this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2023
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[–] [email protected] 193 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I don't trust homophobes or cryptobros, especially not those with a history of selling users out like Brendan Eich

[–] [email protected] 41 points 1 year ago

Especially when there is Firefox and Firefox-based, privacy-focused alternative with great add-blocking and privacy extensions.

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[–] [email protected] 146 points 1 year ago (14 children)

Very strongly worded, but yes.

Brave have had a history of controversy since their inception. Every time something happens, the CEO went on a marketing campaign across social media and drummed up enough new users to drown it out. However the attitude of the business is clear: it would take a very small sack of money for Brave to sell out its users.

If you're going to use a Chromium web browser, there are non-commercial open source projects that don't have a history of shady shit. However Firefox forks are better.

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[–] [email protected] 113 points 1 year ago (10 children)

People that use Brave always remind of the people pushing crypto.

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[–] [email protected] 113 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Why was appointing Eich as CEO so controversial? It's because he donated $1,000 in support of California's Proposition 8 in 2008, which was a proposed amendment to California's state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Which is all the reason I need.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year ago

If he had changed his tune since then and done something to offset that, I might be willing to cut him some slack.

But, instead, he seems to have doubled down...

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[–] [email protected] 72 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (13 children)

Not a single solid reason given in this unhinged rent except a mention of that affiliate link fiasco, which even they themselves agree was a major fuckup.

All BAT and crypto stuff are completely opt-in and it barely takes a few clicks to set the browser to never let you see that side of it again. As for Brendan's political affiliations, most users couldn't care less. He might as well be a ~~furry~~ flat-earther but if the product is good, it is good. Stop acting like you're sure all the things you use throughout the day aren't made by people with doubtful leanings.

I personally don't use Brave on desktop, Firefox is good enough; but it is the best option on Android currently since Bromite is almost always a Chromium version behind whatever is current.

Edit: Just learnt that I was wrong in my perception of what "furry" meant. Reading the replies objecting to that reference made me dig a bit deeper and realise that it's just a type of fandom, and not some sex-deviant cult that pop media made me believe. Sorry for the wrong example.

[–] [email protected] 136 points 1 year ago (3 children)

mf really conflated being a homophobe to being a furry 💀

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[–] [email protected] 91 points 1 year ago (3 children)

As for Brendan’s political affiliations, most users couldn’t care less. He might as well be a furry but if the product is good, it is good. Stop acting like you’re sure all the things you use throughout the day aren’t made by people with doubtful leanings.

  1. People do care about Eich's beliefs, or this discussion wouldn't even be happening.

  2. There's nothing wrong with being a furry, and trying to compare it as though it's equivalent or worse than being a shitbag bigot is bullshit.

  3. If you know that the people who run a company are bigots and you continue to use their products and services, you are giving your explicit approval to who they are and what they do. "if the product is good, it is good" absolutely fucking not. Goods and services don't exist in a vacuum.

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[–] [email protected] 82 points 1 year ago

Not a single solid reason given in this unhinged rent except a mention of that affiliate link fiasco, which even they themselves agree was a major fuckup.

That's pretty dismissive of a feature that could only have been added intentionally. It's not like there was some accidental glitch that was adding affiliate suffixes on the end of links.

What we have here is a business poking and prodding and seeing what they can get away with. You've said that there's only one thing they did that's truly out of line, while glossing over the fact that most of what they do is borderline. Their intent is clear.

[–] [email protected] 45 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Imagine comparing furries to homophobes lol. Sit down you goofball.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

The very first reason seems valid to me. No way anyone should be supporting a hateful asshole like that. Anybody going around saying homosexuality is any less valid than heterosexuality has no place in our society anymore.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago

If directly funding homophobic policies isn't a good enough reason for you, you need to look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself why that is

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[–] drcouzelis 71 points 1 year ago (1 children)

To anyone reading this article, only the first quarter of it is about the beliefs and political stance of the developers. The rest of the article after that goes into more technical reasons.

[–] [email protected] 41 points 1 year ago (6 children)

All I needed to read was in the first paragraph.

Brave Software, the company behind the browser of the same name, was founded by Brendan Eich. He's best known as the creator of JavaScript from his days at Netscape Communications

I mean, JS is his baby that's all there needs to be said about the person's motivations.

[–] [email protected] 60 points 1 year ago (11 children)

I love Brave, use it daily, and this article didn't convince me at all. Vaguely motioning at the founder's ancient political donations or the optional crypto features, doesn't make a strong case.

[–] [email protected] 94 points 1 year ago (3 children)

2008 is not ancient. Nor is same-sex marriage some minor technical legal point.

Nor has he repented.

[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago

Nor has he repented.

That's the important point for me.

People can change after 20 years. But he prefers to double-down instead.

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[–] [email protected] 60 points 1 year ago (10 children)

Chromium should be enough of a reason to get rid of it.

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[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 year ago (6 children)

You see, when someone is known to make bad choices it makes sense to approach what they do with apprehension. This guy not only has a history of bad choices, he's also the CEO.

You're free to do as you like of course, but I'd say it's hardly fair to say the article is unconvincing.

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[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 year ago

The moment my cryptofan buddy started talking up brave, I knew it was time to uninstall.

[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 year ago (5 children)

It should've been as simple as stop using any chromium-based browser, but the CEO is also super bigoted, doing ad theft, and pushing crypto scams.

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[–] [email protected] 45 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Stop telling me what to do

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[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 year ago

Now it makes sense why some of the Fox News-parroting, right wing people I know use Brave. I had no idea about what the author mentioned about the browser, I just know it is based on Chromium which I will not use. Thus, I am on Firefox. And for many reasons, including those the author laid out, I'm happy I chose wisely.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 year ago

Don't need to tell me twice. I've distrusted Brave since I saw their advertisement for it. It just feels like they sell the browser in same mood as pyramid schemers does their products.

But its just my gut feeling. Got no good reason why people should avoid the browser. And because the CEO is an ass isn't a good enough reason for most people.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago (2 children)

if you useanything alphabet like chromium, then YOU are the problem.

[–] [email protected] 76 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (17 children)

I think it’s pretty unfair to put all of the blame on everyone who uses a chromium browser, considering that most people with a computer have no idea what the hell you are talking about.

Google Chrome is the single most popular web browser. Everyone’s work uses it, everyone’s school uses it, why would they possibly question it? And then they discover a new browser someone recommended - why would they look into “chromium” and what it all means? It’s just not reasonable to expect of nearly the entire population at this stage.

Take your anger out on the company and educate people. This is a problem of education, not selfishness (on the part of the user).

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 year ago

Isn't this like the fourth time this has been posted? the conversation always goes around in circles with nobody changing their mind.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 year ago

I never used brave. I wasn't interested in it since I learned it was chromium and all the crypto stuff.

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