Collaborative filtering doesn't work for us
This is Chat<i>roulette</i>. Burn the matchmaking algorithms and keep it true random?<p>For example, if every dating site in existence did this the world would be a better place. Instead, we typically see layers of opaque algorithmic shit governing human interaction. The platform&#x27;s interests are then in effect prioritized, not the user&#x27;s.<p>Did anyone ever stop and think: &quot;Is aggressively matching what we believe to be compatible or like-minded people actually a <i>good</i> thing for society? Is it possible that&#x27;s actually a pretty <i>terrible</i> thing? Do we even know?&quot;<p>There&#x27;s a certain beauty to true randomness in a matchmaking context. It&#x27;s a fair playing field for everyone. You start using highly imperfect and frankly arbitrary algorithms to govern who matches with who, and suddenly certain people aren&#x27;t going to meet certain people for reasons they&#x27;re probably not even aware of.<p>&quot;Hey, this person could have been your significant other or best friend, but you never met them because some engineers at some tech company decided to get fancy. <i>Fuck you.</i>&quot; Or, in so many dating app cases: fancy and <i>greedy</i>.<p>Every time these algorithms are employed, there&#x27;s always people that fall into the cracks; the dead zones. There they languish. Perhaps months or years later the algorithm is adjusted and affords them a reprieve. Perhaps never.<p>---<p>This isn&#x27;t meant to be an indictment of Chatroulette. On the contrary, good on them for reporting negative results. Obviously some filtering must be done for a myriad of reasons, such as curbing abuse. Their stated mission is even to match people <i>&quot;At random.&quot;</i> They&#x27;ve thought about this problem a lot more than I have.<p>That said, I thoroughly believe the road to hell is paved by matching users based on metrics such as projected compatibility or similar interests.