These people are likely experiencing anxiety from who know what or how many sources, and their poor caveman brains, unable to cope, looks for anything it can blame it on.
Most people are not going to be willing to pay $350 a year extra for email or have to go through all the trouble of setting up and managing all that. Us techies don't count here, I'm talking about 99% of everyone. That's why it's really a dumb idea.
I would just buy my own domain name and figure out my own hosting solution for the email
Sounds like a great way to make sure you get your mail blocked all over the place because they don't recognize the domain name. Also hosted where exactly? Pay someone to do it? Or run it out of your house (which requires internet connectivity that allows you to run a server)? Sounds expensive, most people are not going to be willing to pay all the extra money just for email.
The word you want here is 'troll', actually, the internet is lousy with them, and they're abusing/destroying anonymity for everyone who has a legitimate need for it.
You and I, sir, are apparently of like minds, even if we are brothers only in our cynicism; I, unfortunately, completely agree with your asessment: Humanity, in general, is suffering from a case of extreme, chronic myopia, and it could very likely end in discovering we're about to walk off a cliff only after we've walked off it.
Wow. Speaking of 'trolls', if I wasn't 99% sure you were one, AC, I'd have to say 'see someone about that crippling case of myopia you've got, because apparently you can't see past the end of your own nose'. Otherwise you may as well be saying 'there is no point to further scientific research, we've discovered everything worth discovering', or 'there is no point to developing new technologies, the ones we have now do everything we need', or 'there is no point to medical research, we cure enough diseases and save enough lives with what he have currently'. Of course the same people who say these sorts of things also would have been likely in the past to say 'why abolish slavery, things are fine the way they are', or 'who cares if the Earth is flat or round', or 'of course the Earth is the center of the Universe, isn't it obvious from the way the Sun circles around us?'. Sure thing, buddy, let's decrease the biodiversity of the entire planet without actually understanding what it is we're allowing to be destroyed (or actively destroying ourselves, as the case may be)? What we don't know won't hurt us, right? Blissful (read as: willful) ignorance, what a blessing that is! Thinking like this is right up there with certain religious types, who believe the Earth is only a few thousand years old, is here entirely for our (ab)use, and that it won't matter what we do to it, it's all going to go away soon and the Faithful will be whisked away to Heaven. What utter bullshit! Even the Pope is coming out and saying we must take proper care of the Earth! And if I may make a poor joke on that note: It must be a goddamned cold day in Hell, because I'd never have thought in a million years that the Catholic Church would come down so firmly on the side of science, given their history with it!
Anyway.. with regards to this:
The question may really be whether we can get past paid trolls, FUD, and finger pointing in order to act wisely in a timely manner
You want to do an end-run around the 'paid trolls, FUD and finger-pointing'? Maybe we need to shut off the Internet for a few decades, because over the last 20 years it went from a potential Font of Wisdom to a breeding ground for trolls, FUD-spreaders, and finger-pointing. I'm seriously beginning to think we were better off when it was only accessible by academia and the government, and not every random whack-job with $50 a month to spend.
It's 'unlawful' (haha) because they don't like it, they think they won't make as much profit because of it, that's why.
Of course in reality they're squabbling over nothing at all, becuase nothing they do is going to stop people from ripping CDs anwyay. They may as well try to put a tax on people's ears, for all the good it'll do them.
Actually, I understand you perfectly, but there's a datapoint I failed to mention: All of my friends understand and respect my wishes so far as not taking pictures of me without my permission, and certainly to not post them on the Internet if they do.
Perhaps you should re-think who you consider 'Friends' then, because obviously some of them don't respect you enough to take your wishes in such matters into consideration and are being rude.
In my particular case I don't have a smartphone (because I think dataplans are incredibly overpriced for what you get, and because to me a phone is a phone not a lifestyle, I don't need to be glued to it 24/7/365, and last but not least because I really can't justify the expense of purchasing one when I know I'll rarely use enough of it's features or connectivity to warrant having one, NOT because I'm a Luddite or I don't understand them or something lame like that) so I don't have any problems with malicious apps that steal data from your phone, I dumped Facebook years ago, and for the short time I did I didn't use my real name or post any personally-identifiable information about myself, and I wouldn't allow anyone to post pics of me anyway, and I can't find any pics online of me under any name I've ever used on the Internet, so I guess I don't have any of the nightmare-scenario problems you're talking about, sorry to hear your life is ruined though, that's sad.
They can't use facial recognition on you if they don't have a photo of you to start with. Unless you're hopelessly dumb and allowed photos of your face, linked with your name, to be posted on the Internet, that's not going to happen unless the government starts giving them access to things like drivers license database. If that's the way it's going to go then it's time for a full-on revolution, because everything else has failed.
If people would have a DEXA scan done once a year just to tell them what their body composition was, they'd have a much more realistic idea of how much weight they need to lose to be in a 'healthy' range, and over time they'd have a better idea of how any weight loss efforts (including diet and exercise) are actually working for them. Having only what the scale is telling you as your only datapoint isn't a good idea since it can be highly misleading.
