Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt
from the for-the-children dept
Getting the highest score for "most insightful" this week was Rich Kulawiec, with his comment in response to the TV networks suing DISH for providing a tool to let viewers automatically skip commercials. Rich pointed out the obvious question:And yet it never occurs to them to ask why viewers are so very eager to skip commercials.They don't see consumers. They see revenue. Of course, that revenue may be short term because of that.
Coming in second was jupiterkansas with a nice comment on why focusing on "theft" may not be good business:
I used to go to a hobby shop where the guy working there would follow you around, pretending to straighten the shelves while watching you to make sure you didn't steal anything. I just quit shopping there.For editor's choice, I'll start with John Doe's simple question of what penalty is there for politicians who blatantly seek unconstitutional laws or actions:
Even if you manage to every last instance of shoplifting, it has nothing to do with making your business more successful. That doesn't mean you should do nothing, but treating customers like potential criminals is not good business.
What is the penalty for violating the constitution? You can be fined $87,500 for sharing one song. You can get many years in jail for smoking weed. Yet you pass an unconstitutional law violating the very foundation of our country and you get nothing? Not a fine? No jail time? You even get to keep your office where you are free to violate peoples rights over and over. Sounds fair doesn't it?And then we have Milton Freewater's comment suggesting that I was "too conservative" in my post comparing comments from Amanda Palmer and Steve Albini talking about why internet file sharing is a good thing. Milton felt there was a bigger point, that file sharing is not piracy:
Palmer and Albini are stating in no uncertain terms that file-sharing is not piracy.Over to the funnies. Taking the top spot is our own E. Zachary Knight exploring the stages of grief of SOPA supporters:
Yes, they're saying it's what you do with it, but they're also saying it's socially and morally acceptable behavior in general, regardless of how you use it.
And they're arguing that from the artist's point of view, not the consumer's. Consumers have an even stronger argument. You shouldn't have to get somebody's permission before simply sharing their work with other people, such sharing isn't piracy, and the First Amendment should keep the US government from interfering with such activity.
Finally, they're saying very clearly that file-sharing builds fanbases, period. Not for some, but inherently, every time it happens. "Building fanbases" is to "file-sharing as "blue" is to "summer sky."
Done.
I really wish these people would move along through the stages of grief. They have been stuck at Denial for so long and have only hinted at anger. We need to move on.Coming in a (very) close second is an Anonymous Coward explaining how Hollywood math can save the economy:
Come one people. It is only five steps: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Hollywood actors and politicians are able to go through 12 step programs on a consistent basis, why are these five steps so difficult?
They're right. Movie-making is the heart of the US economy. We should dump all those smoke-belching, chemical-polluting industries and invest heavily in movie-making.For editor's choice, we'll start with an Anonymous Coward's response to someone claiming that Windows is not a compelling operating system. This AC took issue with that claim:
If 3 movie studios can contribute $5 TRILLION dollars to the US economy, imagine what 25 more movie studios could do for us! Imagine a 1,000 movie studios! We would own the Chinese, lock, stock and chopsticks!
What are we waiting for? Let's get on th...
What's that? You say that you don't want MORE movie studios? You just want all the money for yourselves? Oh!
Well, never mind!!!
Not true at all...And, finally, I'll leave you with the comment from A Guy who has discovered the power of "for the children."
Windows IS a compelling OS. It's compelled me to try Slackware, Debian, RedHat, Ubuntu, Solaris, and even OSX...
We should censor everything I don't like on the internet... for the children.Tomorrow is Memorial Day, so we'll be out barbecuing and stuff. However, I expect we'll be back on Tuesday, on the (reasonable, I'd say) assumption that there will be things to talk about by then...
We should also print up a big batch of money and transfer it into my bank account... for the children.
Finally, we NEED everyone who disagrees with me to stop speaking up so I have all the power... for the children.
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I think that's exactly what they see, including the implied passivity of so many heads of cattle grazing.
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Someone after my own heart.
Walk into of any of the 800 universally overpriced "Shoppers Drug Mart" chain stores in Canada. Ever notice how they always say "hi" to you when you enter?
Do you know why they do that? It's because they're trained to do that as a subtle message to you that you're being watched.
Retail rule of thumb: treat everyone as a thief - it's good for business, unless you do it to someone with a brain.
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And here was I thinking it was to copy the Japanese.
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I have no idea what the Japanese motive might be, but in the situation cited, the message is "we're watching you", period.
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Now the television broadcaster brain trust wants to sue and label commercial skippers "thieves"!
