I've read some of your replies to other people, and it seems you just run some kind of pissy little pet supply business. Why do you small businessmen always think of yourselves in such grandiose, self-flattering terms? What piece of software could you develop for your business that would give you a "competitive advantage"? Hamster Chow Tracker 1.0??? Gimme a fucking break.
When you get over yourself, read the rest of this comment.
Companies that develop internal software generally write boring crap nobody else wants anyway, so it doesn't matter whether they release it open source or not. Everybody knows how to write accounting and timecard software, it's not even remotely challenging. It's boring and dull and if someone like you wants to hoard it, well, the rest of us thank you for it. Good luck with all that "competitive advantage", sparky.
SOME companies develop internal software with which they can do things related to their business that other businesses might be interested in. They frequently release it open source because they know that they'll be able to benefit from the expertise of their competitors (and every college student who notices their software) and they'll gain MORE competitive advantage as a result. This is because they're not hamster food salesmen and they actually know that "competitive advantage" is more about providing good service for a reasonable price than having some magic piece of software sitting around.
Now, I really am sorry for having to lambaste you like this but you've brought it upon yourself with your silly, self-congratulatory post. If I've managed to help you get over yourself, I have achived my goals and increased my "competitive advantage" here on Slashdot.
In mathematics, where these concepts originated, 0 means literally "none". When you are counting, the first combination, 0, means "I don't have any yet". Then, when you get one thingy, you have 1.
In computer science, by tradition, we count starting with the zeroth element, which makes no sense whatsoever. It's probably related to an implementation detail when the first compilers were written in assembler, and it may have been more efficient to start loops with a zeroth iteration. Now it's entrenched in tradition and everybody counts arrays, loops, etc, starting with 0.
Microsoft, being "nuts to you" types, started letting you count from 1, which confused the hell out of the issue because they let you count from 0 or 1 in the same language, as a matter of personal choice. This leads to all sorts of "interesting" maintenance nightmares. Did the consultant count from 0 or 1 this time? Was he consistent, even within the same program module? Ugh.
So, your analysis is flawed and you are incorrect.
Look, there's a time honored phrase that has been passed down, father to son, for at least a hundred years: "don't shit where you eat". Basically, it means "don't fuck anyone in your own office, because that is the road to heaps of ruination".
I don't care if you're a programmer. I don't care if you're the hottest chick in the world, if you're single, and if you wear practically nothing to work. As far as I'm concerned, you're Margaret Thatcher in terms of desirability. You're a fat granny. You're a nun. Get the picture? If you work in my office, you are thoroughly unfuckable. And I am not about to bother you in any way.
SO, ladies, get over yourselves and stop assuming we guys are sitting around our cubicles cooking up schemes to bed you. We are not. About the ONLY thing we're doing in our cubicles is our job (and farting around on Slashdot).
Nobody is a threat to you at work. Give it a rest already.
G4TV vs. Tech TV = Los Angeles Vs. San Francisco
on
G4TV Cancels More Shows
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
I always saw it this way:
When G4TV took over Tech TV, it was like Los Angeles invading and conquering San Francisco. Consider the way the two cities map onto the TV channels.
L.A. (and G4TV): All attitude, no geek. Smartass, fashioned up faux geeks and gamers with lots of attitude and tons of manufactured "cred". The Hollywood version of geeks and gamers, in other words.
San Francisco (and Tech TV): All geek, all the time. All about substance, focusing on gaming and technology, totally geek friendly and tons of useful information.
When G4 took over Tech TV, the channel went straight down the toilet. If it wasn't for the GORGEOUS Morgan Webb, I wouldn't spend thirty seconds there.
But... Damn! Morgan! Whatta babe!
Of course, G4 DID find that "blondie" chick, she's kinda cool. But even if she broke out into a chorus of "Call me", it still wouldn't be as good as the old Tech TV.
My dear rrgg, you just aren't putting anything into this relationship. I do believe I shall have to leave you, and seek satisfaction elsewhere. Although I will miss you, and will think of you fondly, I must bid you "adieu".
Farewell!
(Weeping quietly, folds a parasol and boards a steamship).
Another piece of software that probably won't go open-source or out of business is Oracle. It's just head and shoulders above the rest of the field, I can't see it going anywhere. But that's server-side, and I was mostly concerned with client-side.;)
But, my dear cheeto-fingered competitor! I am NOT angry with you!
