Let's face it, the slashdot moderation system has been broken for a long time. That's where the term slashthink/slashdot group think comes from. If you post a comment that general user base of slashdot likes, it will be modded up. If you post a comment, even a really insightful and interesting one that the general user base doesn't like, it will be modded down. Comments that rank up? Promote free speech, removing copyrights, getting rids of patents, point out how "suits" just don't get us geeks and so on. Comments that go immediately down? Tell informative, but bad points about the current state of Linux, dislike Google, try to be reasonable about copyrights and DRM or say that Microsoft's Visual Studio still kicks ass any other IDE out there.
I can't find the old post now because it was long time ago, but it went something like this. Every user are given some amount of moderation points, that affect the moderation as a whole. In addition to that, it affects the moderation you see favorable to the likes of you. If they are on your friend lists, their moderation carries more value. If they have moderated similarly to you, their moderation weights more to you. Of course, this should be balanced so that you don't get fully one viewed comments - if some comment is generally modded very high (and forget the -1-5 scale now), it would be displayed to you anyway. If you add to that that comments where you, or similar persons to you have commented, will be fully displayed regardless of their moderation (or some adjustation of that), it would work out really well. Of course, it needs a lot more computation power on the server side.
For me, personally? I like Reddit's comment system. It has it's faults, but it's better than Slashdot. Interesting posts are on top, and you can just scroll down for more.
Still, I browse Slashdot at -1 and read what interests me. I come here for the comments, jokes and all that. I like to see it all when the subject is interesting. No moderating system can ever beat your own judgement (even if it's wrong one).
Maybe that comes from the fact that Asians are not as lazy and against "stupid jobs" (when they are in fact the most useful ones) as Americans?
So many citations needed here. Okay so you say "the fact" and I'm asking you where you get your "facts."
I challenge you to grow up and to stop relying on tired stereotypes.
Maybe for the fact that I have an Asian girlfriend who works for amount that seems crazy to me. Yes, I am a lazy European too, but only second after US. Her days are minimum 10 hours, sometimes 12 hours. At $200-300 month. Still, she is really happy when she gets back from work and we go out for a dinner and see friends, often talking, laughing, eating and drinking out until 3am. And in the morning she goes to work again.
So yes, I would say Americans are lazy. Hell, I as an European am lazy too.
Apple's $1 billion new data center in North Carolina has been a disappointing development for many residents, who can't comprehend how expensive facilities stretching across hundreds of acres can create only 50 new jobs
There it is. Proof of how wise Americans really are!
How about if people crying about "there are no jobs for me" would either make new products or services people want or improve themselves to be more useful to employers? But nooo, now they're crying how no one is giving money for what they think they want to do.
I learned this very skill in my teen years. You need to be useful to others to be successful yourself. It applies to work, woman and everything. Everyone is selfish and looking for their own good, in a way or another. Either with money, self-improvement, confidence, skills or experiences. Behind every action every human ever does is a selfish though. Leverage that knowledge, be useful and via that, make yourself successful.
'Digital' businesses like Apple employ far fewer people than traditional manufacturing businesses, Apple's 60,000+ jobs are not just in the U.S. — they're spread around the world.
Maybe that comes from the fact that Asians are not as lazy and against "stupid jobs" (when they are in fact the most useful ones) as Americans?
Currently, I use my old HTC Touch HD, which comes with Windows Mobile 6.2. The OS that was made before Microsoft also went the Apple and Google route because it was more profitable way. Before that I used Symbian phones, which either didn't come with none of this bullshit. Frankly, Asia and Europe (made by Asians) still has many manufacturers who understand this thing and I can get phone that suits me. Americans, not so much. But they managed to ruin the phone industry for all of us. Did you know in Europe and Asia, you buy the phone you want and then get the contract from telephone company you want, who are only competing with service prices, not with devices they offer? (at least were, until all this iPhone and Android bullshit)
Yep. This is why I will never get an Android device or use Google+. They want to spy, and they spy everything. On top of that, other companies will start to feel that it's ok to do. If the practice can continue without interruption, we will all lose privacy. It's funny how everyone always fights losing privacy to the government. Google, Carrier IQ and the companies are just middle hands for that!
