As American schools continue to become more like daycare, and less like a learning institution, limiting what children and teens are exposed to will become much more commonplace than it is now. It's genuinely sad that the "school board", that local fiefdom we all know and love, is so afraid of lawsuits that they force this type of censorware on the public. Wouldn't it be a much better education to leave the sites unblocked, to perhaps encourage discussion about whatever it is kids find on the net? Or would that demand too much of teachers? Certainly I'm not taking a position where I think that children should be given unfettered access to the net; it's a given that some things (porn) ought to be filtered.
What are the alternatives to content filtering? Aside from leaving the Net out of the classroom, I don't know that there currently exists any decent solution. As the Net grows, and perhaps eventually replaces TV as the dominant media, cutting children off from news, from "the discussion" so to speak, will lead to dumber children, children less inclined to care about society, it's ills, and so forth.
Is there a decent alternative? Yes, content filtering doesn't work. But we need something in place. I don't think anyone can honestly say that kids have a right to view hardcore porn in the classroom. Still, I'm not so sure how to deal with "hate groups". Those groups do have a right to their opinion, and do have a right to try and encourage people to join their ranks, at least as far as the US is concerned.
Suggestions are welcome at your local school board office.
I've tried that. I have something like 40 hotmail accounts. I never remember to check them, which I suppose is just sad on my part.
I just don't seem to be able to get worked up about spam. I mean, I really do hate it, but I just kind of ignore it. I suppose it's a holdover from when reading usenet was still possible. (The skill transfers well to/. as well..)
This is really simple. Get one of those programs that will bounce the message for you. After a short time, you'll be removed from their list, and you'll never get spam from them again. I've done it in the past. Now I'm *much* more careful about who gets my email address.
Ok, this wasn't posted 2 years ago. It was more like 6-8 months. I think that for the benefit of those people who read/. regularly, categorize this in "repeats", so I can turn them off (a la Jon Katz). Of course, I wouldn't ever get any stories, but that isn't my problem...
Because it's made out of legos, dipshit. Welcome back to earth.
Wait, this looks right, as does this. There is no reason they couldn't have made it look really good, *and* still function as a Mindstorm product. If they did that, I imagine more people would buy these overpriced toys.
Ok, so, Betamax, Minidiscs, Memory Sticks, SACD. What's the deal with striking out on their own? How many times will they come up with a good format, only to have it ignored? Why do they continue to bother?
Why is it that EVERY person I know that played Tetris for more than an hour actually dreamed of it? Have there been any studies on how this game affects the human mind? I figured it was isolated to the small number of people I know, but christ, this is crazy!
Now, please don't think I'm suggesting something sinister behind Tetris. I just find the whole dreaming thing a bit odd.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get me...
It's called READING people, ya do it before you write.
This makes me wonder what to call those people who aren't trolls, but are trying to contribute something meaningful, yet haven't a clue. Is there a name that has been laid down by the/. gods?
So, what you're saying is, that Gene Roddenberry is Nostradamus, reincarnate? While it's nice to think along these lines, it seems a bit too wishful for my tastes.
Of course, being young, I'd get to see all this happen, and I wouldn't mind that.
Last week, IBM said it will overhaul its entire line of servers and mainframes under the brand name eServer
After reading/. for just a little while, and seeing tons of posts contradicting this story, I'm left wondering: When is Slashdot going to get a story right, on time? Seriously, I think that I'm about ready to switch to reading my local newspaper. At least the stories are current, and they occasionally walk them by a fact-checker. Please UP THE QUALITY...
I'd wager there are few, if any people on the planet that could accurately predict whether this was a good idea. I tend to think that projects like this will hurt much more than they will help. Being able to accurately predict the impact a species will have on an ecosystem is currently well beyond our limited capability.
At what point do humans stop playing {insert deity of choice here}??
As if the IT community has a monopoly on morality, or even a consensus of what's moral and ethical
To listen to some of the talk here, you'd think we do. I'm of the opinion that as a group we (read: the/. audience) are a fairly sheltered people. Certainly, it would be really funny if we *did* shut down half the world, but it would probably never happen for ethical reasons. I know that I can't even reach a consensus about many things with friends and co-workers; it could happen, but no time soon.
Oh, and, please don't think I was saying we ought to attempt this. Yet.
Exactly what was expected? An actual panel of impartial people? Are we that naive?
What kills me is that people are really pissed about this. It's the *job* of the security agencies to do this. It isn't right, but it is what they do.
Oh, and, how many of you out there are working for corportations that monitor email/voice traffic? Better yet, how many of *us* are making this possible by doing our jobs? We whine about it here, but gladly take the checks that are doled out.
