General Question

elbanditoroso's avatar

Is Microsoft contributing to the rape culture?

Asked by elbanditoroso (33511points) May 31st, 2016

Microsoft has somewhat bastardized the meaning of the “X” button at the top of the “Do you want to upgrade to Windows 10? screens”. The X button on just about every Windows pop-up screen means “close, don’t do anything”, and Microsoft has gone on record as saying “We interpret that X to mean ‘yes, go ahead and load W10’”

In other words, “no”, in Microsoft’s world, now means “yes”.

So what does this have to do with rape? For years and years, we have been told “No means No” – when a woman says “no”, that’s the end of it. No means No.

But now we have Microsoft redefining “no” to mean “yes”.

This is a bad precedent.

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

15 Answers

jca's avatar

Is there a link showing that Microsoft says the ‘x’ means “yes?”

johnpowell's avatar

Thanks for diminishing the severity of rape.

Seek's avatar

Well, I certainly hope that’s the stupidest thing I read today.

Joell's avatar

Quite sure Einstein used far lesser brains than that to discover relativity.

si3tech's avatar

I think Microsoft is gaining access and control where I believe they should not have it.

Rarebear's avatar

Glad someone else was offended by the question.

elbanditoroso's avatar

Did anyone actually read the rationale and my explanation for the question, or are you just reacting to the question?

It seems like if “no” no longer means “no”, then we have the potential for erosion of a “no” answer in other areas.

Rarebear's avatar

Yes. And your rationale for comparing it to rape made it even more appalling.

Zaku's avatar

I understand what you are suggesting. The pushing of Windows 10 (and all the intrusive features of Windows 10) are quite bad and do bear some high-level logical parallels to the “no means no” logical situation. I get the parallel, and I would say that there is some overlap in the sense that Microsoft does twist and violate people’s desires and intentions for its own purposes, in ways that could be likened to the strategies of rape apologists or perhaps bullies, abusers, or even rapists.

I also see how the parallel drawn in this question, and the logic leap done, is taken by many as insensitive, upsetting, etc.

jca's avatar

I think if Microsoft really does this (which the articles confirm that it is doing it or going to do it), it just adds to making many more people hate them.

SecondHandStoke's avatar

In @elbanditoroso ‘s defense:

Yes, like @Seek stated in so many words thisn’t the most brilliant parallel ever drawn.

However, when @johnpowell claims that the severity of rape had been diminished I have to disagree:

@elbanditoroso put the word “culture” in front of the word “rape” thus, in a single stroke made rape the most important issue in the entire history of humanity.

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

No, because there is not actually a rape culture.

SecondHandStoke's avatar

^ That was the point I was trying to make.

Yes, I know I made a total hash of it.

Microsoft does have a “culture” of forcing things on people they don’t want.

Call that what you wish.

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