Personally, I am happy that someone finally called Gator on their bullshit. Gator installed itself on my computer (possibly my fault for clicking "Next" without reading what was checked). When I tried to uninstall it, it automatically installed OfferCompanion without giving me an option to refuse. When I uninstalled OfferCompanion, it installed this digital wallet program. This went on for an hour- Even if Gator was originally installed due to my own personal error, there was no way for me to know what I would have to go through to get rid of it.
Gator is a huge invasion of privacy- it attempts to hijack users' computers. The company does not provide adequate information about how its' programs work. I'll be happy when the company executives are mopping floors at the ChiChis where they used to eat lunch.
Enough people have already commented about free speech being a right, not a priveledge, in the US. However, we have no mechanism for dealing with people who abuse rights.
Clearly, free speech was not put in the Constitution to defend people who advocate the destruction of property (especially when it can lead to the spilling of nuclear waste). Unfortunately, we don't get to pick and choose which free speech we want to defend. Why do you think the ACLU regularly defends racist groups in court?
It makes me sick to think that people use the Constitution to defend violent and racist speech, but stopping any kind of speech is unconstitutional in the US and opens a Pandora's box that is better left unagitated.
As far as mink coats- the people who destroy mink coats to protest the treatment of animals are morons. The rich bitch wearing the mink coat is just going to buy another one so more animals will have to die. Some people prefer extreme measures to rational ones.
I don't know why I'm wasting my time responding to someone who posts anonymously- the Internet is anonymous enough, but here goes-
I appreciate the cynicism in your comments, however, your statement wreeks of ignorance. Simply not using the metric system doesn't make a country a "backwater country". More importantly, just because the US doesn't use the metric system doesn't mean Americans don't know how far 500 meters is. Even arrogant Americans (I hope you appreciate the cynicism in that comment) can multiply by 3 and then put the word "about" in front of the number .
This is a cheap shot- there are plenty of things about the US that deserve criticism, but those require a thought process, which you are clearly incapable of.
I'm not exactly sure how this relates to improved police surveillance cameras, but Americans (and probably many other countries as well, especially England) have lost their privacy years ago. Think about it:
-Almost every school/store/bank/gas station/place of employment has security cameras- there is video footage of you almost anywhere you go -Every time you do any banking at a branch office or pay for anything electronically (ATM, Credit Card), there is an electronic record of where you were at that time -Every time you log into the Internet or use any site to purchase/pay a bill etc, there is an electronic record that you (or at least someone with access to your account) was online at that time -If you attend college, there is an electronic record every time you use your ID to enter your dorm, go to the dining hall, check books out of the library, use the gym, etc.
I know I'm getting dangerously close to paranoia- I'm 99.99% sure that no one is tracking me or has ever attempted to track me. My point is simply that if someone wants to track me (or anyone else for that matter), it would be fairly simple to pinpoint my exact locations throughout the day.
Our society is becoming ever closer to matching the Big Brother/Enemy of the State model. The question: How do democratic nations such as the US defend civil rights while still protecting their citizens from criminals and terrorists?
I find myself being somewhat ambiguous on this issue. I hate the thought of the police or the government being able to observe common citizens- it is clearly dangerous and, in many cases, unconstitutional. However, what's the point of freedom if you can't leave your house without getting mugged or blown up? I'm going to have to do some more thinking about this, but my gut reaction is that I'll take my chances with the terrorists and the murderers rather than being under constant surveillance when I've done nothing wrong.
As far as the specific issue of high-tech police cameras- there are only two of these cameras and they are only in one city. Cameras are nothing new- simply increasing the technology is no more of a violation of privacy (or a police necessity, depending on your opinion) than the previous versions.
Cost of a DDR Machine: $8000, cost of a decent indoor basketball: $25. I'm simply saying that if the goal is exercise, there are far less costly methods. Public schools should not be buying $8000 video games when they have computers that take 5 1/4" disks and textbooks that cite FDR as president. Not to mention that video games in gym class simply furthers the tv/computer/video game addition that modern kids suffer from (although I guess we're not in a position to criticize as we debate on slashdot).
