This is yet another case where people don’t notice the root of the problem, because one of the branches is so fucking large it takes the whole scene.

Spot the common element between the text and the following:

• When Internet Explorer still existed, Microsoft gave you no way to remove it.
• Later on (Edge times), Microsoft went out of its way to ignore your browser preferences and shove Edge down your throat.
• Google: Enable Play Protect? Enable Play Protect? Enable Play Protect? Enable Play Protect?
• “Because we’re not designing a desktop for people who like to choose their own terminal emulators.” - Bastien Nocera, GNOME dev
• Plenty pieces of software offer you a choice between “yes” and “maybe later”, but rather curiously avoid the word “no”
• “Subscribe to our newsletter!” (i.e. spam). The only negative answer is worded like “I’m braindead trash thus I don’t want to subscribe”.

It’s always about actively disempowering users. Even if technology was expected to do the opposite.

Why this matters: because even if the image + text generators went away, or got heavily regulated, or whatever, the problem still persists. And it’ll still pop up elsewhere.

Solve this disgusting “Stop treating those THINGS as if they were human beings! They’re users, not humans! Those things exist to be herded!” mindset and you’ll solve the problem.

Frank Zappa offers a possible mission statement for Microsoft back in 1976, a few months after the company is founded.