Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week

from the new-feature-time dept

Okay, we're launching a new feature this week, to see how it goes. We've had these voting buttons on comments for a while, which will show when certain comments are voted to be particularly insightful or funny, but thought we might as well do some more to promote those. So we're experimenting with highlighting the most insightful and funniest comments from the past week.

On the most insightful comment, the highest voted comment came from Mike C. in response to the article about the fines the Canadian recording industry had to pay for infringing on the copyrights of artists, his comment, titled Let me see if I get this right read:
1) The major labels end up paying $45 million for over 300,000 cases on infringement. That works out to $150 per incident and yet they want $150,000 per incident here in the USA.

2) The labels get to CONTINUE to perform the acts of infringement as long as they "promise" to pay the artists infringed against in a "timely" fashion.

Yeah... and they wonder why we call them two-faced...
In second place, we had a tie, with one comment from Spaceboy, responding to a question as to why it was unconstitutional that the DMCA blocks you from modding your own devices by explaining why people should be able to do what they want with a product they bought:
It's unconstitutional because it breaks fair use. I can't rip a DVD without breaking DMCA, yet I have the right to make legal backups of all my media.

In the case of the PS3, it's a product, and as consumers we should be able to do whatever the hell we want with it. I can mod my car to make it go way faster than the speed limit, but I am not breaking any laws until I actually go over the speed limit. The Jailbreaking software adds functionality back to the PS3 that Sony stripped away, and no one should be put in jail for modding their hardware.
Voted equally insightful was this comment from Hephaestus concerning Twitter's response to the government's request for info on various Wikileaks volunteers. Hephaestus decided to make a larger prediction, noting that "this seems to be the year that the US Government will try to quash the 1st amendment and privacy on the internet":
I wonder if this will work out better for the US government than it did for the record labels. I some how doubt it. With RIAA and the labels you had an annoyance. With the US government you have a world superpower that is a threat to the first amendment and free speech on the internet. Confiscating domain names, shutting down peoples access to financial services, violating the first, fourth, and fourteenth amenedments of the constitution, calls for the assasination of the head of a foreign news organization. All in all power blatantly abused at the highest levels of government.

With RIAA and the labels actions we have seen a slow gradual change in technology. With the US government getting involved in online affairs I expect to see a huge, and very fast increase in encryption usage and distributed systems. The words "Wake Up Call" come to mind.

I wonder who will win this battle over free speech, freedom to express our thoughts, and privacy on the internet? The billions of us or couple tens of thousand of them.
For the funniest comment, the runaway winner (by far), was on our post about California's new higher copyright infringement fines, and the comment came from a non-registered user with the accurate username of Mr. Smarta** who broke out the sarcasm with his post:
Those numbers are incorrect. After careful counting and using systems of evaluation that are perfect and without contest, the actual number of jobs lost due to piracy is about 32.5 billion jobs last year. Got that??? Over five times the planet's entire population was laid off!! You can't contest that. Every single person was hired and fired over six times. My boss called me in and said "Sorry. We have to let you go. Piracy is rampant and cost you your job." To which I replied "We sell engine blocks!!!" So there you have it. Someone trading a CD online cost some poor fast food employee his job because that one CD screwed up the burger he was making.

And $58,000,000,000??? What a load of crap. I'll have you know that the actual loss last year alone was over three hundred times the gross domestic product. Got that?? Three hundred times of our stuff just suddenly was taken out and shipped overseas. Know what we have left now? Rocks!!! That's it! Rocks, and maybe some sand somewhere. Piracy cost us everything the United States owned. I hope you're happy now. Download one copy of the movie 'Inception', and suddenly some other country repo's the entire continent. What a bummer...
Nicely done. Coming in second was a comment on our story concerning the World Erotic Art Museum suing Thomas Hawk for posting some photographs he took at the museum on Flickr. In its defense, the Museum noted that there was an "unspoken and unwritten understanding" that visitors wouldn't post such photos online, to which a commenter named Burton questioned:
If the understanding is both unspoken and unwritten, how is it conveyed, mime?
And, in the honorable mention category, we have a comment from Crade, which scored the combined highest on both the insightful and funny scales, in discussing the TSA's warning that wearing scanner resistant clothing means they'll have to grope you:
"My favorite might be the undergarments with the 4th Amendment printed in metallic ink"

