OK, one more easy fact check . . . you claim that "The leading cause of death amongst 16-25 year olds is suicide . ..".
Unfortunately (for your credibility) the actual leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds is Accidents, with Motor-vehicle being the largest subgroup. After that comes "Homicide and legal-intervention". Then "Suicide."
I wonder what you think the leading cause of death among young, healthy people should be, anyway? Overindulgent Pez ingestion?
The USA has the second LOWEST rate of suicide, 10 per 100000, of any nation, industrialized or otherwise. Your concern would be better leveled at the Guyanans, Lithuianians, and Kazakhstanis, who are offing themselves at three times that rate. Ah, but Guyana-bashing isn't quite as much fun, is it? It doesn't give you that visceral thrill of raging against the machine.
". . . whereas gay marriage isn't even a talking point in most of Europe, having been legalized long ago . .."
Do you think it's important to post things that are actually true, or is just posting a list long enough that no one will bother to check you sufficient for your purposes? I checked this alleged "fact", and, well, it doesn't check out. Unless your idea of "most of Europe" is one that doesn't include, France, Germany, Greece, the U.K., Italy, and I'm sure others that I don't feel like chasing down, and your idea of "long ago" starts, say, yesterday.
Would I find the same level of truthfulness if I checked your other "facts"?
How much good will your social responsibility do you when there's no money left? Or are you suggesting that following "most of the world" into insolvency is somehow good for social welfare?
I agree. My first response to this article was "Oh, I see. Spend more money, and suddenly the laws of physics change by a factor of 25." Somehow I think not. It's not like private industry hasn't been doing research on batteries . . . the person/company who could achieve the kind of breakthrough that these idiots think throwing money at it will achieve would become very, very wealthy indeed. But the government will do it better at that level with a simple wave of its hand? I doubt it.
When I was younger I was taught that if you couldn't afford things, you went without. Your version seems to be "If I can't afford something, I'm justified in stealing it." Your ethics suck. Maybe you should have tried mowing a few lawns to pay for those movies you wanted so much. Or is you getting up off your lazy ass and doing a little work to pay for things you want just too much for me to expect?
The next time you wonder why there isn't a sequel to a movie you liked, or why indie director X doesn't make more great films like the one you loved so much that you were willing to steal it, take a look in the mirror and you'll see the answer. (And to be clear, your "I have purchased plenty of indie films" doesn't exonerate you. I sincerely doubt you've purchased, or even rented, every one you've ever seen, judging from the proud declarations in your first post. And the producers of big films deserve your money just as much as indies; I don't see you saying you supported them. But there's no doubt the indies get hit harder by the actions of the unethical, since their potential market is so much smaller to begin with.)
"Folks like me, on the other hand, are contributing to their demise. I suspect my group is far larger than that of the 'can't wait' group and this will start to show in the years to come."
It is showing already. Of the people I know who used to fund independent films, none are doing so now, because they don't feel like paying out huge bucks to entertain people like you for free anymore while losing money themselves. (All the while listening to the refrain of idiots crowing "Piracy helps sell more movies!') Thanks for your contribution to a less interesting culture, jerk.
Try reading before you post.
First link - source is leaked US embassy cables.
Second link - unstated, but some digging shows source is leaked US embassy cables
Third link - US diplomatic cables.
I'm sure you can see the pattern here. These were US secrets.
Slashdot Mirror
Oops . . .you're not so correct, are you? . . . you said 'legalized long ago'. That statement is false.
OK, one more easy fact check . . . you claim that "The leading cause of death amongst 16-25 year olds is suicide . . .".
Unfortunately (for your credibility) the actual leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds is Accidents, with Motor-vehicle being the largest subgroup. After that comes "Homicide and legal-intervention". Then "Suicide."
I wonder what you think the leading cause of death among young, healthy people should be, anyway? Overindulgent Pez ingestion?
The USA has the second LOWEST rate of suicide, 10 per 100000, of any nation, industrialized or otherwise. Your concern would be better leveled at the Guyanans, Lithuianians, and Kazakhstanis, who are offing themselves at three times that rate. Ah, but Guyana-bashing isn't quite as much fun, is it? It doesn't give you that visceral thrill of raging against the machine.
". . . whereas gay marriage isn't even a talking point in most of Europe, having been legalized long ago . . ."
Do you think it's important to post things that are actually true, or is just posting a list long enough that no one will bother to check you sufficient for your purposes? I checked this alleged "fact", and, well, it doesn't check out. Unless your idea of "most of Europe" is one that doesn't include, France, Germany, Greece, the U.K., Italy, and I'm sure others that I don't feel like chasing down, and your idea of "long ago" starts, say, yesterday.
Would I find the same level of truthfulness if I checked your other "facts"?
" I would trade national secrets for government transparency in a femtosecond." "I am an idiot" is a much shorter way of putting that.
How much good will your social responsibility do you when there's no money left? Or are you suggesting that following "most of the world" into insolvency is somehow good for social welfare?
I agree. My first response to this article was "Oh, I see. Spend more money, and suddenly the laws of physics change by a factor of 25." Somehow I think not. It's not like private industry hasn't been doing research on batteries . . . the person/company who could achieve the kind of breakthrough that these idiots think throwing money at it will achieve would become very, very wealthy indeed. But the government will do it better at that level with a simple wave of its hand? I doubt it.
When I was younger I was taught that if you couldn't afford things, you went without. Your version seems to be "If I can't afford something, I'm justified in stealing it." Your ethics suck. Maybe you should have tried mowing a few lawns to pay for those movies you wanted so much. Or is you getting up off your lazy ass and doing a little work to pay for things you want just too much for me to expect? The next time you wonder why there isn't a sequel to a movie you liked, or why indie director X doesn't make more great films like the one you loved so much that you were willing to steal it, take a look in the mirror and you'll see the answer. (And to be clear, your "I have purchased plenty of indie films" doesn't exonerate you. I sincerely doubt you've purchased, or even rented, every one you've ever seen, judging from the proud declarations in your first post. And the producers of big films deserve your money just as much as indies; I don't see you saying you supported them. But there's no doubt the indies get hit harder by the actions of the unethical, since their potential market is so much smaller to begin with.)
"Folks like me, on the other hand, are contributing to their demise. I suspect my group is far larger than that of the 'can't wait' group and this will start to show in the years to come." It is showing already. Of the people I know who used to fund independent films, none are doing so now, because they don't feel like paying out huge bucks to entertain people like you for free anymore while losing money themselves. (All the while listening to the refrain of idiots crowing "Piracy helps sell more movies!') Thanks for your contribution to a less interesting culture, jerk.
Try reading before you post. First link - source is leaked US embassy cables. Second link - unstated, but some digging shows source is leaked US embassy cables Third link - US diplomatic cables. I'm sure you can see the pattern here. These were US secrets.