Stop saying there are no algorithms. Algorithms don't necessarily involve opaque machine learning-driven decisions. Showing posts in chronological order is an algorithm. Showing a partial ordering of posts coming in from other nodes in a federated distributed system is an algorithm. Anything involving computers uses algorithms.

Even if you can predict what it does, there's an algorithm. ESPECIALLY if you can predict what it does.

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.

@mattblaze I somewhat disagree.

You are technically correct but the colloquial use of "algorithm" to mean "shady manipulation of mine and other users data, by big corporations for their own nefarious ends" is fine.

Caffeine is a drug, but when someone says "I don't want my kids doing drugs" we know they aren't talking about cans of Pepsi.