Agreed. Way back, UMBKC instituted paying for 'non-contractual' IT requests from other departments and the requests dropped off dramatically. Shortly after that, IT started a major rewiring project because they now could.
There is no way in the fucking world I'm gonna believe that "entering a line of code would make the beachball spin" was because you didn't have 8gig of RAM. No. OR searching your code (with an editor), OR during a save. Unless it's standard for a Mac to require 8gig for simple-ass functions.
Something was seriously wrong with your system and it wasn't memory.
"Wires look unsightly, and they get in the way, constantly getting tangled, or dragging on the table."
I know not the problems you describe. I use swing-arm supports and the wires are controlled. You gotta position the mouse and keyboard somehow anyway.
Well, I do. I don't care for the in-your-lap typing some people do, but I like to lean back.
There are people doing this right now. They have every right to do this and I encourage them to explore.
Now, why should this be the only model?
Let's not lose sight of the fact that none of this argument is about a person's ability to publish and distribute on their own. It's easily done.
The thrust of all of this is to remove protections for the author, owner of the rights of distribution. Scarcity, lock-down, expense; all of those are red herrings thrown up because it's really difficult to explain in any ethical terms the answer to the following:
Why is it OK to prevent *me* from controlling the distribution of *my* works?
First one must answer that, because that's what copyright is.
"How about authors refuse to publish their books until they have raised enough money?"
Explain how that works for the first time author.
By the way, I'm setting up number ten for publishing. Could you send me some cash I can put in a jar until I have what I deem to be the amount needed to publish it?
Nope. I paint, sculpt and write. I distribute all three. I use three different models to do so. Only two of those models are business because only they generate income. They are two different and distinct models.
The creation is a separate issue entirely from the distribution models. Each model is attached to each activity for personal reasons, but there would be no problem in switching any creative effort to any of the other models.
Artificial scarcity is not the point, that's straw - ownership of distribution is. Artificial scarcity is simply what some people holler when they don't want to pay what the author/distributor wants for something.
Solution? *Very* simple. Don't like the price? Don't buy the item.
Google, how quaint. Use a dictionary. There you'll find words have more than one meaning.
From Webster's Unabridged, and sticking with only verb transitive:
steal
1. to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right, esp. secretly or by force: A pickpocket stole his watch.
2. to appropriate (ideas, credit, words, etc.) without right or acknowledgment.
3. to take, get, or win insidiously, surreptitiously, subtly, or by chance: He stole my girlfriend.
4. to move, bring, convey, or put secretly or quietly; smuggle (usually fol. by away, from, in, into, etc.): They stole the bicycle into the bedroom to surprise the child.
5. Baseball. (of a base runner) to gain (a base) without the help of a walk or batted ball, as by running to it during the delivery of a pitch.
6. Games. to gain (a point, advantage, etc.) by strategy, chance, or luck.
7. to gain or seize more than one's share of attention in, as by giving a superior performance: The comedian stole the show.
Now, if you'll kindly examine definition number two, you'll find that indeed, copying something without permission is stealing.
This makes you (adj)...
wrong
1. not in accordance with what is morally right or good: a wrong deed.
2. deviating from truth or fact; erroneous: a wrong answer.
3. not correct in action, judgment, opinion, method, etc., as a person; in error: You are wrong to blame him.
4. not proper or usual; not in accordance with requirements or recommended practice: the wrong way to hold a golf club.
5. out of order; awry; amiss: Something is wrong with the machine.
6. not suitable or appropriate: He always says the wrong thing.
7. (of clothing) that should be worn or kept inward or under: You're wearing the sweater wrong side out.
"the thrashings of the content industry merely drive more and more people to disregard copyright law"
Oh, bullshit. No one "drives" those people to pilfer, they *want* to pilfer and find ways.
"Old business model"? Your entire last paragraph is obsolete with the ability for people to create audio/video/text content and post it to the web. There no longer *is* control of content. You can buy books printed on demand by authors with no affiliation to *any* publisher. Mine, for instance.
Book companies exist because people want their books. People rip off content because they want to rip off content.
I was in Mensa. Big whoop. There is no correlation with being in the top two and being right, nor with being a genius and being right, for that matter.
"Over the next ten years, the US would need to double its debt just to educate its own."
*FIFTEEN TRILLION* dollars on education? Up yours.
Yes, fear-mongering is the best method for rational discourse and social change. OK, it's only the favored method for some organizations. I believe the 'hope' has a helluva lot more to do with money than the security of mankind.
Just my paranoia about the UN, an organization long known for cronyism, fraud and outright support of such wonderful folks as Syria, Libya, Hamas,.........
Slashdot Mirror
Agreed. Way back, UMBKC instituted paying for 'non-contractual' IT requests from other departments and the requests dropped off dramatically. Shortly after that, IT started a major rewiring project because they now could.
And, if said 10% gain fails to materialize, will you be reimbursing the company for the hardware?
There is no way in the fucking world I'm gonna believe that "entering a line of code would make the beachball spin" was because you didn't have 8gig of RAM. No. OR searching your code (with an editor), OR during a save. Unless it's standard for a Mac to require 8gig for simple-ass functions.
Something was seriously wrong with your system and it wasn't memory.
I sincerely hope that was just bad writing.
Somebody got paid to do a study any Henny Youngman era comedian could have told them the result of.
"Wires look unsightly, and they get in the way, constantly getting tangled, or dragging on the table."
