In fashion, women are required to constantly buy new clothes lest they be considered "frumpy". Last year's clothes are perfectly good, quality-wise, but a culture has been created by which anyone who wears them is subject to public ridicule. The point of all this is to keep the fashion industry's pockets full. What kind of developer, oops I mean designer, doesn't enjoy working on new designs? They want everyone buying the latest greatest design, even if it's not as good as last year's.
Likewise in software, where upgrades are mandatory even though the current software works just fine. "But it's old tech!" the developer shouts at his utterly stupid users. "Why won't you upgrade? I really enjoyed working on this!" I recently asked a question on a support forum about Drupal. I didn't get my question answered, as the developers immediately discussed the fact I was using the "old tech" version (5) and the entire discussion became about when I was going to upgrade to the latest greatest version (7). Why should I? My software works just fine and customers are happy. Security upgrades are more like obscurity upgrades. "Because it's last year's fashion, daaahling"
Let's see, we have completely unoriginal commentary on a hot topic, "social gaming". I suppose this is separate from that other non-social gaming where you play Monopoly or Clue by yourself. "I like to think of social games as "games you play with other people" (usually-but not always-your friends)." What an amazing insight! We've got a fancy graphic which is actually remarkably information-free, with a full-size poster available. The entire post is 814 words, not long at all. We've got a hot, sexy search term "social network games", OMG I'm getting horny here. I mean, come on people, the title tries to warn you off! "Internet Entrepreneur 2.0"? Who would possibly take what this man says seriously? But the entire post is tailor-made to be linked to and consumed in five minutes by today's internet audience, desperately searching for that next hit of novelty...anything to stave off the crushing boredom that is life without want.
After reading today's Slashdot news I don't know why anyone would want to live in the Western World.
There's your problem right there. Stop reading the f***ing news and start thinking. Did you honestly just suggest people to move to UAE? What about females? China? Horrifying education system. Russia? Far more fascist than the USA you so earnestly criticize. India? Are you joking, man? And as far as Canada goes, it has ever been a refuge for weak Americans who just can't take the heat.
Seriously, I dare you to expatriate permanently. I hope you enjoy paying taxes on your income to the host country as well as the voracious IRS. I hope you enjoy being disqualified for jobs and apartments on the basis of race, sex, and age. Relocation to a non-Western country is one of the best cures for occiphobic bigotry. Nah, you won't be leaving anytime soon. Just go on spewing your ignorant hatred.
Actually, the intentional mistake was saying that Europeans have a representative government, which is untrue and I had hoped you'd call me out on that one. But people see what they want to see, you know.
The poster put in "Portugal, Europe" even though Europe is not a country (I have been shouted at by gen-u-wine anti-American Europeans for daring to say so) and CmdrTaco put in the ignorant comment about "memorial day weekend" without even capitalizing Memorial Day. Hey, CmdrTaco, can you tell me why is it, exactly, that you get a three-day weekend at the beginning of summer?
And as far as the crack about America not recognizing places outside its borders, how would you think the average Indonesian's grasp of European geography is? Could an Iraqi place Australia on a map if it wasn't labeled? How many EU citizens can even remember the name who they voted for as their EU member of parliament in the last election?
What a bunch of BS. China has about 300 million "regular" people, that is, decent incomes and they shop for food at grocery stores. China has ONE BILLION desperately poor peasants and workers, whose lives are not getting better at all. "Eating bitterness" is an idiom that they use to describe their lives. They are as docile as cattle. They won't be clamoring for freedom anytime soon.
Oh, and Newsweek is a discredited, partisan source. Didn't anyone get the memo?
So, let me get this straight: biasing the lessons of history in liberal directions is perfectly OK, because me and all my friends think that way and the way that we think is correct. Any diversity of opinion must be viciously attacked by stereotyping the culture that dares to disagree as inbred rednecks. Alles klar?
A stereotype based wholly in ignorance. Texan stereotypes are different, but as an ignorant bigot, you wouldn't know. All you know is you must hate these people, and therefore anything goes.
It's one thing to disagree politically, but the amount of bigotry on display in this discussion is really distressing.
"A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices. The correct use of the term requires the elements of obstinacy, irrationality, and animosity toward those of differing opinion."
Any bigots are welcome to reply as to how they are totally justified in displaying their ugliness to the world.
