![\"peeple\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/files\/2015\/10\/peeple-300x180.jpg\")
It’s 6:08 in the morning. Seconds\u00a0ago you were fast asleep and oblivious to the rest of the world. Until\u00a0your cell phone alerted you of a new message.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
It’s 6:08 in the morning. Seconds\u00a0ago you were fast asleep and oblivious to the rest of the world. Until\u00a0your cell phone alerted you of a new message.<\/p>\n
Someone, who claims to know you, has given you a one star rating on an online app. Additionally she’s also reviewed your personal and romantic life and the outcome is not exactly favourable.<\/p>\n
Sounds like a clip from a sci-fi movie, doesn’t it? Only it’s not. In less than a week, this could be a reality when Nicole McCullough and Julia Cordray unleash\u00a0their controversial app,\u00a0Peeple<\/a>, <\/em>on the world.<\/p>\n A cloud of inauspiciousness hovers above\u00a0Peeple<\/em> since the announcement early in October.<\/p>\n Initially you would be notified if any negative comments were listed on the app. You then have the opportunity to convince your critic that he or she is wrong – you have 48 hours to accomplish this prickly task. If your negotiation skills prove unsuccessful, you can still defend yourself on the platform. Negative comments will not be removed: in short, you have little say.<\/p>\n After overwhelming criticism in the media – particularly the breeding ground Peeple<\/em> will create for bullying and harassment – the app’s quickly changed it’s approach<\/a>.<\/p>\n A prominent article in the\u00a0Washington Post<\/a>\u00a0even led to the prompt removal of Peeple<\/em>‘s website, Facebook page and Twitter accounts.<\/p>\n At the moment it is marketed as an app encouraging positive feedback – a “positive revolution”, as the website so optimistically\u00a0states.<\/p>\n Recently Cordray stated on\u00a0LinkedIn <\/em>that no person will be listed without their consent. The 48 waiting period for removing negative comments is no longer applicable. If you do not approve a comment, it will not be posted.<\/p>\n Whether\u00a0Peeple\u00a0<\/em>changes it’s procedures or approach, the real impact of an app that intrudes on human rights, will only truly be felt once it’s in operation.<\/p>\n Clearly there is already enormous\u00a0opposition. A petition <\/a>to ban Peeple<\/em>\u00a0accumulated more than 7000 signatures last week. Two parodies already exist:\u00a0\u201cSheeple,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cMeet Peeple\u201d<\/a>.\u00a0Even satirist John Oliver\u00a0commented in his unique, outspoken, rant-like style.<\/p>\n Peeple<\/em> in the media:\u00a0http:\/\/www.theguardian.com<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0http:\/\/www.latimes.com<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0http:\/\/www.forbes.com<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0http:\/\/arstechnica.com<\/a>\u00a0| http:\/\/www.mybroadband.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Iemand het vir jou een ster gegee op `n aanlyn-toepassing. Jou persoonlike en romantiese vermo\u00ebns is beoordeel en dit lyk nie goed nie.<\/p>\n `n Toneel uit `n wetenskapfiksie fliek? Nee. Teen die einde van volgende week sal di\u00e9 scenario `n realiteit wees wanneer\u00a0Nicole McCullough en Julia Cordray hulle kontroversi\u00eble toepassing,\u00a0Peeple<\/a>, <\/em>op\u00a0die w\u00eareld loslaat.<\/p>\n `n Wolk van ongunstigheid hang bo\u00a0Peeple\u00a0<\/em>sedert die bekendstelling\u00a0vroeg in Oktober.\u00a0<\/p>\n Aanvanklik sou negatiewe kommentaar verskyn, waarna jy, as beoordeelde,\u00a0 in kennis gestel word. Jy kry 48 uur om jou beoordeler te oortuig dat hy\/sy verkeerd is of jouself te verdedig op Peeple<\/em>.\u00a0Negatiewe kommentaar word nie verwyder nie en in kort: jy het nie veel s\u00ea nie.\u00a0<\/p>\n Na oorweldigende kritiek in die media \u00a0– spesifiek oor die gunstige platform wat Peeple<\/em> skep vir teistering en afknouery – het die toepassing se benadering vinnig verander<\/a>. ‘n Prominente artikel in die Washington Post<\/a>\u00a0het gelei daartoe dat Peeple<\/em> se webwerf, Facebook-bladsy en Twitterrekening spoedig\u00a0verwyder is.<\/p>\n Dit word nou eerder bemark as `n toepassing wat gemik is op positiewe terugvoer – `n “positive revolution”, soos die webwerf tans aandui.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cordray skryf op LinkedIn<\/em> dat geen persoon gelys sal word sonder hul toestemming nie. Die 48-uur wagperiode om negatiewe kommentaar te verwyder is nie meer van toepassing nie. Indien jy nie `n kommentaar goedkeur nie, sal dit nie geplaas word nie. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Of Peeple\u00a0<\/em>sy prosedures en aanslag verander of nie, die werklike effek van `n toepassing wat soveel\u00a0inbreuk maak op menseregte, sal eers gevoel word as dit in werking is.<\/p>\n Dat daar geweldig baie opposisie teen Peeple<\/em> is, is duidelik. `n Petisie<\/a> om die toepassing te verban het vroe\u00ebr die week meer as 7000 handtekeninge versamel. Twee parodie\u00eb is reeds geskep:\u00a0\u201cSheeple,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0en \u201cMeet Peeple\u201d<\/a>. Selfs die uitgesproke satirikus John Oliver \u00a0het, op sy eiesoortige manier, kommentaar gelewer.<\/p>\n Peeple<\/em> in die media:\u00a0http:\/\/www.theguardian.com<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0http:\/\/www.latimes.com<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0http:\/\/www.forbes.com<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0http:\/\/arstechnica.com<\/a>\u00a0| http:\/\/www.mybroadband.co.za<\/a><\/p>\nDis 6:08 in die oggend. Sekondes gelede het jy heerlik geslaap; onbewus van die res van die w\u00eareld\u00a0se bedrywighede. Jou selfoon het ander planne. `n Boodskap.\u00a0<\/p>\n