I'm so sick of trying to explain to morons that putting their entire lives - their social connections, their thoughts, where they are, what they are doing now - documented with photos no less - on Faecesbook is maybe not such a great idea.
No one I know does what they describe. They post random things that they want to post. If Facebook was some kind of platform where you could see everything the person does streamed directly from his/her eyes, every though he has and so on, you might have a point. But everyone is posting only what they want, which usually means their interests. And in my circle, not that often either.
If you think they are morons and you are trying to "explain" something to them, well gee. It's a problem, but the problem is with your attitude and looking down on other people.
There is SVN and developer wiki and forum access to everyone who has bought humble bundle (and for previous developers). It's yours for whatever amount you choose to pay.
No other company goes that far. Almost no one releases sources for their games. And honestly, after reading this crying, I can't really blame them. No matter how much they try to please geeks, they always rant about how it's not exactly something they want, how they don't want to pay for it (even if that's $1) and how it's not on their favorite repo. They even have Linux versions of their games, which is a common rant topic here on slashdot. But now that it doesn't fit, you still have to rant about something just for the hell of it.
Well, I like that I can modify the game the way I like, including all gameplay elements. And just look at the code to see how it's done. Most companies don't offer this. No one here is claiming it's FOSS. They've given source to it, which most companies don't do. The Introversion guys are also quite nice, so if you have some plans (ie., release your own version and such), just contact them and work it out. They just don't want to get screwed over.
Just who is actually in danger and need protection?
US companies, of course. Frankly, people who travel overseas will buy them at will, fully knowing they are cheap replicas. And usually they also get a good product, only without the huge profit margin to company that made it.
Facebook doesn't sell information any more than Google does. Hell, it's both of their most valuable assets and they guard it as much as they can. They both sell ads. And collect information, for themselves.
Disclaimer: Free Speech valid only in participating areas and Free Speech Zones. May be revoked at will for reasons of fear, political power, religious, ethnic or economic sensibilities. Not valid in airports or theaters. Subject to taxation and regulation. Can be exercised only with permission of media owners when applicable. Not for use afte 9:00 PM local time in town squares, plazas or Wall Street. Identification required. May not be used in the face of law enforcement. May not be used to express politically embarrassing information in wiki form in front of the world at large. Penalties will be incurred if anyone considers said free speech to be promoting of terrorism, or is considered annoying to monied interests, or is enacted by too many people in a public place. Does not apply in the context of an employer/employee relationship. Free speech may not be encrypted in certain areas; check your local laws. Subject to revocation at will by government and corporate interests. Additional fees may apply.
Judge works for government. A judge ruling that domains should be taken down (especially so with other countries TLD's!) and search results censored from the search results is a government-sanctioned filtering.
Just because you think "oh well, at least we can still say (almost) anything (almost) anywhere", doesn't make it any less censoring.
Less harmful is defined by your culture and population. Remember that most Chinese believe that it's for the country's good that government tries to keep some control. You probably wouldn't want your home, place of work and everything you've worked for your whole life pillaged by rioters. Just think about it from the eyes of Chinese.
On the other hand, what China censors on their search engine (ie., riots, Tienanmen square, etc to keep peace) is much less harmful than what US does with some mere cheap goods. But yeah, maybe it's a cultural thing and material stuff is important to you than your life.
But nothing Facebook did was actually illegal. FTC is merely a consumer protection agency, not a law enforcement one. They settled their arguments with Facebook because they found a common ground without going to courts. If FTC would had have a better standing on the issue, they most likely would have asked for "fine" settlement too as it would had made them look better. But they didn't have.
Facebook will eventually be replaced (or be made relatively irrelevant) by an open solution
Like Diaspora?
