Compaq, et al. have been doing this for years...
on
Copyrant
·
· Score: 2
This whole thing is kind of like buying a computer from the large computer companies, e.g. Compaq. Wanna new mobo? Sorry, NLX form factor. Want to put a new CD-ROM in? Can't, drive bays aren't industry compliant. So what's a user to do but buy a new Compaq?
Now if you want a new or upgraded OS, you'll have to buy a new box too.
Don't think the hardware companies don't have an interest here as well. They like 'recovery' CDs which lock you into their hardware as much as they do buying Windows wholesale and charging more for it. Why do you think they won't give refunds?
Reading this thread, I have become extremely frustrated. Sure, we can talk abuot resisting this "bonehead" meneuver, but we have precious little clout as far as the courts are concerned. I wonder what the ACLU would think about this. The supporters of the MP3 'scene' need a legal force of their own. I've donated to the ACLU for the past three years for the fight against internet censorship; I would gladly help support an organization fighting this stupidity. I'm an American -- I vote with my checkbook.
What about mail passing *through* the UK, bound for the Continent, or some such? What right does the UK have to monitor my mail, even if only to see that it is not destined for the UK and to decide not to snoop into it? I guess this would depend if such a network route exists.
Perhaps this is off-topic. I haven't been following the story here on/. But this story has finally stirred up the mess of emotions that began with Columbine so that I feel the need to speak. It could have been me. If that statement gets me taken to jail, so be it. I've grown up now, I've learned to use my voice. I might even welcome it. I could have been one of those two shooters at Columbine a year ago. The rage was certainly there. The hate was. Ask yourself, honestly, if you every daydreamed about doing it. The shooting at Columbine was not the first. I can recall a story of a kid who mowed down some fellow students who were praying around a flagpole before school. I heard it on the way to school; it was on the radio, somewhere between the 30 Second Sports Blitz and the Howard Stern Show. Someone riding in the car with me said "Oh my god. That's terrible. Did you do your math homework?" I leave the question to you -- what was it about Columbine that set off the Red Flag in our collective mind? Now, after Columbine, similar crimes seem to be reported every day. They are beginning to occur in Europe, and Europeans are shocked; they did not think it could happen to them. We didn't either, a year ago. Why are they happening now? This is only a personal observation, but I have little doubt that the statistics will back me up if anyone cares to check: In the great majority of these 'kid pulls gun on students' stories, the gun is never used. A gun has only one purpose, but in all these instances, it is not being used for that purpose. So what, then, is the purpose of pulling the gun? Humor me for a moment while I attempt to answer this question. A kid who pulls a gun in school is crying for help. Up front, let me say it -- this is stupid. It is a dead-end. It cannot accomplish the kid's intended purpose. And deep down, the kid knows this. So again, what is the purpose in pulling the gun? Simple enough. The kid is not being listened to. He may not even know that he has been calling for help, but yet he knows that those calls are going unanswered. He thinks, maybe, that he was simply not making himself heard. And so he does something he knows will get everyone's attention. He pulls a gun. He says -- did you think I was kidding? Maybe just whining? No, I'm serious. You want to know how serious? THIS serious. Serious enough to throw my life away for it.
