Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week

from the and-the-winner-is dept

Sun, Jan 23rd 2011 12:00pm — Mike Masnick

It seemed like most folks enjoyed last week's post highlighting the funniest/most insightful posts of the week, as rated by the community, so let's keep it up. And, we're kicking it off with the one comment that flat out dominated both categories. It got more votes than any other comment ever on the site, and sits at the top of the charts for both funny and insightful (though, it got about twice as many votes for funny as for insightful). So, step on up Johnjac, you win for this lovely comment parodying the RIAA's threats to ICANN concerning the .music domain:

Billions of children are born with ears every year. What are doctors doing to make sure these ears are not being used to listen to illegal music?

RIAA would love to work the medical professionals to stop music piracy at its source, the human ear. We strongly urge you to take these concerns seriously... we prefer a practical solution to these issues, and hope to avoid the need to escalate the issue further.

Coming in second on the insightful scale was (interestingly) also a commenter taking a letter written by industry folks, and "rewriting" it. In this case, it was commenter stellarwaif, who wrote a rebuttal letter to the letter written by a bunch of companies in favor of censoring the internet, via domain name seizures and anti-due process laws like COICA:

Here's my rebuttal letter. I encourage all innovative companies to read and if they agree, to sign this letter!

We run companies large and small that represent diverse aspects of America�s intellectual property community. While our employees live in different regions of the country, and work to produce a variety of goods and services, they have several important things in common � they work hard, they are committed to quality and innovation and they welcome competition. However, allowing a small group of companies to prevent fair competition in the marketplace cannot be tolerated. Supporting draconian intellectual property laws and punishing consumers for freedom of choice diminishes the market�s ability to freely innovate and build upon past successes and failures, and cannot be tolerated. In order to protect our free enterprise system, and the standard of living it has contributed to our nation, it is critical that we multiply our efforts to encourage development of new marketplaces, identify and break down the barriers created from unsustainable business models, and provide even greater freedom to consumers for what we create and produce.

Thus, we are appalled by the effort and energy behind Operation in Our Sites. The actions dictated on November 29, 2010 once again demonstrated that, just as in the physical world, defendants and courts are presented with indefensible arguments and poor evidence to distinguish between legitimate innovative businesses and archaic and failed enterprises that abuse the law and profit from denying the ingenuity of others. We believe that the online marketplace is the rightful domain of consumers and our task as creators is to respect their voice � and urge you to stop acts against the kinds of domains that you have targeted without due process nor respect for property rights and the rule of law. Fortunately, there are many options available for sites to continue to provide creative business ideas, and we believe that your efforts will drive consumers further away from failed online ventures and services that have worked hard to remain in business -- without fostering customer support.

We encourage you to work with your colleagues in the Administration and the Congress toward defeat of the principles central to S. 3804 � the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act. The legislation crafted by Senators Leahy and Hatch was unanimously approved by the uninformed Senate Judiciary Committee and roundly condemned by numerous organizations and media outlets, and will undoubtedly be reintroduced this congress. The proposal continues to pervert law enforcement techniques at the heart of �Operation In Our Sites� and attempts to ensure that private corporations can force the government to stifle competition and fair use without judicial oversight and without fairness under the law. The legislation will ensure that targeted sites will evade U.S. jurisdiction by creating a new class of registrar and domain name system unimpeded by governmental interference, regardless of source. In addition, the Leahy-Hatch proposal provides yet another level of protection for entrenched U.S. rights holders by establishing the legal framework necessary to protect failed business models of domestic sites and starving legitimate and creative businesses of the right to compete and thrive in a fair and level marketplace that all consumers can access. The dangerously imbalanced measure would allow American law enforcement officials and U.S. courts to create an island of stifled innovation and propel thriving businesses away from the Internet within the U.S. market while further smothering consumer choice and innovation so as to allow select businesses to reap diminishing financial gain for themselves.

We hope that you will cease dedicating any resources to Operation in Our Sites and reconsider support for the rule of law and for due process, and work toward legislation for a free, balanced and open marketplace, by the consumer, and for the consumer.

I won't post the actual comments, but a whole bunch of comments on the response to Jim D'Addario were voted highly, so you can read Ima Fish on the government's role in protecting business models, the official Anonymous Coward on how shooting first and asking questions later can backfire, Karl reminding us that the conflation of counterfeiting with copyright is a big part of the problem here, and last but not least, Chosen Reject highlighting a Samuel Adam's quote concerning those who "love wealth greater than liberty."

On the funny side, not only did Johnjac take the top position, but he took the second place spot as well, in response to our post about the Reagan library indoctrinating children to hate freedom of the press, because accurate reporting might harm people, John warned us as well asking:

Why is Techdirt irresponsibly reporting on this?

