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Virtual Zuck Fails To Connect (bbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the lack-of-empathy dept.

Rory Cellan-Jones, writing for BBC: It must have seemed like a good idea. As a taster for a big announcement about Oculus VR on Wednesday, send Mark Zuckerberg on a little virtual reality trip, including a stop in Puerto Rico. But the reviews are in -- and they are not good. The sight of Mr Zuckerberg using VR to survey the devastation of an island still struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria may have been meant to convey Facebook's empathy with the victims. The fact that he was there in the form of a cartoon seemed to many the perfect visual metaphor for the gulf in understanding between Silicon Valley and the real world. Sure, he was talking about all the activities which his company had initiated to help the island, from helping people tell their families they were ok using Safety Check to sending Facebook employees to help restore connectivity. But cartoon Zuck showing us a 360 degree view of a flooded street before zipping back to a virtual California just seemed a little, well, crass. Is Facebook really concerned about the plight of Puerto Rico, or is it merely a handy backdrop to promote Oculus, whose sales have so far proved disappointing?

3 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Understanding by fluffernutter · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think it is fair to say that most technical leaders of our time don't really understand anything about people in general. Oh they know how to make a buck off of them, but beyond that they are very out of touch.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  2. Re: Just virtue signaling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm sorry, what SJW made a positive difference?

    All I've seen them do is blow a lot of hot air around. Oh, and attack people for cultural appropriation.

    These idiots made a guy in Oregon shut down his Hawaiian restaurant because he's white. They don't care that he was born and raised in Hawaii at all.

  3. Re: Just virtue signaling by gnick · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Although the OP seems to have exaggerated a bit: the owner wasn't "born and raised" in Hawaii, he just had relatives there and went there to visit them every summer as a kid.

    What's the minimum amount of time somebody has to live in Hawaii before they can open a Hawaiian-themed restaurant without being insensitive? My opinion? None.

    --
    He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.