I don't have a problem at all with them doing that, but of course even the steps you've outlined above don't address one key point of this proposal: the verification that the reply actually came from the offended party.
In short, I don't mind if sites want to do this - it is good journalistic practice. But to mandate that all sites (professional or individual) conform to these guidelines is absurd.
The offended party already has every right to defend himself - that's never been a problem. But if I post something that offends someone, why should I have to provide the forum for their response? That is idiotic...
What, for instance, would that do to a site like/.? Does/. become liable to provide response forums to any parties offended in any comments from any poster, including Anonymous Cowards??? What a nightmare.
This is a truly idiotic endeavor. While it may be one thing to require professional media outlets to provide such a forum (which they generally do out of good journalistic practice), it is another thing entirely to require it of any and all online content. While this is a long way from becoming law, it's distressing that such a proposal has made it this far...
Realize that by saying "government" you could just as easily say "the taxpayers" - and as a taxpayer, I think it makes all the sense in the world to mandate seatbelt use, in part to avoid paying your medical bills.
From reading the article (I know, how dare I) it sounds like the added scenes will help those who haven't read the books. I know when my wife saw the extended FotR, things "clicked" a little better...
As in most things, it's all defined by hindsight. If the guy ends up whacking himself or others, he's an addict. If other pencil-necked geeks (RIP, Freddie Blassie!) still look up to him, he's "hardcore."
While some would, I'd say MS is far worse in terms of illegal monopolist activities that they've been able to tie up in court so long that penalties become irrelevant.
To paraphrase one author, "people forget that Walmart used to be a small-town store too."
Along a similar vein, have you noticed the increase in gruesome detail depicted on US TV? Every night on several channels are "forensic" shows, that take a murder and break it down over the course of an hour. "First, he slashed her throat from left to right, then stabbed her twice just below the ribs... yada yada yada."
In addition, the cell network providers will be much more sensitive to abuse of bandwidth than the average ISP - it will be in their own best interests to hunt these vermin down...
If your career is only about getting a paycheck to support your life outside of work, that's a perfectly fine attitude to have. For others, who aspire to grow and enjoy taking on bigger and better challenges, situations like these become opportunities.
In short, a mass-walkout is an extreme reaction to a situation, which should only be looked at after other options have been explored. Far too often, disgruntled employees never take their concerns to management, when something could have been done. If you do that, and they still treat you like dirt, then by all means leave. I did just that about 10 years ago, and it was the best career move I ever made...
The problem is that income taxes are more of a drag on economic growth than sales taxes. Payroll and income taxes provide an impediment to job growth, whereas sales taxes, while acting as a drag on consumption, might actually steer more money into savings, which promotes future economic growth.
Tax policy should first be about funding government activities in a way that least gets in the way of economic growth. Income redistribution is an altogether different matter, for which tax policy is often used as an instrument.
Personally, I think we've gone waaaay too far down the road of micromanaging tax policy to encourage this or that activity, resulting in a morass of tax law that levies huge costs on the economy. I say move to a simpler (still somewhat progressive) income tax bracketing, combined with a Federal sales tax and an elimination of dividend taxes at the corporate level.
As an employer, I would naturally consider whether a prospect is the type that will help the company get through tough times, or bolt when the stress hits. The process to hire for an opening is long, expensive, and time consuming, so you'd like to hire people that will stick around.
An an employee, there are two additional ways to look at this. First and foremost, have your concerns been known to management, or is this a bunch of guys grumbling at the water cooler? If management knew that things had gotten that bad, they would take action. Why would they risk a critical team walking out like that? They might not be able to wave a wand and make things better right away, but they'll most likely do something. Secondly, as an employee you can also look at circumstances like this as an opportunity...
You'd better have something lined up to move into, because you will have certainly burned bridges at your current employer. Plus, how will you spin this situation to prospective employers during the interview process?
Q: So, why did you leave your last position?
A: Things got rough, they treated us like dirt, I left.
This will raise doubts in the mind of the interviewer as to whether you're a person who can help an organization weather tough times...
Of course, there are legitimate cases for filing a patent without means to produce the product. The inventor may not have the resources, and must have the patent in hand to round up financial backing. Where do you draw the line as to what is being developed and what is not?
Slashdot Mirror
I don't have a problem at all with them doing that, but of course even the steps you've outlined above don't address one key point of this proposal: the verification that the reply actually came from the offended party.
In short, I don't mind if sites want to do this - it is good journalistic practice. But to mandate that all sites (professional or individual) conform to these guidelines is absurd.
The offended party already has every right to defend himself - that's never been a problem. But if I post something that offends someone, why should I have to provide the forum for their response? That is idiotic...
/.? Does /. become liable to provide response forums to any parties offended in any comments from any poster, including Anonymous Cowards??? What a nightmare.
