Didn't anyone tell you that there is no such thing as the "new economy"? The old economy IS the economy. There's nothing wrong with it. We DO live in a meritocracy. Its just that you cannot simply expect people to do well based on their own hard work in every situation. Inside a corporation or ANY organization, even the non-profit ones you must excell at politics. This includes when working with customers/citizens/partners/vendors.....etc. Just because you suddenly decide you don't want to work with the "system" doesn't mean the world is going to agree and come join you. While you're working in your organization (Debian like perhaps?) everyone else will continue to offer products from companies with marketing budgets and slick salesmen/executives. And you know what?
There's nothing wrong with that.
They're working just as hard as anyone else, to do what they do. You do what you do, and the CEO's and CFO's will do what they do. Thats how it works. Its just the way it is that some people because of their positions or some organizations because of their position, power and wealth (i.e. corporations) get more attention than others. Thats how it is with anything in life.
I know you began with a disclaimer of "I am not an economist" but did you even TRY to think before you posted this comment? Without a company how will open source developers get paid? And without a publicly traded company where will such an organization get the seed funding it will need in its first 5 to perhaps 10 unprofitable years of operation? Cause if you think you don't need money to make a difference or have an effect in this industry then you're insane. Sure you can merely "exist" and "survive" as the Debian org has over the years, but they aren't the guys leading the way, making new standards and making news. And before you even ask, YES DAMMIT those things are important. If you are not doing those things for your product, or class of software than the companies with all the power/money/marketing will simply move on, come up with something new and offer it to the public leaving you behind and soon to be forgotten. Pretty much like GNU/Hurd, OpenBSD, and other still existant but now largely irrelvant projects. They might still be around but none of the important players in the tech industry, MS, IBM, Sun, HP....etc give a rats ass about them anymore. I'd rather not see Linux reach the same fate (and it won't since there's more behind Linux than just Red Hat).
In any case the "We don't need corporate funding/attention to survive, as long as one sunlight deprived geek in a basement somewhere is still hacking on the project in Ohio it will always survive!!!!" attitude just really has to go. Its really not doing anyone any good.
So in a few years we'll be able to install wireless implants into our brains for "extrasensory perceptions and communication" so why wait for it to happen naturally?
As to the other points, just look at the amount of cell phone proliferation in 3rd world nations. Its taking off like crazy. People there want to be connected and become modern because they see it as a way to lift themselves out of the lives they already lead. If they were so satisifed with their simpler lives no one would be able to sell them cell phones that allow them to stay in touch with family and conduct business like they've never done so before.
I don't see whats so intellectual about writing code. Software engineers, or programmers, are just folks with a trade. They produce software. Other folks produce widgets. All programmers are worker bees. Sure there are some higher up worker bees, but a worker bee is still a worker bee and is easily managed (whether they like to admit so or not) by competent management, and Microsoft is full of competent managers else they would not be in the position in the industry they are currently in.
Open source software is just one way to make SOFTWARE. It can't be applied to any other product, because other products are tangible and require physical resources. Open source is not going to change the world or lift the poor nations out of poverty. For the love of god get some perspective before its too late.
How could you call this a great article? He's ranting about how open source can save the world. Do you really think a starving kid in the Congo gives a rats ass that Linux is free? Is that fact going to feed him? You really think its as simple as that? How out of touch must someone be to even entertain such a thought.
Honestly why would a country NOT want to join the rest of the world technologically? Thats like saying "We would like to not surivive the ongoing evolution of human society on this planet. Just let us continue to fall behind and eventually die out, thanks!"
The US hating has just got to stop. No one said that there is NO corruption in the US but if you compare the US (or any Western European nation) to any third world country such as Mexico, Argentina, South America, North Korea, China, India....etc the amount of corruption you'll see will boggle your mind. There's more to corruption than the assumed buying of politicians by big businesses. When you can't even get a cab or phone service without putting out extra money or something like that then you know its bad.