Of course, having all the IT people in the world get together, to force morality on the corportate world wouldn't work, but I'd be amused to see it tried. So, when do we plan to shut down every network and server in the US in protest?
Wouldn't you take advantage of the loophole? Take your moral outrage and put it aside for a moment, and realize that Sun is a business. If you had shareholders to report to, you may do exactly the same thing.
Perens has apparently resigned himself to the fact that there is a loophole, and I'm sure it will be spelled out more clearly in an upcoming version of the GPL.
It's true in my experience that most "geeks" are into mysticism. I think the reasons for this are simple:
We all know far too much about science, and hope something might be "magic". (I'd hate to believe that all I know is all there is.)
Most of us have been rejected in some way by the "normal" society, so the Big Religions are out. We turn to something on the fringe. This doesn't mean that the church directly rejected us. Take it more to mean that we're "outsiders" for the most part, and feel more comfortable on the fringe.
This pretty much explains why we all move toward fantasy games & sci-fi when we're young. When we find others like ourselves interested in the same things, it simply cements the preference toward fantasy/mysticism.
Do hackers still believe in magic or practice a mystical religion?
Did we ever? Are we all part of an alternate religous movement, or do we all see some of the contradictions in Western Religion? Do we believe these things because we were slighted as children?
Or, as I think, do we take all this with a grain of salt, and simply *wish* these things were true?
Personally, as you probably managed to glean from the above, I'm not at all serious about mysticism. I just can't make myself believe in magic, just like I can't make myself believe in the organized religion I was brought up in. I chalk it all up to culture, and happily continue reading and watching sci-fi & fantasy. And, I presume, like many of you, I also continue watching Monty Python, writing code, learning every day, and doing all those things that are classically "geeky", even now when being a geek is fashionable.
Imagining going into Borders and being charged a different price for the same book as the person in front of you
This very thing has happened to me. When I went back to the shelf with the Manager, I found 3 different prices on the same book. Now, I'm forced to look very carefully at every copy of the book I'm buying, and grab the lowest priced one. It's a "buyer beware" world, deal with it...
Has anything actually been *lost* of a result of this? I certainly agree that when you copy someone's site design, you need to give credit to them.
To be honest, I've done this, more times than once. I've given credit to the appropriate people, either via email, or by posting it directly on the site. What it comes down to is that some people just aren't gifted creatively, and will just steal your idea (and I'm one of them). Do I feel bad about it? No. I'd bet the person running the offending site has no problems with it either.
The point is this: give credit, it's ok. don't give credit, you're an ass.
In particular at any company involved in software development, the sysadmin is really the digital equivalent of the janitor.
The worst part of this is that you spend all day covering "digital puke" with kitty litter. But then, telling Sr. Developers that they cannot under any circumstance have the root password makes it all worthwhile. It's the little things in life...
Slashdot Mirror
What are the alternatives to content filtering? Aside from leaving the Net out of the classroom, I don't know that there currently exists any decent solution. As the Net grows, and perhaps eventually replaces TV as the dominant media, cutting children off from news, from "the discussion" so to speak, will lead to dumber children, children less inclined to care about society, it's ills, and so forth.
Is there a decent alternative? Yes, content filtering doesn't work. But we need something in place. I don't think anyone can honestly say that kids have a right to view hardcore porn in the classroom. Still, I'm not so sure how to deal with "hate groups". Those groups do have a right to their opinion, and do have a right to try and encourage people to join their ranks, at least as far as the US is concerned.
Suggestions are welcome at your local school board office.
I've tried that. I have something like 40 hotmail accounts. I never remember to check them, which I suppose is just sad on my part. I just don't seem to be able to get worked up about spam. I mean, I really do hate it, but I just kind of ignore it. I suppose it's a holdover from when reading usenet was still possible. (The skill transfers well to /. as well..)
This is really simple. Get one of those programs that will bounce the message for you. After a short time, you'll be removed from their list, and you'll never get spam from them again. I've done it in the past. Now I'm *much* more careful about who gets my email address.
Ok, this wasn't posted 2 years ago. It was more like 6-8 months. I think that for the benefit of those people who read /. regularly, categorize this in "repeats", so I can turn them off (a la Jon Katz). Of course, I wouldn't ever get any stories, but that isn't my problem...
Because it's made out of legos, dipshit. Welcome back to earth. Wait, this looks right, as does this. There is no reason they couldn't have made it look really good, *and* still function as a Mindstorm product. If they did that, I imagine more people would buy these overpriced toys.
... Drool Wait, why does it only barely resemble an AT-AT?
Ok, so, Betamax, Minidiscs, Memory Sticks, SACD. What's the deal with striking out on their own? How many times will they come up with a good format, only to have it ignored? Why do they continue to bother?
