There's a lot of whistling in the dark here. And several straw (wo)man ("that can harm", "might fall victim", "if...pass through the mail").
First off, IANAL.
These devices would be unlikely to be considered man-traps in any way. For it to be a trap, it needs to physically, well, trap a man (or woman). I would think this falls more into the booby-trap category, but even that requires a ridiculous amount of squinting.
Even if we stick with the man-trap theory, some basic research leads me to believe that only man-traps that cause injury or death are illegal from a criminal perspective. This device does not cause injury or death, only embarrassment. Even if the (alleged) thief dropped dead from surprise, there is unlikely to be a DA in the country who would spend five minutes contemplating charges. And good luck seating a jury that wouldn't laugh the case out of the room.
Which leaves civil. While one of the people who removed the device from his property could try suing him in civil court, what exact damages would they be trying to recover? The cost of cleaning up the glitter? Being deprived of the value of what they thought they were stealing? An attorney who tried to bring this case might want to consider the strong possibility of sanctions for pursuing frivolous claims with no basis in law or fact.
Filing such a suit would also probably attract the attention of the local DA who generally won't appreciate the (alleged) thief trying to game the system. And with all the evidence already in hand (multiple video, audio, location tracking), it seems like it would a slam dunk for the DA to secure a criminal conviction. Which would almost certainly sink any civil suit filed.
The (alleged) thief could potentially expose themselves to a civil suit themselves, and depending on jurisdiction, this case could have actual teeth and real risk for the (alleged) thief.
If, as you say, our NASA Engineer here has committed a crime, he has posted that fact publically, with video and audio evidence for the world to see (15M views and counting). However, as much hand waving you want to do about the rights of (alleged) thieves and the possible liability that he might face, here is the simple proof he hasn't committed a crime in the eyes of the law:
The (alleged) thieves don't get to press charges only DA's do. The simple fact is that no DA has charged him with anything and none will. There have been and will be no civil suits filed because there is no basis for one, and any idiot coming forward to file one is exposing themselves to enormous amount of exposure to themselves on both the criminal and civil side.
I think it's a lot simpler than that: Kooks tend to cluster, and in those clusters, they tend to create these self-reinforcing narratives marrying kooky theory + conspiracy to themselves. I'm sure they could create a cut/paste manual, or build a bot, but their real joy is cleary in banging out these breathless "if you only knew" posts. Page after page, paragraph after paragraph, word by word.
Not sure why. The gullible are already in the cult. And outside of using them as an excuse to murder more words, they aren't really interested in converts. After all, if everyone agreed with them, then there isn't the conspiracy anymore. No, winning for them is when you engage them.
They're the ones who will murder thousands and thousands of words that say nothing in response to even the mildest rebuttal of whatever crackpot theory they're espousing. Every post must be answered with pages and pages of more kookery. Such a passionate defense of nothing. Every rebuttal just entrenches the person further. Bad theories stacked over and over that ignore existing or hand-wave away theories that are supported with, well, actual data.
When called on it, there's always an underlying conspiracy (which is just more mangled and badly stapled together crack-pottery). The one truth here is that the kooks will never, ever, ever stop. You're not having a conversation with them, you're simply providing the one thing they need: continuing validation that they are being oppressed and that the vast conspiracy continues. Any new arguments will just be countered with their ever-growing "FAQ" on canned rebuttals hand-waving away reality.
Stop oppressing the troll. You can do so by ignoring him.
Man, I want to live in your United States, and not the real one that we have.
Here's what would really happen in Congress if the USSC came down on the side of corporations in this decision:
Nothing
a Congressional committee. They'll talk, they'll call up witnesses, they'll point fingers, they'll make great speeches, and at the end of the day, like everything else that goes to committee, nothing will be done.
I thought that the DOJ anti-trust division had all been frozen in carbonite. Now, it appears that they are awake and may actually do some good. When they are done with this, there is a certain search engine they might want to look at...
Don't worry - It'll get strung out till the new administration drops the case because it isn't business friendly.
If the government wants to let competition sort the rules out, then by all means, do so. Make monopoly cable/phone contracts illegal.
Let the market decide what companies do what in what in area.
Yep – The corporate philosophy of “how do we take our new product and pigeon-hole it into existing products to force users to purchase/upgrade/buy extensions for those products ?” seems to be what will doom this product regardless of its “techniness”.
My guess is that the thing that will kill this device (like most MS devices that have to compete in a market they haven't cornered), is the fact that by the time the management, sales, and the lawyer teams get done "improving" the device, you won't be able to do anything on it without having to pay through the nose. Repeatedly. Forever.
So, even if the device ends up being a marvel of technology (which seems unlikely given the MS mobile paradigm), it will end up being locked behind a walled garden, which is locked up in a castle, surrounded by a moat, filled with alligators, etc. Sorry, couldn't resist a little hyperbole.
Hey kids - they already know everything they want about you. Unless you don't have a birth certificate, SSN, and/or drivers license. IMHO, if they want to do another roundup, the census data is only one of about a thousand data points on you.
They only way you can avoid this is if you are living on the lam, and then guess what, they are already looking for you...
Slashdot Mirror
Step 1: Find the closest black hole to your solar system (hopefully not that close)
Step 2: ?
Step 3: Profit
(Apologies to South Park)
They're just running out the Trump clock here...
I just can't help myself.
There's a lot of whistling in the dark here. And several straw (wo)man ("that can harm", "might fall victim", "if...pass through the mail").
First off, IANAL.
