I can blame them, that's who. The German people are by no means stupid. The way you get that kind of historic horrificness to repeat itself is by hiding it, rather than understanding it. Pretending like the average German citizen can't be trusted not to raise another Hitler would be like outlawing information on slavery in the American south. It'd be stupid.
Yes, I'm actually glad Mike got to writing this piece before I did, because I was going to take a slightly different angle that may have upset some people. That angle would have been: Dear Germany: take your fucking head out of the sand and stop pretending Hitler didn't happen.
The idea that there are laws on the books in Germany which force Twitter to censor assholes simply because an exponentially larger German asshole killed millions of people, but Germany wants to pretend that never happened, is fucking stupid. Sorry, Germany, but Hitler is damn well part of your history. Outlawing fascist speech, outlawing Mein Kampf, and all the rest may be well-intentioned, but it will only do the opposite of what you expect.
It will embolden the hateful while also turning them into something of a victim. Worse, younger generations may not get the full scope and picture of what happened historically, thus perhaps causing history to repeat itself rather than all of us learning the lessons of the past.
So, the enemy hear really isn't Twitter. It's Germany. Again. It's crime is trying to obfuscate the fact that its people, two generations ago, killed millions of people. Too bad, they did. Get over it. Most of the rest of the world has. Your turn.
I propose we launch IW1 (Internet War 1) against the ironically fascist German government aim to obfuscate their past. Speech should be as free or more free in Germany as it is in America. Mein Kampf should NOT be censored, but understood for the idiotic hate-shit that it is, which requires reading the idiotic hate-shit inside of it.
Yeah, Joe's complaint smacks of the "The DNC didn't include the word GOD in their platform (despite mentioning faith and religion several times)! ERMEGERD! THEYR HERTS GERD!!!!" nonsense....
"Simple, because they probably are infringers and settling is far less risky and expensive."
So sayeth Average Joe, omnipotent seer? They've already shown that they're willing to engage the legal system to fight this. Your version of Occam's Razor says that's most likely because they're guilty? What the hell?
My favorite part in his Daily Show interview was when he spent a couple minutes lamenting about how there were only a handful of successful bands in his time, when the labels dominated....and then went on to talk about how tough it is for bands today.
Given that all of the history indicates that copyright trolls like Malibu Media have no intention of going to trial and will drop a case the instant any actual work may have to be done, why would you assume any of the defendants, who have so far been willing to push back on the case, would prefer to settle?
Sadly, they did not reach out to me for this one. Likely because folks like Neil Gaiman are pure awesome and I'm only in the kinda-cool category. Won't stop me from picking this up, though!
On the other hand, if anyone feels like barraging these guys to include any of my books in the next bundle, I won't stop you....
Yes, the complete dupe ruse the film's producers pulled on her must be why she was so outraged for the four months the trailer was on YouTube before all this became news.
If only we Tims could wrangle up enough support to pressure Mike to flying us out there for free, on a private jet even. Come on, wrangle the masses!!!
Cheers to Techdirt and its 50kth post! As I'm sure all of my fans, and really, which among you can't say you love me, I'm from the greatest city in the world, Chicago. As such, Techdirt, I'm sure, will be flying me, free of charge mind you, out to San Fransico for this wonderful event. Yes, it'll be all limos out of San Fran (Oakland? Please!!!) and champaigne with those awesome olives that have garlic in them.
While I have yet to receive my complimentary air fare, limo voucher, and subsequent 3 day stay in Napa Valley to sample exquisite wines and various French cheeses, I am certain all of the above will be arriving in the mail any day now. So, for those of you fans who love you some Dark Helmet, I encourage you forthwith to show your appreciation for all the free shit I want my part time job to give to me.
I promise you, if your protestations are successful, I shall entertain you with naughty jokes and possible nudity.
On the post: Charles Carreon Still Dishing Out Threats & Intimidation... While Hiding From Court Summons
Re: Re: Re: Wait a second: weren't you claiming Megaupload can't be served?
On the post: Twitter Cuts Off Illegal Neo Nazi Group Account In Germany
Re: Re: Re: Re:
That said, the restriction of speech by certain groups as a result of their past is still a symptom of what I was discussing....