You didn't actually believe the "unlimited" claims did you? Everyone knows they base their business models on a few users using the system at any one time and on no one hogging it. Was this news to you or something?
I know this is off topic but I got to take this up with someone. Those AI sites. I loved them. I tried to visit each one completely. But they were lies. The fucking movie was NOTHING like the sites were. It was such a damn let down. I've never been so mad at having seen a bad movie. I wanted to seriously ask for my money back. If the movie had ben 25% of what the websites were it would have been a hit instead of the flop it was.
Re:Any Open Source/Linux/BSD Companies doing well?
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Well in order for what you say to be true the Open Source and Free Software communities would have to actually be worth as much as you say thay are. I'm not so sure they are.
Its not like a company can simply post their software code on a website and have it automagically improved and maintained by the two communities. It just doesn't work like that. Even Red Hat has paid kernel hackers and other paid developers. They aren't exactly getting free development from Alan Cox now are they? And since most open source/free software developers only work on what interests them, then it is usually nothing more than a waste of time for a company to release its source under a GPL license and expecting to get anything financially beneficial in return.
One would have thought that by now the overly simplistic assumption that 'Companies who release their software under the GPL will do better and outperform those who don't' would have died by now. Obviously some are still clinging onto the dot.com era as tightly as does a Raccoon near death would to a shiny piece of metal.
Re:This is just flat out *wrong*
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Wow. Hope thinks work out for you eventually dude.
Well, we'll just have to leave it up to the future's historians to decide which civilization had the best culture, if one can decide such a thing.
In my mind though, Wall Street, Sillicone Valley, Las Vegas, DisneyWorld....etc all the big stuff the West has, easily rivals the best of any other nation, past or present in the world. The west isn't all about money. We DO have our culture and YES it is damn good.
Maybe you just have a touch of anti-West sentiment combined with the oh so cool make fun of anything Western thats so trendy today?
If you want to write your own games, then all you have to do is form a company, hire the programmers and get funding. Just because it isn't as simple as some other things does not mean it isn't possible. So yeah its ok with me.
If you are going to take the time to be condescending, the least you could do is make sure you are correct about what you are talking about. No one ever said video games had to be played on the all purpose PC. They could be played just fine on your console, or on the PC after it has been fitted with proper digital rights management hardware. So whats stopping us from playing the games then?
Can't you simply let some folks enjoy a video game without needing to inject politics into the discussion? Not everyone gives a crap about that copy protection political circus going on in Washington right now, they just wanna play some games!
You can tone down the anti-corporate sentiment just a bit. I went to that site in your sig and all I gotta say about that is "Whoa do you need to get a life!"
"So, you've gone from posting crappy information poor blinking web sewage to patenting software processes? Congratulations on your evolution. If only all of us could undergo such rich personal growth."
"Barring my opinion of your personal values, it appears that you and the guy you're arguing with have a simple difference in preference."
I was just wondering if you find it at all odd that one could base the judgement of another's values simply on the fact that the person has no problem with patenting software processes? Is it really enough of a trangression to warrant such a judgement? Its not like he killed baby kittens or something, I mean its just software. Is there a point where you simply get too deeply immersed in the world of technology to the point where you begin to lose perspective?
What exactly is it that you can't do now that you'll be able to do if only geeks were to use the net again? Whats stopping you or anyone from creating a website or IRC network thats password protected so you can make sure only geeks sign on or log on or whatever? And just what is so special about such a limited environment in the first place?
To use Linux in the way that you described would be to them using it as a toy. Big Important Companies don't just download distro's of Linux and use them as they see fit. No one is going to put their ass THAT far out on the line like that. Instead they want support deals with companies like Red Hat, SuSe or IBM and thats what cost money. Also just because you can download the regular RH distro does not mean they have made the corporate version of RH available for download. Thats the one companies usually pay for.