They should make some that say
"If you can read this, you are violating my rights"
or maybe
"Am I safe yet?"
And there you go... Everyone's favorite comments of the week...
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  • icon
    The Infamous Joe (profile), 16 Jan 2011 @ 12:24pm

    Hardest button to button

    I guess I'll have to start using those buttons now.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 16 Jan 2011 @ 7:16pm

      Re: Hardest button to button

      Good god not in here, man! The paradox will blow us all sky high!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Marcel de Jong (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 1:02am

        Re: Re: Hardest button to button

        OMG you're right, I clicked on one of the vote buttons and the sky is now falling! (or could it just be rain?)

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:49pm

      Re: Hardest button to button

      Yo Dawg. I heard you like buttons so we put a button in your button so you can button while you button. BUTTON

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Jan 2011 @ 1:08pm

    and remember this

    300,000 artists prolly had more then one tune
    so you could be looking at as many as a million infringements and they were done COMMERCIALLY which should have had the rcmp step in and in the end if found guilty 20,000 FINE per infringement

    YOU figure it out how much the record industry owes , no one has the song count.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    NAMELESS ONE, 16 Jan 2011 @ 1:11pm

    OH and

    THE US CONSTITUTION does not apply outside of the USA. JUST like the DMCA....
    we have our own law just seems that the harper govt and rcmp do not want to charge hollywood when it violates it.

    SO from this precedent we can determine that civilly commercial infringement is as low as 150$ per infringement to maybe as low as 75$ per infringement.

    And criminally the 20,000 FINE per INFRINGEMENT no longer applies at all.

    THANK YOU HOLLYWOOD im a go start selling autocad now.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Jay (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 12:45am

      Re: OH and

      Don't you know? We are America, we are one of the highest exporters of Intellectual Property this side of the world!

      We can even outsource the DMCA!
      Hell, France wanted to be so much like us, they got Hadopi.

      And BREIN? Small potatoes compared to what we've done with domains.

      Yep, we have the whole world in our hands!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    -, 16 Jan 2011 @ 2:52pm

    Honestly, I don't like some of the new content here. Favourite stories? Favourite comments?
    Does anybody want it? I certainly don't, the only thing it does is pop up in my updates scanner and thus makes me come here just to see that nothing interesting was published.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Hephaestus (profile), 16 Jan 2011 @ 4:06pm

      Re:

      "Honestly, I don't like some of the new content here. Favourite stories? Favourite comments? Does anybody want it? I certainly don't, the only thing it does is pop up in my updates scanner and thus makes me come here just to see that nothing interesting was published."

      CwF + RtB stands for Connect with Fans and give them a Reason to Buy. The connect with fans part is what mike is doing here. He is allowing the individuals here to engage the people that visit this site. He is practicing what he preaches ... school is now out, now run along and go home and do your homework.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Jan 2011 @ 4:58pm

      Re:

      Just rename the site ourobouros.com. Keep squeezing, there has to be some blood in that rock somewhere.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      harbingerofdoom (profile), 16 Jan 2011 @ 5:30pm

      Re:

      1. yes, there are people that like it.
      2. if its an update on the weekend, you can pretty much bet its going to be this type of stuff. just ignore it until monday... yes, the internet does in fact have an off button.
      3. ????
      4. profit.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Rose M. Welch (profile), 16 Jan 2011 @ 11:25pm

      Re:

      ...the only thing it does is pop up in my updates scanner and thus makes me come here just to see that nothing interesting was published.

      It's all weekend extras (probably because people like myself were sad without Techdirt on the weekends). However, with that in mind, you can safely ignore any weekend updates.

      See? Easy fix. :)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      vivaelamor (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 5:44am

      Re:

      "Does anybody want it? I certainly don't, the only thing it does is pop up in my updates scanner and thus makes me come here just to see that nothing interesting was published."

      I found it interesting. I have to wonder what 'update scanner' you're using that can't provide you with the title of the article before you're forced to come here.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 10:38am

        Re: Re:

        I have to wonder what 'update scanner' you're using that can't provide you with the title of the article before you're forced to come here.