It is almost impossible to take this little theory this far without beginning to point fingers. It would seem, from what I have said, that I consider the kid blameless. And he is. Except for that whole pointing-a-deadly-weapon-at-unsuspecting-citizens part. This is an important point. The gun itself is insubstantial. It has no purpose beyond some symbolic value. You could replace it with a rubber chicken if the chicken had the same stigma surrounding it. So forget the gun. What do we have left? A kid, crying for help. What kind of help? Well, I don't know. But I have an inkling that the Hellmouth Posts could tell you a lot about it. Those kids are crying for help too. Just the same as I did, and still do, even with this posting. It could have been me, and it could have been them too. It could be any of us. There is only one difference between us and the kids with guns. We have learned to use our voices. This doesn't necessary mean there is anyone to hear them. This perhaps, is why Slashdot has become the forum for this -- because Slashdot, evil corporate spawn that it may be [sic], is an open forum. Perhaps it is their slogan -- "News for nerds. Stuff that matters." that brought the nerds who spoke about what mattered most to them. It doesn't matter why, because the fact is that Slashdot *did* become that forum. And what of the kids who haven't learned to use their voices? What about them? Well, that's the entire point of this post. What about them? What are we, as human beings, going to do about them? I would say that we need to listen. Don't say that we cannot be expected to read their minds. We can. They are children. Nearly grown children, yes. But the fact that they cannot ask for help makes them children. No matter their age. People under the age of 18 in the U.S are considered minors. Their lives are essentially subject to the whims of their guardians. They cannot be convicted of crimes as adults can be. They cannot enter into binding contracts. They are denied the freedom promised in the Bill of Rights. And they should be. But do we, as people, remember why? We seem to remember this only when it is convenient. A child's learning is incomplete. They are denied the freedom to do many things because we consider them to be unprepared to handle the responsibility. And what separates the 17 year old from the 18 year old. Nothing. Really; I remember my 18th birthday. So what do we intend with those 18 years before that birthday? What is the purpose of drawing that line? We intend those years for teaching. That time is for preparing the child for the responsibilites coming. And how do we do that? Suddenly, methinks I am on shaky ground. How do you train a dog? Do you expect him to tell you he doesn't see the difference between inside and outside when you spank him for pissing in the living room? Have you ever tried to explain Monty Python to a Mexican? When you tell him the frenchman said "No, we've already got one." and he doesn't laugh, is it because he doesn't know what the Holy Grail means? Or is it because he doesn't understand your put-on 'english accent?' You just kind of have to guess. It's not mind-reading, really, but it works pretty well given enough time. So let me bring this back to the topic at hand. We know the kids with guns are crying for help. We know the problem is that their not being heard. We know that others with greater skills in articulating have spoken -- they have sent their words to Slashdot, for good or ill. And we are arguing over whether Slashdot has the right to publish these cries. Slashdot has no right not to. These comments cannot be attributed to this person or that. The words, yes. But we do ourselves a great disservice by allowing that to stand in our way. The Hellmouth posts belong to all of us; they are an expression of all our own voices. They are an expression of the unspoken words that killed the students at Columbine. They are not a symptom -- they are the cause, and the remedy. This book could, in a way, be a greater 'parenting manual' than any Dr. Spock book. Damn, I'm getting all misty. It doesn't matter if Andover makes a million bucks off this book. Please, let's all be thankful that the resources and the will exist to publish it.
Slashdot Mirror
This whole thing is kind of like buying a computer from the large computer companies, e.g. Compaq. Wanna new mobo? Sorry, NLX form factor. Want to put a new CD-ROM in? Can't, drive bays aren't industry compliant. So what's a user to do but buy a new Compaq?
Now if you want a new or upgraded OS, you'll have to buy a new box too.
Don't think the hardware companies don't have an interest here as well. They like 'recovery' CDs which lock you into their hardware as much as they do buying Windows wholesale and charging more for it. Why do you think they won't give refunds?
Reading this thread, I have become extremely frustrated. Sure, we can talk abuot resisting this "bonehead" meneuver, but we have precious little clout as far as the courts are concerned.
I wonder what the ACLU would think about this. The supporters of the MP3 'scene' need a legal force of their own. I've donated to the ACLU for the past three years for the fight against internet censorship; I would gladly help support an organization fighting this stupidity.
I'm an American -- I vote with my checkbook.
What about mail passing *through* the UK, bound for the Continent, or some such? What right does the UK have to monitor my mail, even if only to see that it is not destined for the UK and to decide not to snoop into it?
I guess this would depend if such a network route exists.
Perhaps this is off-topic. I haven't been following the story here on /. But this story has finally stirred up the mess of emotions that began with Columbine so that I feel the need to speak.
It could have been me.
If that statement gets me taken to jail, so be it. I've grown up now, I've learned to use my voice. I might even welcome it.
I could have been one of those two shooters at Columbine a year ago. The rage was certainly there. The hate was. Ask yourself, honestly, if you every daydreamed about doing it.
The shooting at Columbine was not the first. I can recall a story of a kid who mowed down some fellow students who were praying around a flagpole before school. I heard it on the way to school; it was on the radio, somewhere between the 30 Second Sports Blitz and the Howard Stern Show. Someone riding in the car with me said "Oh my god. That's terrible. Did you do your math homework?"
I leave the question to you -- what was it about Columbine that set off the Red Flag in our collective mind?
Now, after Columbine, similar crimes seem to be reported every day. They are beginning to occur in Europe, and Europeans are shocked; they did not think it could happen to them. We didn't either, a year ago. Why are they happening now?