One of the Facebook's power is that it is a somewhat closed platform. The UI is standardized, there is not shit like with MySpace pages. The privacy things are global. Everything works the same way, it always works good and fast and most importantly, everyone is there.
I don't see what an open source platform would provide better. And I mean actual things for users, not some technical stuff or features that only geeks care about.
With current figures, 15%. With 2 billion people on the internet, Facebook has almost half as its users. China and Russia take the percentage off a bit, as they have their own FB clones.
There are countless amount of people who understand databases, computer security and all that fully well. You sound like this is something new to you. Yeah, it's incredible. But it's not a reason to bash other persons because we also see other values in those things. These persons, and everyone else, does too.
Remember that this settlement goes back to actions in 2008-2009. They have been compliant with opt-ins since then, as users complained about it a lot (which is why you still see it on Slashdot). So no, it won't take two years for them to put them in place. They already are.
However, I would like FTC to take a look at Google's practices with Google+. There everything is public on default. Hell, the moment you sign up your details are immediately available on Google because your profile is public by default. You have to change it back to make your name non-searchable on Google. Whole Google and their social network is a much larger issue than Facebook now.
The largest irony is in people saying how Google or US doesn't censor search results, but like this court order and the various "x number of search results have been removed from the page after complaints from copyright owners" text in search results. Different issues, but just as much censoring.
If you don't want your search results filtered by US, use Yandex or alternatively Baidu.
There is also European StartPage / Ixquick, but it's more for privacy. It aggregates results from Google and other search engines, so US censors still apply. Yandex and Baidu are completely independant search engines.
In the beginning of 2011 there was 2 billion internet users on earth, so it's half of that. Granted, the percentage is lower in Russia and China (because they have their own Facebook versions) but it is also higher percentage in western countries.
Slashdot Mirror
Let's face it, the slashdot moderation system has been broken for a long time. That's where the term slashthink/slashdot group think comes from. If you post a comment that general user base of slashdot likes, it will be modded up. If you post a comment, even a really insightful and interesting one that the general user base doesn't like, it will be modded down. Comments that rank up? Promote free speech, removing copyrights, getting rids of patents, point out how "suits" just don't get us geeks and so on. Comments that go immediately down? Tell informative, but bad points about the current state of Linux, dislike Google, try to be reasonable about copyrights and DRM or say that Microsoft's Visual Studio still kicks ass any other IDE out there.
I can't find the old post now because it was long time ago, but it went something like this. Every user are given some amount of moderation points, that affect the moderation as a whole. In addition to that, it affects the moderation you see favorable to the likes of you. If they are on your friend lists, their moderation carries more value. If they have moderated similarly to you, their moderation weights more to you. Of course, this should be balanced so that you don't get fully one viewed comments - if some comment is generally modded very high (and forget the -1-5 scale now), it would be displayed to you anyway. If you add to that that comments where you, or similar persons to you have commented, will be fully displayed regardless of their moderation (or some adjustation of that), it would work out really well. Of course, it needs a lot more computation power on the server side.
For me, personally? I like Reddit's comment system. It has it's faults, but it's better than Slashdot. Interesting posts are on top, and you can just scroll down for more.
Still, I browse Slashdot at -1 and read what interests me. I come here for the comments, jokes and all that. I like to see it all when the subject is interesting. No moderating system can ever beat your own judgement (even if it's wrong one).
Maybe that comes from the fact that Asians are not as lazy and against "stupid jobs" (when they are in fact the most useful ones) as Americans?
So many citations needed here. Okay so you say "the fact" and I'm asking you where you get your "facts."
I challenge you to grow up and to stop relying on tired stereotypes.
Maybe for the fact that I have an Asian girlfriend who works for amount that seems crazy to me. Yes, I am a lazy European too, but only second after US. Her days are minimum 10 hours, sometimes 12 hours. At $200-300 month. Still, she is really happy when she gets back from work and we go out for a dinner and see friends, often talking, laughing, eating and drinking out until 3am. And in the morning she goes to work again.