These devices would be unlikely to be considered man-traps in any way. For it to be a trap, it needs to physically, well, trap a man (or woman). I would think this falls more into the booby-trap category, but even that requires a ridiculous amount of squinting.
Even if we stick with the man-trap theory, some basic research leads me to believe that only man-traps that cause injury or death are illegal from a criminal perspective. This device does not cause injury or death, only embarrassment. Even if the (alleged) thief dropped dead from surprise, there is unlikely to be a DA in the country who would spend five minutes contemplating charges. And good luck seating a jury that wouldn't laugh the case out of the room.
Which leaves civil. While one of the people who removed the device from his property could try suing him in civil court, what exact damages would they be trying to recover? The cost of cleaning up the glitter? Being deprived of the value of what they thought they were stealing? An attorney who tried to bring this case might want to consider the strong possibility of sanctions for pursuing frivolous claims with no basis in law or fact.
Filing such a suit would also probably attract the attention of the local DA who generally won't appreciate the (alleged) thief trying to game the system. And with all the evidence already in hand (multiple video, audio, location tracking), it seems like it would a slam dunk for the DA to secure a criminal conviction. Which would almost certainly sink any civil suit filed.
The (alleged) thief could potentially expose themselves to a civil suit themselves, and depending on jurisdiction, this case could have actual teeth and real risk for the (alleged) thief.
If, as you say, our NASA Engineer here has committed a crime, he has posted that fact publically, with video and audio evidence for the world to see (15M views and counting). However, as much hand waving you want to do about the rights of (alleged) thieves and the possible liability that he might face, here is the simple proof he hasn't committed a crime in the eyes of the law:
The (alleged) thieves don't get to press charges only DA's do. The simple fact is that no DA has charged him with anything and none will. There have been and will be no civil suits filed because there is no basis for one, and any idiot coming forward to file one is exposing themselves to enormous amount of exposure to themselves on both the criminal and civil side.
I think you might be right...
I think it's a lot simpler than that: Kooks tend to cluster, and in those clusters, they tend to create these self-reinforcing narratives marrying kooky theory + conspiracy to themselves. I'm sure they could create a cut/paste manual, or build a bot, but their real joy is cleary in banging out these breathless "if you only knew" posts. Page after page, paragraph after paragraph, word by word.
Not sure why. The gullible are already in the cult. And outside of using them as an excuse to murder more words, they aren't really interested in converts. After all, if everyone agreed with them, then there isn't the conspiracy anymore. No, winning for them is when you engage them.
They're the ones who will murder thousands and thousands of words that say nothing in response to even the mildest rebuttal of whatever crackpot theory they're espousing. Every post must be answered with pages and pages of more kookery. Such a passionate defense of nothing. Every rebuttal just entrenches the person further. Bad theories stacked over and over that ignore existing or hand-wave away theories that are supported with, well, actual data. When called on it, there's always an underlying conspiracy (which is just more mangled and badly stapled together crack-pottery). The one truth here is that the kooks will never, ever, ever stop. You're not having a conversation with them, you're simply providing the one thing they need: continuing validation that they are being oppressed and that the vast conspiracy continues. Any new arguments will just be countered with their ever-growing "FAQ" on canned rebuttals hand-waving away reality. Stop oppressing the troll. You can do so by ignoring him.
Just enough time to go Ohhhhh shi
If you are from a nation bound by the treaty, reflag your vessel (nuwclear wessell) to a non-treaty country.
FYI, modern Toyota's have a new system in which pressing the brake and the gas at the same time disables the gas input.
Man, I want to live in your United States, and not the real one that we have. Here's what would really happen in Congress if the USSC came down on the side of corporations in this decision: Nothing
Thoughtcrime is bad
a Congressional committee. They'll talk, they'll call up witnesses, they'll point fingers, they'll make great speeches, and at the end of the day, like everything else that goes to committee, nothing will be done.
I thought that the DOJ anti-trust division had all been frozen in carbonite. Now, it appears that they are awake and may actually do some good. When they are done with this, there is a certain search engine they might want to look at...
Don't worry - It'll get strung out till the new administration drops the case because it isn't business friendly.
If the government wants to let competition sort the rules out, then by all means, do so. Make monopoly cable/phone contracts illegal. Let the market decide what companies do what in what in area.
Easy-peasy. No delta-V issues here...
Let them start their own investment bank company. In other words - fully take on the risks and the profit.
Yep – The corporate philosophy of “how do we take our new product and pigeon-hole it into existing products to force users to purchase/upgrade/buy extensions for those products ?” seems to be what will doom this product regardless of its “techniness”.
My guess is that the thing that will kill this device (like most MS devices that have to compete in a market they haven't cornered), is the fact that by the time the management, sales, and the lawyer teams get done "improving" the device, you won't be able to do anything on it without having to pay through the nose. Repeatedly. Forever.
So, even if the device ends up being a marvel of technology (which seems unlikely given the MS mobile paradigm), it will end up being locked behind a walled garden, which is locked up in a castle, surrounded by a moat, filled with alligators, etc. Sorry, couldn't resist a little hyperbole.
It is. RTFA.
Hey kids - they already know everything they want about you. Unless you don't have a birth certificate, SSN, and/or drivers license. IMHO, if they want to do another roundup, the census data is only one of about a thousand data points on you.
They only way you can avoid this is if you are living on the lam, and then guess what, they are already looking for you...
Yes, this is definitely that kind of moment. Stupid beyond stupid turning a corner on sanity.
I’m betting people are going to jail for this.
The first time someone looked into a child’s bedroom through the laptop webcam, they sank their own battleship.
How do I withdraw my application?
Sunray's cap at 16
Magnets!