What if some harm comes to the library or worse its staff due this report?

For Shame. For Shame.

Close behind that was a comment from Mr. LemurBoy, choosing some rather groan-inducing gags concerning the Australian politician, who seemed to think it was a good thing that the Catholic church silenced Galileo for a century and assumed that governments could do that to Julian Assange:

Oh, it's not a joke. Just think of the gravity of the situation.

Maybe the politician thinks he's the center of the universe?

Separately, the story of the 82-year-old woman, who had trouble going through airport security in Canada with her prosthetic (gel-filled) breast (due to breast cancer) and a physical inability to lift her left arm as required by the naked scanner, led to many funny comments. Kevin pointed out the details of what she should have done, including getting a background check on the "technicians, assemblers, testers, nurses, doctors, and anyone else who may have handled the prosthetic." And then both pixelpusher220 and Dark Helmet had a nice run with attempts to Monty Python the situation.

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Filed Under: comments, funny, insightful

45 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jan 2011 @ 12:06pm

I can't imagine that you find that "rebuttal letter" anything other than childish and cheap. Then again, it's effectively pirating the original message, so I am sure it matched up to the old TD standards.

The scanner / breast scanner thing is the same. Nothing like overwhelmingly stupid and childish exaggeration to try to drag everyone away from a reasonable discussion.

Overall, if this is what caught your eye, I really have to start to wonder about your personal level of maturity.
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The eejit (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 12:20pm

Re:
So parodies are childish now? Try telling most 20th C. comedians and comediennes that.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jan 2011 @ 1:01pm

Re:
I think you did not get the idea of this post.

It is not "what caught Mike's eye". It is what was voted highly by the site's non-Anonymous users.

And the ones you are complaining about were voted highly on the "funny" category, so it is no wonder they are not serious comments.
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MrWilson, 23 Jan 2011 @ 1:06pm

Re:
"Then again, it's effectively pirating the original message,"

I agree! Criticism in the form of parody that is protected by the fair use doctrine and the 1st Amendment is effectively piracy.

For shame Techdirt! How dare you, sir?!? You are irresponsibly promoting the exercise of fundamental rights for the immature purpose of standing up against businesses who support the usurpation of Constitutional rights in the interest of preserving obsolete business models!

I am deeply saddened by this. Jesus and the Real Americans� in the Republican Party weep for your un-American practices. The socialists/communists/terrorists/atheists have surely won. Somewhere an American bald eagle is crying for your soul.
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coldbrew, 23 Jan 2011 @ 1:20pm

There are some comments on TC that are really funny, but I like how much sense many comments make here vs. any other tech related blog that I read. The people making comments in support of the entrenched industry, however, are ridiculous, and I really wish they would come say the same shit in person to me here in Denver. I just don't think they have the balls. There's no way they could say this shit in person.
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coldbrew, 23 Jan 2011 @ 1:20pm

Re:
s/TD/TC

sorry
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iamtheky (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 2:25pm

i know its only the second one, but this bit can be retired. If I have this straight these are posts about "What other people voted, the best of what other people said; about what I thought of what other people wrote about what other people did".

It even sounds awesome.
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Rose M. Welch (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 3:02pm

Re: Re:
Bucking for next week's funniest comment, huh? :P
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vivaelamor (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 3:08pm

Re:
"I just don't think they have the balls. There's no way they could say this shit in person."

Why not? I hope you're not implying that they might fear physical retaliation if they were there in person.

Personally I much rather discuss things online than in person, because it's a lot easier to hold a debate when one person can't talk over the other. Sure, people might abuse anonymity, but I think it's a small price to pay for not having to raise your voice to get a word in.
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vivaelamor (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 3:11pm

Re:
"know its only the second one, but this bit can be retired."

Or, as someone previously suggested, you could avoid Techdirt on the weekends. Some of us like having potentially interesting comments pointed out to us. I never find time to read all the stories on Techdirt let alone all the comments.
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The Mighty Buzzard (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 3:28pm

Re: Re:
They've always been childish but most people recognize that childishness has a place in comedy.
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Hephaestus (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 3:48pm

Re:
"I just don't think they have the balls."

Yes they do, and to prove it here is a restaining order, an court order to seize your domain names, a request to paypal and your credit card processing company to lock your accounts, an order to deport your house keeper even though she is a citizen, and an request to child protective services to have your children removed.

All said in person via proxy ...

Oh I get it! You wanted them to come out personally, they really don't work that way, they are cowards.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 3:56pm

Re:
I can't imagine that you find that "rebuttal letter" anything other than childish and cheap

What's "childish" about it? It seems entirely accurate and appropriate?

Overall, if this is what caught your eye, I really have to start to wonder about your personal level of maturity.

