Episode 189: Memento Mori, Motherfacer

December 15, 2021

Central Thesis

Ad-supported social media, specifically Fuckbook (Facebook), profits by disrespecting users' memories, exploiting grief for engagement, and automating indifference to death in the pursuit of attention, proving the corruption inherent in its business model.

Key Arguments

• Exploitation of Attention

Fuckbook's primary goal is maximizing user engagement to sell advertising. This overrides any concern for the user's well-being or dignity. The constant bombardment of emails and the manipulation of content feeds serve only to keep users glued to the platform.

• Disrespect for the Deceased

The platform’s algorithm fails to properly handle the profiles and memories of deceased users, often suggesting deceased individuals as contacts or even tagging them in posts, causing pain and distress to their loved ones. This exposes a lack of human consideration in the platform’s design.

• Creation of Ghost Profiles

Fuckbook creates "ghost profiles" for individuals who are not users themselves but are mentioned by users, effectively including them in the data mining process without their consent. This demonstrates an invasive approach to gathering user data.

• Automated Indifference

The algorithmic nature of Fuckbook's operations means that it lacks the sensitivity and nuance necessary to deal with life events, particularly death. The automated messages and friend suggestions reveal a cold, uncaring system driven solely by profit.

Notable Passages

• "It was really this race for who can manipulate our social instincts better. Who can find a more creative way to get you pulling like a slot machine to check that thing more times in a day. The business model of capturing your attention means that I'm really here to basically drill into your brain and get the attention out."
• "Death is not the opposite of life. It is the end. Of life. It's merely life's last part. Between this beginning and this end of life, what do we do? We communicate. Not just verbally, not just in writing, but also through the simple understanding that people sharing space are sharing space."
• "Hey, Zuckerfuck, I know you've got a real boner about hacking your way to efficiency, eventually replacing all your employees with algorithms, and instead of giving them their pay, pocketing the cash difference. It's kind of obvious, and it should be embarrassing."
• "Open your eyes, the ones fogged with that obscene pile of cash you've amassed, and you will see that certain phases of life, ones that gather a lot of attention, or as you insist on terming it, in, are not the smiley, happy times we wish would never end. Sometimes, jobs and marriages cease to be. Sometimes, livers quit and friends are hospitalized. Sometimes, no wait, often, I'd say once per person on earth, multiplied by the number of people who knew that person, we engage with each other at the end of a life. Treat it well, not automatically, not algorithmically."

Rhetorical Approach

Jim employs a blend of personal anecdote, sardonic humor, and direct address to make his argument. He uses the stories of Vern's funeral, Nellis's death, his brothers' losses, and Jonathan's passing to illustrate Fuckbook's failings. The use of "Fuckbook" instead of Facebook, and "Zuckerfuck" instead of Zuckerberg, along with frequent sarcastic asides, emphasizes his contempt for the platform and its creator. He also uses the historical example of the memento mori to underscore the importance of acknowledging death with respect and intentionality.

Connections

• References Episode 95, in which he shares a story about his friend Dave.
• References John Lennon to illustrate that life happens when you're making plans.
• References Tristan Harris to describe how the tech community makes their money.
• Refers to the Roman tradition of the memento mori as a reminder of mortality.