PIPA_jep77May 21, 2025
Nowhere Girl
I don't want to "talk" to my browser. I don't want my browser to "summarize" things. I don't want my browser to "help" me with things. I don't want my browser to do anything except show me web pages and shut the fuck up and get out of the way.
May 20, 2025 at 6:19pmWeb
Show threadKevin Karhan May 20, 2025

@gwynnion +9001%

It's meant to display websites just like a PDF reader is supposed to render those files or an Image viewer is supposed to show me supported files.

Show threadJonathan BeverleyMay 20, 2025

@kkarhan @gwynnion @torproject strong disagree. I want my browser to protect me from web pages. To block ads. To disable trackers. To remove consent popups without agreeing with them.

It is my agent, and I want it to be accountable to me and my interests, against the interests of the servers.

Show threadKevin Karhan May 20, 2025

@sagefault @gwynnion even then @torproject / #TorBrowser does that for ya.

  • Set it to "highest" security and it'll do just that!
Show threadRuakueqcheMay 25, 2025
@kkarhan @sagefault @gwynnion @torproject remember to restart after changing the setting!
Show threadKevin Karhan May 25, 2025
@ruakueqche @sagefault @gwynnion @torproject Except on @tails_live / @tails / #Tails. There this setting is not persistent and has to be chosen every time #TorBrowser is being opened (unless it's a "wipe session & restart" relaunch)...
Show threadLukefromDCMay 21, 2025
@sagefault @kkarhan @gwynnion @torproject I think the point here is that the browser isn't supposed to be playing AI games locally or worse, contacting an outside server to fetch AI "summaries"
Show threadKevin Karhan May 21, 2025
@LukefromDC @sagefault @gwynnion @torproject precisely that!
Show threadltningJun 1, 2025
@sagefault @kkarhan @gwynnion @torproject It's in the name: "User Agent". An agent working on behalf of the user. Not some other entity; me. For me. I tell it what to do. Not the other way round, and no more and no less.

I tell it to get out of my way - it should let me fire off all the foot cannons I want. I tell it to protect me - it should do so in the manner I want.

User Agent. *My* agent.
Show threadOggieMay 20, 2025

@gwynnion
Things that fill me with rage:
-ai summation
- anything that plays audio unprompted.
- auto fill
- any website that greets me with whatever nam I put in
- actually any attempt to anthropomorphize shit, I am not going to call your problem solver Skippy or Jill
- infinite scroll
- dynamically loading as you 'scroll' down
- wildly overcomplicated sites that don't hit the key information
- bad anti ad block

I started thinking about what angers me most when browsing, and...yeah.

Show threadCriminelle OnctueuseMay 20, 2025

@Oggie @gwynnion
Things that fill me with rage:

_ javascript

Show threadMathias PanzenböckMay 21, 2025
@Oggie @gwynnion
- videos that manage to play way before the controls get responsive
- video players that can't be paused with space and can't toggle fullscreen with F
- fake links that are JavaScript actions and thus can't be opened in a tab with middle click
- noscript redirects to different domains so you can't allow JavaScript on the right domain
- forgetting what page I wanted to view after login redirect
- redirect hops that break history back
etc.
Show threadArthur van der HargMay 21, 2025
@bloody_albatross @Oggie @gwynnion - videos that turn into a hovering miniplayer when you scroll past them
Show threadgispyskovMay 21, 2025
@ArtHarg @bloody_albatross @Oggie @gwynnion oh, I fucking hate that thing! been scrolling through the list from other ppl and agreeing with most of them, but this one triggers a low primordial hate in me, everytime i see it
Show threadlizzzzardJun 1, 2025
@bloody_albatross @Oggie @gwynnion any kind of movement placed within our next to the text that I'm trying to read.
Show threadMrs H SaxonMay 21, 2025
@Oggie @gwynnion "we closed an inactive tab for you"
But I was keeping that tab for when I needed it!! Don't decide for me what I need closing!!!
Show threadOggieMay 21, 2025
@mrshsaxon @gwynnion
I've never seen this, but I would fucking break things.
Show threadLisa MeltonMay 20, 2025
@gwynnion This. 💯
Show threadWouter HindriksMay 20, 2025
@gwynnion Same for OSes. Let me run programs and don't bother me with ads or dare spy on me.
Show threadque :verifried:May 21, 2025
@Sikorsky78 @gwynnion yes, was going to say the exact same thing.
oh, and cars!
Show threadSuperdave!May 20, 2025
@gwynnion I second! It's a BROWSER! Same goes for my email client! Just show me my mail, and let me dispose of it, please! I'm looking at you, Apple Mail, and your automatic categorizing! Stop it!
Show threadque :verifried:May 21, 2025
@wx1g @gwynnion thunderbird is an awesome email client..
Show threadSuperdave!May 21, 2025
@que @gwynnion Oh, I juse the fox and bird for webbing and mail, respectively. I don't care for the ui for clausmail or sylpheed. In the days of yee olde cli-only, I used pine.
Show threadNeromabeneMay 20, 2025
@gwynnion Now if only the option to turn them off was as conveniently located.
Show threadKirstyMay 21, 2025

@neromabene @gwynnion
If it WAS conveniently located, I wonder how many people would turn it off?
We all would, but are we representative?
Would Google etal get a wake-up call? Or would most people be happy with it?

Sorry, I only have questions.