I know not the problems you describe. I use swing-arm supports and the wires are controlled. You gotta position the mouse and keyboard somehow anyway. Well, I do. I don't care for the in-your-lap typing some people do, but I like to lean back.
"Ironically, music, movie, software, and book distribution are all artificially supported markets..."
This is simply not true. There's not a goddamn thing to prevent you or me from distributing all of the above without a single major player.
I want your creative entertainment for free.
You could have saved a lot of typing.
There are people doing this right now. They have every right to do this and I encourage them to explore.
Now, why should this be the only model?
Let's not lose sight of the fact that none of this argument is about a person's ability to publish and distribute on their own. It's easily done.
The thrust of all of this is to remove protections for the author, owner of the rights of distribution. Scarcity, lock-down, expense; all of those are red herrings thrown up because it's really difficult to explain in any ethical terms the answer to the following:
Why is it OK to prevent *me* from controlling the distribution of *my* works?
First one must answer that, because that's what copyright is.
You understand that didn't happen with her first books?
"People have been known to shell out money for unpublished books:"
I iterate from another post - I'm about to publish number ten. It is completely written. How much can you send me so I can start saving to pay for it?
This is serious. I really have one slated for next year and you can actually put your method into operation.
"How about authors refuse to publish their books until they have raised enough money?"
Explain how that works for the first time author.
By the way, I'm setting up number ten for publishing. Could you send me some cash I can put in a jar until I have what I deem to be the amount needed to publish it?
Nope. I paint, sculpt and write. I distribute all three. I use three different models to do so. Only two of those models are business because only they generate income. They are two different and distinct models.
The creation is a separate issue entirely from the distribution models. Each model is attached to each activity for personal reasons, but there would be no problem in switching any creative effort to any of the other models.
Only by people who have never looked up the definitions of "stealing" and "copying."
Websters Unabridged - steal - definition number two.
Look it up.
Artificial scarcity is not the point, that's straw - ownership of distribution is. Artificial scarcity is simply what some people holler when they don't want to pay what the author/distributor wants for something.
Solution? *Very* simple. Don't like the price? Don't buy the item.
Google, how quaint. Use a dictionary. There you'll find words have more than one meaning.
...
... number two as well.
From Webster's Unabridged, and sticking with only verb transitive:
steal
1. to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right, esp. secretly or by force: A pickpocket stole his watch.
2. to appropriate (ideas, credit, words, etc.) without right or acknowledgment.
3. to take, get, or win insidiously, surreptitiously, subtly, or by chance: He stole my girlfriend.
4. to move, bring, convey, or put secretly or quietly; smuggle (usually fol. by away, from, in, into, etc.): They stole the bicycle into the bedroom to surprise the child.
5. Baseball. (of a base runner) to gain (a base) without the help of a walk or batted ball, as by running to it during the delivery of a pitch.
6. Games. to gain (a point, advantage, etc.) by strategy, chance, or luck.
7. to gain or seize more than one's share of attention in, as by giving a superior performance: The comedian stole the show.
Now, if you'll kindly examine definition number two, you'll find that indeed, copying something without permission is stealing.
This makes you (adj)
wrong
1. not in accordance with what is morally right or good: a wrong deed.
2. deviating from truth or fact; erroneous: a wrong answer.
3. not correct in action, judgment, opinion, method, etc., as a person; in error: You are wrong to blame him.
4. not proper or usual; not in accordance with requirements or recommended practice: the wrong way to hold a golf club.
5. out of order; awry; amiss: Something is wrong with the machine.
6. not suitable or appropriate: He always says the wrong thing.
7. (of clothing) that should be worn or kept inward or under: You're wearing the sweater wrong side out.
"the thrashings of the content industry merely drive more and more people to disregard copyright law"
Oh, bullshit. No one "drives" those people to pilfer, they *want* to pilfer and find ways.
"Old business model"? Your entire last paragraph is obsolete with the ability for people to create audio/video/text content and post it to the web. There no longer *is* control of content. You can buy books printed on demand by authors with no affiliation to *any* publisher. Mine, for instance.
Book companies exist because people want their books. People rip off content because they want to rip off content.
Seconded. More inane language bias on display.
That's a byproduct of Perl. What you write has nothing to do with it.
"There are no non-monopoly ISPs in my area, thats they price they pay for the government enforcing a monopoly."
Define "non-monopoly ISP". It's a talking point, but I think it's a fabricated one.
Not so easy. Internet access isn't required to continue living. Fundamental flaw in your comparison
As for your "If that would leave the Internet too pipe- and serverless, governments should step in and provide more of those things with tax income."
Uh, fuck you. Let the gov control access to information? A non-avoidable $100/mo tax whether you need it or not? I iterate, fuck you.
No more than freedom of assembly encourages mobs.
Dude/duddette:
I was in Mensa. Big whoop. There is no correlation with being in the top two and being right, nor with being a genius and being right, for that matter.
"Over the next ten years, the US would need to double its debt just to educate its own."
*FIFTEEN TRILLION* dollars on education? Up yours.
Prior art! Signed, Warmers
Yes, fear-mongering is the best method for rational discourse and social change. OK, it's only the favored method for some organizations. I believe the 'hope' has a helluva lot more to do with money than the security of mankind. Just my paranoia about the UN, an organization long known for cronyism, fraud and outright support of such wonderful folks as Syria, Libya, Hamas, .........
Uhhh..... The IPCC doesn't pull stuff out of their asses? When did they stop they highly publicized activity? Yesterday?