        I wonder what makes you think anybody is actually "forced to come here."

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          The Infamous Joe (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 11:06am

          Re: Re: Re:

          Well-- and this is just a theory-- if one were paid to come troll here then one would be used to not having to troll on the weekends. Now, if TD suddenly starts posting on the weekends, one would be "forced" to come to TD.

          Again, just a theory. :)

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 11:28am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            I think you're onto something here. Have you considered putting that on a T-Shirt? You can't fit what you said on a T-shirt, but I think you can put what you meant.

            The words "Paid To Troll" on a T-Shirt would be well received with my Bangalore Team, especially if they approve my capital request for the Hurricane 400 t-shirt cannon.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          vivaelamor (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 2:04pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          'I wonder what makes you think anybody is actually "forced to come here."'

          I wonder what makes you think I intended it to be taken literally. I know my jokes aren't funny, but they're usually pretty obvious (unless they're too British). I'm sorry if the image of someone being forced to visit Techdirt caused you any distress.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 2:39pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            I wonder what makes you think I intended it to be taken literally. I know my jokes aren't funny...

            Then that just might be why.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Rose M. Welch (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:06am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Are you British?

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              vivaelamor (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 6:56am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              "Are you British?"

              Yes. The biggest giveaway is my spelling (and the fact that I keep telling people that I'm British).

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • icon
                Rose M. Welch (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 12:59pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                Your spelling isn't a giveaway. I spell things the same way (until my spell check changes it) and I'm firmly an American.

                Neat to know, though. :)

                link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 10:47am

      Re:

      Honestly, I don't like some of the new content here. Favourite stories? Favourite comments?
      Does anybody want it? I certainly don't,...


      It's just Mike's way or rewarding his favorite fan-boys.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        The Infamous Joe (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 11:04am

        Re: Re:

        It's funny. You've probably been reading this site for years and the *one* thing that Mike keeps saying over and over is RtB+CwF.

        Now, here he is, practicing what he preaches and you act like he's doing something *bad* by adding value to his fans?!

        ..and like a lightbulb going on, it is obvious to me that you aren't a troll, you *honestly* don't understand what Mike is talking about. Very sad.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        vivaelamor (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 2:07pm

        Re: Re:

        "It's just Mike's way or rewarding his favorite fan-boys."

        Yes, the reason I've been posting is my hope to get a virtual pat on the head from Mike. Oh, wait, Mike doesn't make the choice, we do. What was your point again?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 2:43pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Yes, the reason I've been posting is my hope to get a virtual pat on the head from Mike. Oh, wait, Mike doesn't make the choice, we do.

          Actually, Mike does make the choice (as to who it is).

          What was your point again?

          I was just about to ask you the same thing.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            coldbrew, 17 Jan 2011 @ 10:24pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: oh look

            Oh look, you learned how to use TOR. That's good to know...

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 10:33pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: oh look

              Oh look, you learned how to use TOR. That's good to know...

              What makes you think that?

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              vivaelamor (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 6:57am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: oh look

              "Oh look, you learned how to use TOR. That's good to know..."

              There are any number of reasons for an IP address to change. I don't see why anyone would do it intentionally in this case..

              link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Needy Ned, 17 Jan 2011 @ 11:40am

      Re: Don't Want It

      Well then, turn off your update notification (and get a life).

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    DMNTD, 16 Jan 2011 @ 3:41pm

    I dig the new substance

    My weekends are usually boring, so I welcome these.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Hephaestus (profile), 16 Jan 2011 @ 4:09pm

      Re: I dig the new substance

      "My weekends are usually boring, so I welcome these."

      Same here, but I wrote one, and was mentioned in the other. ;)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    fogbugzd (profile), 16 Jan 2011 @ 5:40pm

    As I see it, this article is highlighting comments that are really worth repeating.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Jan 2011 @ 9:11pm

      Re:

      Yeah, it's like a Hollywood awards party where everyone gets together to say how marvelous they are!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    David Muir (profile), 16 Jan 2011 @ 5:58pm

    Vote: Yes

    Techdirt had no posts on weekends before. So, if we get these kinds of "summary of the previous week" posts on the weekend, it is a bonus.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Jan 2011 @ 7:43pm

    "we're launching a new feature this week"

    Patent infringement!!!!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Jan 2011 @ 9:15pm

      Re:

      But it's totally different - they're using rockets!