One of the things you're missing is that just because you use Linux on the desktop, that does not mean its ready for people in general. And the general public are the people who really count, not you. Yes people do like icons, even secretaries. No there's nothing wrong with calling a directory a folder, they mean the same thing.
Its little things like this that consistently go over the head of most OSS developers and users. I mean the guy wasn't even promoting Apple's business or anything he was just complimenting OS X as having the best Unix UI and you couldn't even respond on that point. Its not like you can't install xfree86 on OS X and run it at the same time you run Aqua. I'm doing that now. But that simply allows me to see the contrast between a well thought out GUI (Aqua) from a ease of use standpoint and a piss poor one (xfree86).
People who don't give a crap about the semantics of the word used for folder or directory are not "simpletons". They simply do not share your fascination with computers to the extent of becoming what to them can only be thought of as "a weird anti-social geek". They view computers as tools to accomplish tasks or to obtain entertainment from but not anything more than that. They could be anything from doctors to lawyers to teachers to cops but of course if they don't want to take the time to learn the most trivial of computer trivia they must be idiots. Can you see how silly you sound yet?
One could also make the case that the current third party candidates are simply so whacky that they keep themselves down. I don't think the Democrats or Republicans have to do anything when you have a party like the Libertarians promoting their agenda the way it is. Not very many people in their right minds would vote for Libertarians considering what they want to do to the country, but then again I guess its simpler to blame others than to look inward and ask "Why doesn't anyone vote for us or support us"?
All one has to do is go here: http://www.lp.org/issues/ to see their various opinions on various issues.
Oh don't think I am saying you are obligated to support their business model. You have your right to NOT buy their products. Thats the way you can dispute their business model.
If however you create, participate or in any way support a project which illegally interfers with their business model...well then thats a whole other issue that I can best sum up as "While you aren't obligated to support any company's business model, you are obligated to obey the law."
Slashdot Mirror
Its called "LITTLE FINE PRINT" in your service agreement. Was that news to you or something?
Didn't anyone tell you that there is no such thing as the "new economy"? The old economy IS the economy. There's nothing wrong with it. We DO live in a meritocracy. Its just that you cannot simply expect people to do well based on their own hard work in every situation. Inside a corporation or ANY organization, even the non-profit ones you must excell at politics. This includes when working with customers/citizens/partners/vendors.....etc. Just because you suddenly decide you don't want to work with the "system" doesn't mean the world is going to agree and come join you. While you're working in your organization (Debian like perhaps?) everyone else will continue to offer products from companies with marketing budgets and slick salesmen/executives. And you know what?
There's nothing wrong with that.
They're working just as hard as anyone else, to do what they do. You do what you do, and the CEO's and CFO's will do what they do. Thats how it works. Its just the way it is that some people because of their positions or some organizations because of their position, power and wealth (i.e. corporations) get more attention than others. Thats how it is with anything in life.
I know you began with a disclaimer of "I am not an economist" but did you even TRY to think before you posted this comment? Without a company how will open source developers get paid? And without a publicly traded company where will such an organization get the seed funding it will need in its first 5 to perhaps 10 unprofitable years of operation? Cause if you think you don't need money to make a difference or have an effect in this industry then you're insane. Sure you can merely "exist" and "survive" as the Debian org has over the years, but they aren't the guys leading the way, making new standards and making news. And before you even ask, YES DAMMIT those things are important. If you are not doing those things for your product, or class of software than the companies with all the power/money/marketing will simply move on, come up with something new and offer it to the public leaving you behind and soon to be forgotten. Pretty much like GNU/Hurd, OpenBSD, and other still existant but now largely irrelvant projects. They might still be around but none of the important players in the tech industry, MS, IBM, Sun, HP....etc give a rats ass about them anymore. I'd rather not see Linux reach the same fate (and it won't since there's more behind Linux than just Red Hat).
In any case the "We don't need corporate funding/attention to survive, as long as one sunlight deprived geek in a basement somewhere is still hacking on the project in Ohio it will always survive!!!!" attitude just really has to go. Its really not doing anyone any good.
