If you invite the Jehova's Witnesses in for a discussion and no matter how much you oppose their point of view, they'll mark you down as a "potential recruit" and will be back. As long as you keep on talking with them, they think they've got a chance.
When I learnt this from a co-worker who used to be a Jehova's Witness, I refused to let them in the next time they came. After two more tries they gave up. No more visits.
I bet that within my lifetime I'll see news of special military operations being carried out to "neutralize" data havens harbouring information that corporations/governments don't like the public to see.
Anyhow, I'm glad that you said that the democracy and capitalism are linked but not the same thing.
It's frightening how many people think that capitalism equals democracy.
It is difficult indeed to successfully protect the rights of the artist and at the same time allow the consumer the right to "fair use". These two rights -- the right of the artist to earn his/her living and the right of the consumer to use his/her art -- are fundamentally incompatible with each other and for me, as an artist and an anarchist, the it is even more difficult to find a compromise.
The worst solution by far would be to get the centralised involved. That way the government itself would, in a sense, own the right to the art. Not the artist, not the public.
But what if the government decides that you are a criminal? Don't tell me it can't happen, because the history proves otherwise.
As far as the guns go, they will not do much good to you when you're facing a trained army -- the killing machine that is the power behind the centralised government.
If you disagree with me, please do not resort to childish ad hominem attacks but post some rational arguments and we can discuss this. Maybe you can convince me that my arguments are not valid.
How do you know they won't be coming for you next? Can you really trust the government, the members of which are just as corruptible and prone to crime as the rest of us, to that extent?
Surely you are not advocating a violent tyranny of a centralised government?
Killing criminals does not bring their victims back nor does it give their relatives any relief or consolation. Taking human life is always wrong.
You say that you'd start with criminals, but who would be next? People with unpopular political opinions (like me), artists whose works you might find offensive (like me) or your personal enemies?
Soon we will be in a situation where the authorities start dictating what art should be displayed in the net.
Good art is often cruel and unconventional even grotesque. It should never leave anyone cold. Either you love it or you hate it. Otherwise the artist has failed in his work.
Slashdot Mirror
I stopped watching Voyager for a while ago. Has it really gone that bad!?
I don't think the Challenger crew had any time to react. How could this technology have saved them?
If you invite the Jehova's Witnesses in for a discussion and no matter how much you oppose their point of view, they'll mark you down as a "potential recruit" and will be back. As long as you keep on talking with them, they think they've got a chance.
When I learnt this from a co-worker who used to be a Jehova's Witness, I refused to let them in the next time they came. After two more tries they gave up. No more visits.
I bet that within my lifetime I'll see news of special military operations being carried out to "neutralize" data havens harbouring information that corporations/governments don't like the public to see.
Anyhow, I'm glad that you said that the democracy and capitalism are linked but not the same thing. It's frightening how many people think that capitalism equals democracy.
You, Sir, has just discovered what is fundamentally wrong with capitalism.
The worst solution by far would be to get the centralised involved. That way the government itself would, in a sense, own the right to the art. Not the artist, not the public.
An Anonymous Coward who likes to insult people. Grow up.
As far as the guns go, they will not do much good to you when you're facing a trained army -- the killing machine that is the power behind the centralised government.
If you disagree with me, please do not resort to childish ad hominem attacks but post some rational arguments and we can discuss this. Maybe you can convince me that my arguments are not valid.
Maybe, but that's what makes us better people.
Think about it.
Killing criminals does not bring their victims back nor does it give their relatives any relief or consolation. Taking human life is always wrong.
You say that you'd start with criminals, but who would be next? People with unpopular political opinions (like me), artists whose works you might find offensive (like me) or your personal enemies?
Where would it stop?
Soon we will be in a situation where the authorities start dictating what art should be displayed in the net.
Good art is often cruel and unconventional even grotesque. It should never leave anyone cold. Either you love it or you hate it. Otherwise the artist has failed in his work.
Well, don't use it then my friend. Know that you can always choose. Even not choosing is a choice.