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e-Denounce

Posted by timothy on from the no-need-for-a-gnu-button dept.

Knacklappen writes: "A British organization named Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) will according to this article on Monday launch a plug-in for Internet Explorer that will put an 'F' button on a user's browser. Pressing the button, one can easily tipoff FAST about pirated software. The plug-in captures a live example of the site for evidence as well as other basic information about the site. Great idea, but why not mark the button with 'D' for 'denounce'?"

3 of 474 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The true question.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Okay, we really need to get this straightened out.

    First of all, allow me to establish my own credentials. I've been reasonably active in "trading" software for 20+ years, since long before there was any really active internet scene. (/crotchety voice)Back then, if you wanted to trade software you had to link up by BBS with someone, and actually go over to their house with a box full of your big-ass 5.25 floppies. It took work in those days, boy. (/crotchety voice)

    Anyway, from the first time the term started being used, warez was always pronounced "wares", to rhyme with "bears".

    Said Simple Simon, to the pieman,
    let me taste your wares

    This "war-ez" business (to rhyme with, i dunno, say, "bore fez") started up some time around the 93-95 zone, in my own experience. I'm not slamming you personally by saying this, just making an observation, but I've tended to see this pronunciation taken up by relative newbies on the scene. I don't like it. "Wares" is simple and elegant, "war-ez" is two syllables, and does not roll off the tounge anywhere near as nicely.

    Not that anyone will care, don't listen to your elders, world going to hell in a handbasket these days anyway, I don't know... (wanders away mumbling)

  2. Will this move people away from IE? by palfrey · · Score: 5, Interesting

    One possiblity - all of the assorted "warez" sites may start automatically bouncing anyone with IE, saying "use something that doesn't report us" or similar....

    A plus for Mozilla, Opera, et al. Not necessarily the sort of advertising they'd ever want to use, but every download helps.

    --
    Beware the psychokinetic mimes!
  3. Re:How to make this work. by cygnusx · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I don't use Linux because it's free in either sense of the word. I use it because it's better than Windows.
    Good stand to take. Which is why I always have a Linux box lying around which I can SSH to and develop on.

    On the other hand, because I don't have much spare time, and because most Linux desktop apps are very, very immature*, I do not use Linux on my (primary) desktop. I suspect Windows 2000 (or Windows XP Home for home users) and OS/X is a far better choice for most users as a desktop OS -- they are rock solid (for desktop standards) and have a more polished, integrated feel to them.

    *Exceptions: Mozilla, OpenOffice, maybe XMMS and the Gimp. For Joe Public this *may* be enough, but there are lots of people who need more. But poor font support, quirky cut and paste, printers/hardware that are difficult to configure... all these make Linux a poor desktop choice.