In general, I agree with many people here that shutting down websites is pretty much a useless idea. All it will do is inconvenience the protestors themselves.
Instead, why don't those groups, websites, and institutions who oppose the patent laws generate a public database where the general public can add every conceivable patent idea they can think of. Then submit them (or propose to) for patent. Make the results/repercussions visible should the patents go through.
Okay so I've only read 2/3rds of the comments and responses, however after skimming through the rest I have not seen the simple take on the whole subject.
1st...popular genres come and go. Mainly because what's popular is capitalized upon, and over-saturation kills a market. To the point it becomes 'Old Hat' and boring.
2nd...Media outlets other than Print contribute to the over saturation. Too many movies, TV Shows etc; which while are of a certain quality (some could argue, but let us keep it simple), over-extend conceivable imagination to the point everything seems outright ridiculous (hence Star Trek reverting to a Prequel with Enterprise since the last couple series just took it too far).
3rd...And this is my most important observation. The very article discussing the demise of futuristic Sci/Fi is a bit late. Actually I find it to be quite the opposite. Too many authors; Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind (and these are the most recent), etc...have over extended their welcome into the Fantasy Genre and have made their books boorish. Not because they've lost talent in writing so much as because they've lost the ability to expand upon a story in a way which has not already been done over and over and over again.
Me personally, I'd love to see a new book from C.S. Freidman, Larry Niven, J. Pournell, etc...
Slashdot Mirror
Pretty typical, and to be expected while it's still in beta though.
In general, I agree with many people here that shutting down websites is pretty much a useless idea. All it will do is inconvenience the protestors themselves. Instead, why don't those groups, websites, and institutions who oppose the patent laws generate a public database where the general public can add every conceivable patent idea they can think of. Then submit them (or propose to) for patent. Make the results/repercussions visible should the patents go through.
Okay so I've only read 2/3rds of the comments and responses, however after skimming through the rest I have not seen the simple take on the whole subject. 1st...popular genres come and go. Mainly because what's popular is capitalized upon, and over-saturation kills a market. To the point it becomes 'Old Hat' and boring. 2nd...Media outlets other than Print contribute to the over saturation. Too many movies, TV Shows etc; which while are of a certain quality (some could argue, but let us keep it simple), over-extend conceivable imagination to the point everything seems outright ridiculous (hence Star Trek reverting to a Prequel with Enterprise since the last couple series just took it too far). 3rd...And this is my most important observation. The very article discussing the demise of futuristic Sci/Fi is a bit late. Actually I find it to be quite the opposite. Too many authors; Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind (and these are the most recent), etc...have over extended their welcome into the Fantasy Genre and have made their books boorish. Not because they've lost talent in writing so much as because they've lost the ability to expand upon a story in a way which has not already been done over and over and over again. Me personally, I'd love to see a new book from C.S. Freidman, Larry Niven, J. Pournell, etc...