In fact, much to the contrary, I'm finding you terrifically amusing! But I do wish you would quit with the one-liners. It feels as though you're not even TRYING. They're so dull. And you're even screwing up your grammar. It seems like you're missing a "been" there somewhere.
Tsk, tsk. You're just not up to snuff, my fellow slashdotter!
But perhaps I can motivate you with a poem!
There once was a slashdotter named rrgg, whose bladder was tied to his speech, he'd whip up a rant, and once it was sent, in his pants the poor devil would pee!
Isn't that cute??? Now you try. It'll be more interesting than those stale one-liners.
Looks like you're the pudgy bowl cut with triple thick glasses and stubby fingers. Look, Eugene, it's not MY fault your parents don't love you and nobody wants to cook you delicious foods. Hell, I feel for ya, buddy! If I thought you knew how to eat with silverware, I'd even invite you over for something tasty. Sadly, I think you're culturally limited to finger foods, and my delightful family doesn't keep cheetos in stock.
Don't worry. Perhaps you'll be spending the holidays alone, trapped in your basement hovel, banging on keyboards desperately trying to "score", but there are worse fates. Why, you could be a bitter slashdotter, pathetically trying to insult the family life of someone who turned out to be much smarter than you... Oh, wait...
Well, still, there's no need to kill yourself. I'm sure a vasectomy would benefit society equally, and you ARE providing a service in a way. You ARE extremely amusing, after all.
Ah, the king of unsupported conclusions speaks again! I suppose you're basing THIS amazing discovery on the same amount of knowledge as your last several. How delightful! You make me feel as though my information-gathering techniques are worthy of a Ph.D paper.
But, unfortunately for you, you missed the boat here. This is the time of year in which my entire family gets together. I'm surrounded by people who love me (and want to cook delicious things for me). So that's cool.
Actually I kind of figured YOU would be the lonely one. So far I've been envisioning you as a pudgy 24 year old with pale white skin, triple-thick glasses and a bowl cut, sequestered in a basement room in your parents' house, eating pork rinds and drinking Code Red while you type at me with stubby fingers and rant aloud.
Of course, you MIGHT be a woman, in which case I have a much more flattering image of you. We won't discuss THOSE mental wanderings... They're a bit too unsavory for this forum, and you might lose your "puppy dog" image of me, which would be unfortunate. Let's just say that any woman who is willing to trade insults and mockery back and forth this way is A-OK in my book.
These things are so cool. You can wind 'em up, they're practically indestructible, they run Linux (so I can use them to do my geekish techie stuff just fine)... I wonder if they'll run Netbeans? Or at least Mono...
If they get made available at 200 bucks each, I'm buying five of 'em. I'll feel good about it, too -- that thousand bucks will subsidize five laptops for the third world (each laptop you buy in the 1st world subsidizes one in the third).
I know what troll means; but you're so pliable, so cooperative, I don't even have to keep up any pretense. I TELL you I've stopped arguing and started trolling and yet you STILL keep replying. I TELL you I'm mocking you openly and yet you STILL REPLY.
At this point I'm just fascinated and want to see how long we can keep this up. Will it go on for another week? Two? Who can say?
As much as I believe you're an idiot, I'm enjoying this so I can't really hold it against you. And, anyway, who cares? It takes all kinds to make a world. Smart people, dumb people... We all fit in.
I'd insult you again, but I am currently, sadly, completely out of funny barbs. I'm hoping to get a shipment tomorrow (they were on sale at Amazon.com). We'll see what happens.
Hey! What's with the one liners? Don't I blow your skirt up anymore?
1. Yep, you were still trolled. The fact that I've been right all along has just made the troll much more delicious for me.
2. Your pet scenario is still stupid and trite, and totally unrealistic for all the reasons I've been going over again (and again, and again -- boy, you're thick).
3. I can keep going forever, like the energizer bunny of passive aggression, trolling you endlessly. I'm amused. Are you amused?
Am I upsetting you? You seem to have forgotten how to post to Slashdot. Two identical responses, one of which you screwed up the formatting on... My, my my. I don't know whether to be flattered or dismayed.