Total bodyweight is misleading and I'm a little dismayed that we're still discussing things in those terms. I'm ~195 pounds, but I have 10% or less bodyfat percentage. Could we please get some statistics in here with regards to average bodyfat percentage instead of just bodyweight? It's much more significant than just bodyweight.
That's why you never get anything done: You've been so thoroughly indoctrinated by corporate America, that you actually believe that you're there to serve them and not the other way around. You're paying for a service, for fuck's sake.
You'd think that after eugenics, WWII, and Stalin, people would be a little more self-conscious about peddling your kind of crap, but apparently progressives, communists, and fascists never learn.
I'd write a couple paragraphs for you continuing a discussion on this subject, but it's fairly obvious that you've made up your mind already, and are so stuck on who you are the way things are, that you probably can't even have a theoretical discussion on the subject without getting all emotional about it. You've already pigeon-holed me with a label, and beyond that point no useful conversation is going to happen. I will tell you this much though: We (and you're a good example of this) are not even mentally evolved enough yet to even conceive of what any 'world government' would look like, so you fill in the gaps with what concepts your brain can conceive of, so of course it's not a pretty sight; you can no more conceive of what humans 1000 years from now will look, act, or think like, than humans 1000 years in the past could, and quite frankly it's utter arrogance and ignorance on your part if you think you can.
I have a hard time believing you're an 'IT pro' if you didn't know enough to demand your issues be escalated to whatever they call their second-tier support, or at least speak to a supervisor. Also, if you're so unhappy with whoever it is that's providing your connectivity, then why aren't you looking for a different provider, one that doesn't require you to use their equipment, which again if you're an 'IT pro' I'm not sure how it is you can even tolerate not having control of the equipment in your own home?
You're paying them, not the other way around. You have some rights, you just have to not be timid about it. If you can't get reliable service from them for whatever reason that is not your fault you have a right to demand a remedy from them.
You're sounding like you think it has to be all-or-nothing, either technological progress as fast as we can all the time, or NO progress. I'm saying it's TOO FAST.
I don't think so. The only way that would happen is through a totalitarian regime, but totalitarian regimes can't exist unless they have some external enemy to blame their failures on.
No, more likely, we will have many more "governing bodies" than we have now, responsible for many different aspects of our lives, and you pick whatever combination suits your needs. Think of it as extending the concept of an HOA, your vacation time share, and your professional associations to your entire life.
See, here's the thing: You're no more evolved than anyone else is, so of course it's difficult to imagine a single world government; you're no more ready for such a thing than anyone else is. No, I'm not insuling you or making fun of you; no malice of forethought or otherwise.
Slashdot Mirror
These people are likely experiencing anxiety from who know what or how many sources, and their poor caveman brains, unable to cope, looks for anything it can blame it on.
Most people are not going to be willing to pay $350 a year extra for email or have to go through all the trouble of setting up and managing all that. Us techies don't count here, I'm talking about 99% of everyone. That's why it's really a dumb idea.
But how much more is it costing you per month?
I would just buy my own domain name and figure out my own hosting solution for the email
Sounds like a great way to make sure you get your mail blocked all over the place because they don't recognize the domain name. Also hosted where exactly? Pay someone to do it? Or run it out of your house (which requires internet connectivity that allows you to run a server)? Sounds expensive, most people are not going to be willing to pay all the extra money just for email.
I repeat, do not use Facebook anymore. That's a horrible idea.
Seriously, when are people going to learn?
liar
The word you want here is 'troll', actually, the internet is lousy with them, and they're abusing/destroying anonymity for everyone who has a legitimate need for it.
Apparently you're a shitty troll, too, and as such you can fuck the fuck off.
I don't care if they're 'paid' or not, there should be any such thing as 'trolls' to start with. All they are is destructive.
You and I, sir, are apparently of like minds, even if we are brothers only in our cynicism; I, unfortunately, completely agree with your asessment: Humanity, in general, is suffering from a case of extreme, chronic myopia, and it could very likely end in discovering we're about to walk off a cliff only after we've walked off it.
Anyway.. with regards to this:
The question may really be whether we can get past paid trolls, FUD, and finger pointing in order to act wisely in a timely manner
You want to do an end-run around the 'paid trolls, FUD and finger-pointing'? Maybe we need to shut off the Internet for a few decades, because over the last 20 years it went from a potential Font of Wisdom to a breeding ground for trolls, FUD-spreaders, and finger-pointing. I'm seriously beginning to think we were better off when it was only accessible by academia and the government, and not every random whack-job with $50 a month to spend.
Shhhh! The adults are trying to have a conversation!
Now: Go back to your containment unit (aka 4CHAN) and stay there, or we'll have to use The Hose on you again.
It's 'unlawful' (haha) because they don't like it, they think they won't make as much profit because of it, that's why.
Of course in reality they're squabbling over nothing at all, becuase nothing they do is going to stop people from ripping CDs anwyay. They may as well try to put a tax on people's ears, for all the good it'll do them.