Not what caught my eye. As stated, this is what the community voted on.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 3:57pm

Re:
i know its only the second one, but this bit can be retired

Most people seemed to like it. What do you not like about it?
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Still does..., 23 Jan 2011 @ 4:39pm

DMNTD
like this bit.
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Atkray (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 4:50pm

This feature is outstanding reading for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Interesting enough to keep you from napping but fluffy enough that it doesn't require attention or focus(both sorely absent by this point).

I wholeheartedly agree with those who look forward to seeing things missed.

Additionally it really makes my day to see the first comment by an AC pissing and moaning about yet another post and demonstrating yet again why my writing teachers have suggested that outside of academic or professional writing you should try to keep the Flesch-Kincaid level below 6TH grade.
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Some Other Guy, 23 Jan 2011 @ 5:20pm

Re:
Hating on childishness?

Will no-one think of the children???
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Hephaestus (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 5:32pm

Re: Re:
"Why not? I hope you're not implying that they might fear physical retaliation if they were there in person."

The whole problem is that they do nothing in person that affects the people they are dealing with. They sue the weak, which is children and old people, to say we are tough on infringement (P2P). They shut down legitimate web sites by forcing unfair terms on them via law suits (EMI). ETC They do nothing "to promote the progress". They do this in the name of copyright.

Physical retaliation is the least of their concerns. They will alway be Anonymous Cowards because hiding behind a group of like minded individuals gives them strength. They have no ability as individuals to do anything of worth so they try to prevent others from advancing.
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Hephaestus (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 5:53pm

Re:
"i know its only the second one, but this bit can be retired."

Okay, hmmm ... how to begin this?

To extend knowledge in an online world you need to be able to sort through all the crap. Laxatives, Viagra, Darryl, blue green snow flake number 37, are all examples of this. You need the best concepts and ideas to bubble to the top. No search engine can currently do this. They do not do concepts.

People voting ideas, concepts, and opinions up does find the most relevent. It promotes the best and in some cases the worst of the web.

What techdirt should also do is post the straight numbers on this stuff right after they post the Funniest most insightful with no commentary just, insightful, funny, report with links to comments.
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average_joe (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 6:16pm

How did Dark Helmet's post about "disease-infested man-sausage" not win funniest post? Maybe there should be a recount. I'd include the hanging chads.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110120/04272412742/jim-daddario-defends-his-support-coi ca-domain-seizures.shtml#c1413
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Hephaestus (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 8:01pm

I came back to this several times today and just figured out why ...
Today I was busy and kept coming back to this funniest-insightful comment piece and I just realized why. Not why I came back but what I was missing.

Pointing out the insightful parts of techdirt scares people in the IP industry. You can read the comments above to see that. What if every web site did this, and once a week pointed out the most relevent posts. The ones that allowed for those moments of clarity to shine forth.

Mike keep it up. This is a good thing.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jan 2011 @ 8:13pm

Re:
If you pay the ticket, the hotel, and the like, I will be there in a flash. I would say the sh-t right to your face too, because it's the truth.

Rewording a statement to say the opposite is grade school stuff. Not much more to add.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jan 2011 @ 8:15pm

Re:
"I can't imagine that you find that "rebuttal letter" anything other than childish and cheap."

It's childish and cheap for you to come here for the sake of complaining about how childish and cheap you think everyone who disagrees with you is just because they disagree with you.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jan 2011 @ 8:16pm

Re: I came back to this several times today and just figured out why ...
Oddly, most of the insightful posts are just the choir yelling "amen" back to the preacher. They are insightful only because people want to agree, be part of the "cool kids". Insightful posts would add significantly to a discussion, not just pat the dear leader on the back and tell him he did a good job.

The level of childish writing in the voted best comments of the week only shows what the readership is like.

Can I get an Amen?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jan 2011 @ 8:32pm

Re: Re: Re:
I think AC is trying to win the most childish comment of the week award.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Jan 2011 @ 8:37pm

Re: Re: I came back to this several times today and just figured out why ...
"The level of childish writing"

Your writing is any less childish how?

At least the voted comments are meant to be funny, and not 100 percent serious, and humor often has an intentionally childish aspect to it.

You're comments are meant to be serious, with no humor, and so your childishness is genuine and not a product of trying to be funny or sarcastic.
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johnjac (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 8:55pm

Thanks for all the Votes
This made my week!
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Chris Rhodes (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 9:41pm

Re:
The people making comments in support of the entrenched industry, however, are ridiculous, and I really wish they would come say the same shit in person to me here in Denver. I just don't think they have the balls. There's no way they could say this shit in person.

Our resident industry trolls and shills don't even have the balls to put a name next to their posts, much less debate in person. You're expecting waaaay too much from them.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 9:50pm

Re:
How did Dark Helmet's post about "disease-infested man-sausage" not win funniest post? Maybe there should be a recount. I'd include the hanging chads.