      And ham! I was told there would be ham for this one. :(

      I enjoy TD weekendy stuff, despite the lack of ham.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    NickMc, 16 Jan 2011 @ 7:57pm

    The AC's

    Geez, even in the "best of" section, the AC's find a way to behave like snotty faced cry babys!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Jan 2011 @ 9:19pm

      Re: The AC's

      and you're a perfect example of that.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Greg G, 16 Jan 2011 @ 9:38pm

        Re: Re: The AC's

        No, he isn't. Since when is pointing out what someone else is doing being one of the same?

        I'll stop now for fear of feeding the AC trolls any more.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 10:41am

          Re: Re: Re: The AC's

          I'll stop now for fear of feeding the AC trolls any more.

          Pot, meet kettle.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Jan 2011 @ 9:30pm

    How about mentioning comments that you bury, Mike?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Jan 2011 @ 9:48pm

      Re:

      Why don't you mention them. No one is stopping you.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 10:43am

        Re: Re:

        "Why don't you mention them. No one is stopping you."

        He just did.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      techflaws.org (profile), 16 Jan 2011 @ 10:10pm

      Re:

      Right. As if Mike couldn't mop the floor with any of you puny ACs non-logic. LOL!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      The eejit (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 2:00am

      Re:

      Bury? You mean, with a shovel and dirt?

      Read the name of this place again.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Chargone (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 2:43am

      Re:

      you mean those ones people hit the 'report' button on for being excessively trollish or spammy? (or in some cases excessively repetitive and annoying, which is almost-but-not-quite the same thing)

      mentioning them would be rather ... redundant. kinda the anti-thesis of the entire point of the report button, really...
      (and the 'report'ed ones are still there. people can click and read 'em if they want to.)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Marcus Carab (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 9:33am

        Re: Re:

        (and the 'report'ed ones are still there. people can click and read 'em if they want to.)

        In fact, I don't know about everyone else, but they are so eye-catching that I *have* to open and read every one.

        So fear not trolls, your idiocy does not go unlaughed at!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    x, 17 Jan 2011 @ 2:41am

    A man walks into a bar.
    .
    ..
    ...
    "Ouch"

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Paul Keating, 17 Jan 2011 @ 3:07am

    AC Trolls

    "Honestly, I don't like some of the new content here. Favourite stories?..."

    Boy I wish the English would learn to spell "our" language correctly :-)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Marcus Carab (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 9:36am

      Re: AC Trolls

      Now THAT'S trolling. Personally I couldn't care less if different nations alter English orthography to suit their tastes, but you aren't going to stand there and tell me you think American English is "correct"

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Rose M. Welch (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 9:31pm

      Re: AC Trolls

      Personally, I think anything easily understood is correct. Grey and gray, favourite and favorite, read and reed. I don't really care in this context. The message is the important bit, so as long as I can understand the message, we're good.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Hephaestus (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 3:16pm

        Re: Re: AC Trolls

        "The message is the important bit, so as long as I can understand the message, we're good."

        So, let me get this straight, you want me to go upstairs this morning and knock up your sister?

        Her teeth aren't very good but I would be willing to give it a try. ;)

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Paul Keating, 17 Jan 2011 @ 3:09am

    great addition

    I completely enjoyed reading this new feature. It made wading through all those morning emails worth the effort.`

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Spaceboy (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 4:18am

    Sooooo, what do I get? :)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Jimr (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 5:01am

    accolades

    Accolades for most posts then for most insightful and Funny comments. What's next and how can I get in some of this special virtual honor?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 5:41am

    (Score: 5, Funny)

    Great, now everyone is going to make silly jokes to try to get into next week's "funniest comments" post.

    .
    .
    .

    Mod this +5, Funny! ;-)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Rose M. Welch (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:04am

      Re: (Score: 5, Funny)

      ...now everyone is going to make silly jokes...

