It's ironic that an individual excercising thier rights to privacy becomes the basis for probable cause to violate that privacy.
Good time to be living in a freer country, don't you think?
Forgive me, but I don't remember seeing that "right" in the Constitution anywhere. Don't get my wrong...I enjoy my privacy as much as (prolly more than) the next person, but there is no "right to privacy". Just the same as there is no "right to not be offended".
And if you can find a "freer country", please do move there.
I have to ask.... (*WARNING* - Rant!)
on
iTunes DRM Hole Closed
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
Why is everyone so passionate about listening to music or watching movies? Where is the focus of the human being today that postings on/. about DRM, piracy, RIAA, and other media-related topics tend to draw more postings than any other subject?
I understand being passionate about something, but seems to me that how and where you listen to music should not even be on your top 10.
The advent of digital media is contributing to the decline of free thought. All people posting pro- and anti- multimedia copyright issues should redirect their passions to things that make a difference in their communities. All of these postings are just reiterations of previous postings with a different subject line. "There is nothing new under the sun."
It is this type of behavior and response to "The Man" that gives them knowledge of the power they possess. A power, by the way, they do not rightfully deserve! The music and movie industry is geared towards our entertainment. How is it that entertainment has this kind of impact on us? They should not be able to draw these levels of emotions from people, unless it is through the content of the media, not the cost or format.
If you want to send messages to the powers that be, quit buying music, quit pirating music, quit paying $60 for a ticket to a concert for a washed-up 80s hair band. Read a book. Write a book. Paint something. Take your kids to the park, sans iPod. Learn to play an instrument. Write YOUR OWN music. Put the power of entertainment back in it's rightful place: in YOUR hands.
Flame me if you like. Call me a dumbass. Fact of the matter is, regardless of what my opinions are on this topic, who I think is right, or who I think is wrong, I am the one who has the ultimate decision and control over what entertains me and the impact it has on my life. You should reclaim the same.
~kiddcreole
If your workplace is anything like mine...
on
Women Leaving I.T.
·
· Score: 1
...then the trend of women leaving the IT field should be apparent...computer geeks + Taco Bell + 12 -pack-a-day Red Bull habit = bad gas .....some of these guys make it bad enough that even the custodians won't come into their office to take out the trash!
I agree that it makes it harder for the average Joe to workaround, but what has been my experience is that average Joe comes to kiddcreole for info on how to do what he wants to do. As long as I know a way to do it, I will help Joe out. People may be stupid, but they can be taught.
And difficulty is only an issue at first. Once someone figures out how to bypass the DRM, they will work to make tools (or find someone who can) to make it easier for average Joe. It's their way of sticking it to the man!
This is obviously a heated debate and I don't think either side is going to argue the other out of their opinions. Talk about beating your dead horses! Every time something gets posted on file sharing, the MPAA, or RIAA, everyone goes nuts.
File sharing is like shoplifting, without the tangible property. Video cameras and the little signs "We prosecute shoplifters to the fullest extent of the law" do not seem to be deterrents. People are still shoplifiting. As long as there is a means of transferring files across an internet connection, there will always be file sharing. If the "AA" orgs feel they are recouping some of their losses, then let them prosecute. If the filesharers believe they are some sort of civil disobedient vigilanties, then let them continue to file share.
But PLEASE, let's quit regurgitating the same posts from the LAST file sharing/. post when a new one comes out!
OK, someone in here has to play Devil's advocate and take the side of the RIAA/MPAA/etc (at least for a little bit!)
Regardless of whether or not we like it, think it's fair, or intend on abiding by it, the rules say it's illegal. Same goes for speed limits. I think there are places where the speed limit that is posted is absolutely ridiculous, and (most times) I knowingly choose to ignore it and go the speed I think to be appropriate. Most times, I don't get caught, but when I do, I have no grounds to argue or complain about it. There is a law, I broke it, I need to be an adult about it and accept my punishment. That fine will determine my willingness to speed again. (It hasn't stopped me thus far! heh heh) Same goes for file sharing. If you get caught, you can bitch and complain about unfair, or technicalities but fact of the matter is there is a copyright law and if you are sharing copyrighted files you are breaking this law.