So yes, I would say Americans are lazy. Hell, I as an European am lazy too.
Apple's $1 billion new data center in North Carolina has been a disappointing development for many residents, who can't comprehend how expensive facilities stretching across hundreds of acres can create only 50 new jobs
There it is. Proof of how wise Americans really are!
How about if people crying about "there are no jobs for me" would either make new products or services people want or improve themselves to be more useful to employers? But nooo, now they're crying how no one is giving money for what they think they want to do.
I learned this very skill in my teen years. You need to be useful to others to be successful yourself. It applies to work, woman and everything. Everyone is selfish and looking for their own good, in a way or another. Either with money, self-improvement, confidence, skills or experiences. Behind every action every human ever does is a selfish though. Leverage that knowledge, be useful and via that, make yourself successful.
'Digital' businesses like Apple employ far fewer people than traditional manufacturing businesses, Apple's 60,000+ jobs are not just in the U.S. — they're spread around the world.
Maybe that comes from the fact that Asians are not as lazy and against "stupid jobs" (when they are in fact the most useful ones) as Americans?
Because it's a practice Google started, by offering services and software free of charge in return of spying and data collection.
Currently, I use my old HTC Touch HD, which comes with Windows Mobile 6.2. The OS that was made before Microsoft also went the Apple and Google route because it was more profitable way. Before that I used Symbian phones, which either didn't come with none of this bullshit. Frankly, Asia and Europe (made by Asians) still has many manufacturers who understand this thing and I can get phone that suits me. Americans, not so much. But they managed to ruin the phone industry for all of us. Did you know in Europe and Asia, you buy the phone you want and then get the contract from telephone company you want, who are only competing with service prices, not with devices they offer? (at least were, until all this iPhone and Android bullshit)
Yep. This is why I will never get an Android device or use Google+. They want to spy, and they spy everything. On top of that, other companies will start to feel that it's ok to do. If the practice can continue without interruption, we will all lose privacy. It's funny how everyone always fights losing privacy to the government. Google, Carrier IQ and the companies are just middle hands for that!
I'm so sick of trying to explain to morons that putting their entire lives - their social connections, their thoughts, where they are, what they are doing now - documented with photos no less - on Faecesbook is maybe not such a great idea.
No one I know does what they describe. They post random things that they want to post. If Facebook was some kind of platform where you could see everything the person does streamed directly from his/her eyes, every though he has and so on, you might have a point. But everyone is posting only what they want, which usually means their interests. And in my circle, not that often either.
If you think they are morons and you are trying to "explain" something to them, well gee. It's a problem, but the problem is with your attitude and looking down on other people.
Facebook already accounts for those in their calculations.
There is SVN and developer wiki and forum access to everyone who has bought humble bundle (and for previous developers). It's yours for whatever amount you choose to pay.
No other company goes that far. Almost no one releases sources for their games. And honestly, after reading this crying, I can't really blame them. No matter how much they try to please geeks, they always rant about how it's not exactly something they want, how they don't want to pay for it (even if that's $1) and how it's not on their favorite repo. They even have Linux versions of their games, which is a common rant topic here on slashdot. But now that it doesn't fit, you still have to rant about something just for the hell of it.
Even sometimes, be thankful for something good.
Well, I like that I can modify the game the way I like, including all gameplay elements. And just look at the code to see how it's done. Most companies don't offer this. No one here is claiming it's FOSS. They've given source to it, which most companies don't do. The Introversion guys are also quite nice, so if you have some plans (ie., release your own version and such), just contact them and work it out. They just don't want to get screwed over.
Care to point out what part of their 2008 EULA and/or privacy policy they broke?
Just who is actually in danger and need protection?
US companies, of course. Frankly, people who travel overseas will buy them at will, fully knowing they are cheap replicas. And usually they also get a good product, only without the huge profit margin to company that made it.