As far as "Sheesh, people act like they've accomplished something worthwhile when they put a ball in a goal or through a hoop"- some people enjoy sports. It's not as much a feeling of accomplishment as it is fun and exercise at the same time.
For the record, I'm always in the mood to bitch.
Thanks for enlightening me- my school had a girls lacrosse team, but the sticks they used appeared to be smaller versions of the same aluminum and plastic sticks the guys team had.
Regardless of the source, they were so beat up that the only exercise they provided was an exercise in futility when attempting to use them.
I attended public high school (back in the last century). Our gym equipment was pathetic, particularly the weightlifting equipment and the sports balls. They even had lacrosse sticks that appeared to be made out of bamboo. Public high schools should buy basketballs that still bounce and soccer nets without holes in them before they spend $8000 on a video game.
I have never played ddr so I don't know how much fun or exercise it really is. I do know this: A few months ago, the arcade at a local mall added this game. I was there on a saturday afternoon- the arcade was empty except for a huge crowd surrounding the ddr machine, consisting mainly of 12 year olds trying to look like Britney Spears or the Backstreet Boys.
The game plays pop music of the Britney/Backstreet genre and encourages kids to dance to it- to me, this promotes the mass produced, pop-culture crap that passes for modern music. The current boy bands are nothing but reincarnations of New Kids on the Block created by a record company exec, and Britney Spears is just a 21st Century Debbie Gibson.
Perhaps this game encourages exercise, which many of today's teenagers (and adults as well) desperately need. However, getting kids to quarters into games like braindead robots while they listen to assembly-line music is certainly detrimental.
wild conspiracy theory- ever see "The Last Starfighter"? Perhaps this game is just a test set up by record companies to create the next wave of pop bands. (For the record- I don't really believe that, it's just a far-out idea).
Slashdot Mirror
Personally, I am happy that someone finally called Gator on their bullshit. Gator installed itself on my computer (possibly my fault for clicking "Next" without reading what was checked). When I tried to uninstall it, it automatically installed OfferCompanion without giving me an option to refuse. When I uninstalled OfferCompanion, it installed this digital wallet program. This went on for an hour-
Even if Gator was originally installed due to my own personal error, there was no way for me to know what I would have to go through to get rid of it.
Gator is a huge invasion of privacy- it attempts to hijack users' computers. The company does not provide adequate information about how its' programs work. I'll be happy when the company executives are mopping floors at the ChiChis where they used to eat lunch.
I was on the right track-
Thanks- you saved me some research
Someone did say it, but exactly who escapes my mind right now- I believe it was a French philosopher.
When I get home I'm digging through my college textbooks to see if I can find the answer.
Enough people have already commented about free speech being a right, not a priveledge, in the US. However, we have no mechanism for dealing with people who abuse rights.
Clearly, free speech was not put in the Constitution to defend people who advocate the destruction of property (especially when it can lead to the spilling of nuclear waste). Unfortunately, we don't get to pick and choose which free speech we want to defend. Why do you think the ACLU regularly defends racist groups in court?
It makes me sick to think that people use the Constitution to defend violent and racist speech, but stopping any kind of speech is unconstitutional in the US and opens a Pandora's box that is better left unagitated.
As far as mink coats- the people who destroy mink coats to protest the treatment of animals are morons. The rich bitch wearing the mink coat is just going to buy another one so more animals will have to die. Some people prefer extreme measures to rational ones.
I don't know why I'm wasting my time responding to someone who posts anonymously- the Internet is anonymous enough, but here goes- I appreciate the cynicism in your comments, however, your statement wreeks of ignorance. Simply not using the metric system doesn't make a country a "backwater country". More importantly, just because the US doesn't use the metric system doesn't mean Americans don't know how far 500 meters is. Even arrogant Americans (I hope you appreciate the cynicism in that comment) can multiply by 3 and then put the word "about" in front of the number . This is a cheap shot- there are plenty of things about the US that deserve criticism, but those require a thought process, which you are clearly incapable of.