As for the banter about copying rented or Netflix movies versus downloading, they are both still violation of copyright law, regardless of which is cheaper, easier, quicker, etc.
Everyone just needs to admit to themselves that what they are doing is illegal and quit trying to justify it or explain it away.
Now, this all being said, I agree that the laws are crazy. I also will say that they can sue people, arrest people, confiscate as many servers as they want, and the fact of the matter is, file sharing will never go away as long as we have an internet. Yesterday it was Napster. Today it's BitTorrent. Tomorrow it's ??? As long as FTP is a valid protocol, we will always be able to "share" files. And as long as I am participating in any of it, I am taking the risk of being caught...same as speeding.
The post I agree with most is that rather than try to fight the beast, the powers that be should instead embrace the digital era and offer cheaper downloads, or some such. I think iTunes did a wonderful thing, and I think the MPAA should take note and follow suit. Will it stop file sharing and copyright infringement? No, but at least it's a way for them to get back some of their "losses". I would be more inclined to purchase a movie download for $5-$10 LEGALLY than to run the risk of getting caught trying to get it for free. The industries have brought this on themselves for overpricing the media we purchase (which is why they are huge money making conglomerates). If they intend on stemming the flow of copyright violation from the gaping wound of P2P file sharing, they need to make an effort to slow the flow, rather than apply a tournaquet and in doing so, have to sever the limb of interest in their material.
If they can get away with successfully prosecuting the torrent site, then they also need to bring litigation against the torrent site's ISP (for allowing copyrighted material to be sent across their service), the user's ISP (for allowing the user access to the torrent site), the user (for possessing copyrighted material...this same logic applies to getting busted with a stolen VCR, even if you didn't know it was stolen), the maker of the user's network card (provides the PC access to the network, in much the same way the torrent site provides access to the shared files), the cable modem/DSL router makers (same as for the network card makers), the Bell's (for providing the backbone for the data to pass across), and the list goes on and on! There are lots of pieces involved in the transferring these files. To think that taking out the torrent hosting sites will even put a dent in stopping this from happening is naive on their part.
I sincerely hope that nothing comes of the raids in Finland. I don't see how it could, but throw the right amount of power and money at anything, and you will be amazed at the results. However, at the end of the day, we are all still criminals. Shame on us.
Slashdot Mirror
And if you can find a "freer country", please do move there.
Why is everyone so passionate about listening to music or watching movies? Where is the focus of the human being today that postings on /. about DRM, piracy, RIAA, and other media-related topics tend to draw more postings than any other subject?
I understand being passionate about something, but seems to me that how and where you listen to music should not even be on your top 10.
The advent of digital media is contributing to the decline of free thought. All people posting pro- and anti- multimedia copyright issues should redirect their passions to things that make a difference in their communities. All of these postings are just reiterations of previous postings with a different subject line. "There is nothing new under the sun."
It is this type of behavior and response to "The Man" that gives them knowledge of the power they possess. A power, by the way, they do not rightfully deserve! The music and movie industry is geared towards our entertainment. How is it that entertainment has this kind of impact on us? They should not be able to draw these levels of emotions from people, unless it is through the content of the media, not the cost or format.
If you want to send messages to the powers that be, quit buying music, quit pirating music, quit paying $60 for a ticket to a concert for a washed-up 80s hair band. Read a book. Write a book. Paint something. Take your kids to the park, sans iPod. Learn to play an instrument. Write YOUR OWN music. Put the power of entertainment back in it's rightful place: in YOUR hands.
Flame me if you like. Call me a dumbass. Fact of the matter is, regardless of what my opinions are on this topic, who I think is right, or who I think is wrong, I am the one who has the ultimate decision and control over what entertains me and the impact it has on my life. You should reclaim the same.
~kiddcreole
...then the trend of women leaving the IT field should be apparent...computer geeks + Taco Bell + 12 -pack-a-day Red Bull habit = bad gas .....some of these guys make it bad enough that even the custodians won't come into their office to take out the trash!
I agree that it makes it harder for the average Joe to workaround, but what has been my experience is that average Joe comes to kiddcreole for info on how to do what he wants to do. As long as I know a way to do it, I will help Joe out. People may be stupid, but they can be taught.