Get your outdated, bigoted stereotypes right. "Inbred" is reserved for Appalachian hillbillies and such, not Texans. I suppose ignorance is an excuse, but then ignorance and bigotry go together like peanut butter and jelly.
If a reporter appears "ethically balanced" to you, that means that he agrees with your biases. That also means that it is very possible that you do not even realize that your biases are biases, due to the tiny, intellectually stunted world that you live in. The phrase "echo chamber" comes to mind. "Nobody I know voted for Nixon" is the usual battle cry of the out-of-touch liberal - despite the fact that Nixon won the election with a 23.2% margin of victory in the popular vote, the fourth largest margin in presidential election history.
Fairly typical of American thinking? Please. The only thing keeping the wall street bandits from the end of a noose is a belief in the rule of law. I personally know dozens of people who would be more than willing to take up arms if they could remove the threat...but Fox News would call this vigilantism and the rest of the media would follow. Much like the Times Square bomber was immediately assumed to be angry about the healthcare bill. Maybe you're engaging in wishful thinking that merely hatred?
Linux doesn't have a proven track record of Embrace, Extend, Extinguish. Step 1, embrace whatever new protocol it is. Everyone's happy that MS gets on board. Step 2, extend the protocol with MS-specific tech. Competitors can't use this because it's patented or relies on knowledge of the inner workings of closed-source software. Step 3, extinguish. When the extensions become industry-standard, use them to smash competition. Winner: Microsoft.
Note that this isn't some sort of flamebait. Microsoft invented these terms in their own internal memos to describe their business practices.
You've been living abroad for ten years and yet you *still* expect the host culture to imitate the one that you left? Let me guess, you don't speak Japanese despite living there for so long...I know the type...
What's the point of living in the "whole rest of the United States"? It sucks out there, have you been there? The only other places worth going to are LA and maybe SFO. Educated, urbane people can live their whole lives without coming in contact with the uncultured areas. There is some nice natural beauty in a few places too, but then you have to talk to the inhabitants.
How DARE you question your scientific betters? Are you an accredited scientist in this narrow field? If so, then please provide references so that we can discredit you. If not, then butt the F out of the discussion. Scientists are inviolate and must not be questioned by lesser minds. If you choose to question a Scientist, then you lay yourself wide open to devastating, insulting attacks involving the Appeal To Authority argument.
It's not like there will be any reduction in ticket prices if the airlines save 70% of their fuel costs. Airlines will always pursue unscrupulous policies to ensure that people will pay as much as they are able. Remember, an MBA's goal is not to make a profit, it is to maximize profits.
Actually the commercial wasn't about the Mac at all, it was a rejection of the IBM way. The guy on the screen, Big Brother, is supposed to be speaking for the soulless "walled garden" IBM way of computing. You know how IBM's slogan is "Think"? Apple's slogan is "Think Different". It's sad though, I'm sure you really believe what you're saying. And I like the fact that you tell the GP to stop saying these hateful things. What's more annoying than an inconvenient truth?
Journalism has always ever been thus. You're just now noticing it? Seriously, go read some newspapers from 20, 30, 50 years ago. It's the same as today.
Eating meat raw has always been a sign of unsophistication in Western culture. Sushi became popular exactly because of this - by rejecting our own culture and embracing an alien one, you show how sophisticated and different you are from the masses. In addition, the high cost (in the 80s anyway) kept the morons out. China is doing this right now in a big way. Eating traditional Chinese food? Eww, the commoners do that! Let's go to McDonald's and get that sophisticated international food that costs way too much!
One of the things that (used to) make America a wonderful nation for immigrants was the loss of historical memory. After a generation or two, the old country is forgotten along with all of its hateful baggage. I was listening to a delightful Irish CD the other day, and it was great music until I started reading the liner notes. He was singing about things that happened 200 years ago as if they had happened yesterday, and it was good and correct for Irish to still be angry.
Maybe the idea is that you're not supposed to own a car, and that the private automobile is a wasteful, selfish mode of transportation? Ever think of that? Maybe the idea is to make every facet of car ownership irritating and oppressive, so that you'll have your car recycled and ride a bicycle instead? Ever think about how good it would feel to stop contributing to climate change and instead use a sustainable method of transportation?