Show thread✨buff dog himbo✨May 21, 2025
@Kirsty @neromabene @gwynnion every time there's a court case which touches on opt-in vs opt-out schemes, the company in question tells on itself and says out loud on the record that if they made (x) service opt-in with an obvious toggle, not enough people would opt in. They know they are tricking people into using features they don't want. I think the last big one i remember was Apple or Google saying this about data collection for service optimization (which the company then trades of course).
Show threadOverdid PantsMay 20, 2025
@gwynnion I want my browser to work hard at providing protection from my data being mopped up willy nilly. In the past I've found Tor unable to access some sites because they need that data to flow. Maybe this is different now. I am a #browserslut through all of the browsers I use, Opera I quite liked for a while, then Firefox and for some websites Edge just works better even though it does feel like I am being groped in the dark. It's funny that browsers are so critical to digital life.
Show threadGilgwathMay 20, 2025
@gwynnion I totally agree. IT at work asked me why I use Sumatra PDF if we pay for Acrobat. This shit, just in different colored trenchcoat 😂 I asked them whether I can have Linux instead of Win 11. They asked me why. Exactly this shit, just this time in suite and tie. No Linux for me though 😒
Show threadMichael ☕️May 21, 2025
@gilgwath @gwynnion
Has any program in history been hacked in more ways than Acrobat?
Show threadGilgwathMay 21, 2025
@mcpinson If you look at the ranking on here https://www.cvedetails.com/top-50-products.php?year=0 and ignore all the OS stuff, you are right on the money! Although CVE != exploited in the wild. 🙂
Top 50 products having highest number of cve security vulnerabilities

Top 50 products having highest number of cve security vulnerabilities Detailed list of software/hardware products having highest number security vulnerabilities, ordered by number of vulnerabilities.

Show threadNoodlemazMay 20, 2025
@gwynnion fuckin this
Show threadCluster FckuMay 20, 2025
@gwynnion "From your inputs I noticed you are getting frustrated. Would you like me to shut the fuck up?" [NO] [CANCEL] [NOT NOW] [MAYBE LATER]
Show threadTom ForsythMay 20, 2025
@gwynnion Same with bloody TVs. Just show the picture I feed you! Stop being smart - I have an actual computer for that. Just... show... the... thing.
Show threadlizzzzardJun 1, 2025
@TomF @gwynnion THIS!
Show threadlizzzzardJun 1, 2025
@TomF @gwynnion I just shopped for a TV yesterday (for a family member) and there's TVs that LISTEN FOR BARKS SO THEY CAN TELL YOU WHEN YOUR PET NEEDS ATTENTION! What a lame excuse for spying on me with a microphone!!
Show threadFanfalla May 20, 2025
@gwynnion THIS!!! I'm so fucking sick of companies trying to shove AI shit in every browser and everything else.
Show threadfmc01May 20, 2025
@gwynnion It is very simple - if these features were of any value you would nott have to travel to Alpha Centauri to find the disable switches. The idea of “a deep and meaningful conversation” with a computer program is as weird and dystopian as it gets.
Show threadSeth GalitzerMay 20, 2025
@gwynnion Amen!
Show threadDianeMay 20, 2025

@gwynnion

I want that list and to block ads and other malware.

Show threadDin🪂🌈👌May 20, 2025
@gwynnion you are right Girl
Show threadxs4me2May 20, 2025
@gwynnion Exactly…
Show threadRed HoodMay 20, 2025
@gwynnion
Preach! 💯
Show threadMiakoda May 20, 2025
@gwynnion I love apps that just open things. If I want more, I'll go to a different app. Like my photo viewer. I want to just open the file I double clicked. When I want to organize and tag and all that jazz, I'll go to the app that does that.
Show threadluna (tangleofthorns)May 20, 2025
@gwynnion pre-fucking-cisely
Show threadChris Cochrun ~ >May 20, 2025
@gwynnion preach it
Show threadMïkê 💚 👑🐉🗡️🏳️‍⚧️May 20, 2025
@gwynnion I recommend Mullvad
Show threadDark Phoenix 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇬🇱🇵🇦🇵🇸🏳️‍🌈May 20, 2025
@gwynnion 👍💯
Show threadwirepairMay 21, 2025
@gwynnion *plays audio unprompted*
Show threadSkjeggtrollMay 21, 2025

@gwynnion

Do you have a moment to talk about our friend and saviour #vivaldi ?

(Note that it _is_ based on Chromium for the rendering engine, which I know makes it a non-starter for many people, but their philosophy of what a browser should be is, I think, very much "shutting the fuck up and getting out of the way.")

Show threadMarkRMay 21, 2025
@gwynnion I fully agree
Show threadLot⁴⁹May 21, 2025
@gwynnion How about later?
Show threadJenny FxMay 21, 2025
@gwynnion I don't want to buy the thing I'm searching for. I just want to know what it is!
Show threadGeorgette G. deBloisMay 21, 2025
@gwynnion My sentiments exactly! I refuse to talk to my TV or phone. I'm a walking contradiction because I respect invention, scientific discoveries, encourage education in STEM, yet resist talking to a box with a screen, a watch, or a phone... Bah Humbug!
Show threadlizzzzardJun 1, 2025
@ggdeb @gwynnion it's only innovation if it solves a problem that actually existed before. Otherwise it's marketing buzz.
Show threadYvesMay 21, 2025
@gwynnion spot on. Thank you.
Show threadLorkerMay 21, 2025
@gwynnion want some cookies tho? 🍪
Show threadJohn🥛May 21, 2025
@gwynnion why i love Vivaldi.
Show threadWernerMay 21, 2025
@gwynnion
New slogan for Vivaldi, @jon 😅☝️
Show threadJon S. von TetzchnerMay 21, 2025

@worldwidewerner @gwynnion

I guess our goal is to do a bit more than that, but without the AI. We do have more advanced tab handling. We have web panels. We have a built-in tracker and ad blocker. So we have plenty to offer, but without AI, Crypto and data collection.

Show threadChristian BrüggemannMay 21, 2025
@gwynnion Great, then just don’t use those features