Slashdot Mirror
Website Mass-Bans Users Who Mention AdBlock
An anonymous reader writes to recommend TechDirt's take on the dustup over at the Escapist, which recently tried on banning users from their forums for the mere mention of AdBlock. In the thread in which the trouble started, a user complained that an ad for Time Warner Cable was slowing down his computer. Users who responded to the poster by suggesting "get Firefox and AdBlock" found themselves banned from the forums. The banned parties didn't even need to admit they used AdBlock, they simply had to recommend it as a solution to a troublesome ad. The forum's recently amended posting guidelines do indeed confirm that the folks at the Escapist believe that giving browsing preference advice is a "non forgivable" offense. After a lot of user protest, the forum unbanned the transgressors but heaped on the guilt.
Hamas runs several orphanages and public welfare organizations.
Makes sense to run orphanages I suppose. Orphans who had their parents run over by an Israeli tank or killed by an Israeli shell are probably pretty easy to mould into suicide bombers when they get a little bit older. Might as well start training them early.
I dont read
Meringue.
Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
Um, Hamas isn't a humanitarian organization. Before you accuse me of being right wing, I should tell you that I have worked in the humanitarian sector for years, and currently work for a Humanitarian NGO that actually does operations in Palestine. Just because an organization runs orphanages does not make them humanitarian. Former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauescu ran a huge number of orphanages, and I am sure he would have been happy if you wrote him checks. With the exception of intergovernmental humanitarian agencies like the UN or the International Red Cross, or of the donor departments of large governments, like USAID, humanitarian actors are private, neutral non-profit entities. Hamas is...a political group who happens to have some ideas you agree with. That does not make them any more of a "Humanitarian Group" than does giving money to Ron Paul. Also, you gave money to Hamas? Ha! Did you write checks to Idi Amin because he was obviously such a swell guy, you know, before that whole "dictator" thing?
Not really. Oddly enough, the militant stuff is very much a small part of Hamas - they do a lot of public service work, which is why they're so popular. (Actually, possibly not that odd... charity is supposed to be an obligation under Islamic law.) Most of the services they provide should've been provided by the Palestinian Authority, but unfortunately it's horribly corrupt.
So you don't support the Republicans based on the single issue of "lack of oversight".
You don't support libertarians based on the single issue of economic and social freedom.
Then you insult the parent's principles by implying he is a sheep being played with by politicians.
I'm sorry his (and my) political views are beneath you.
Hamas runs several orphanages and public welfare organizations. They accept donations, as do many humanitarian agencies do.
If the KKK and the Nazi Party of Illinois were to open orphanages and soup kitchens, would that excuse their racist and violent past and present?
No. Hamas is a terrorist organization that murders people and deserve to be universally shunned by all good people just like the KKK and nazis.
Corporatism != Free Market
When Hamas decided that war with Israel would broaden their support, I decided to throw my support elsewhere.
When Obama decided that the only way out of this depression was massive spending programs, I affiliated myself with a different party.
Wait, you used to suppose Obama?
Space game using normal deck of cards: http://BattleCards.org
Interestingly enough throwing money at depression is exactly what makes it go away. It's what got us through 'The Great Depression' and it's what's getting us through this recession. That's not even a partisan opinion, it's documented fact. This doesn't mean I agree with all the bailouts, or that they were necessary, but if you were paying attention, bailouts were started by GWB and plans to continue to give money away were put in place months before Obama was in office. He only finished the job. I'd like to know what 'party' you align yourself with that thinks that governmental injection of cash into the economy is not effective and hear some of their alternative ideas on the matter. Because frankly theories as to how to make the economy bounce back are all well and good, but going with what has worked is the most sensible option. As for this site who bans folks for merely suggesting Ad Block -- may I introduce Site Block! The amazing new internet tool which allows you to block websites with the click of a button! Where ass-hattery abounds, Site Block will be there to ensure you're safe.