Anyway, you silly, somewhat dim man, you are trying to change my argument to make it easier for you to respond to my points. And that is naughty, naughty, naughty! Bad slashdotter. No biscuits! Oh, sure, wag your tail now, that isn't going to work. Your doggie bag's going in the fridge.
For example, you try to bend my argument around to say that I am trying to say that there is currently a country which can be invaded to increase supply. This indicates that you are somewhat on the slow side, because MY point is that IN THE FUTURE, if as you think world competition drives up prices, Western countries will conquer one or another smaller country to secure an oil supply. See how that works? You are a doofus with poor reading comprehension and cannot work out simple arguments; therefore I am going to mail you a hockey helmet. You're special, and you deserve it!
But alas, I tire of you. You just aren't funny enough. Run along, and find a nice neighborhood bar to blather in. Be sure to listen to some Rush Limbaugh first, you need better material.
You've got it wrong. It's not a permanent javascript block. It just means that when you go to a site, you do two clicks with your mouse. You can either temporarily turn on javascript for that site, or permanently turn it on (if it's a site you trust).
The really, really nice feature of this tool is that when you go to enable javascript, you can see all of the several domains that are trying to run javascript on your machine, and only enable the one for the site itself. It's a very nifty tool. It even lets you ban Java, Flash, and other forms of interactivity (until you enable them, that is, on a case by case basis). Whitelists are the best approach for this sort of thing.
And it can save your bacon, if you accidentally go to a site that's trying to stick it to you. It gives you that last chance to back out before something wretched happens. You know?
You haven't successfully demonstrated anything. You merely asserted it. As you should well know, even here on Slashdot "because I said so" is NOT a logical proof. It's not even a logical statement. I think the Irish call it "blarney". Or is it "blather"?
You're simply wrong on many levels. There are large amounts of oil that haven't been tapped yet. Oh, look! I just demonstrated something! It must be true. And if that mystifies you, please look up "irony". Hint: it's not "like silvery and goldy, but made of iron".
I'm touched that you were surprised that I gave you back some attitude. It was cute, and made me smile. Now try not to be so pedantic while you rant your unsupported, silly theories, or I shall "attitude" you again, you silly English Kniiiiiiiight!
P.S. I'm smiling as I type this. I am envisioning my joy floating over to you through the aether. Lighten up. This is a very funny conversation on some levels.
Underclass, hell -- they want to turn us into automatons willing to code all day in return for a pat on the head and a lollipop from the Good Dr. Bendenheaden. If the bug count goes too high, well... It's a straightjacket and electroshock for YOU, young man...
Before you know it, a giant Indian is throwing the water fountain through the window and your ass is smothered to death.
"It's not wrong to be a geek. We are not sick. Don't buy into their lies."
Thank GOD! Finally someone said it.
It was bad enough back in the eighties, when I had to go through High School huddled in the hallway with my three friends (all of us were physics nerds) while popular-type assholes swung by trying to one-up each other, making fun of us.
And it was annoying when all of us engineering majors in college had to put up with shit all the time because business and liberal-arts majors treated us like we were some weird other species. I mean, god forbid we crack open the hood of our car and (gasp!) change a freakin' alternator for twenty bucks at the part shop instead of laying out two hundred to have a fat, sweaty, greasy guy do it for us (and make a mess of the wire connections! Don't these people have electrical tape???).
But, these days, every five minutes some psychologist schmuck is trying to play all phony-sympathetic with us, laying some story on us about how we're all "suffering" from some weirdo "syndrome" and we're all really "autistic" and so on.
HEY! SHRINKS OF THE WORLD! I'm a programmer! I make triple the national average salary, can fix, build, or break more different types of equipment than you know the names of, and I whupped your kid's honor-roll ass at Halo II last night! I'm just fine the way I am, and if you come over here trying to take my crazy away, I'm gonna give you an atomic wedgie, drag your ass in my unkempt bathroom, and give you a swirly for good measure! And I haven't cleaned my toilet in weeks! And I eat at Taco Bell regularly! Begone, go back to bothering the neurotics whose mothers make them dress funny!