On the post: Twitter Cuts Off Illegal Neo Nazi Group Account In Germany
Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Twitter Cuts Off Illegal Neo Nazi Group Account In Germany
Re: Re:
The idea that there are laws on the books in Germany which force Twitter to censor assholes simply because an exponentially larger German asshole killed millions of people, but Germany wants to pretend that never happened, is fucking stupid. Sorry, Germany, but Hitler is damn well part of your history. Outlawing fascist speech, outlawing Mein Kampf, and all the rest may be well-intentioned, but it will only do the opposite of what you expect.
It will embolden the hateful while also turning them into something of a victim. Worse, younger generations may not get the full scope and picture of what happened historically, thus perhaps causing history to repeat itself rather than all of us learning the lessons of the past.
So, the enemy hear really isn't Twitter. It's Germany. Again. It's crime is trying to obfuscate the fact that its people, two generations ago, killed millions of people. Too bad, they did. Get over it. Most of the rest of the world has. Your turn.
I propose we launch IW1 (Internet War 1) against the ironically fascist German government aim to obfuscate their past. Speech should be as free or more free in Germany as it is in America. Mein Kampf should NOT be censored, but understood for the idiotic hate-shit that it is, which requires reading the idiotic hate-shit inside of it.
IW1: This Time, It's Only Kind of Personal....
On the post: Nutella Nastygrams Restaurant Promoting Its Product, Opens The Door For Competitors
Re: Re:
On the post: Bringing Artists & Entrepreneurs Together To Help Each Other
Re: Was it "truly fantastic", Mike?
On the post: Jared Polis Tells FTC To Back Off Google Antitrust Investigation
Re: Corporatized Freedom
- Mike appears to never worry about corporations doing evil."
The move studios and music labels (corporations) will be so glad to hear that all of their dislike for this site is completely unfounded....
On the post: The Dark Patent Troll Rises: Now 40% Of All Patent Litigation
Re:
On the post: New Jersey Transit's 'Text Against Terror' Program Exchanges $5.8 Million For ZERO Terrorists
Re:
On the post: No, Mitt Romney Didn't Personally Hack Your Facebook
Re: what a steaming pile
First, shame on you for not knowing this. Second, here you go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackers_(film)
On the post: No, Mitt Romney Didn't Personally Hack Your Facebook
Re: Re:
1. Initiate long-held plan to assassinate Mike Masnick, leading to my ascending to President
2. Ensure all government badges/emblems had "Motherfucking Eagle" plastered on them
3. Make the TSA where clown outfits. I mean, if they're going to go around creeping people out anyway....
4. Rescind the enforcement of copyright/patent law to a hilarious 3 days and watch the scrambling fun
5. Have my cabinet littered with high-priced call girls. At briefings around the table, my head is the only one you'll be able to see.
Is that REALLY what you want in a President?!!?!?
On the post: PETA Vs. Pokemon
Re: not really in line with peta
On the post: PETA Vs. Pokemon
Re:
On the post: Judge Calls Copyright Troll's Bluff
Re: Re: Re:
So sayeth Average Joe, omnipotent seer? They've already shown that they're willing to engage the legal system to fight this. Your version of Occam's Razor says that's most likely because they're guilty? What the hell?
On the post: Pete Townshend Makes Required Annual 'Blame iTunes' Appearance, Global Deathclock Reset
My favorite part...
What....the....FUCK!?!?!?!?
On the post: Judge Calls Copyright Troll's Bluff
Re:
On the post: Humble Bundle Launches Its First eBook Bundle; Books From Neil Gaiman, Cory Doctorow, John Scalzi & More
Re:
On the other hand, if anyone feels like barraging these guys to include any of my books in the next bundle, I won't stop you....
On the post: Innocence Of Muslims Actress Now Argues That The Movie Violates Her Copyright
Re:
Oh, wait....
On the post: Come Celebrate 15 Years Of Techdirt (And 50,000 Posts)!
Re: Congratulations on 50K
On the post: Come Celebrate 15 Years Of Techdirt (And 50,000 Posts)!
Come see Dark Helmet in action!!!
While I have yet to receive my complimentary air fare, limo voucher, and subsequent 3 day stay in Napa Valley to sample exquisite wines and various French cheeses, I am certain all of the above will be arriving in the mail any day now. So, for those of you fans who love you some Dark Helmet, I encourage you forthwith to show your appreciation for all the free shit I want my part time job to give to me.
I promise you, if your protestations are successful, I shall entertain you with naughty jokes and possible nudity.
Love and kisses,
Dark Helmet
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