> Many libertarians believe individuals retain their rights when they join groups
Weasel words alert. Nobody is claiming you should loose your individual rights when you join a corporation, its just that you shouldn't gain additional rights by virtue of controlling an organisation.
Nah, not true. UK is behind in some ways and ahead of the game in others (releasing government data in rdf format suitable for SPARQL queries for instance). Its a bit slow in online document filing but a leader in many areas of releasing public data.
> And on the off-chance you're being serious, how do you live day to day in such a black and white world? Just because something doesn't meet my approval doesn't make it immoral by default.
I am being serious. I'm overstating my case for effect but at heart I really mean it. My opinion doesn't matter but I'm entitled to have it and state it. Sure, lots of things don't meet with my approval without me considering them immoral, but some things I *do* consider immoral and the more innocuous seeming they are the more value there is in pointing out what's wrong with them.
The link in my first post is long winded but it does a good job of explaining the issue: Zynga's main revenue derives from the fact it has found a way to hack weaknesses in our built-in brain reward system. It's very consciously and cleverly manipulating people to get them addicted to their games because a few people end up spending $10,000 a year or so on them. There are millions of lesser victims who just end up wasting a vast amount of time doing something that's not even that fun without ever knowing why. They subvert friendships to spread their digital crack in devious ways etc etc. So, this to me is like an article explaining how low level crack dealers have an unpleasant time. I genuinely have more sympathy for crack dealers: they need the money too, their working conditions are nasty, their pay and prospects are terrible,and their options are far more severely limited than a typical worker at Zynga. Crack is not great for society but society already knows this, there's no point in me to ranting about the evils of crack.
> Because it is inherently immoral to not plan your career around what Slashdot poster joss approves of.
Finally, someone gets it ! Its almost tautological though: if I disapprove of X, then yes, I do believe its immoral to base your career on X. Of course, other people can make their own decisions and I don't expect them to respect my views any more than I respect theirs. Invite me to feel sympathy for the poor fucks working at Zynga though and I'll laugh in your face. They're working for a company whose main revenue derives from the fact it has found a way to hack weaknesses in our built-in brain reward systems and knock-me-down-with-a-feather it's mean to its employees too.
It *should* suck to work in that stupid place. If you're doing something that is a parasite on society to make a living at least at least you should have a miserable time doing it. Do something productive instead like, I dunno, deal heroin or something.
> He leaked that information and is fully responsible for what happens as a result.
I agree. This is the basis on which he should be judged. Did the release of this information on balance have a good or bad effect. He couldn't possibly have known the implications of all releasing all that he released, some informers could have conceivable ended up being executed (although, I'm pretty sure the powerful interests embarrassed by the leak would have highlighted any concrete examples had there been any). On the other hand, a vast amount of this information was not classified for any reason other than for political expediency. One cannot have a functioning democracy when people have no idea what their government is up to so there is a definite good that comes from bringing more information to light than the government is comfortable with. Its also true that diplomats cannot properly function without discretion. Tricky one this.. he's guilty, he'll go to jail, but he was right about something: a vast amount of this stuff was classified for the benefit of other guilty parties rather than for the good of the American people. He gets to pay the price of our increased liberty - he can't be let off completely but some compassion is called for
I'm a daily meat eater, and the stupidity of your arguments is bothering me. What's the magic IQ point at which something or someone becomes stupid enough that its 'ethical' to eat them ? Is a sufficiently smart chimp suddenly off the menu, can watching enough pro-wrestling (or reading enough slashdot) suddenly quialify you for kebab-duty ? If we ever get visited by aliens are we going to say.. "hey, you're so much smarter than me, this'll be an honor, I'm just going to drink a pint of lemon-juice to marinate myself inside out, you want I should chew on some oregeno too ?" Truth is, I eat meat because its yummy. I don't try and convince myself its an ethical choice though, its just.. I landed on top of the food chain and I intend to enjoy it.
The number of vegetarians who actually proselytize is pretty low. I see more meat eaters getting offended about the very idea that some people choose not to eat meat than I see vegetarians harking on about the evils of eating meat.
Totally flawed analogy. The figure might hold true for latest fashion in development technology, but its insane to think that fortran skills for instance will be half as marketable 2.5 years from now. They will probably have declined by a few percent but difference in value of 40 year old tech versus 41 year old tech is negligable. Its more like the value of a technology falls by 100/(2+years-since-hot) percent every year.
The word "debunked" is amazingly powerful. A lot of people seem to think that using it ends all discussion or possible dissent (even without references or anything). In a world where its virtually impossible to get a definitive answer on anything without plausible opposing opinions, its amazing how often it works.
Since people compare software by version number, one is at a competitive disadvantage in number software sensibly. FF7 would be FF4.3 were it not for chrome, why not call it ff 2011.3 and be done with it.