Um... Heh heh. I guess this issue gets me a bit worked up.:)
Look, we can get into a big weird conversation about this that ties us up for days and days. My position, and I'm not going to give it up any sooner than you're going to give yours up, is that the people in charge aren't about to let a little competition for resources wreck their profits. They'll ask for (and get) any military action they require to secure exclusive access to whatever resources they feel they need to make a profit.
YOUR idea, which is naiive and touching, really, is that all countries are going to compete fairly for oil reserves, and that demand will drive up price. That's silly and simplistic.
MY idea, which is more cynical and likely, is that the most powerful nations are going to use military force to ensure that THEY are the only ones bidding for the oil reserves. They'll be able to do this, and UNFAIRLY control the price to suit their "needs". Those who don't have enough military power to force their way into the game will be on the outside looking in.
Wars are meant to open up supplies that have otherwise been restricted, or otherwise change the economic landscape. It's all about the control of resources.
Your scenario isn't going to work out. Be with it.
We all know mundane parents are going ballistic about "violent video games" and it's a big "Issue" with noobs, who are running around with their hair on fire.
Here's an idea:
Create a backroom section with a clerk sitting outside ready to check ID. Put a big sign above the backroom saying "18+ ONLY". Stash all of the good stuff back there, and all of the kiddie stuff up front. Then put a statue of Master Chief (or whatever) out front with a big sign, "Don't forget to check the back room".
Hype up your store as "family friendly". Make sure you have long heartfelt conversations with the parents who come in about how much you care about their problems, and how you're there to help them.
Then let word of mouth take care of you. It's a differentiator -- parents can let their kids wander around your store all day without worrying about anything, but the older set can shop for Doom and Quake 4 without stepping on little kids every two minutes. It's win-win.
Just a thought. Oh, and DEFINITELY trade in used games. We love you guys for that.
Slashdot Mirror
I've read some of your replies to other people, and it seems you just run some kind of pissy little pet supply business. Why do you small businessmen always think of yourselves in such grandiose, self-flattering terms? What piece of software could you develop for your business that would give you a "competitive advantage"? Hamster Chow Tracker 1.0??? Gimme a fucking break.
When you get over yourself, read the rest of this comment.
Companies that develop internal software generally write boring crap nobody else wants anyway, so it doesn't matter whether they release it open source or not. Everybody knows how to write accounting and timecard software, it's not even remotely challenging. It's boring and dull and if someone like you wants to hoard it, well, the rest of us thank you for it. Good luck with all that "competitive advantage", sparky.
SOME companies develop internal software with which they can do things related to their business that other businesses might be interested in. They frequently release it open source because they know that they'll be able to benefit from the expertise of their competitors (and every college student who notices their software) and they'll gain MORE competitive advantage as a result. This is because they're not hamster food salesmen and they actually know that "competitive advantage" is more about providing good service for a reasonable price than having some magic piece of software sitting around.
Now, I really am sorry for having to lambaste you like this but you've brought it upon yourself with your silly, self-congratulatory post. If I've managed to help you get over yourself, I have achived my goals and increased my "competitive advantage" here on Slashdot.
Up my karma, modders! I have doneth a good deed!
Uhhhh.... No.
In mathematics, where these concepts originated, 0 means literally "none". When you are counting, the first combination, 0, means "I don't have any yet". Then, when you get one thingy, you have 1.
In computer science, by tradition, we count starting with the zeroth element, which makes no sense whatsoever. It's probably related to an implementation detail when the first compilers were written in assembler, and it may have been more efficient to start loops with a zeroth iteration. Now it's entrenched in tradition and everybody counts arrays, loops, etc, starting with 0.
Microsoft, being "nuts to you" types, started letting you count from 1, which confused the hell out of the issue because they let you count from 0 or 1 in the same language, as a matter of personal choice. This leads to all sorts of "interesting" maintenance nightmares. Did the consultant count from 0 or 1 this time? Was he consistent, even within the same program module? Ugh.
So, your analysis is flawed and you are incorrect.
Uh huh... Riiiiight.
Look, there's a time honored phrase that has been passed down, father to son, for at least a hundred years: "don't shit where you eat". Basically, it means "don't fuck anyone in your own office, because that is the road to heaps of ruination".
I don't care if you're a programmer. I don't care if you're the hottest chick in the world, if you're single, and if you wear practically nothing to work. As far as I'm concerned, you're Margaret Thatcher in terms of desirability. You're a fat granny. You're a nun. Get the picture? If you work in my office, you are thoroughly unfuckable. And I am not about to bother you in any way.