Slashdot Mirror
In fashion, women are required to constantly buy new clothes lest they be considered "frumpy". Last year's clothes are perfectly good, quality-wise, but a culture has been created by which anyone who wears them is subject to public ridicule. The point of all this is to keep the fashion industry's pockets full. What kind of developer, oops I mean designer, doesn't enjoy working on new designs? They want everyone buying the latest greatest design, even if it's not as good as last year's.
Likewise in software, where upgrades are mandatory even though the current software works just fine. "But it's old tech!" the developer shouts at his utterly stupid users. "Why won't you upgrade? I really enjoyed working on this!" I recently asked a question on a support forum about Drupal. I didn't get my question answered, as the developers immediately discussed the fact I was using the "old tech" version (5) and the entire discussion became about when I was going to upgrade to the latest greatest version (7). Why should I? My software works just fine and customers are happy. Security upgrades are more like obscurity upgrades. "Because it's last year's fashion, daaahling"
Let's see, we have completely unoriginal commentary on a hot topic, "social gaming". I suppose this is separate from that other non-social gaming where you play Monopoly or Clue by yourself. "I like to think of social games as "games you play with other people" (usually-but not always-your friends)." What an amazing insight! We've got a fancy graphic which is actually remarkably information-free, with a full-size poster available. The entire post is 814 words, not long at all. We've got a hot, sexy search term "social network games", OMG I'm getting horny here. I mean, come on people, the title tries to warn you off! "Internet Entrepreneur 2.0"? Who would possibly take what this man says seriously? But the entire post is tailor-made to be linked to and consumed in five minutes by today's internet audience, desperately searching for that next hit of novelty...anything to stave off the crushing boredom that is life without want.
After reading today's Slashdot news I don't know why anyone would want to live in the Western World.
There's your problem right there. Stop reading the f***ing news and start thinking. Did you honestly just suggest people to move to UAE? What about females? China? Horrifying education system. Russia? Far more fascist than the USA you so earnestly criticize. India? Are you joking, man? And as far as Canada goes, it has ever been a refuge for weak Americans who just can't take the heat.
Seriously, I dare you to expatriate permanently. I hope you enjoy paying taxes on your income to the host country as well as the voracious IRS. I hope you enjoy being disqualified for jobs and apartments on the basis of race, sex, and age. Relocation to a non-Western country is one of the best cures for occiphobic bigotry. Nah, you won't be leaving anytime soon. Just go on spewing your ignorant hatred.
Actually, the intentional mistake was saying that Europeans have a representative government, which is untrue and I had hoped you'd call me out on that one. But people see what they want to see, you know.
The poster put in "Portugal, Europe" even though Europe is not a country (I have been shouted at by gen-u-wine anti-American Europeans for daring to say so) and CmdrTaco put in the ignorant comment about "memorial day weekend" without even capitalizing Memorial Day. Hey, CmdrTaco, can you tell me why is it, exactly, that you get a three-day weekend at the beginning of summer?
And as far as the crack about America not recognizing places outside its borders, how would you think the average Indonesian's grasp of European geography is? Could an Iraqi place Australia on a map if it wasn't labeled? How many EU citizens can even remember the name who they voted for as their EU member of parliament in the last election?
What a bunch of BS. China has about 300 million "regular" people, that is, decent incomes and they shop for food at grocery stores. China has ONE BILLION desperately poor peasants and workers, whose lives are not getting better at all. "Eating bitterness" is an idiom that they use to describe their lives. They are as docile as cattle. They won't be clamoring for freedom anytime soon.
Oh, and Newsweek is a discredited, partisan source. Didn't anyone get the memo?
So, let me get this straight: biasing the lessons of history in liberal directions is perfectly OK, because me and all my friends think that way and the way that we think is correct. Any diversity of opinion must be viciously attacked by stereotyping the culture that dares to disagree as inbred rednecks. Alles klar?
A stereotype based wholly in ignorance. Texan stereotypes are different, but as an ignorant bigot, you wouldn't know. All you know is you must hate these people, and therefore anything goes.
It's one thing to disagree politically, but the amount of bigotry on display in this discussion is really distressing.
"A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices. The correct use of the term requires the elements of obstinacy, irrationality, and animosity toward those of differing opinion."
Any bigots are welcome to reply as to how they are totally justified in displaying their ugliness to the world.
Get your outdated, bigoted stereotypes right. "Inbred" is reserved for Appalachian hillbillies and such, not Texans. I suppose ignorance is an excuse, but then ignorance and bigotry go together like peanut butter and jelly.
