mostly standard “rich people are weird” and “some corporate leaders are dumb” fare. Disappointing.
posted by caviar2d2 at 8:28 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
posted by caviar2d2 at 8:28 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
And yeah, I know that they keep the data for a minimum of 180 days, and possibly forever - that's fine: I'm not adding any more, and every layer of pain in the ass I put between myself and it going forward is progress.
posted by reedbird_hill at 8:29 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
posted by reedbird_hill at 8:29 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
Hey it turns out you don't need HOAs either and you don't need to check on them every day even if you do have one.
Sadly, not true. Apart from legitimate circumstances where people collectively share the ownership and maintenance of a physical structure, there are lots of places where the idea of local municipal government never really had a chance to be established and HOAs ended up becoming the law of the land and are sometimes responsible for maintaining roads, providing trash pickup, and even enforcing laws.
So of course these organizations would be doing all their business on Facebook because Capitalism and Freedom.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 8:29 AM on March 20 [6 favorites]
Sadly, not true. Apart from legitimate circumstances where people collectively share the ownership and maintenance of a physical structure, there are lots of places where the idea of local municipal government never really had a chance to be established and HOAs ended up becoming the law of the land and are sometimes responsible for maintaining roads, providing trash pickup, and even enforcing laws.
So of course these organizations would be doing all their business on Facebook because Capitalism and Freedom.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 8:29 AM on March 20 [6 favorites]
Glad to see that my local library (Seattle) has already ordered the book.
posted by splitpeasoup at 8:43 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
posted by splitpeasoup at 8:43 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
Hey it turns out you don't need HOAs either and you don't need to check on them every day even if you do have one.
What a weird, dismissive take.
Whether people should or should not need HOAs doesn't change the fact that quite a few people already live in places where they are subject to their petty tyranny.
And even if you only check on them occasionally, if Facebook is the only place where they communicate with homeowners, your account will still need to be active for that.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:53 AM on March 20 [14 favorites]
What a weird, dismissive take.
Whether people should or should not need HOAs doesn't change the fact that quite a few people already live in places where they are subject to their petty tyranny.
And even if you only check on them occasionally, if Facebook is the only place where they communicate with homeowners, your account will still need to be active for that.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:53 AM on March 20 [14 favorites]
normally i would ignore a tell-all, especially a silicon valley one, but i picked this book up *just because* Meta was suing to stop it, or to get the right to edit it. I don't know why they don't see this coming every single time. If you can't get the thing stopped before it has been written, trying to halt its publication just makes it more interesting.
The book however is not as juicy as I had hoped, at least so far, and has that certain special "best seller" feel that makes me think a ghostwriter was involved. But hey I guess it's an historical document for our terrible times.
posted by dis_integration at 8:59 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
The book however is not as juicy as I had hoped, at least so far, and has that certain special "best seller" feel that makes me think a ghostwriter was involved. But hey I guess it's an historical document for our terrible times.
posted by dis_integration at 8:59 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
“Thank you for making this point. I was waiting for the deluge of "I don't even watch TV"-type responses. Big platforms like Meta/FB raise a whole set of problems that the existing legal framework isn't up to dealing with. Berating people with no choice but to engage in the modern world feeds into the problem rather than solving it.”
We’re getting into derail territory, so I’ll make this my only comment on this tangent, but there wasn’t any of that at the time you posted this comment. There was one comment from they sucked his brains out! that may have vaguely fit the description of “berating” and zero of the smug “I don’t watch TV” type.
posted by Captaintripps at 9:20 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
We’re getting into derail territory, so I’ll make this my only comment on this tangent, but there wasn’t any of that at the time you posted this comment. There was one comment from they sucked his brains out! that may have vaguely fit the description of “berating” and zero of the smug “I don’t watch TV” type.
posted by Captaintripps at 9:20 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
Facebook is incredibly useful and is a valuable tool to many people for many great reasons.
Meta is corrupt, ethically and morally bankrupt and is a valuable tool to many people for many horrible reasons.
Both statements are true but the second one is the reason why it will be almost impossible to change/shut down/nuke from orbit.
posted by ashbury at 9:25 AM on March 20 [2 favorites]
Meta is corrupt, ethically and morally bankrupt and is a valuable tool to many people for many horrible reasons.