      I actually think that is great. I mean, puns, ftw! :)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    vivaelamor (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 5:50am

    Suggestion

    I've noticed that if you browse past the first page of comments on a profile then the insightful/funny icons don't show up. I would find the feature more useful if you could keep track of it on older posts. The first page seems to use a special style unique to the profile page while anything older seems to use the same style as the articles.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      vivaelamor (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 5:52am

      Re: Suggestion

      Nevermind, they do show up! I just get so few votes I have to go back a few decades to find one. Why I always seem to have one on the first page but not beyond that I have no idea.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 10:33am

    Vote? What Vote?

    "We've had these voting buttons on comments for a while, which will show when certain comments are voted to be particularly insightful or funny,"

    What a joke, there is no "voting" process. It's just Mike marking which comments he finds "insightful or funny" and then claiming they were "voted" that way.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      The Infamous Joe (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 11:12am

      Re: Vote? What Vote?

      I'd love to see some sort of proof on this. Any at all.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 11:38am

        Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

        "I'd love to see some sort of proof on this. Any at all."

        I'd love to see some sort of proof to the contrary. Any at all.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          The Infamous Joe (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 11:56am

          Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

          Ignoring the fact that proving a negative is very difficult: We have buttons that say "Insightful" "Funny" and "Report". Occam's Razor says that we should tend to the simplest answer until we can trade simplicity for a more thorough answer. Thus, the simplest answer is that the buttons are there to allow us to vote.

          If you have proof that they do not work as expected, feel free to demonstrate it and we will move to a less simple theory.

          If clicking something has no measurable effect for you, it could be as simple as that comment did not get whatever arbitrary number of votes required to get the flag. See above for why this answer is the more likely answer.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 1:03pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

            Ignoring the fact that proving a negative is very difficult:

            No need to prove a negative. Just prove in the positive that the voting system is on the up and up.

            Occam's Razor says that we should tend to the simplest answer until we can trade simplicity for a more thorough answer.

            OK, the simplest answer is that the buttons don't do much.

            If you have proof that they do not work as expected, feel free to demonstrate it and we will move to a less simple theory.

            If you have proof that they really do anything, "feel free to demonstrate it and we will move to a less simple theory."

            Some people are really gullible enough to believe anything Mike tells them.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              vivaelamor (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 1:49pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

              "No need to prove a negative. Just prove in the positive that the voting system is on the up and up."

              Can we get some more sophisticated trolls please? Resorting to an argument from ignorance is desperate. You don't know whether the voting system is 'on the up and up'. Using this lack of knowledge, you assert that the voting system is not 'on the up and up'. Given that both of us are at least equally ignorant, where does the burden of proof lie? General convention (and good sense) places the burden on the person making the assertion, which would be you.

              Further, it is taken for granted that the system is 'on the up and up' because while we do not know whether Mike is deceiving us, we can presume that he would claim not to. Given that he definitely knows then you would have to make the further assertion that Mike is deceiving us. So, not one, but two assertions for which you are trying to shift the burden of proof.

              So, I see your two ad ignorantums and raise you an ad hominem: troll.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 2:36pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                General convention (and good sense) places the burden on the person making the assertion, which would be you.

                Um, no, that would be Mike, if he's asserting that the system is "on the up and up." Otherwise, he's just making stuff up.

                Further, it is taken for granted that the system is 'on the up and up' because while we do not know whether Mike is deceiving us, we can presume that he would claim not to.

                Now you're making unfounded assumptions. Of course, I can see how you'd like to think that your own brownie points were awarded based on some type of merit rather than Mike's whims, huh?

                So, I see your two ad ignorantums and raise you an ad hominem: troll.

                You can't handle the truth.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  Marcus Carab (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 4:32pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                  People have, on several occasions, accused you of being a paid shill for some industry or another. I've always thought that was going a little too far and not worth bringing up without any evidence - but now I see that you approve, and that you believe the burden of proof is on you.

                  So, please prove to us that your comments are your own and that you are not paid to be here. You're asserting that these are your real opinions, so prove it - otherwise you're just making stuff up.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • identicon
                    Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 5:58pm

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                    People have, on several occasions, accused you of being a paid shill for some industry or another.

                    Huh? You apparently think that AC is one person. That's funny. Please, give us more of your great internet wisdom...