What, for instance, would that do to a site like
This is a truly idiotic endeavor. While it may be one thing to require professional media outlets to provide such a forum (which they generally do out of good journalistic practice), it is another thing entirely to require it of any and all online content. While this is a long way from becoming law, it's distressing that such a proposal has made it this far...
Realize that by saying "government" you could just as easily say "the taxpayers" - and as a taxpayer, I think it makes all the sense in the world to mandate seatbelt use, in part to avoid paying your medical bills.
You get sort of a self reinforcing cycle of wankage...
For a second there I thought you were just talking like Elmer Fudd! "wating and wanking incwease the welevance of pagewanking..."
Go out on top! Or is it too late/early for that?
Waaaaaaay too late, my friend! For me, Slashdot had a great peak around Sept. 11, when its style of conversation found its shining moment...
From reading the article (I know, how dare I) it sounds like the added scenes will help those who haven't read the books. I know when my wife saw the extended FotR, things "clicked" a little better...
As in most things, it's all defined by hindsight. If the guy ends up whacking himself or others, he's an addict. If other pencil-necked geeks (RIP, Freddie Blassie!) still look up to him, he's "hardcore."
Or as my wife's Southern grandmother says, "you can't out-puke a buzzard..."
While some would, I'd say MS is far worse in terms of illegal monopolist activities that they've been able to tie up in court so long that penalties become irrelevant.
To paraphrase one author, "people forget that Walmart used to be a small-town store too."
Along a similar vein, have you noticed the increase in gruesome detail depicted on US TV? Every night on several channels are "forensic" shows, that take a murder and break it down over the course of an hour. "First, he slashed her throat from left to right, then stabbed her twice just below the ribs... yada yada yada."
Frankly I find it pretty sick!
Evil???
It sounds like they listen to their customers, and are incredibly competitive within their line of business...
And what, pray tell, does he say about RPG? I'm a former COBOL-er treading into RPG waters, and dreading every minute of it...
In addition, the cell network providers will be much more sensitive to abuse of bandwidth than the average ISP - it will be in their own best interests to hunt these vermin down...
If your career is only about getting a paycheck to support your life outside of work, that's a perfectly fine attitude to have. For others, who aspire to grow and enjoy taking on bigger and better challenges, situations like these become opportunities.
In short, a mass-walkout is an extreme reaction to a situation, which should only be looked at after other options have been explored. Far too often, disgruntled employees never take their concerns to management, when something could have been done. If you do that, and they still treat you like dirt, then by all means leave. I did just that about 10 years ago, and it was the best career move I ever made...
Makes me wish I still had my original Atari 400 - I'd just like to see kids learn to type with that keypad!
The problem is that income taxes are more of a drag on economic growth than sales taxes. Payroll and income taxes provide an impediment to job growth, whereas sales taxes, while acting as a drag on consumption, might actually steer more money into savings, which promotes future economic growth.
Tax policy should first be about funding government activities in a way that least gets in the way of economic growth. Income redistribution is an altogether different matter, for which tax policy is often used as an instrument.
Personally, I think we've gone waaaay too far down the road of micromanaging tax policy to encourage this or that activity, resulting in a morass of tax law that levies huge costs on the economy. I say move to a simpler (still somewhat progressive) income tax bracketing, combined with a Federal sales tax and an elimination of dividend taxes at the corporate level.
As an employer, I would naturally consider whether a prospect is the type that will help the company get through tough times, or bolt when the stress hits. The process to hire for an opening is long, expensive, and time consuming, so you'd like to hire people that will stick around.
An an employee, there are two additional ways to look at this. First and foremost, have your concerns been known to management, or is this a bunch of guys grumbling at the water cooler? If management knew that things had gotten that bad, they would take action. Why would they risk a critical team walking out like that? They might not be able to wave a wand and make things better right away, but they'll most likely do something. Secondly, as an employee you can also look at circumstances like this as an opportunity...
You'd better have something lined up to move into, because you will have certainly burned bridges at your current employer. Plus, how will you spin this situation to prospective employers during the interview process?
Q: So, why did you leave your last position?
A: Things got rough, they treated us like dirt, I left.
This will raise doubts in the mind of the interviewer as to whether you're a person who can help an organization weather tough times...
Open source saves the government money. Open source would create more governemnt jobs,
Whoa, stop right there. First it will save money, then it will "create more government jobs." Make up your mind!
Better yet, get a sponsor to bring in a couple hot-looking nurses to give sponge baths to players who don't want to leave their seat.
Of course, they'd probably have to be blind to take the gig...
Yeesh... what an ugly solution (unless of course you're a trial lawyer)!
Of course, there are legitimate cases for filing a patent without means to produce the product. The inventor may not have the resources, and must have the patent in hand to round up financial backing. Where do you draw the line as to what is being developed and what is not?
Wow, I had no idea this could work on such old CPU's. I've got a 300MHz K6-II that's just been mothballed, and we've thought about getting a Tivo...
And just imagine all the pollution and garbage that's produced with those billion chips!