Way to go television brains! It sure makes me want to spend more time in front of the idiot box. With the power disconnected, of course.
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Ah, yes - War Pig Day! Celebrating the pointless deaths of fallen heroes committed to murdering the innocent and dying themselves by Gutless Criminal Zeros: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/guest-post-war-pigs-fall-global-empire
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So, you know, go fuck yourself.
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You celebrate what you believe in. Me, I'll choose to remember those fellow veterans who gave their lives doing something they felt they had to do.....serving their country.
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Re: Do you know why they do that? It's because they're trained to do that as a subtle message to you that you're being watched.
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Why do I skip commericials?
Over the years, episode times get reduced to cram in more commercials. Not even interesting commercials. The products and services are mostly garbage.
Now it's typically 42 minutes of program. But that's not enough; now they put ads on the screen telling what's coming next.
Anyway, the customer is the advertiser; not you, the viewer. You the viewer are the product. So in spite of my having buttons on the remote that tell me what channel I'm watching, and what's on next, you can be sure that product placement will become more obvious.
Because, dammit, you will look sexy if you buy this new car NOW!
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And yet it never occurs to them to ask why viewers are so very eager to skip commercials."
Yet, did he ask the question about how the stuff is going to get paid for? Reality check please!
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OH I forgot, because it can be on the internet it HAS to have different rules...
I know some of you feel differently, and I am willing to defend that right to say so, with my Life....
Semper Fi
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Quote:
Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110522212139AAkT6IO
ps: I get amazed to find any question posted on the internet, maybe is because I grew up without people answering every single question I had, but sure it is impressive to me to this day, to do a search and find people asking the same question online and getting an answer.
This video, Japan Sounds - Irashaimase, prepares you for the next to, so you know what to look for, aham! listen for :)
Whe the guy enters the convinience store you can hear 2 or 3 employees greeting him.
Youtube: Japanese Convenience Store
The moment he steps into the McDonalds you can hear the greeting.
Amazing Japanese Cell Phone Coupon at McDonalds!
Type "irashaimase" on Youtube and you see a lot more.
Although sometimes a feel the urge to jump to conclusions, for me it is not helpful most of the time what I thought something was to be interpreted as was wrong so I have let go of that habit a long time ago. After saying that I am asking you why do you believe that is the case?
Have you asked the employees why they do what they do?
The answers and the manner how it is answered can give you some surprising insights into why people do what they do.
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Why aren't more commercials like that?
More importantly, why is it my fault that (just like bad shows) I wish to avoid bad commercials?
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Did you know that when you buy a spot on TV show you don't get to chose anything, just the slot, you don't get a refund if the show is crap and has lower ratings, what you get is a promise that it will be great.
Heck it costs $100K for a 2 minute spot or it used to, it goes even higher if the show is a success, if nothing else piracy enhances the numbers of viewers how is that a bad thing at all?
Because the stupid people can't figure out how to place ads on it?
Even George Lucas figure it out already, he has a Clone Wars website(only accessible in the US) and he is tinny compared to other networks.
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Re: Why do I skip commericials?
Streamlined Mythbusters
http://nrkbeta.no/2012/05/21/mythbusters-the-pirates-cut/
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Hollywood Pirates.
Source: Wired: The 35th Birthday of Star Wars? It Died 15 Years Ago by Cade Metz on May 25, 2012.
Why Geroge Lucas was never sued to oblivion or called a thief is a mystery to me.
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Sure they are a dying niche now but they had a good run for 50+ years.
And go back farther to radio and the shows then were sponsored by companies and had their name stated over and over but people flocked to the shows anyway since that was the major point, good entertainment.
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There used to be a tv show in which they showed funny (or just interesting) tv ads.
The bulk of the show was ads. And people enjoyed it. It was funny.
Of course that's just one idea. They could also sell loooots of t-shrts...
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And yet it never occurs to them to ask why viewers are so very eager to skip commercials."
Yet, did he ask the question about how the stuff is going to get paid for? Reality check please!
How much does it benefit the company that buys the right to insert the commercial if people are only watching it because they are forced to?
To complete the money chain you refer to people have to actually go out and buy the things that are advertised. Otherwise the advertisers will stop buying space.
Mechanisms that merely force viewers to watch commercials against their will are of no utility (possibly even negative utility) for the advertiser.
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The second most frightening thing is when everyone in the store lines up before the store opens - men in dark suits, women in uniforms - and they all bow and say "Irasshiamase!" in unison as you walk in 30 seconds later.
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Ha ha very punny.
