Performing Random Acts Of TV Shutdowns
from the well,-maybe-it's-something dept
This isn't all that innovative. Despite Wired's glowing article about a guy who created a device called TV-B-Gone that will cycle through a large list of TV remote control codes until it finds one that will shut off any TV in the vicinity, there are similar products out there. For a while now, you've been able to buy a cheap remote control watch that lets you do that (and more!). What's, perhaps, more interesting, is whether or not it's a good thing to go around public places and turning off televisions. The guy who created it claims he's giving people their time back by cutting them off from the hypnotic capture of the glowing screens. However, some may feel that this particular guy doesn't have the right to decide when they shouldn't be watching TV. If he and his friends don't like public TVs, maybe they should just choose to go places that don't have them. Of course, maybe if more people had this, that guy's Toshiba TV wouldn't have been calling out for help.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Cell-Phone-B-Gone?
Please....?
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cell phones
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Public Places ???
Mike, get your head outta yer $%^.
That's unrealistic and you know it.
I don't like constantly ringing cell phones in public EITHER but that doesn't stop boorish people from using them constantly.
I ordered my TV B gone this morning.
( Invoice # 69 no less ! ... lol )
It will be a joy to surreptitiously shut off Super Bowl games , 24 - 7 TV's that spout advertising in malls & those damned awful " TVs " they have in Amusement Park lines.
I'll be buying my personal space cell phone jammer as soon as I can find one too.
Your right to stare mindlessly @ a screen is no more important to my right to peaceful existance ... even in PUBLIC places.
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Apples & Oranges
This is not the case for the TV B Gone.
It cycles through all the brands codes UNTIL it finds one that turns the TV off.
Your're comparing apples & oranges.
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Re: Public Places ???
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Re: Public Places ???
However, there's a big difference between smoking and TVs. Being in a smoking area causes you real harm, while being around a TV doesn't. If you don't own the TV, what gives you the right to think you can turn it off? Yes, it's a fun prank, but if you try it some places (for example, a sports bar during a big game), don't be surprised if you wake up in an ambulance.
Don't hold your breath. A cell phone jammer would quite probably be illegal (with the possible exception of locations you own). Imagine jamming somebody trying to call 911.[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Public Places ???
Man, I apparently go to all the wrong places. I've never had a problem with TVs on in places I go. I seem to be able to find them, why can't other people? Sports bars have TVs, but that's because it's a sports bar. Most other bars I know of don't have TVs. Most restaurants I go to don't have TVs.
Have I just been amazingly lucky in my choice of places to go?
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Re: Public Places ???
So basically you're just taking joy from being a jerk right? I mean chances are the SuperBowl game would be playing in a place that people would go SPECIFICALLY TO WATCH IT.
As for the TVs in Amusement park lines and the advertising in the malls...what's so bad about that? Yeah you could go around and shut them off, but 1) Most of them are behind glass, without sound so there's only the picture...why does this bother you THAT much? and 2) If the park lines are damn long, those tvs can break up the boredom at times...unless they have a loud volume (no parks around here do that...its only picture).
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Re: Public Places ???
Can't wait to start pissin' ya 'all off.
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TV-B-Gone
My 9 year old son had a blast turning off a GIANT MEGASCREEN yesterday in a store in Wicker Park.
Jean Lotus
www.whitedot.org
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TV-B-Gone
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