I'm not exactly sure how this relates to improved police surveillance cameras, but Americans (and probably many other countries as well, especially England) have lost their privacy years ago. Think about it:
-Almost every school/store/bank/gas station/place of employment has security cameras- there is video footage of you almost anywhere you go
-Every time you do any banking at a branch office or pay for anything electronically (ATM, Credit Card), there is an electronic record of where you were at that time
-Every time you log into the Internet or use any site to purchase/pay a bill etc, there is an electronic record that you (or at least someone with access to your account) was online at that time
-If you attend college, there is an electronic record every time you use your ID to enter your dorm, go to the dining hall, check books out of the library, use the gym, etc.
I know I'm getting dangerously close to paranoia- I'm 99.99% sure that no one is tracking me or has ever attempted to track me. My point is simply that if someone wants to track me (or anyone else for that matter), it would be fairly simple to pinpoint my exact locations throughout the day.
Our society is becoming ever closer to matching the Big Brother/Enemy of the State model. The question: How do democratic nations such as the US defend civil rights while still protecting their citizens from criminals and terrorists?
I find myself being somewhat ambiguous on this issue. I hate the thought of the police or the government being able to observe common citizens- it is clearly dangerous and, in many cases, unconstitutional. However, what's the point of freedom if you can't leave your house without getting mugged or blown up? I'm going to have to do some more thinking about this, but my gut reaction is that I'll take my chances with the terrorists and the murderers rather than being under constant surveillance when I've done nothing wrong.
As far as the specific issue of high-tech police cameras- there are only two of these cameras and they are only in one city. Cameras are nothing new- simply increasing the technology is no more of a violation of privacy (or a police necessity, depending on your opinion) than the previous versions.
Cost of a DDR Machine: $8000, cost of a decent indoor basketball: $25. I'm simply saying that if the goal is exercise, there are far less costly methods. Public schools should not be buying $8000 video games when they have computers that take 5 1/4" disks and textbooks that cite FDR as president. Not to mention that video games in gym class simply furthers the tv/computer/video game addition that modern kids suffer from (although I guess we're not in a position to criticize as we debate on slashdot).
As far as "Sheesh, people act like they've accomplished something worthwhile when they put a ball in a goal or through a hoop"- some people enjoy sports. It's not as much a feeling of accomplishment as it is fun and exercise at the same time.
For the record, I'm always in the mood to bitch. Thanks for enlightening me- my school had a girls lacrosse team, but the sticks they used appeared to be smaller versions of the same aluminum and plastic sticks the guys team had. Regardless of the source, they were so beat up that the only exercise they provided was an exercise in futility when attempting to use them.
I forgot to mention this in my previous post-
I attended public high school (back in the last century). Our gym equipment was pathetic, particularly the weightlifting equipment and the sports balls. They even had lacrosse sticks that appeared to be made out of bamboo. Public high schools should buy basketballs that still bounce and soccer nets without holes in them before they spend $8000 on a video game.
I have never played ddr so I don't know how much fun or exercise it really is. I do know this: A few months ago, the arcade at a local mall added this game. I was there on a saturday afternoon- the arcade was empty except for a huge crowd surrounding the ddr machine, consisting mainly of 12 year olds trying to look like Britney Spears or the Backstreet Boys. The game plays pop music of the Britney/Backstreet genre and encourages kids to dance to it- to me, this promotes the mass produced, pop-culture crap that passes for modern music. The current boy bands are nothing but reincarnations of New Kids on the Block created by a record company exec, and Britney Spears is just a 21st Century Debbie Gibson. Perhaps this game encourages exercise, which many of today's teenagers (and adults as well) desperately need. However, getting kids to quarters into games like braindead robots while they listen to assembly-line music is certainly detrimental. wild conspiracy theory- ever see "The Last Starfighter"? Perhaps this game is just a test set up by record companies to create the next wave of pop bands. (For the record- I don't really believe that, it's just a far-out idea).