If a reporter appears "ethically balanced" to you, that means that he agrees with your biases. That also means that it is very possible that you do not even realize that your biases are biases, due to the tiny, intellectually stunted world that you live in. The phrase "echo chamber" comes to mind. "Nobody I know voted for Nixon" is the usual battle cry of the out-of-touch liberal - despite the fact that Nixon won the election with a 23.2% margin of victory in the popular vote, the fourth largest margin in presidential election history.
Fairly typical of American thinking? Please. The only thing keeping the wall street bandits from the end of a noose is a belief in the rule of law. I personally know dozens of people who would be more than willing to take up arms if they could remove the threat...but Fox News would call this vigilantism and the rest of the media would follow. Much like the Times Square bomber was immediately assumed to be angry about the healthcare bill. Maybe you're engaging in wishful thinking that merely hatred?
Linux doesn't have a proven track record of Embrace, Extend, Extinguish. Step 1, embrace whatever new protocol it is. Everyone's happy that MS gets on board. Step 2, extend the protocol with MS-specific tech. Competitors can't use this because it's patented or relies on knowledge of the inner workings of closed-source software. Step 3, extinguish. When the extensions become industry-standard, use them to smash competition. Winner: Microsoft.
Note that this isn't some sort of flamebait. Microsoft invented these terms in their own internal memos to describe their business practices.
Sorry. In my experience, foreigners who use Japanese names on English sites tend to be the worst sort of douchebag.
You've been living abroad for ten years and yet you *still* expect the host culture to imitate the one that you left? Let me guess, you don't speak Japanese despite living there for so long...I know the type...
What's the point of living in the "whole rest of the United States"? It sucks out there, have you been there? The only other places worth going to are LA and maybe SFO. Educated, urbane people can live their whole lives without coming in contact with the uncultured areas. There is some nice natural beauty in a few places too, but then you have to talk to the inhabitants.
How DARE you question your scientific betters? Are you an accredited scientist in this narrow field? If so, then please provide references so that we can discredit you. If not, then butt the F out of the discussion. Scientists are inviolate and must not be questioned by lesser minds. If you choose to question a Scientist, then you lay yourself wide open to devastating, insulting attacks involving the Appeal To Authority argument.
It's not like there will be any reduction in ticket prices if the airlines save 70% of their fuel costs. Airlines will always pursue unscrupulous policies to ensure that people will pay as much as they are able. Remember, an MBA's goal is not to make a profit, it is to maximize profits.
Actually the commercial wasn't about the Mac at all, it was a rejection of the IBM way. The guy on the screen, Big Brother, is supposed to be speaking for the soulless "walled garden" IBM way of computing. You know how IBM's slogan is "Think"? Apple's slogan is "Think Different". It's sad though, I'm sure you really believe what you're saying. And I like the fact that you tell the GP to stop saying these hateful things. What's more annoying than an inconvenient truth?
Journalism has always ever been thus. You're just now noticing it? Seriously, go read some newspapers from 20, 30, 50 years ago. It's the same as today.
Eating meat raw has always been a sign of unsophistication in Western culture. Sushi became popular exactly because of this - by rejecting our own culture and embracing an alien one, you show how sophisticated and different you are from the masses. In addition, the high cost (in the 80s anyway) kept the morons out. China is doing this right now in a big way. Eating traditional Chinese food? Eww, the commoners do that! Let's go to McDonald's and get that sophisticated international food that costs way too much!
That would be ASCAP. Almost as equally evil. They had a stultifying effect on country music for a long time, don't know about other genres.
Who knows what might happen if one of them ever had a problem like this?
*WHOOSH* He's not talking about the BP oil spill.
One of the things that (used to) make America a wonderful nation for immigrants was the loss of historical memory. After a generation or two, the old country is forgotten along with all of its hateful baggage. I was listening to a delightful Irish CD the other day, and it was great music until I started reading the liner notes. He was singing about things that happened 200 years ago as if they had happened yesterday, and it was good and correct for Irish to still be angry.
Maybe the idea is that you're not supposed to own a car, and that the private automobile is a wasteful, selfish mode of transportation? Ever think of that? Maybe the idea is to make every facet of car ownership irritating and oppressive, so that you'll have your car recycled and ride a bicycle instead? Ever think about how good it would feel to stop contributing to climate change and instead use a sustainable method of transportation?