So in a few years we'll be able to install wireless implants into our brains for "extrasensory perceptions and communication" so why wait for it to happen naturally?
As to the other points, just look at the amount of cell phone proliferation in 3rd world nations. Its taking off like crazy. People there want to be connected and become modern because they see it as a way to lift themselves out of the lives they already lead. If they were so satisifed with their simpler lives no one would be able to sell them cell phones that allow them to stay in touch with family and conduct business like they've never done so before.
I don't see whats so intellectual about writing code. Software engineers, or programmers, are just folks with a trade. They produce software. Other folks produce widgets. All programmers are worker bees. Sure there are some higher up worker bees, but a worker bee is still a worker bee and is easily managed (whether they like to admit so or not) by competent management, and Microsoft is full of competent managers else they would not be in the position in the industry they are currently in.
Open source software is just one way to make SOFTWARE. It can't be applied to any other product, because other products are tangible and require physical resources. Open source is not going to change the world or lift the poor nations out of poverty. For the love of god get some perspective before its too late.
How could you call this a great article? He's ranting about how open source can save the world. Do you really think a starving kid in the Congo gives a rats ass that Linux is free? Is that fact going to feed him? You really think its as simple as that? How out of touch must someone be to even entertain such a thought.
Honestly why would a country NOT want to join the rest of the world technologically? Thats like saying "We would like to not surivive the ongoing evolution of human society on this planet. Just let us continue to fall behind and eventually die out, thanks!"
The US hating has just got to stop. No one said that there is NO corruption in the US but if you compare the US (or any Western European nation) to any third world country such as Mexico, Argentina, South America, North Korea, China, India....etc the amount of corruption you'll see will boggle your mind. There's more to corruption than the assumed buying of politicians by big businesses. When you can't even get a cab or phone service without putting out extra money or something like that then you know its bad.
You didn't actually believe the "unlimited" claims did you? Everyone knows they base their business models on a few users using the system at any one time and on no one hogging it. Was this news to you or something?
You ok there buddy? You done telling everyone what the need or don't need yet? Would you like some pills and water now?
I know this is off topic but I got to take this up with someone. Those AI sites. I loved them. I tried to visit each one completely. But they were lies. The fucking movie was NOTHING like the sites were. It was such a damn let down. I've never been so mad at having seen a bad movie. I wanted to seriously ask for my money back. If the movie had ben 25% of what the websites were it would have been a hit instead of the flop it was.
Well in order for what you say to be true the Open Source and Free Software communities would have to actually be worth as much as you say thay are. I'm not so sure they are.
Its not like a company can simply post their software code on a website and have it automagically improved and maintained by the two communities. It just doesn't work like that. Even Red Hat has paid kernel hackers and other paid developers. They aren't exactly getting free development from Alan Cox now are they? And since most open source/free software developers only work on what interests them, then it is usually nothing more than a waste of time for a company to release its source under a GPL license and expecting to get anything financially beneficial in return.
One would have thought that by now the overly simplistic assumption that 'Companies who release their software under the GPL will do better and outperform those who don't' would have died by now. Obviously some are still clinging onto the dot.com era as tightly as does a Raccoon near death would to a shiny piece of metal.
Wow. Hope thinks work out for you eventually dude.
Well, we'll just have to leave it up to the future's historians to decide which civilization had the best culture, if one can decide such a thing.
In my mind though, Wall Street, Sillicone Valley, Las Vegas, DisneyWorld....etc all the big stuff the West has, easily rivals the best of any other nation, past or present in the world. The west isn't all about money. We DO have our culture and YES it is damn good.
Maybe you just have a touch of anti-West sentiment combined with the oh so cool make fun of anything Western thats so trendy today?
If you want to write your own games, then all you have to do is form a company, hire the programmers and get funding. Just because it isn't as simple as some other things does not mean it isn't possible. So yeah its ok with me.
