Thread

1. izzydata · 1789587811 · focus · HN ↗

   Threatening people is unwarranted, but of course people are allowed to choose where they buy coffee for whatever reasons they see fit. If the market decides that stores with AI posters aren't the place to be then the business has to adapt.

   1. ratelimitsteve · 1789588479 · focus · HN ↗

      the only "threat" mentioned in the article is that someone said that if she didn't take the sign down they would post about it in a local artist community. Threatening people with violence is always unwarranted, but trying to portray talking with other people about what someone is doing as a "threat" is disingenuous.

      1. brandon272 · 1789589051 · focus · HN ↗

         I think that issuing an ultimatum where if the person does not do what you want, that you will be sharing your concerns with likeminded people online, with the underlying implication being that the business owner will end up experiencing some kind of negative outcome from that, is absolutely a threat.

         1. jlarocco · 1789590753 · focus · HN ↗

            Okay, but I (and I suspect a lot of people) really don't care if somebody is threatened in that way. If the business person doesn't want other people to know what they're doing then maybe they shouldn't do it. It's not worthy of a news article, IMO.

            If somebody threatens them with violence (which is what "threat" is usually implying) then that's a different thing entirely.

            1. fakedang · 1789591443 · focus · HN ↗

               "It would be a pity if I were to tarnish jlarocco's reputation within my network. I even have his GitHub from his profile. I'll just talk shit about him to all the CTOs on the block and ensure he doesn't get a job again..."

               See how that works? That's why you should care. The so-called influencer-orienter culture has become a plague after social media. And these F&B businesses are the ones hit hardest - remember all those movies in the 90s and 00s about how some up and coming entrepreneur or chef had to win the approval of some hoity-toity food journalist?

               Also, rest assured, I'm not serious about badmouthing you or anyone here for that matter - just trying to illustrate a point.

               1. jlarocco · 1789591928 · focus · HN ↗

                  Oh, I get it, but it only works if the "influencer" can actually influence a large enough group of customers, and my bet is that they can't.

                  If it were me, I would have called their bluff and ignored them.

                  1. brandon272 · 1789594464 · focus · HN ↗

                     In that analogy, you SHOULD assume the person is an influencer.

                     In the case of this shop, we're talking about local retail. If you are a retail small business owner you have to assume that any customer can be an "influencer" and cause significant harm if they seek to trash your business online.

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