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Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Stop Bots From Ruining Holiday Shopping (cnet.com)
Democrats have proposed the "Stopping Grinch Bots Act" to make it illegal to use bots to shop online and also outlaw reselling items purchased by bots. "Lawmakers label them 'Grinch' bots because, during the holiday season, resellers use them to buy inventory of highly coveted toys that can be resold at highly inflated prices," reports CNET. "Often times, these bots are so quick that they can purchase entire stocks of items before people can even add them to their carts." From the report: Sens. Tom Udall, Richard Blumenthal and Chuck Schumer along with Rep. Paul Tonko made the announcement on Black Friday. While the proposed legislation is focused around the holiday season and toys, the Grinch Bots act would apply to all retailers online. Toys aren't the only items that resellers online send swarms of bots to. Security researchers noted that bots designed to buy rare sneakers are a persistent issue, as developers will create AI to buy shoes from companies like Nike and Adidas as quickly as possible. The proposed bill leaves it open for security researchers to use bots on retailer websites to find vulnerabilities. "Middle class folks save up -- a little here, a little there -- working to afford the hottest gifts of the season for their kids but ever-changing technology and its challenges are making that very difficult. It's time we help restore an even playing field by blocking the bots," said Schumer, a Democrat from New York, in a statement.
First teach your kids that most of these toys are fads. you don't need to see that concert at $500 plus per ticket. and you certainly can wait for that "must have" latest fad, chances are if you wait a week or two your desire will change and eventually you will train yourself not to rush at things. Then these people who run the bots will only have the extremely stupid to make a profit from who will eventually run out of money.
Your'e all thinking it, I just said it for you
Instead of going after the bots that solve shortages, why aren't the lawmakers going after sellers who cause them by selling below market equilibrium?
Oh I know. It's because this is feel-good legislation designed to help those congressmen get re-elected by people who don't understand supply & demand (i.e. most people).
Any sufficiently unpopular but cohesive argument is indistinguishable from trolling.
Ten year olds _don't_ get everything they want. The ones that do, turn into incredibly shitty, useless, adults.
Ten is not too young to make them decide which thing they want more, than make them save up their pennies to buy it.
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'