Both statements are true but the second one is the reason why it will be almost impossible to change/shut down/nuke from orbit.
posted by ashbury at 9:25 AM on March 20 [2 favorites]
One big takeaway for me is that we should have seen and treated "move fast and break things" as the antisocial attitude it truly is. It is the mantra of "careless people" (to borrow that phrase) to demand we excuse their carelessness.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:27 AM on March 20 [10 favorites]
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:27 AM on March 20 [10 favorites]
quick, upload the book to libgen so meta can ingest it to train their AI!
posted by mittens at 9:38 AM on March 20 [6 favorites]
posted by mittens at 9:38 AM on March 20 [6 favorites]
The idea that any private company let alone facebook has any shred of control over municipal or legal communications is terrifying. While I agree that the yanking off of the band aid is going to be really painful, the alternative seems to be continuing down this hellscape of a timeline. That or nationalize it and bust it up.
posted by Sphinx at 9:44 AM on March 20 [2 favorites]
posted by Sphinx at 9:44 AM on March 20 [2 favorites]
At this point, "nationalize it" is pretty scary too...
posted by trig at 9:52 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
posted by trig at 9:52 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
"There was one comment... that may have vaguely fit the description of “berating” and zero of the smug “I don’t watch TV” type."
For the avoidance of doubt, I'm not accusing anyone of anything - I was just glad that this comment stemmed them off at the tide. I also don't think this is a derail, because ultimately the topic of the book and by extension the post is that a questionably moral company (Meta) controls a swathe of communications that a critical mass of people do not have the realistic opportunity to opt out of (as illustrated by others above).
The question is -- what do we do about it? Count me among the people who have a Facebook, Instagram (and WhatsApp) account out of necessity. For example, since I live in Europe, I can't text message with a significant number of my family members (including my aging parents) unless I have Whatsapp. For some reason, some of the union activities in the university I work in are organised over IG. This is a real problem.
As others have sensibly said, there are potential things to be done: split the company up, regulate it to hell, or mandate alternatives legally. There are arguments for and against all of this - not least that another company could just spring up and occupy the same role.
We can all tell our stories about how we use alternative platforms, and how they work just as well. This is what I do too! But due to the nature of network effects and entrenched market power, this is just nice to hear. It is anecdotal and does nothing towards constructing a solution.
Colour me depressed. But love to all.
posted by hankmajor at 9:56 AM on March 20 [3 favorites]
For the avoidance of doubt, I'm not accusing anyone of anything - I was just glad that this comment stemmed them off at the tide. I also don't think this is a derail, because ultimately the topic of the book and by extension the post is that a questionably moral company (Meta) controls a swathe of communications that a critical mass of people do not have the realistic opportunity to opt out of (as illustrated by others above).
The question is -- what do we do about it? Count me among the people who have a Facebook, Instagram (and WhatsApp) account out of necessity. For example, since I live in Europe, I can't text message with a significant number of my family members (including my aging parents) unless I have Whatsapp. For some reason, some of the union activities in the university I work in are organised over IG. This is a real problem.
As others have sensibly said, there are potential things to be done: split the company up, regulate it to hell, or mandate alternatives legally. There are arguments for and against all of this - not least that another company could just spring up and occupy the same role.
We can all tell our stories about how we use alternative platforms, and how they work just as well. This is what I do too! But due to the nature of network effects and entrenched market power, this is just nice to hear. It is anecdotal and does nothing towards constructing a solution.
Colour me depressed. But love to all.
posted by hankmajor at 9:56 AM on March 20 [3 favorites]
But hey I guess it's an historical document for our terrible times.
Inside the Third Reich for the Twenty-First Century, if you will.
posted by nickmark at 10:25 AM on March 20 [4 favorites]
Inside the Third Reich for the Twenty-First Century, if you will.
posted by nickmark at 10:25 AM on March 20 [4 favorites]
Using alternative platforms, talking about them, and getting other people to use them is literally constructing a solution.
posted by Gerald Bostock at 10:30 AM on March 20 [9 favorites]
posted by Gerald Bostock at 10:30 AM on March 20 [9 favorites]
Meta fast stupidly guaranteed it's best seller status, but I've come across complaints about its accuracy. Here's one from another former FBer: https://anchorchange.substack.com/p/careless-people-is-careless
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 10:38 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 10:38 AM on March 20 [1 favorite]
There are few concepts more pervasive in the States (and maybe the Anglosphere in general) and less tethered to actual reality than, “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?”
The best corollary to that is "If they're so nice, how are they rich?". which I shamelessly stole from somebody on MeFi.
posted by Dr. Twist at 11:43 AM on March 20 [4 favorites]
The best corollary to that is "If they're so nice, how are they rich?". which I shamelessly stole from somebody on MeFi.
posted by Dr. Twist at 11:43 AM on March 20 [4 favorites]
I can't imagine anything worse than playing board games with a boss. I'd lose just so I could finish quicker and go home.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:52 PM on March 20 [1 favorite]
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:52 PM on March 20 [1 favorite]
I can't imagine anything worse than playing board games with a boss. I'd lose just so I could finish quicker and go home.