                    So, please prove to us that your comments are your own and that you are not paid to be here. You're asserting that these are your real opinions, so prove it - otherwise you're just making stuff up.

                    Likewise!

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • icon
                      Marcus Carab (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 6:19am

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                      No, there are a handful of ACs who face that accusation and unless I'm mixing up my random avatars, that's one of them.

                      And yeah dummy, I know it's a stupid request and totally unfair - that was my whole point. He is for some reason challenging Mike to prove that the comment voting system isn't rigged, even though that's a wildly paranoid and unfounded theory - so I'm letting him taste his own stupid medicine.

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  vivaelamor (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 7:20am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                  "Um, no, that would be Mike, if he's asserting that the system is "on the up and up." Otherwise, he's just making stuff up."

                  So, by not saying anything he's making stuff up? I think I preferred the logic in your previous post.

                  "Now you're making unfounded assumptions. Of course, I can see how you'd like to think that your own brownie points were awarded based on some type of merit rather than Mike's whims, huh?"

                  If you want to believe that I crave attention from Mike then that's OK. I'm sure he's as comfortable as I am with the 'complete stranger who happens to frequent his website' nature of our relationship.

                  "You can't handle the truth."

                  That you might really be unbelievably ignorant rather than a troll? If that's the truth then I'd rather stay ignorant myself, thanks.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • icon
                    vivaelamor (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 7:26am

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                    "So, by not saying anything he's making stuff up? I think I preferred the logic in your previous post."

                    To avoid confusion (having noticed that Mike has actually posted), replace the first sentence with: 'So, by not saying anything he would be making stuff up?'.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 11:44am

        Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

        Well, I know that I've voted on articles and it hasn't had any visible effect at all.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Marcus Carab (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 4:28pm

          Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

          As far as I know Mike has not revealed the threshold of votes on either button necessary to make a badge appear. I believe the goal was to make it less of a war-of-numbers and more of way for readers to simply and casually respond to comments that resonate with them.

          But if you want to assume nefarious intent for no good reason, I can't stop you. I have no idea what would be gained by rigging it, though.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 5:54pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

            As far as I know Mike has not revealed the threshold of votes on either button necessary to make a badge appear.

            That's easy, it only takes one vote: Mike's.

            "...I can't stop you."

            Too bad, huh?

            I have no idea what would be gained by rigging it, though.

            Are you really that naive? Do you really have to have such obvious things explained to you or are you just feigning ignorance? Alright, here you go (just to see what excuse you'll come up with next): How about putting forth one's own personal opinion while claiming that that it's actually the opinion of a bunch of "voters" instead? A lot of politicians would LOVE to be able to get away with one (doesn't keep them from trying, though).

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Mike Masnick (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 12:10am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

              That's easy, it only takes one vote: Mike's.


              This is also false. No single voter -- including myself -- can put anyone over the threshold. Which was very much done on purpose.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              vivaelamor (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 7:45am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

              "How about putting forth one's own personal opinion while claiming that that it's actually the opinion of a bunch of "voters" instead?"

              To what end? 'Hey, look what is proved by a bunch of anonymous people on my blog voting this comment most insightful'. Oh my Spaghetti! What power we have given him.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:28pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                To what end? 'Hey, look what is proved by a bunch of anonymous people on my blog voting this comment most insightful'. Oh my Spaghetti! What power we have given him.

                Likewise, to what end would I make it up?

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  vivaelamor (profile), 19 Jan 2011 @ 12:19pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                  "Likewise, to what end would I make it up?"

                  Perhaps he wrote an article that offended you. Are you suggesting there is an equivalency between your position and his?

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • identicon
                    Anonymous Coward, 25 Jan 2011 @ 6:18pm

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                    "Likewise, to what end would I make it up?"

                    Perhaps he wrote an article that offended you.


                    Perhaps I wrote a comment that offended him?

                    Are you suggesting there is an equivalency between your position and his?

                    Absolutely. I guess I'm not on your deity list along with Mike, am I?

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Marcus Carab (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 10:33am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

              Yes, thanks AC, I can understand how rigging the votes would allow that, but I fail to see what purpose it would serve. How would faking the consent of a handful of commenters (and faking their comedic impact) actually benefit Techdirt or Mike in any meaningful way? Do you picture the team sitting all day long watching the comments, saying "ooh, this guy deserves an LOL badge, let's give him one!"