And difficulty is only an issue at first. Once someone figures out how to bypass the DRM, they will work to make tools (or find someone who can) to make it easier for average Joe. It's their way of sticking it to the man!
All hail and worship the next hacker's challenge!
This is obviously a heated debate and I don't think either side is going to argue the other out of their opinions. Talk about beating your dead horses! Every time something gets posted on file sharing, the MPAA, or RIAA, everyone goes nuts.
/. post when a new one comes out!
File sharing is like shoplifting, without the tangible property. Video cameras and the little signs "We prosecute shoplifters to the fullest extent of the law" do not seem to be deterrents. People are still shoplifiting. As long as there is a means of transferring files across an internet connection, there will always be file sharing. If the "AA" orgs feel they are recouping some of their losses, then let them prosecute. If the filesharers believe they are some sort of civil disobedient vigilanties, then let them continue to file share.
But PLEASE, let's quit regurgitating the same posts from the LAST file sharing
Fear not. It is not illegal to wash blue clothes. Buy your washer with confidence and security.
Apologies! I did use carriage return and had paragraphs. Didn't check preview thoroughly though.
OK, someone in here has to play Devil's advocate and take the side of the RIAA/MPAA/etc (at least for a little bit!) Regardless of whether or not we like it, think it's fair, or intend on abiding by it, the rules say it's illegal. Same goes for speed limits. I think there are places where the speed limit that is posted is absolutely ridiculous, and (most times) I knowingly choose to ignore it and go the speed I think to be appropriate. Most times, I don't get caught, but when I do, I have no grounds to argue or complain about it. There is a law, I broke it, I need to be an adult about it and accept my punishment. That fine will determine my willingness to speed again. (It hasn't stopped me thus far! heh heh) Same goes for file sharing. If you get caught, you can bitch and complain about unfair, or technicalities but fact of the matter is there is a copyright law and if you are sharing copyrighted files you are breaking this law. As for the banter about copying rented or Netflix movies versus downloading, they are both still violation of copyright law, regardless of which is cheaper, easier, quicker, etc. Everyone just needs to admit to themselves that what they are doing is illegal and quit trying to justify it or explain it away. Now, this all being said, I agree that the laws are crazy. I also will say that they can sue people, arrest people, confiscate as many servers as they want, and the fact of the matter is, file sharing will never go away as long as we have an internet. Yesterday it was Napster. Today it's BitTorrent. Tomorrow it's ??? As long as FTP is a valid protocol, we will always be able to "share" files. And as long as I am participating in any of it, I am taking the risk of being caught...same as speeding. The post I agree with most is that rather than try to fight the beast, the powers that be should instead embrace the digital era and offer cheaper downloads, or some such. I think iTunes did a wonderful thing, and I think the MPAA should take note and follow suit. Will it stop file sharing and copyright infringement? No, but at least it's a way for them to get back some of their "losses". I would be more inclined to purchase a movie download for $5-$10 LEGALLY than to run the risk of getting caught trying to get it for free. The industries have brought this on themselves for overpricing the media we purchase (which is why they are huge money making conglomerates). If they intend on stemming the flow of copyright violation from the gaping wound of P2P file sharing, they need to make an effort to slow the flow, rather than apply a tournaquet and in doing so, have to sever the limb of interest in their material. If they can get away with successfully prosecuting the torrent site, then they also need to bring litigation against the torrent site's ISP (for allowing copyrighted material to be sent across their service), the user's ISP (for allowing the user access to the torrent site), the user (for possessing copyrighted material...this same logic applies to getting busted with a stolen VCR, even if you didn't know it was stolen), the maker of the user's network card (provides the PC access to the network, in much the same way the torrent site provides access to the shared files), the cable modem/DSL router makers (same as for the network card makers), the Bell's (for providing the backbone for the data to pass across), and the list goes on and on! There are lots of pieces involved in the transferring these files. To think that taking out the torrent hosting sites will even put a dent in stopping this from happening is naive on their part. I sincerely hope that nothing comes of the raids in Finland. I don't see how it could, but throw the right amount of power and money at anything, and you will be amazed at the results. However, at the end of the day, we are all still criminals. Shame on us.