This is only a personal observation, but I have little doubt that the statistics will back me up if anyone cares to check: In the great majority of these 'kid pulls gun on students' stories, the gun is never used. A gun has only one purpose, but in all these instances, it is not being used for that purpose.
So what, then, is the purpose of pulling the gun? Humor me for a moment while I attempt to answer this question.
A kid who pulls a gun in school is crying for help.
Up front, let me say it -- this is stupid. It is a dead-end. It cannot accomplish the kid's intended purpose.
And deep down, the kid knows this.
So again, what is the purpose in pulling the gun?
Simple enough. The kid is not being listened to. He may not even know that he has been calling for help, but yet he knows that those calls are going unanswered. He thinks, maybe, that he was simply not making himself heard. And so he does something he knows will get everyone's attention. He pulls a gun. He says -- did you think I was kidding? Maybe just whining? No, I'm serious. You want to know how serious?
THIS serious.
Serious enough to throw my life away for it.
It is almost impossible to take this little theory this far without beginning to point fingers. It would seem, from what I have said, that I consider the kid blameless. And he is. Except for that whole pointing-a-deadly-weapon-at-unsuspecting-citizens part.
This is an important point. The gun itself is insubstantial. It has no purpose beyond some symbolic value. You could replace it with a rubber chicken if the chicken had the same stigma surrounding it.
So forget the gun. What do we have left? A kid, crying for help. What kind of help?
Well, I don't know. But I have an inkling that the Hellmouth Posts could tell you a lot about it. Those kids are crying for help too. Just the same as I did, and still do, even with this posting. It could have been me, and it could have been them too. It could be any of us. There is only one difference between us and the kids with guns.
We have learned to use our voices.
This doesn't necessary mean there is anyone to hear them. This perhaps, is why Slashdot has become the forum for this -- because Slashdot, evil corporate spawn that it may be [sic], is an open forum. Perhaps it is their slogan -- "News for nerds. Stuff that matters." that brought the nerds who spoke about what mattered most to them. It doesn't matter why, because the fact is that Slashdot *did* become that forum.
And what of the kids who haven't learned to use their voices? What about them?
Well, that's the entire point of this post. What about them? What are we, as human beings, going to do about them?
I would say that we need to listen. Don't say that we cannot be expected to read their minds. We can. They are children. Nearly grown children, yes. But the fact that they cannot ask for help makes them children. No matter their age.
People under the age of 18 in the U.S are considered minors. Their lives are essentially subject to the whims of their guardians. They cannot be convicted of crimes as adults can be. They cannot enter into binding contracts. They are denied the freedom promised in the Bill of Rights. And they should be.
But do we, as people, remember why?
We seem to remember this only when it is convenient. A child's learning is incomplete. They are denied the freedom to do many things because we consider them to be unprepared to handle the responsibility.
And what separates the 17 year old from the 18 year old. Nothing. Really; I remember my 18th birthday. So what do we intend with those 18 years before that birthday? What is the purpose of drawing that line?
We intend those years for teaching. That time is for preparing the child for the responsibilites coming. And how do we do that?
Suddenly, methinks I am on shaky ground.
How do you train a dog? Do you expect him to tell you he doesn't see the difference between inside and outside when you spank him for pissing in the living room?
Have you ever tried to explain Monty Python to a Mexican? When you tell him the frenchman said "No, we've already got one." and he doesn't laugh, is it because he doesn't know what the Holy Grail means? Or is it because he doesn't understand your put-on 'english accent?'
You just kind of have to guess. It's not mind-reading, really, but it works pretty well given enough time.
So let me bring this back to the topic at hand. We know the kids with guns are crying for help. We know the problem is that their not being heard. We know that others with greater skills in articulating have spoken -- they have sent their words to Slashdot, for good or ill. And we are arguing over whether Slashdot has the right to publish these cries.
Slashdot has no right not to.
These comments cannot be attributed to this person or that. The words, yes. But we do ourselves a great disservice by allowing that to stand in our way.
The Hellmouth posts belong to all of us; they are an expression of all our own voices. They are an expression of the unspoken words that killed the students at Columbine. They are not a symptom -- they are the cause, and the remedy. This book could, in a way, be a greater 'parenting manual' than any Dr. Spock book.
Damn, I'm getting all misty.
It doesn't matter if Andover makes a million bucks off this book. Please, let's all be thankful that the resources and the will exist to publish it.