              I'm not coming up with excuses, I'm just refusing to follow you down a silly path of grasping at straws. You are so desperate to discredit Techdirt that you are slinging accusations that don't make any sense. It's as if you said oh god, there's nothing much in this post for me to criticize since it's just aggregated comments, what can I do? What can I claim? I know! I'll accuse him of just making it all up.

              Are you really so paranoid that you ACTUALLY think the votes for the pointless, semi-fun little comment badges are rigged? I find that quite difficult to believe, and quite unhealthy if true.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:26pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                Yes, thanks AC, I can understand how rigging the votes would allow that, but I fail to see what purpose it would serve. How would faking the consent of a handful of commenters (and faking their comedic impact) actually benefit Techdirt or Mike in any meaningful way?

                Then I suppose you would also agree that it would serve no purpose for me to make anything up either or that the poll showing that 90% of Techdirt readers agree with me was somehow rigged. Good, I'm glad we got that out of the way.

                Do you picture the team sitting all day long watching the comments, saying "ooh, this guy deserves an LOL badge, let's give him one!"

                Do you picture Mike "sitting all day long watching the comments" at all? Nah, we know that he never reads them, does he? (sarcasm)

                I'm not coming up with excuses, I'm just refusing to follow you down a silly path of grasping at straws. You are so desperate to discredit Techdirt that you are slinging accusations that don't make any sense. It's as if you said oh god, there's nothing much in this post for me to criticize since it's just aggregated comments, what can I do? What can I claim? I know! I'll accuse him of just making it all up.

                Huh? By your own reasoning, what purpose would any of that serve? How would it profit me?

                Are you really so paranoid...

                Oh boy, there you go again. Enough with the name-calling, already.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  Marcus Carab (profile), 19 Jan 2011 @ 6:46am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                  It's not name calling. I am making a very clear statement of my opinion: the people accusing Mike of rigging the votes are being paranoid. I stand by that.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • identicon
                    Anonymous Coward, 25 Jan 2011 @ 6:15pm

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                    It's not name calling. I am making a very clear statement of my opinion: the people accusing Mike of rigging the votes are being paranoid. I stand by that.

                    When you attack the messenger, you're engaging in name calling, even if you stand by it. I've seen people (often in a group) call other people terrible names and "stand by it", too. I've got news for you "Marcus" (or whatever your real name is), standing by it doesn't make it right, especially when you choose to it anonymously on the Internet.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Rose M. Welch (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 9:57pm

          Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

          Well, I know that almost all of the LOL and Insightful choices that I made end up with the tag.

          There, now we're equal.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 10:32pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

            Well, I know that almost all of the LOL and Insightful choices that I made end up with the tag.
            There, now we're equal.


            Said the teacher's pet. Apparently, "some are more equal than others", to use the words of George Orwell.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Rose M. Welch (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:01am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

              Lulz. :P

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Marcus Carab (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 10:38am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

              So... Techdirt is either a) a community of people who, for the most part, don't agree with you on these issues and thus vote differently from you, or b) an Orwellian police state where all thought and expression is manipulated by the godlike Michael Masnick as he cackles away on his throne

              are you really prepared to say you are 100% sure it's the latter and not the former?

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • icon
                Rose M. Welch (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 12:59pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                ...manipulated by the godlike Michael Masnick as he cackles away on his throne...

                :::dies laughing:::

                link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:12pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                So... Techdirt is either a) a community of people who, for the most part, don't agree with you on these issues and thus vote differently from you...

                According to the poll, 90% *agree* with me. You must be in that other 10%.

                the godlike Michael Masnick as he cackles away on his throne

                You're the first to suggest here that Mike is godlike or has a throne. Wow, a true fanboy.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  Rose M. Welch (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:32pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                  According to the poll, 90% *agree* with me. You must be in that other 10%.

                  Yes, 90% of the people who e-mailed you (possibly including yourself). That's not even remotely close to a decent methodology.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • identicon
                    Anonymous Coward, 25 Jan 2011 @ 6:08pm

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                    Yes, 90% of the people who e-mailed you (possibly including yourself).