"Won at Go against my boss; HR called me first thing Monday."
posted by hankmajor at 3:24 PM on March 20 [1 favorite]
"Won at Go against my boss; HR called me first thing Monday."
posted by hankmajor at 3:24 PM on March 20 [1 favorite]
I've listened to about half of this book and it's a bit of hate-listen. She's not a great writer and is a worse narrator.
I'm not sure how she thinks she comes across, but she seems only less entitled than the people she thinks she's spilling tea about.
Those of you insisting you need Meta's products because X — have you tried getting others away from it? I used to have WhatsApp because some of my Euro friends used it. I got them to install Signal. Problem solved. There are even a few of them that have been able to uninstall Whatsapp because I was the only reason they still had it. There was one who refused and thought I was being hysterical. I just don't talk to him anymore. If he misses my conversation, he knows where to find me.
Those of you with HOA's or other things that INSIST on Facebook, do what you can to convince them to switch to Pools or other apps that offer all the services without the bullshit.
Oh, and those of you looking for an Instagram alternative, I suggest Foto.
posted by dobbs at 3:40 PM on March 20 [3 favorites]
I'm not sure how she thinks she comes across, but she seems only less entitled than the people she thinks she's spilling tea about.
Those of you insisting you need Meta's products because X — have you tried getting others away from it? I used to have WhatsApp because some of my Euro friends used it. I got them to install Signal. Problem solved. There are even a few of them that have been able to uninstall Whatsapp because I was the only reason they still had it. There was one who refused and thought I was being hysterical. I just don't talk to him anymore. If he misses my conversation, he knows where to find me.
Those of you with HOA's or other things that INSIST on Facebook, do what you can to convince them to switch to Pools or other apps that offer all the services without the bullshit.
Oh, and those of you looking for an Instagram alternative, I suggest Foto.
posted by dobbs at 3:40 PM on March 20 [3 favorites]
As Wired’s Steven Levy aptly notes: “Though she may not admit it, she’s one of the careless people too … sometimes offering objections—but ultimately going with the flow.”
Upton Sinclair pointed out that it’s hard to get someone to understand something when their salary depends on them not understanding it. Ultimately Wynn-Williams left when others didn’t and haven’t, and that’s still worth something. And if a lot of what she wrote is just bog-standard “rich people are weird” things, well, that’s great to puncture some of the more common beliefs about tech companies too.
One big takeaway for me is that we should have seen and treated "move fast and break things" as the antisocial attitude it truly is.
(On a completely different note, one of the things that drives me completely nuts is web developers’ reliance on React. How the hell did a library from a company where “move fast and break things” was the dominant paradigm get turned into a de facto standard?!)
posted by thecaddy at 3:47 PM on March 20 [5 favorites]
Upton Sinclair pointed out that it’s hard to get someone to understand something when their salary depends on them not understanding it. Ultimately Wynn-Williams left when others didn’t and haven’t, and that’s still worth something. And if a lot of what she wrote is just bog-standard “rich people are weird” things, well, that’s great to puncture some of the more common beliefs about tech companies too.
One big takeaway for me is that we should have seen and treated "move fast and break things" as the antisocial attitude it truly is.
(On a completely different note, one of the things that drives me completely nuts is web developers’ reliance on React. How the hell did a library from a company where “move fast and break things” was the dominant paradigm get turned into a de facto standard?!)
posted by thecaddy at 3:47 PM on March 20 [5 favorites]
I've listened to about half of this book and it's a bit of hate-listen. She's not a great writer and is a worse narrator.
I got the Kindle edition and I had to double check if I bought a fake by accident. The writing is terrible.
Sadie tries to console me, she tells me things will be fine, but there are unspoken rules with Sheryl about obedience and closeness. Those closest to Sheryl are rewarded. Marne and Sadie often appear in her unwanted designer clothes; both assumed plum seats on boards that Sheryl had been asked to serve on. There are courtside basketball tickets and introductions to celebrities. Sheryl lends them the keys to her holiday homes. Sadie is very conscious of the benefits of being Sheryl’s “little doll,” as she calls it and having Sheryl tell her she loves her. She’s the one who explained to me the benefits of “being on the pedestal.” She’s acutely aware of others she shares that with. But she’s also very aware of the expectations that come with it. How carefully calibrated the rewards and demands are. Sheryl recently instructed Sadie to buy lingerie for both of them with no budget, and Sadie obeyed, spending over $10,000 on lingerie for Sheryl and $3,000 on herself. When Sadie tries another of the bras Sheryl purchased her for the first time, she emails her. “This bra is INCREDIBLY beautiful and fits perfectly. So grateful. This is my breasts equivalent of flying privately for the first time.” “Happy to treat your breasts as they should be treated,” Sheryl responds.