Its not that complicated when you go large.. like the sun for instance. Something medium sized would be good though, last I heard they were about 20 years away (they've been saying that for about 40 years though so.. ymmv etc)
OMG, I wish there was a patent on making lame jokes (of the form: I wish there was a patent on XXX). Then assholes (like me) who make these pathetic attempts at humour would get sued into bankruptcy. I know there's no shortage of prior art (see any/. thread mentioning patents for last 10 years), but that never stopped anyone.
My v.2 wife has an HTC desire, I wouldnt let her get an iphone. Dunno what v.1 wife has, kinda lost backwards compatability on communication there when I upgraded..
Voted ?? Really.. ? are you seriously suggesting that voting is a more effective way of getting the behaviour you want from your government than rioting ?
Are you out of your mind ?
The way you get what you want is by making the alternatives worse.
Don't bail out the banking industry ? Fine, let the entire system fail and see how you like living in the stone age ? Don't listen to the tea party ? We'll make the country default and fuck the entire world economy.
The rioters are saying: Don't make my life bearable. Well, fuck you then, I'll make your life unbearable and then maybe you'll care.
> They were a perfect opportunity to paint a horrific personal slide as an idealistic young man with the galaxy laid out before him becomes everything he hates becuase of hubris.
Star wars 1-3 did a perfect job of this, as long as the young man you're talking about is George Lucas.
So, your post comes down to "I've never used python, let alone programmed in it, but I know enough to insult those who do". I programmed in mostly C++ and java (with some lisp and ML) for 20 years before I tried python, and when python is a little sluggish for my needs, I fall back on them but I hardly ever need to. Maybe you're the one who can't be bothered to learn something new and are looking to justify that to yourself.
> even average, or moderately well written code performs better in Java as standard
Citation please. That's not my experience at all, but its a few years since I was a full time C++ head. Standard java performs terribly because the whole culture encourages wasteful development, its possible to make java almost as fast as C++ but only if you really know what you're doing and avoid the pitfalls of the java standard library. Games developers aren't developing in c++ for fun or even the cross platform issues, they're doing it because they want their games to compete with those put out by other companies.
Slashdot Mirror
> Many libertarians believe individuals retain their rights when they join groups
Weasel words alert. Nobody is claiming you should loose your individual rights when you join a corporation, its just that you shouldn't gain additional rights by virtue of controlling an organisation.
Because people who are supposed to be doing other things (and are probably better at those other things) are having to do IT stuff instead.
Having said that, if I was running the place, I'd outsource it *if* I could find a good *local* outfit that dealt with that stuff.
I love that this is modded 'informative'
Nah, not true. UK is behind in some ways and ahead of the game in others (releasing government data in rdf format suitable for SPARQL queries for instance). Its a bit slow in online document filing but a leader in many areas of releasing public data.
> And on the off-chance you're being serious, how do you live day to day in such a black and white world? Just because something doesn't meet my approval doesn't make it immoral by default.
I am being serious. I'm overstating my case for effect but at heart I really mean it. My opinion doesn't matter but I'm entitled to have it and state it. Sure, lots of things don't meet with my approval without me considering them immoral, but some things I *do* consider immoral and the more innocuous seeming they are the more value there is in pointing out what's wrong with them.
The link in my first post is long winded but it does a good job of explaining the issue: Zynga's main revenue derives from the fact it has found a way to hack weaknesses in our built-in brain reward system. It's very consciously and cleverly manipulating people to get them addicted to their games because a few people end up spending $10,000 a year or so on them. There are millions of lesser victims who just end up wasting a vast amount of time doing something that's not even that fun without ever knowing why. They subvert friendships to spread their digital crack in devious ways etc etc. So, this to me is like an article explaining how low level crack dealers have an unpleasant time. I genuinely have more sympathy for crack dealers: they need the money too, their working conditions are nasty, their pay and prospects are terrible ,and their options are far more severely limited than a typical worker at Zynga. Crack is not great for society but society already knows this, there's no point in me to ranting about the evils of crack.
> Because it is inherently immoral to not plan your career around what Slashdot poster joss approves of.
Finally, someone gets it ! Its almost tautological though: if I disapprove of X, then yes, I do believe its immoral to base your career on X. Of course, other people can make their own decisions and I don't expect them to respect my views any more than I respect theirs. Invite me to feel sympathy for the poor fucks working at Zynga though and I'll laugh in your face. They're working for a company whose main revenue derives from the fact it has found a way to hack weaknesses in our built-in brain reward systems and knock-me-down-with-a-feather it's mean to its employees too.
It *should* suck to work in that stupid place. If you're doing something that is a parasite on society to make a living at least at least you should have a miserable time doing it. Do something productive instead like, I dunno, deal heroin or something.
http://insertcredit.com/2011/09/22/who-killed-videogames-a-ghost-story/chapter/2/
> He leaked that information and is fully responsible for what happens as a result.