                    What? Are you suggesting I would rig the voting? But Mike wouldn't rig his, right? Riiiight...

                    That's not even remotely close to a decent methodology.

                    Every bit as "decent" as the voting *here* is.

                    Sorry, fangurl.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  Marcus Carab (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:48pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                  You're the first to suggest here that Mike is godlike or has a throne.

                  Yeah, I was totally stating that as my own opinion, and it was no way meant as a mockingly exaggerated version of yours. In fact there was measurably no sarcasm in that statement, just like in this one. I considered putting "/completelyliteral" at the end, but I see you figured it out anyway.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • identicon
                    Anonymous Coward, 25 Jan 2011 @ 6:11pm

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

                    Yeah, I was totally stating that as my own opinion,

                    Fair enough.

                    ....it was no way meant as a mockingly exaggerated version of yours.

                    That's good, but I don't engage in such worship.

                    In fact there was measurably no sarcasm in that statement, just like in this one.

                    If you say so.

                    I considered putting "/completelyliteral" at the end, but I see you figured it out anyway.

                    I bet you like to joke about bombs in airports too, don't you?

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2011 @ 4:40pm

          Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

          Welcome to the American Voting System.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 11:58pm

      Re: Vote? What Vote?

      What a joke, there is no "voting" process. It's just Mike marking which comments he finds "insightful or funny" and then claiming they were "voted" that way.

      Just to clarify: this is simply not true. I mean, why would I even bother setting up the whole voting process then? I could just as easily set up a post that says "these are my favorite comments." The voting system does work, and the comments selected were based on the actual votes.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2011 @ 7:43am

        Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

        Just to clarify: this is simply not true. I mean, why would I even bother setting up the whole voting process then? I could just as easily set up a post that says "these are my favorite comments."

        One possible reason was given above. Try reading.

        By the way, the votes for the above poll have been counted and the results are in!

        Percent of Techdirt readers who think the comment voting system is rigged: 90%
        Percent of those who consider themselves fan-boys: 0%
        Percent who dropped out of high school: 0%

        Of the 10% who don't think it's rigged, 90% admit to being either fan-boys, high school drop outs, or both.

        Hey, those were the votes, so you know it has to be true!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Marcus Carab (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 8:05am

          Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

          You're kinda losing your grasp on reality, huh?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:03pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Vote? What Vote?

            You're kinda losing your grasp on reality, huh?

            In what way? Ad hominem much?

            link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2011 @ 4:38pm

      Re: Vote? What Vote?

      All of this arguing and guess what? I am the one that is actually skewing the votes because I LOL then I don't click the button. HA!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 11:35am

    Poll

    Here's a poll for Techdidrt readers. Do you think the voting system here is rigged? To vote, just send an email to ixun2cdjwsahzbl@jetable.org with VOTE as the subject and three words in the body. Each of those three words can be either YES or NO to answer the two following questions in order:

    Is the Techdirt voting system rigged? YES or NO
    Are you a Techdirt Fanboi? YES or NO
    Did you drop out before graduating high school? YES or NO

    I'll let you know how the Techdirt readers vote later.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Todd Eastman (profile), 17 Jan 2011 @ 1:02pm

    The problem with the voting buttons

    I don't use the voting options very often because they are unbalanced. With the choices of "insightful," "funny," and "report" you have two positive choices, and one really negative choice. My suggestion is to add "disagree" and to remove "report" and replace it with "inappropriate." This would provide readers with a more balanced list of options, while providing you with statistics to facilitate the removal of abusive commenters.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Rose M. Welch (profile), 18 Jan 2011 @ 1:06am

      Re: The problem with the voting buttons

      I don't think it's about positive and negative. It seems to me more about description (which would make 'inappropriate' a better term).

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2011 @ 6:58pm

    I like this new collection of stuff...

    we need a "don't like" kind of button for trolls and idiotic arguments.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Fernando, 18 Jan 2011 @ 2:34pm

    proof them

    If you're going to promote user comments to first-class posts, go ahead and proofread them for spelling and grammar first.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2011 @ 2:49am

    Still looking for the BURIED comments.

    Where did they go?


    I'm not saying they disappeared, but...

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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