Ha! Well, yeah, it actually jumped up late Friday/over the weekend, but I put this post together Friday afternoon, before all the votes were in... But, that could count toward's next week's since those votes will count towards next week.
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Hephaestus (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 10:04pm

Re: Re: Re: I came back to this several times today and just figured out why ...
"You're comments are meant to be serious, with no humor, and so your childishness is genuine and not a product of trying to be funny or sarcastic."

You obviously came here for the funny stuff ... sorry not much of that this week, play again next week. ;)

Now on to the stuff you both missed or ignored. Much like wikipedia, the chinese human flesh search engines, when people get together and collaborate they accelerate the accumulation of knowledge.

Picking and highlighting Funny, Inciteful, or just plain wrong (Report) shows what people find interesting and worth (or not) reading. It brings it to the forefront. Making all the relevant comments stand out.

I am not a fanboi of tech dirt or mike. I agree with him on about 50% of what is discussed here. But this section is worth keeping as a synopsis of what the community thinks is worthwhile, and relevant. It takes the comments that should be seen by the many, and should be full posts here, and brings them forward from the noise.

Personally I wish it would be expanded to top ten insightful comments and top ten funnys presented over the weekend.
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Hephaestus (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 10:13pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: I came back to this several times today and just figured out why ...
sorry didnt finish

Personally I wish it would be expanded to top ten insightful comments and top ten funnys presented over the weekend as individual posts.
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Hephaestus (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 10:16pm

Re: Thanks for all the Votes
I am deaf to your comments ... ;)

Congrats
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Hephaestus (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 10:28pm

Re: Re:
"Our resident industry trolls and shills don't even have the balls to put a name next to their posts, much less debate in person."

Funny statistic. The top 20 percent of sites like tech dirt account for less than 1% of blogging.

So even if people listened to them on sites like this. They would still be missing 99% of the blog-o-sphere.
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Nick Coghlan (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 11:02pm

Re: Re:
I assume this is the AC that was accusing Mike of *making up* the funny/insightful ratings last week, as if that was somehow easier and more likely than the post judging buttons behaving exactly as advertised.
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Nick Coghlan (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 11:05pm

Re: Re:
If you can reword a statement to say the opposite and have the facts support it equally well (or better), then it really doesn't say a lot for the original statement.

And that's the point of this particular parody.
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Nick Coghlan (profile), 23 Jan 2011 @ 11:09pm

Re: Re:
A feature that might be cool is a live (or semi-live) page on the website that ranked the insightful/funny posts.

Filter to the posts in the most recent completed week by default, but allow the time range to be modified if desired.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Jan 2011 @ 1:14am

Re: Re: I came back to this several times today and just figured out why ...
Unlike the official industry sites, which don't even have a "choir" to show off.
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Richard (profile), 24 Jan 2011 @ 1:46am

Re: Re: Re:
Also a list of stories with the most recent comments on - so we can see at a glance which threads of discussion are still live.
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Richard (profile), 24 Jan 2011 @ 1:55am

Re:
I read the comment -- keep that sense of humour going AJ!
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Richard (profile), 24 Jan 2011 @ 2:02am

Re: Re: I came back to this several times today and just figured out why ...
sightful posts would add significantly to a discussion, not just pat the dear leader on the back and tell him he did a good job.

Sadly most of the contrarian comments are really not very insightful. At best they parrot well established views, at worst they degenerate into name - calling. If you want to be rated insightful then you need to be original and lay off the crude insults. Supplying some facts would help too!
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Jan 2011 @ 2:30am

LOVE IT!!!

As long as you keep up with the AJ and other monikers, I will never have to comment again. I love the forced arguments.

HUGS from Marina Del Ray, CA.

AC #1
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techflaws.org (profile), 24 Jan 2011 @ 3:09am

Re: Re:
Well, I'd like an ignore button that would fold comments from flagged people. This way I wouldn't have to scroll down a lot just to skip Darryl's endless bullsh!t.

Best would be however a flag that would mark all comments written since my last login as unread so catching up with them is easier.
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techflaws.org (profile), 24 Jan 2011 @ 3:12am

Re: Re: I came back to this several times today and just figured out why ...
Oddly, most of the insightful posts are just the choir yelling "amen" back to the preacher.

No reason to be angry just because those ACs never get an insightful for making up facts and putting statements into people's mouths.
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Rose M. Welch (profile), 24 Jan 2011 @ 5:32am

Re: Re:
I like it. It puts a nice cap on the week and highlights neat things I missed. :)
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Shon Gale (profile), 24 Jan 2011 @ 6:17am

The only thing impeding technological progress are the technology companies, and the only thing stopping us from being cured are the drug companies.
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