I agree. This is the basis on which he should be judged. Did the release of this information on balance have a good or bad effect. He couldn't possibly have known the implications of all releasing all that he released, some informers could have conceivable ended up being executed (although, I'm pretty sure the powerful interests embarrassed by the leak would have highlighted any concrete examples had there been any). On the other hand, a vast amount of this information was not classified for any reason other than for political expediency. One cannot have a functioning democracy when people have no idea what their government is up to so there is a definite good that comes from bringing more information to light than the government is comfortable with. Its also true that diplomats cannot properly function without discretion. Tricky one this.. he's guilty, he'll go to jail, but he was right about something: a vast amount of this stuff was classified for the benefit of other guilty parties rather than for the good of the American people. He gets to pay the price of our increased liberty - he can't be let off completely but some compassion is called for
I'm a daily meat eater, and the stupidity of your arguments is bothering me. What's the magic IQ point at which something or someone becomes stupid enough that its 'ethical' to eat them ? Is a sufficiently smart chimp suddenly off the menu, can watching enough pro-wrestling (or reading enough slashdot) suddenly quialify you for kebab-duty ? If we ever get visited by aliens are we going to say.. "hey, you're so much smarter than me, this'll be an honor, I'm just going to drink a pint of lemon-juice to marinate myself inside out, you want I should chew on some oregeno too ?" Truth is, I eat meat because its yummy. I don't try and convince myself its an ethical choice though, its just.. I landed on top of the food chain and I intend to enjoy it.
The number of vegetarians who actually proselytize is pretty low. I see more meat eaters getting offended about the very idea that some people choose not to eat meat than I see vegetarians harking on about the evils of eating meat.
http://www.enterprisewizard.com/ uses general IQ test on applicants.
Totally flawed analogy. The figure might hold true for latest fashion in development technology, but its insane to think that fortran skills for instance will be half as marketable 2.5 years from now. They will probably have declined by a few percent but difference in value of 40 year old tech versus 41 year old tech is negligable. Its more like the value of a technology falls by 100/(2+years-since-hot) percent every year.
They had forgotten to add the leak_oil() function...
> The actual number of complete accidental arm-removals is probably a fairly insignificant number.
except in heavily mined places
The word "debunked" is amazingly powerful. A lot of people seem to think that using it ends all discussion or possible dissent (even without references or anything). In a world where its virtually impossible to get a definitive answer on anything without plausible opposing opinions, its amazing how often it works.
Come on, don't get carried away, not all pedophiles are catholic priests. Some of them are productive members of society.
Since people compare software by version number, one is at a competitive disadvantage in number software sensibly. FF7 would be FF4.3 were it not for chrome, why not call it ff 2011.3 and be done with it.
> Marin County prefers to use the Pacific Ocean as a moat to keep out all the "skeezy people"
Yeah, that place is.. uh... something. Last time I was there I was pulled over and quizzed on suspicion of driving without a BMW.
Its not that complicated when you go large.. like the sun for instance. Something medium sized would be good though, last I heard they were about 20 years away (they've been saying that for about 40 years though so.. ymmv etc)
OMG, I wish there was a patent on making lame jokes (of the form: I wish there was a patent on XXX). Then assholes (like me) who make these pathetic attempts at humour would get sued into bankruptcy. I know there's no shortage of prior art (see any /. thread mentioning patents for last 10 years), but that never stopped anyone.
My v.2 wife has an HTC desire, I wouldnt let her get an iphone. Dunno what v.1 wife has, kinda lost backwards compatability on communication there when I upgraded..
> Everyone prosecuted for ANY involvement should have a permanent blot on their record.
Not even everyone convicted, but everyone prosecuted ? Wow, you have a lot of faith in the authorities.
Voted ?? Really.. ? are you seriously suggesting that voting is a more effective way of getting the behaviour you want from your government than rioting ?
Are you out of your mind ?
The way you get what you want is by making the alternatives worse.
Don't bail out the banking industry ? Fine, let the entire system fail and see how you like living in the stone age ?
Don't listen to the tea party ? We'll make the country default and fuck the entire world economy.
The rioters are saying:
Don't make my life bearable. Well, fuck you then, I'll make your life unbearable and then maybe you'll care.
> They were a perfect opportunity to paint a horrific personal slide as an idealistic young man with the galaxy laid out before him becomes everything he hates becuase of hubris.
Star wars 1-3 did a perfect job of this, as long as the young man you're talking about is George Lucas.
So, your post comes down to "I've never used python, let alone programmed in it, but I know enough to insult those who do".
I programmed in mostly C++ and java (with some lisp and ML) for 20 years before I tried python, and when python is a little sluggish for my needs, I fall back on them but I hardly ever need to. Maybe you're the one who can't be bothered to learn something new and are looking to justify that to yourself.
> even average, or moderately well written code performs better in Java as standard
Citation please. That's not my experience at all, but its a few years since I was a full time C++ head. Standard java performs terribly because the whole culture encourages wasteful development, its possible to make java almost as fast as C++ but only if you really know what you're doing and avoid the pitfalls of the java standard library. Games developers aren't developing in c++ for fun or even the cross platform issues, they're doing it because they want their games to compete with those put out by other companies.