- Wynn-Williams, Sarah. Careless People: The explosive memoir that Meta doesn't want you to read (pp. 219-220). (Function). Kindle Edition.
posted by hankmajor at 6:27 PM on March 20 [2 favorites]
I got the Kindle edition and I had to double check if I bought a fake by accident. The writing is terrible.
Sadie tries to console me, she tells me things will be fine, but there are unspoken rules with Sheryl about obedience and closeness. Those closest to Sheryl are rewarded. Marne and Sadie often appear in her unwanted designer clothes; both assumed plum seats on boards that Sheryl had been asked to serve on. There are courtside basketball tickets and introductions to celebrities. Sheryl lends them the keys to her holiday homes. Sadie is very conscious of the benefits of being Sheryl’s “little doll,” as she calls it and having Sheryl tell her she loves her. She’s the one who explained to me the benefits of “being on the pedestal.” She’s acutely aware of others she shares that with. But she’s also very aware of the expectations that come with it. How carefully calibrated the rewards and demands are. Sheryl recently instructed Sadie to buy lingerie for both of them with no budget, and Sadie obeyed, spending over $10,000 on lingerie for Sheryl and $3,000 on herself. When Sadie tries another of the bras Sheryl purchased her for the first time, she emails her. “This bra is INCREDIBLY beautiful and fits perfectly. So grateful. This is my breasts equivalent of flying privately for the first time.” “Happy to treat your breasts as they should be treated,” Sheryl responds.
- Wynn-Williams, Sarah. Careless People: The explosive memoir that Meta doesn't want you to read (pp. 219-220). (Function). Kindle Edition.
posted by hankmajor at 6:27 PM on March 20 [2 favorites]
I'm intrigued to know if employees of FB and Tesla and Space-X are buttoning-up on LinkedIn or wearing their employers reputation with pride? (I guess there are plenty of other employers that are not tech related which would also be a sub-optimal employer so maybe the shame is balanced by whataboutism?)
And as a Kiwi I'm wondering about them taking on a role at FB and sticking it out for several years when it was pretty obvious they were pretty fucking terrible (how can you work for someone when 'Genocide' crops up in the context of your employer?). Then again Chris Liddell was also a Kiwi and served as Trumps Deputy Chief of Staff in his first term. Bringing more shame on our nation. Sigh.
posted by phigmov at 11:53 PM on March 20 [2 favorites]
And as a Kiwi I'm wondering about them taking on a role at FB and sticking it out for several years when it was pretty obvious they were pretty fucking terrible (how can you work for someone when 'Genocide' crops up in the context of your employer?). Then again Chris Liddell was also a Kiwi and served as Trumps Deputy Chief of Staff in his first term. Bringing more shame on our nation. Sigh.
posted by phigmov at 11:53 PM on March 20 [2 favorites]
> And as a Kiwi I'm wondering about them taking on a role at FB and sticking it out for several years when it was pretty obvious they were pretty fucking terrible
executive leadership at facebook for several years means you’re rich now. i think many would find that waiting for their literal millions of dollars worth of RSUs to vest is a very convincing reason to look the other way for a while
posted by dis_integration at 5:21 AM on March 21 [2 favorites]
executive leadership at facebook for several years means you’re rich now. i think many would find that waiting for their literal millions of dollars worth of RSUs to vest is a very convincing reason to look the other way for a while
posted by dis_integration at 5:21 AM on March 21 [2 favorites]
This all reminded me to make my twice-a-week call to my senator to encourage him to stop using X. He's already on Bluesky so it's time to leave the Nazi bar.
posted by archimago at 7:26 AM on March 21 [1 favorite]
posted by archimago at 7:26 AM on March 21 [1 favorite]
Meta apologists have large intersection with HOA apologists, news at 11.
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:20 AM on March 21 [2 favorites]
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:20 AM on March 21 [2 favorites]
How ‘Careless People’ is becoming a bigger problem for Meta [The Verge]
posted by chavenet at 1:39 PM on March 21 [2 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 1:39 PM on March 21 [2 favorites]
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posted by BobTheScientist at 2:16 AM on March 20 [4 favorites]