Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

Osvaldo — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:32:45 -0000

Well, in my opinion the use of proprietary web apps should be avoided as RMS says, but for critical tasks only. Honestly I will not be concerned at all if my Facebook page goes offline or disapears. Mail is more critical. If you have a local copy of your mail you can recover or disapear.

Anyway there are alternatives to Social Apps with free software. Just buy a domain name and create your blog with Wordpress. Link you friends trough your blogroll and sidebar links. Is that simple.

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

bb — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:04:35 -0000

myspace and facebook are toys and complete wastes of time. I'm not an IT guy, just an adult. I don't use any web apps, can't imagine that I ever will.

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

Alex — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:52:07 -0000

While I agree that web apps can be dangerous, I wonder what crucially important data people are trying to store on the Internet. Most apps don't ask for stuff like credit card information, driver's license numbers, social security numbers etc, and if they do, it seems like common sense to steer clear. I can understand wanting to keep office/business info private but there are plenty of desktop apps for that. Email is really the only thing, but your pretty much can't stay connected in this world without it. So, I guess my question is, what sensitive information could people possibly need to store online?! The real danger to me is that if you use a lot of web apps, where you are, what you're doing, who your friends are, your interests, etc. are all over the Internet and then Google can pinpoint your location and abduct you...but that's about it.

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

I HATE MICHAEL MOORE — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:57:50 -0000

I'm going berserk over his stupid hippie beard.

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

Scott — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:15:23 -0000

I don't trust web apps for three reasons:

1. Privacy, an obvious issue, witness Google's scanning of literally everything. For anyone who thinks that's a non-issue, you've obviously never been in litigation. The day you are, you'll dearly regret all your information scanned and in someone else's hands.

2. Access to data. If the service is down, what do I do? Even worse, if the service goes out of business, I'm totally screwed.

3. Ultimate cost. Stallman raises a good point -- what is free today for a web service could be very expensive tomorrow.

Until all of the problems listed above are resolved, I'll keep tight control of my data.

And when I'm mobile, I have a copy of all my data on a cheap server at The Planet, so access is not an issue. If The Planet's down, or goes out of business, at least I have my onsite copy of the data.

Bottom line is I'd like to trust Google and similar businesses/services, but ultimately they're just money-grubbing corporations, and my best interests are invariably at the bottom of their todo list.

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

Paul — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:44:11 -0000

I for one trust Google more than myself to keep a copy of my email. I've lost more data than I care remember on failed hard drives or stolen laptops over the years. Not to mention transferring around huge 2gb outlook pst's, and multiple backup pst's. And you can't imagine how frustrating it is when you try to restore a tape backup only to find it is corrupted.

It was a revelation when I switched to gmail. Running Gmail with imap and pop means I have a copy, they have a copy and if my laptop is ever stolen, I'm back up and running in minutes. True bliss... at least for me.

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

Jay — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:35:42 -0000

You're right, that he's right (sorta) but personally I'd find it easier to respect Stallman's opiions if he offered a viable alternative to participating in the online society other then reading webpages via email.

Ownership of my information is important but so is being able to walk away from your data. Perhaps because it's not critical, or perhaps because it's backed up. It's kinda like having a date with a hot chick.

The only way you stand a chance is to pretend you don't care.

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

Andy — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:41:50 -0000

I totally agree that usage of web applications exposes your privacy but the thing is if people realize there is a privacy threat why donâ€™t they look for ways to protect it? One problem is people sometimes donâ€™t really care another problem people donâ€™t even know it is possible. The fact that people donâ€™t know how doesnâ€™t mean there are not tools out there to protect their privacy. Check out blog.arzoola.com they are talking about Privacy 2.0. I am not sure about the term but the idea is pretty interesting. They placing applications that allow you to protect your personal information on the web under Privacy 2.0 umbrella and trying to educate people about ways to protect their privacy on the internet.

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

Nicole Simon (Berlin, Germany) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:48:38 -0000

It does not need to be the DESKTOP we work for. Exchangable / retrievable data is something different to insisting on it has to be on the desktop. Dont get me wrong, I am the first to talk about stuff I want on MY machine, in MY control to work on the tools I want to have. But not everything is working on the desktop, nor is it supposed to be.

It is the data we care about and what we do with it. And before you go there - Blogs are basically pretty version of usegroups with a slightly different toolset, and yes I'd like a working nntp gateway for my feeds, thank you. ;)

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

Free Software Wins — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:43:41 -0000

'The problem, however, is that Stallman doesnâ€™t realize that some web apps are not easily replicable as desktop open source applications.'

This is the problem what RMS said; you're not trying to create/help to create your needed app and use given one, then you're locked in that app. If the service goes down, bang!

Re: If Web Apps are Evil, Why Do We Use Them?

Nicole Simon (Berlin, Germany) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:40:02 -0000

To stay with your example of Gmail - one of the main reasons to use it is the fact that I can get my data out through IMAP and POP. Google Analytics? Nice features, but also export of the data and automatic sending by mail. As long as you make sure that you have setup a working system to get your data in and out, I think you are covered. Of course most people do not go there - but they do not use decent programms on their system either. ;)