SO, ladies, get over yourselves and stop assuming we guys are sitting around our cubicles cooking up schemes to bed you. We are not. About the ONLY thing we're doing in our cubicles is our job (and farting around on Slashdot).
Nobody is a threat to you at work. Give it a rest already.
I always saw it this way:
When G4TV took over Tech TV, it was like Los Angeles invading and conquering San Francisco. Consider the way the two cities map onto the TV channels.
L.A. (and G4TV): All attitude, no geek. Smartass, fashioned up faux geeks and gamers with lots of attitude and tons of manufactured "cred". The Hollywood version of geeks and gamers, in other words.
San Francisco (and Tech TV): All geek, all the time. All about substance, focusing on gaming and technology, totally geek friendly and tons of useful information.
When G4 took over Tech TV, the channel went straight down the toilet. If it wasn't for the GORGEOUS Morgan Webb, I wouldn't spend thirty seconds there.
But... Damn! Morgan! Whatta babe!
Of course, G4 DID find that "blondie" chick, she's kinda cool. But even if she broke out into a chorus of "Call me", it still wouldn't be as good as the old Tech TV.
My dear rrgg, you just aren't putting anything into this relationship. I do believe I shall have to leave you, and seek satisfaction elsewhere. Although I will miss you, and will think of you fondly, I must bid you "adieu".
Farewell!
(Weeping quietly, folds a parasol and boards a steamship).
Ah, but it was a mututal troll! So I guess we're going to have a baby troll soon? When are you expecting?
By the way, what exactly did you find upsetting about my posts? I thought they were rather charming...
You DO know that these public forums are pure BS, don't you? And "not to be taken seriously"?
Another piece of software that probably won't go open-source or out of business is Oracle. It's just head and shoulders above the rest of the field, I can't see it going anywhere. But that's server-side, and I was mostly concerned with client-side. ;)
Good point on the compilers.
But, my dear cheeto-fingered competitor! I am NOT angry with you!
In fact, much to the contrary, I'm finding you terrifically amusing! But I do wish you would quit with the one-liners. It feels as though you're not even TRYING. They're so dull. And you're even screwing up your grammar. It seems like you're missing a "been" there somewhere.
Tsk, tsk. You're just not up to snuff, my fellow slashdotter!
But perhaps I can motivate you with a poem!
There once was a slashdotter named rrgg,
whose bladder was tied to his speech,
he'd whip up a rant,
and once it was sent,
in his pants the poor devil would pee!
Isn't that cute??? Now you try. It'll be more interesting than those stale one-liners.
... As more and more software is released open source, and companies make money on consulting and services instead of plastic disks.
It's inevitable. You can't compete with "Free".
Looks like you're the pudgy bowl cut with triple thick glasses and stubby fingers. Look, Eugene, it's not MY fault your parents don't love you and nobody wants to cook you delicious foods. Hell, I feel for ya, buddy! If I thought you knew how to eat with silverware, I'd even invite you over for something tasty. Sadly, I think you're culturally limited to finger foods, and my delightful family doesn't keep cheetos in stock.
Don't worry. Perhaps you'll be spending the holidays alone, trapped in your basement hovel, banging on keyboards desperately trying to "score", but there are worse fates. Why, you could be a bitter slashdotter, pathetically trying to insult the family life of someone who turned out to be much smarter than you... Oh, wait...
Well, still, there's no need to kill yourself. I'm sure a vasectomy would benefit society equally, and you ARE providing a service in a way. You ARE extremely amusing, after all.
Ah, the king of unsupported conclusions speaks again! I suppose you're basing THIS amazing discovery on the same amount of knowledge as your last several. How delightful! You make me feel as though my information-gathering techniques are worthy of a Ph.D paper.
But, unfortunately for you, you missed the boat here. This is the time of year in which my entire family gets together. I'm surrounded by people who love me (and want to cook delicious things for me). So that's cool.
Actually I kind of figured YOU would be the lonely one. So far I've been envisioning you as a pudgy 24 year old with pale white skin, triple-thick glasses and a bowl cut, sequestered in a basement room in your parents' house, eating pork rinds and drinking Code Red while you type at me with stubby fingers and rant aloud.