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Yet, did you notice that nowhere in his comment he DID NOT state let's do away with commercials entirely? Reading comprehension check please!
Television shows are getting paid for by advertising. The fact of the matter is the vast majority of people skip commercials in one way, shape or form. Either by fast forwarding through them or by changing the channel or by leaving the room. Those commercials, one way or another, have already been paid for. Whether they're actually being watched or not. And by default, those shows are being paid for by those same commercials (regardless of whether they're being watched).
My television is off the majority of the day. Yet somehow, despite me not seeing any commercials during that time (and the same goes for my family) the shows we do enjoy watching and turn the television on for are still being produced. Insane isn't it? Your logic is terrible. Please rethink your statement and then try again.
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Re: Re: Do you know why they do that? It's because they're trained to do that as a subtle message to you that you're being watched.
You may not ascribe ulterior motives to a simple greeting by store personnel, yet those motives are still part of the reason for "friendly greetings". It has been many years (actually nearly two decades) since I worked in a retail job, but even back then we were trained to look each new customer in the eye (we were told to always aim for direct eye contact, if possible) and greet them.
It was, of course, a friendly thing to do. However, we were told that those who are there to case the place, or to shoplift, preferred to not be looked at. Thieves like to blend in and not be remembered, they don't want attention. Supposedly (according to our security guy) thieves who feel they're being watched will leave.
Anyway, as a customer it's nice to be greeted, but those greetings aren't done just for friendliness.
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Re: Re: Re: Do you know why they do that? It's because they're trained to do that as a subtle message to you that you're being watched.
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Why We Hate Commercials
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You sort of fail here. If everyone skips the commercials (automatically), then having the commercials in there is meaningless. It sort of becomes wasted effort.
"My television is off the majority of the day. Yet somehow, despite me not seeing any commercials during that time (and the same goes for my family) the shows we do enjoy watching and turn the television on for are still being produced. Insane isn't it? Your logic is terrible."
Wow. Do you honestly think anyone expects you to somehow magically watch commercials when your TV is off? I am confused here!
I would say it's your logic that is seriously lacking.
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Last time I checked, shows were down to something like 40 minutes per hour to allow the commercial to be played. One third of air time is for ads.
The shows are crap and they are not worth sitting through. When I was around a tv, I found it more entertaining to watch the people watching the tv than to watch the show. When you get to that stage, it's time to start thinking about the broadcasters paying you to watch.
I never realized just how jarring they are to your serenity in life till you escape them.
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WE'RE DOOMED!
http://torrentfreak.com/acta-unredacted-docs-show-european-commission-negotiation-failure s-120528/
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My point was quite clear. I DO NOT watch commercials, why? My television is off. Yet somehow, despite missing a rather significant amount of commercials on a daily basis, the shows I do watch on occasion still get made. GASP!
And again, no fail on my part. Most people skip commercials, it's a fact. The commercials are meaningless, but the point I made was, they're still there. I don't understand how you have difficult understanding what I wrote. Perhaps you're just not sharp enough to grasp things.
So since you obviously can't read simple sentences, let me try and put it a bit clearer... the commercials, which are largely being ignored/bypassed, are still there and still being paid to air, which funds the shows. Regardless. That was my point.
But that's still not even related to the part you quoted. Which went to show that the original poster DID NOT at all, in any way, say let's do away with commercials entirely, which is what you said and took from his comment. The fail, to begin with, was entirely on your part. I would suggest that you go take a reading comprehension class somewhere. It might do you some good. Or better said, it WOULD MOST DEFINITELY do you some good, not might. Then again it would probably be wasted time on your part, I get the feeling it still wouldn't help you.
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They've forgotten the important element in consumers is the customer.
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Re: The Cusomer is the Advertiser; not you
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Re: Re: Re: Do you know why they do that? It's because they're trained to do that as a subtle message to you that you're being watched.
I've never perceived that as being "friendly," but rather as an indication that I'm about to have to talk to a salesperson.
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"...the soldiers on the ground deserve our respect". Not from me they don't. If you want to respect a gang of paid killers, go right ahead. If you want to think "trying to give us a better world" involves invading other nations and taking them over, killing their populace, and raping their women and girls, well, that's your belief. But don't expect me to go along with it. Perhaps you can explain how actions such as that help give us a "better world", what your concept of a "better world" is, and what you are doing to help give us this "better world".
In the meantime, you can, you know, go fellate your beloved Uncle Sam.
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I usually don't like to lower myself to this level, but go die in a fire you piece of rotten scum.
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