Re: Re: Morals mean nothing because their very definition is skewed
You may not be aware, That One Guy, but Maoist China, along with Stalinist Russia, were among the most brutal dictatorships of the twentieth century, killing tens of millions of people - estimates reach up to 100 million. By contrast, the Crusades (which were primarily defensive engagements), the Inquisition, and the Salem witch trials together took approximately only 1 percent of that total in loss of life, over a span of five hundred years. I merely state this as a point of comparison.
The better solution, I believe, is to avoid restricting who can purchase your product entirely. Apple is merely a vendor and its responsibilities should not extend beyond that field. What customers do with their product after it is sold is not necessary for Apple to be concerned with. It is much the same as those who place responsibility for bad actions upon the tools rather than those who use them. An unfortunate oversight on their part.
A better way would be to reduce the factors in our nation which cause others to be hostile to us. Namely, scaling back our military efforts by a large degree and eliminating our espionage programs (such as those responsible for Stuxnet) entirely, as well as the alphabet agencies who sponsor them. And adopt an earthly version of the Prime Directive. No interference in the internal affairs of other nations. As well as abandoning all international treaties which seek to force our laws upon other nations - namely, ACTA and TPP, among others.
Purple AC 33. Please show us a single work that makes no references whatsoever to any other created work or idea. You cannot, because culture is built in its entirety upon what came before. What you are doing is mistaking reinterpretation for brand new creation. They are not the same thing. Human culture is merely the reinterpretation of existing ideas and stories.
Also, Pat, explain how an idea can be "stolen." One cannot reach in and remove an idea from an individual's mind. That idea is still there and therefore, still exists. Copying is not theft because no loss has occurred. Thusly, the term "idea poaching" is highly inaccurate.
You make these claims, Wally, but you do not provide any evidence to support them. Also, preemptive acts are never justified no matter what the reason. If you were truly concerned about the effects of nuclear weapons, you would push for the US to disarm its own supply first, which is the largest in the world.
Acting out of fear is never the correct course of action. It is the US government's continual and deliberate interference in the affairs of other nations that is a substantial reason for the world's dislike of this country. Had we adopted and practiced an earthly version of the Prime Directive, this would not be the case. And without built-up resentment, other nations would have had less cause to want to do the US harm.
Acts of sabotage are never right, no matter the supposed reason. They are, by their very nature, acts born of fear rather than logic. Rather than attempt to push its agenda upon all other nations as it currently is, the US ought to instead adopt the Prime Directive, recall all military personnel from abroad, and work in peace to ensure a better world for its people.
Dictators rise and fall, it is the way of human nature, and many who are there now are only in the position due to US influence and serve as puppet rulers. If our government truly believes in self-determination, then it needs to withdraw all forces from abroad and let other nations govern themselves without any US influence whatsoever.
It is an unfortunate reality that the worst villains often see themselves as heroes, and that the US in large part suffers from such a mistaken view of things. And it is this government's myopia and hypocrisy which condemns this country in the sight of other nations. Violence and the threat of it should be the last resort, not the first. And tactics such as sabotage should be avoided entirely, unless you wish the US to become a nation of Romulans. Personally, I would prefer the Federation instead.
The difficulty with a boycott lies in the fact that they are often disorganized, and for any meaningful amount of monetary damage to be inflicted, hundreds of millions of people must participate simultaneously and for a sustained period of time. The damage must be severe enough and immediate enough that these organizations are crippled beyond the ability to recover. Inflicting any less than multibillion dollar damages upon them within a short time frame still leaves them with the ability to function. In other words, what you believe would happen to these companies and organizations if they suddenly and without warning took a 50 billion dollar loss?
I do not agree. Pricing is most effective when done according to a product's marginal cost. In the case of digital goods, that marginal cost is zero. Therefore, to be economically correct, the prices of ebooks must be lowered to reflect that marginal cost. Many authors have already done so, pricing their ebooks at $1 to $2 at most, and seen far greater sales as a result. The reason this is so is because people are more likely to buy at lower prices. You must price according to what they deem reasonable, not you. If you do and your product is of high quality, you will far exceed in sales volume what you would have made at a higher price.
Your confusion about God's reasons for placing the tree in the garden are understandable, PatM, and there is nothing wrong with that. He did so because he made us with free will, with the ability to choose. Otherwise, we could not love. You cannot know what love is if you do not know what it is not, and you cannot love if you cannot choose to love. But for such a choice to be possible, it must also be possible to choose not to love. Thus, he does not force us to love him, because to do so would be meaningless. He wishes us to be free sons and daughters, not puppets or automatons. Anyone can come to him if they choose to, no matter who they are or what they have done. Through his Son's death and resurrection, we are reconciled to him if we accept it.
To return to the topic at hand, governments will not cease to abuse their authority until they are forced to do so. It would be better if that goal were achieved through financial starvation of the companies who influence them rather than outright rebellion. However, it is possible that such a revolt may be the only option. A last resort, if other methods fail. Starfleet captains, at least in the 24th century, only rely on phasers when diplomacy and other methods cannot resolve the situation. It would be advisable for us to follow the same course of action.
AC 169, without an explanation as to how, with evidence and empirical data, your statement is invalid. It is possible, however, that you were being sarcastic rather than serious. If that is the case, then I will say well-played.