Of course, you MIGHT be a woman, in which case I have a much more flattering image of you. We won't discuss THOSE mental wanderings... They're a bit too unsavory for this forum, and you might lose your "puppy dog" image of me, which would be unfortunate. Let's just say that any woman who is willing to trade insults and mockery back and forth this way is A-OK in my book.
Why? Are you hinting you're available?
These things are so cool. You can wind 'em up, they're practically indestructible, they run Linux (so I can use them to do my geekish techie stuff just fine)... I wonder if they'll run Netbeans? Or at least Mono...
:)
If they get made available at 200 bucks each, I'm buying five of 'em. I'll feel good about it, too -- that thousand bucks will subsidize five laptops for the third world (each laptop you buy in the 1st world subsidizes one in the third).
Good deal all around, donch'a think?
I know what troll means; but you're so pliable, so cooperative, I don't even have to keep up any pretense. I TELL you I've stopped arguing and started trolling and yet you STILL keep replying. I TELL you I'm mocking you openly and yet you STILL REPLY.
At this point I'm just fascinated and want to see how long we can keep this up. Will it go on for another week? Two? Who can say?
As much as I believe you're an idiot, I'm enjoying this so I can't really hold it against you. And, anyway, who cares? It takes all kinds to make a world. Smart people, dumb people... We all fit in.
I'd insult you again, but I am currently, sadly, completely out of funny barbs. I'm hoping to get a shipment tomorrow (they were on sale at Amazon.com). We'll see what happens.
Hey! What's with the one liners? Don't I blow your skirt up anymore?
1. Yep, you were still trolled. The fact that I've been right all along has just made the troll much more delicious for me.
2. Your pet scenario is still stupid and trite, and totally unrealistic for all the reasons I've been going over again (and again, and again -- boy, you're thick).
3. I can keep going forever, like the energizer bunny of passive aggression, trolling you endlessly. I'm amused. Are you amused?
Tag, you're it, my little trout sniffer!
Excuse for what, pray tell? My scenario is STILL much more likely than your sad little hippie-dream.
I hate to belabor the obvious, but you have been trolled.
I don't troll often, but when I do... Whew! Damn, I'm good.
And, I gave you so many chances to see it!
This has been delicious. We must do this again sometime.
Am I upsetting you? You seem to have forgotten how to post to Slashdot. Two identical responses, one of which you screwed up the formatting on... My, my my. I don't know whether to be flattered or dismayed.
Anyway, you silly, somewhat dim man, you are trying to change my argument to make it easier for you to respond to my points. And that is naughty, naughty, naughty! Bad slashdotter. No biscuits! Oh, sure, wag your tail now, that isn't going to work. Your doggie bag's going in the fridge.
For example, you try to bend my argument around to say that I am trying to say that there is currently a country which can be invaded to increase supply. This indicates that you are somewhat on the slow side, because MY point is that IN THE FUTURE, if as you think world competition drives up prices, Western countries will conquer one or another smaller country to secure an oil supply. See how that works? You are a doofus with poor reading comprehension and cannot work out simple arguments; therefore I am going to mail you a hockey helmet. You're special, and you deserve it!
But alas, I tire of you. You just aren't funny enough. Run along, and find a nice neighborhood bar to blather in. Be sure to listen to some Rush Limbaugh first, you need better material.
You've got it wrong. It's not a permanent javascript block. It just means that when you go to a site, you do two clicks with your mouse. You can either temporarily turn on javascript for that site, or permanently turn it on (if it's a site you trust).
The really, really nice feature of this tool is that when you go to enable javascript, you can see all of the several domains that are trying to run javascript on your machine, and only enable the one for the site itself. It's a very nifty tool. It even lets you ban Java, Flash, and other forms of interactivity (until you enable them, that is, on a case by case basis). Whitelists are the best approach for this sort of thing.
And it can save your bacon, if you accidentally go to a site that's trying to stick it to you. It gives you that last chance to back out before something wretched happens. You know?
You haven't successfully demonstrated anything. You merely asserted it. As you should well know, even here on Slashdot "because I said so" is NOT a logical proof. It's not even a logical statement. I think the Irish call it "blarney". Or is it "blather"?