Actually, I understand you perfectly, but there's a datapoint I failed to mention: All of my friends understand and respect my wishes so far as not taking pictures of me without my permission, and certainly to not post them on the Internet if they do.
Perhaps you should re-think who you consider 'Friends' then, because obviously some of them don't respect you enough to take your wishes in such matters into consideration and are being rude.
In my particular case I don't have a smartphone (because I think dataplans are incredibly overpriced for what you get, and because to me a phone is a phone not a lifestyle, I don't need to be glued to it 24/7/365, and last but not least because I really can't justify the expense of purchasing one when I know I'll rarely use enough of it's features or connectivity to warrant having one, NOT because I'm a Luddite or I don't understand them or something lame like that) so I don't have any problems with malicious apps that steal data from your phone, I dumped Facebook years ago, and for the short time I did I didn't use my real name or post any personally-identifiable information about myself, and I wouldn't allow anyone to post pics of me anyway, and I can't find any pics online of me under any name I've ever used on the Internet, so I guess I don't have any of the nightmare-scenario problems you're talking about, sorry to hear your life is ruined though, that's sad.
They can't use facial recognition on you if they don't have a photo of you to start with. Unless you're hopelessly dumb and allowed photos of your face, linked with your name, to be posted on the Internet, that's not going to happen unless the government starts giving them access to things like drivers license database. If that's the way it's going to go then it's time for a full-on revolution, because everything else has failed.
If people would have a DEXA scan done once a year just to tell them what their body composition was, they'd have a much more realistic idea of how much weight they need to lose to be in a 'healthy' range, and over time they'd have a better idea of how any weight loss efforts (including diet and exercise) are actually working for them. Having only what the scale is telling you as your only datapoint isn't a good idea since it can be highly misleading.
Total bodyweight is misleading and I'm a little dismayed that we're still discussing things in those terms. I'm ~195 pounds, but I have 10% or less bodyfat percentage. Could we please get some statistics in here with regards to average bodyfat percentage instead of just bodyweight? It's much more significant than just bodyweight.
"politely ask"
That's why you never get anything done: You've been so thoroughly indoctrinated by corporate America, that you actually believe that you're there to serve them and not the other way around. You're paying for a service, for fuck's sake.
Is there a link to the Doom video that doesn't require you to have a Google account to see it?
Nothing ever changes, and people never change
Everything works fine the way it is now so why would we ever change anything?
640k of RAM should be enough for anyone
But Mister Lincoln, slavery works just fine for us, why would we want to abolish it?
Niggers are only four-fifths of a human being
Women aren't rational or intelligent enough to vote
The Earth is the center of God's Universe, can't you tell by the way the Sun revolves around it?
How can you say the Earth is round? It's flat, everyone knows that!
You're stupid, even for an Internet troll. Please fuck off and die now.
You'd think that after eugenics, WWII, and Stalin, people would be a little more self-conscious about peddling your kind of crap, but apparently progressives, communists, and fascists never learn.
I'd write a couple paragraphs for you continuing a discussion on this subject, but it's fairly obvious that you've made up your mind already, and are so stuck on who you are the way things are, that you probably can't even have a theoretical discussion on the subject without getting all emotional about it. You've already pigeon-holed me with a label, and beyond that point no useful conversation is going to happen. I will tell you this much though: We (and you're a good example of this) are not even mentally evolved enough yet to even conceive of what any 'world government' would look like, so you fill in the gaps with what concepts your brain can conceive of, so of course it's not a pretty sight; you can no more conceive of what humans 1000 years from now will look, act, or think like, than humans 1000 years in the past could, and quite frankly it's utter arrogance and ignorance on your part if you think you can.
I have a hard time believing you're an 'IT pro' if you didn't know enough to demand your issues be escalated to whatever they call their second-tier support, or at least speak to a supervisor. Also, if you're so unhappy with whoever it is that's providing your connectivity, then why aren't you looking for a different provider, one that doesn't require you to use their equipment, which again if you're an 'IT pro' I'm not sure how it is you can even tolerate not having control of the equipment in your own home?
You're paying them, not the other way around. You have some rights, you just have to not be timid about it. If you can't get reliable service from them for whatever reason that is not your fault you have a right to demand a remedy from them.
You're sounding like you think it has to be all-or-nothing, either technological progress as fast as we can all the time, or NO progress. I'm saying it's TOO FAST.
I don't think so. The only way that would happen is through a totalitarian regime, but totalitarian regimes can't exist unless they have some external enemy to blame their failures on. No, more likely, we will have many more "governing bodies" than we have now, responsible for many different aspects of our lives, and you pick whatever combination suits your needs. Think of it as extending the concept of an HOA, your vacation time share, and your professional associations to your entire life.
See, here's the thing: You're no more evolved than anyone else is, so of course it's difficult to imagine a single world government; you're no more ready for such a thing than anyone else is. No, I'm not insuling you or making fun of you; no malice of forethought or otherwise.