Now, please don't think I'm suggesting something sinister behind Tetris. I just find the whole dreaming thing a bit odd.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get me...
This makes me wonder what to call those people who aren't trolls, but are trying to contribute something meaningful, yet haven't a clue. Is there a name that has been laid down by the /. gods?
Personally, I think "fool" is a good title.
Goto the pound, and get a much better pet, for quite a bit less. They actually need homes.
Second:
I'll buy one when it's capable of being a guard dog, a la Snow Crash. I'd love to see the neighbors get mangled by my nuclear attack dog!
Of course, being young, I'd get to see all this happen, and I wouldn't mind that.
{insert something about poor /. quality/hot grits/goatse.cx here}
Last week, IBM said it will overhaul its entire line of servers and mainframes under the brand name eServer After reading /. for just a little while, and seeing tons of posts contradicting this story, I'm left wondering: When is Slashdot going to get a story right, on time? Seriously, I think that I'm about ready to switch to reading my local newspaper. At least the stories are current, and they occasionally walk them by a fact-checker. Please UP THE QUALITY...
We can all try this out here.
Major corporations run this country. Why are we surprised at this?
I'd wager there are few, if any people on the planet that could accurately predict whether this was a good idea. I tend to think that projects like this will hurt much more than they will help. Being able to accurately predict the impact a species will have on an ecosystem is currently well beyond our limited capability.
At what point do humans stop playing {insert deity of choice here}??
Idiot Box
C'mon people, you don't *need* TV.
- researched faster
- more innovative
- no burden on taxpayers
- able to get results
I can't imagine anything else being true. Of course, this may be my knee-jerk reaction to only ever seeing publically funded space exploration, but...To listen to some of the talk here, you'd think we do. I'm of the opinion that as a group we (read: the /. audience) are a fairly sheltered people. Certainly, it would be really funny if we *did* shut down half the world, but it would probably never happen for ethical reasons. I know that I can't even reach a consensus about many things with friends and co-workers; it could happen, but no time soon.
Oh, and, please don't think I was saying we ought to attempt this. Yet.
What kills me is that people are really pissed about this. It's the *job* of the security agencies to do this. It isn't right, but it is what they do.
Oh, and, how many of you out there are working for corportations that monitor email/voice traffic? Better yet, how many of *us* are making this possible by doing our jobs? We whine about it here, but gladly take the checks that are doled out.
Of course, having all the IT people in the world get together, to force morality on the corportate world wouldn't work, but I'd be amused to see it tried. So, when do we plan to shut down every network and server in the US in protest?
Perens has apparently resigned himself to the fact that there is a loophole, and I'm sure it will be spelled out more clearly in an upcoming version of the GPL.
Do we all hate Sun now?
- We all know far too much about science, and hope something might be "magic". (I'd hate to believe that all I know is all there is.)
- Most of us have been rejected in some way by the "normal" society, so the Big Religions are out. We turn to something on the fringe. This doesn't mean that the church directly rejected us. Take it more to mean that we're "outsiders" for the most part, and feel more comfortable on the fringe.
This pretty much explains why we all move toward fantasy games & sci-fi when we're young. When we find others like ourselves interested in the same things, it simply cements the preference toward fantasy/mysticism.Do hackers still believe in magic or practice a mystical religion?
Did we ever? Are we all part of an alternate religous movement, or do we all see some of the contradictions in Western Religion? Do we believe these things because we were slighted as children? Or, as I think, do we take all this with a grain of salt, and simply *wish* these things were true?
Personally, as you probably managed to glean from the above, I'm not at all serious about mysticism. I just can't make myself believe in magic, just like I can't make myself believe in the organized religion I was brought up in. I chalk it all up to culture, and happily continue reading and watching sci-fi & fantasy. And, I presume, like many of you, I also continue watching Monty Python, writing code, learning every day, and doing all those things that are classically "geeky", even now when being a geek is fashionable.
fnord
This very thing has happened to me. When I went back to the shelf with the Manager, I found 3 different prices on the same book. Now, I'm forced to look very carefully at every copy of the book I'm buying, and grab the lowest priced one. It's a "buyer beware" world, deal with it...
To be honest, I've done this, more times than once. I've given credit to the appropriate people, either via email, or by posting it directly on the site. What it comes down to is that some people just aren't gifted creatively, and will just steal your idea (and I'm one of them). Do I feel bad about it? No. I'd bet the person running the offending site has no problems with it either.
The point is this: give credit, it's ok. don't give credit, you're an ass.
In particular at any company involved in software development, the sysadmin is really the digital equivalent of the janitor.
The worst part of this is that you spend all day covering "digital puke" with kitty litter. But then, telling Sr. Developers that they cannot under any circumstance have the root password makes it all worthwhile. It's the little things in life...