If you are going to take the time to be condescending, the least you could do is make sure you are correct about what you are talking about. No one ever said video games had to be played on the all purpose PC. They could be played just fine on your console, or on the PC after it has been fitted with proper digital rights management hardware. So whats stopping us from playing the games then?
Can't you simply let some folks enjoy a video game without needing to inject politics into the discussion? Not everyone gives a crap about that copy protection political circus going on in Washington right now, they just wanna play some games!
You can tone down the anti-corporate sentiment just a bit. I went to that site in your sig and all I gotta say about that is "Whoa do you need to get a life!"
"So, you've gone from posting crappy information poor blinking web sewage to patenting software processes? Congratulations on your evolution. If only all of us could undergo such rich personal growth."
"Barring my opinion of your personal values, it appears that you and the guy you're arguing with have a simple difference in preference."
I was just wondering if you find it at all odd that one could base the judgement of another's values simply on the fact that the person has no problem with patenting software processes? Is it really enough of a trangression to warrant such a judgement? Its not like he killed baby kittens or something, I mean its just software. Is there a point where you simply get too deeply immersed in the world of technology to the point where you begin to lose perspective?
What exactly is it that you can't do now that you'll be able to do if only geeks were to use the net again? Whats stopping you or anyone from creating a website or IRC network thats password protected so you can make sure only geeks sign on or log on or whatever? And just what is so special about such a limited environment in the first place?
To use Linux in the way that you described would be to them using it as a toy. Big Important Companies don't just download distro's of Linux and use them as they see fit. No one is going to put their ass THAT far out on the line like that. Instead they want support deals with companies like Red Hat, SuSe or IBM and thats what cost money. Also just because you can download the regular RH distro does not mean they have made the corporate version of RH available for download. Thats the one companies usually pay for.
Apple isn't financialy insecure. But anyways...
One of the things you're missing is that just because you use Linux on the desktop, that does not mean its ready for people in general. And the general public are the people who really count, not you. Yes people do like icons, even secretaries. No there's nothing wrong with calling a directory a folder, they mean the same thing.
Its little things like this that consistently go over the head of most OSS developers and users. I mean the guy wasn't even promoting Apple's business or anything he was just complimenting OS X as having the best Unix UI and you couldn't even respond on that point. Its not like you can't install xfree86 on OS X and run it at the same time you run Aqua. I'm doing that now. But that simply allows me to see the contrast between a well thought out GUI (Aqua) from a ease of use standpoint and a piss poor one (xfree86).
People who don't give a crap about the semantics of the word used for folder or directory are not "simpletons". They simply do not share your fascination with computers to the extent of becoming what to them can only be thought of as "a weird anti-social geek". They view computers as tools to accomplish tasks or to obtain entertainment from but not anything more than that. They could be anything from doctors to lawyers to teachers to cops but of course if they don't want to take the time to learn the most trivial of computer trivia they must be idiots. Can you see how silly you sound yet?
One could also make the case that the current third party candidates are simply so whacky that they keep themselves down. I don't think the Democrats or Republicans have to do anything when you have a party like the Libertarians promoting their agenda the way it is. Not very many people in their right minds would vote for Libertarians considering what they want to do to the country, but then again I guess its simpler to blame others than to look inward and ask "Why doesn't anyone vote for us or support us"?
All one has to do is go here: http://www.lp.org/issues/ to see their various opinions on various issues.
Oh don't think I am saying you are obligated to support their business model. You have your right to NOT buy their products. Thats the way you can dispute their business model.
If however you create, participate or in any way support a project which illegally interfers with their business model...well then thats a whole other issue that I can best sum up as "While you aren't obligated to support any company's business model, you are obligated to obey the law."
It would help if the bnetd project was important enough to justify jepordizing the business model of a great game company like Blizzard.
You see, on this issue, people like and want the games more than they care about something as trivial and irrelevant as bnetd.