Slashdot Mirror
Turning Up The Heat On On-Line Registration
Saeed al-Sahaf writes "CNN is running a story on the growing number of print newspapers with on-line editions that are requiring registration. Apparently there are some folks out there who don't like this 'feature'! I found a few things interesting about the story: Privacy groups say it's a dangerous practice and promotes spam; I didn't realize people put real personal info into these things (110-year-old surgeons from Bulgaria named Mickey Mouse). About 15 to 20 percent of the registrations for the Philadelphia Inquirer turned out to be bogus, a figure that was much lower than I would have thought. Also mentioned in the story is a web site called BugMeNot.com, which lists 'communal' logins and passwords for on-line newspapers."
If you go to BugMeNot.com and enter http://slashdot.org, you get:
;-)
CmdrTaco
password
Sheesh, I'd expect better from him!
...but I imagine that 'joe@aol.com' probably doesn't...
About 15 to 20 percent of the registrations for the Philadelphia Inquirer turned out to be bogus
:)
That percentage has just risen
infowants
tobefree
However I got a password error when logging in. I wonder if it was a bad logon, or if this entry was changed prior to running the story here...
Hmm.. Looks like this provides assistance for circumventing a mechanism to controlling access of copyrighted material.
I know people who give their email username AND password even when trying to use "send/forward to a friend" links in a newspaper.
That said, I don't think lying is an option for many people.
After all these years of filling out fake information in online forms, I'm not really very sure what my own name, address, or social security information is any more.
:)
Maybe that's why the IRS is less than entertained by my tax returns.
Name: John Smith (note the resemblance)
SS#: 078-05-1120
Addr: 1 Main Street
Anytown, USA
Just kidding, I've been sending notes to the IRS for years reminding them I am from a galaxy far far away, and we don't believe in taxes.
Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
Poll results certainly sound like a good idea. The Sydney Morning Herald (another of the dozens of sites which are locking down soon) hold polls, and in the past they have been less than reliable (as an example, back in 2000 or 1999 they had a "what do you think of browser cookies" poll, which I answered by using their assumption on the existence of browser cookies to post 1000 votes against cookies.)
Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
When I was a kid, I was always fascinated by how drivers on highways/interstates could be so mean to each other (cutting each other off, flicking each other off, etc...), and yet still occasionally help a brutha' out by flicking their headlights to warn of a sneaky hidden cop.
:)
I've got a bit of hippy in me thanks to a 70s generation mom, so I love to see any example of people banding together to fight annoying corporate trends like login requirements for free content. I previously had not heard of BugMeNot.com, but now I'm going to stick a link up on my site to spread it around a little more - as well as adding the firefox extension.
Of course, I suppose I should disable logins for my site in order to avoid hypocrisy/irony... although that'll seriously cut into my meager revenue...
she probably dosen't want to look at horse porn anyway
It's like slashdot wiki, only with bad karma. Ok, I'll stop talking to myself now.
This account has been seized by the GNAA. That is all.
Registration is a slight pain in the ass, but I don't mind filling their spam database with garbage like this.
:) )
First Name: First
Last Name: Last
DOB: 1/1/1900
Email: nottelling@almostspamless.com
Password: 12345 (same as my luggage
Would you like to receive our newsletter: Sure!