You're simply wrong on many levels. There are large amounts of oil that haven't been tapped yet. Oh, look! I just demonstrated something! It must be true. And if that mystifies you, please look up "irony". Hint: it's not "like silvery and goldy, but made of iron".
I'm touched that you were surprised that I gave you back some attitude. It was cute, and made me smile. Now try not to be so pedantic while you rant your unsupported, silly theories, or I shall "attitude" you again, you silly English Kniiiiiiiight!
P.S. I'm smiling as I type this. I am envisioning my joy floating over to you through the aether. Lighten up. This is a very funny conversation on some levels.
Underclass, hell -- they want to turn us into automatons willing to code all day in return for a pat on the head and a lollipop from the Good Dr. Bendenheaden. If the bug count goes too high, well... It's a straightjacket and electroshock for YOU, young man...
Before you know it, a giant Indian is throwing the water fountain through the window and your ass is smothered to death.
Who knew???
"It's not wrong to be a geek. We are not sick. Don't buy into their lies."
:)
Thank GOD! Finally someone said it.
It was bad enough back in the eighties, when I had to go through High School huddled in the hallway with my three friends (all of us were physics nerds) while popular-type assholes swung by trying to one-up each other, making fun of us.
And it was annoying when all of us engineering majors in college had to put up with shit all the time because business and liberal-arts majors treated us like we were some weird other species. I mean, god forbid we crack open the hood of our car and (gasp!) change a freakin' alternator for twenty bucks at the part shop instead of laying out two hundred to have a fat, sweaty, greasy guy do it for us (and make a mess of the wire connections! Don't these people have electrical tape???).
But, these days, every five minutes some psychologist schmuck is trying to play all phony-sympathetic with us, laying some story on us about how we're all "suffering" from some weirdo "syndrome" and we're all really "autistic" and so on.
HEY! SHRINKS OF THE WORLD! I'm a programmer! I make triple the national average salary, can fix, build, or break more different types of equipment than you know the names of, and I whupped your kid's honor-roll ass at Halo II last night! I'm just fine the way I am, and if you come over here trying to take my crazy away, I'm gonna give you an atomic wedgie, drag your ass in my unkempt bathroom, and give you a swirly for good measure! And I haven't cleaned my toilet in weeks! And I eat at Taco Bell regularly! Begone, go back to bothering the neurotics whose mothers make them dress funny!
Um... Heh heh. I guess this issue gets me a bit worked up.
Look, we can get into a big weird conversation about this that ties us up for days and days. My position, and I'm not going to give it up any sooner than you're going to give yours up, is that the people in charge aren't about to let a little competition for resources wreck their profits. They'll ask for (and get) any military action they require to secure exclusive access to whatever resources they feel they need to make a profit.
YOUR idea, which is naiive and touching, really, is that all countries are going to compete fairly for oil reserves, and that demand will drive up price. That's silly and simplistic.
MY idea, which is more cynical and likely, is that the most powerful nations are going to use military force to ensure that THEY are the only ones bidding for the oil reserves. They'll be able to do this, and UNFAIRLY control the price to suit their "needs". Those who don't have enough military power to force their way into the game will be on the outside looking in.
THAT is how it works.
Ok, tag, you're it.
Wars are meant to open up supplies that have otherwise been restricted, or otherwise change the economic landscape. It's all about the control of resources.
Your scenario isn't going to work out. Be with it.
We all know mundane parents are going ballistic about "violent video games" and it's a big "Issue" with noobs, who are running around with their hair on fire.
Here's an idea:
Create a backroom section with a clerk sitting outside ready to check ID. Put a big sign above the backroom saying "18+ ONLY". Stash all of the good stuff back there, and all of the kiddie stuff up front. Then put a statue of Master Chief (or whatever) out front with a big sign, "Don't forget to check the back room".
Hype up your store as "family friendly". Make sure you have long heartfelt conversations with the parents who come in about how much you care about their problems, and how you're there to help them.
Then let word of mouth take care of you. It's a differentiator -- parents can let their kids wander around your store all day without worrying about anything, but the older set can shop for Doom and Quake 4 without stepping on little kids every two minutes. It's win-win.
Just a thought. Oh, and DEFINITELY trade in used games. We love you guys for that.