Facebook doesn't sell information any more than Google does. Hell, it's both of their most valuable assets and they guard it as much as they can. They both sell ads. And collect information, for themselves.
Yes, and at least US still has freedom of speech!
Disclaimer: Free Speech valid only in participating areas and Free Speech Zones. May be revoked at will for reasons of fear, political power, religious, ethnic or economic sensibilities. Not valid in airports or theaters. Subject to taxation and regulation. Can be exercised only with permission of media owners when applicable. Not for use afte 9:00 PM local time in town squares, plazas or Wall Street. Identification required. May not be used in the face of law enforcement. May not be used to express politically embarrassing information in wiki form in front of the world at large. Penalties will be incurred if anyone considers said free speech to be promoting of terrorism, or is considered annoying to monied interests, or is enacted by too many people in a public place. Does not apply in the context of an employer/employee relationship. Free speech may not be encrypted in certain areas; check your local laws. Subject to revocation at will by government and corporate interests. Additional fees may apply.
Judge works for government. A judge ruling that domains should be taken down (especially so with other countries TLD's!) and search results censored from the search results is a government-sanctioned filtering.
Just because you think "oh well, at least we can still say (almost) anything (almost) anywhere", doesn't make it any less censoring.
Less harmful is defined by your culture and population. Remember that most Chinese believe that it's for the country's good that government tries to keep some control. You probably wouldn't want your home, place of work and everything you've worked for your whole life pillaged by rioters. Just think about it from the eyes of Chinese.
On the other hand, what China censors on their search engine (ie., riots, Tienanmen square, etc to keep peace) is much less harmful than what US does with some mere cheap goods. But yeah, maybe it's a cultural thing and material stuff is important to you than your life.
But nothing Facebook did was actually illegal. FTC is merely a consumer protection agency, not a law enforcement one. They settled their arguments with Facebook because they found a common ground without going to courts. If FTC would had have a better standing on the issue, they most likely would have asked for "fine" settlement too as it would had made them look better. But they didn't have.
Facebook will eventually be replaced (or be made relatively irrelevant) by an open solution
Like Diaspora?
One of the Facebook's power is that it is a somewhat closed platform. The UI is standardized, there is not shit like with MySpace pages. The privacy things are global. Everything works the same way, it always works good and fast and most importantly, everyone is there.
I don't see what an open source platform would provide better. And I mean actual things for users, not some technical stuff or features that only geeks care about.
With current figures, 15%. With 2 billion people on the internet, Facebook has almost half as its users. China and Russia take the percentage off a bit, as they have their own FB clones.
There are countless amount of people who understand databases, computer security and all that fully well. You sound like this is something new to you. Yeah, it's incredible. But it's not a reason to bash other persons because we also see other values in those things. These persons, and everyone else, does too.
http://xkcd.com/610/
Remember that this settlement goes back to actions in 2008-2009. They have been compliant with opt-ins since then, as users complained about it a lot (which is why you still see it on Slashdot). So no, it won't take two years for them to put them in place. They already are.
However, I would like FTC to take a look at Google's practices with Google+. There everything is public on default. Hell, the moment you sign up your details are immediately available on Google because your profile is public by default. You have to change it back to make your name non-searchable on Google. Whole Google and their social network is a much larger issue than Facebook now.
The largest irony is in people saying how Google or US doesn't censor search results, but like this court order and the various "x number of search results have been removed from the page after complaints from copyright owners" text in search results. Different issues, but just as much censoring.
Oh, did you just say Kinect is a popular product. Joke's on You!
If you don't want your search results filtered by US, use Yandex or alternatively Baidu.
There is also European StartPage / Ixquick, but it's more for privacy. It aggregates results from Google and other search engines, so US censors still apply. Yandex and Baidu are completely independant search engines.
Sadly, this is what US has become.
In the beginning of 2011 there was 2 billion internet users on earth, so it's half of that. Granted, the percentage is lower in Russia and China (because they have their own Facebook versions) but it is also higher percentage in western countries.