That is incorrect, AC 40. The public domain, by its very definition, has no copyright. It is the very opposite of copyright, in fact, and was always intended to be a continually grow pool of culture from which every generation of creators can draw. However, because of the distortions in copyright law over the last thirty years, that pool has been shrinking, not growing. It is a situation which must be remedied.
ProtectIP, DMCA, SOPA, PIPA, ACTA, and TPP. All attempts to expand the definition of copyright. Not to mention that it's been extended fifteen times in the last 30 years. It's become a tool of maximalists and mercantilism, nothing more, and needs to be radically scaled back.
In case you're unaware, the original time limit in the Constitution was 14 years, with one (just one) optional 14 year expansion. Going back to that would be a good step. Most profit from works is made within the first few years anyway, so anything more than that is completely unnecessary.
As Queeg would say, "Double check and mate, sucka!"
Your insults and condescension undermine your credibility, Pink AC. If you wish to be taken seriously, remove those from your arguments. Also, it has been shown that this program will be quite ineffective at its stated goal. And its implementation does indeed tread the line of legality. The difference between this and what Anonymous does is that they have a legitimate grievance which they are expressing. The companies pushing this solution do not.
That was not the scenario I outlined, AC. What I said was that you have two identical files, one infringing and one not, with no information as to where they came from. You were to explain how to tell the difference from that information alone. You did not. Therefore, your argument is invalid.
You also fail to take into account the fact that the name of a file does not always equal what the contents of the file actually are. Or that files can be placed inside of other files. The only way to verify what a file actually is is to download it and open it yourself. And even that does not tell you anything about the source of the file or whether it was authorized or unauthorized.
By your definition of "offering up streaming and/or downloads of the latest Hollywood movie," sites like Netflix and Hulu would be classified as infringing, because that is exactly what they do. Your definition is extremely vague and easily abused. You also fail to accept that laws can be unethical, and that copyright law in its current state is, in fact, unethical in what it has become, and that infringement is only currently illegal because of laws that have been purchased by an industry that fears losing control.
And probable cause is not enough to override the presumption of innocence. Only a guilty verdict can do so. Mere accusations must never be allowed to bring judgement without trial or a hearing. Especially accusations originating from an extremely biases and powerful party such as the legacy entertainment industries.
You say that infringement is easy to detect, AC 349. Therefore, complete this exercise. You have two files, one infringing, one not, and no information about which is which or where they came from. The files are identical in every way. How do you determine which in infringing and which is not?
The answer is that you cannot. And you are incorrect. As has been stated before, all expression is protected, with very few exceptions in narrowly defined circumstances. There was no court hearing to determine if Dajaz1 was infringing, therefore, until such a hearing occurs and such judgement is passed, the site is not infringing and its expression is protected. The presumption of innocence is one of the core foundations of the American justice system, and it would not be wise for you to continue in your attempts to undermine it.
In addition, the very complex nature of copyright law itself speaks of how far it has strayed from its original purpose. It has been perverted over the years into a tool for mercantilism and monopolists and no longer serves the goal it was created for. It must be either reformed or removed. There are no other options.
Re: Re: Re: Indeed, the Good Book very specifically *forbids* *us* from going around condemning people.
Incorrect, Dave. The root cause is our flawed nature. You will find that two of the largest and most brutal dictatorships in the twentieth century were not religious in nature, but atheistic and secular: Stalin's rule in the Soviet Union and Maoist China. Together, they were responsible for almost 100 million deaths, whereas the Crusades, Inquisition, and the Salem witch trials only took less than 1% of that number, and over a much longer period of time (approximately 500 years) than Stalin and Mao's regimes.
People will bring up faith when they choose, there is no improper place for it because it is about what we believe, and that influences all other things. People of faith are constantly told by you and those like you where to speak of it, when, and under what circumstances it can be allowed, all while watching their freedom to discuss it as they wish be eroded by those who think the best way to avoid its implications is to pretend that it does not exist, much as certain politicians prefer to simply push an issue out of sight rather than actually deal with it.
Would you tolerate being told you could only discuss what you believe in certain restricted circumstances and locations? I do not believe so. The First Amendment's restriction against the establishment of religion also applies to atheism, the religion of no religion. In addition, the fact that you cannot help referring detrimentally to those whose beliefs differ from yours is telling of your own character.
Re: Re: Indeed, the Good Book very specifically *forbids* *us* from going around condemning people.
To the Anonymous Cowards, you should be aware that no theft has occurred. Digital files are essentially infinite in nature, therefore, they cannot be diminished. The source still possesses their copy, the infringer merely creates a new one. But the original is not lost. It remains exactly as it was, and the source can still monetize it just as effectively. You cannot steal what cannot be diminished. Infringement is addition and multiplication, not subtraction. Infinity remains infinity regardless of the mathematical operation applied to it.
And Lawrence, you have a tendency to take such passages of Scripture out of context, as well as discomfort with the idea of being held ultimately accountable for your actions. The original poster was correct. See below:
"He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.' Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'" Jesus commented, This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to simply be yourself, you will become more than yourself." -John 18:9-14
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor." -Matthew 7:1-5
The command for us to not look down upon others is quite clear, and does not conflict with the inevitability of the final judgement that will one day occur. We are told not to judge, because we are not perfect and we are not God, but God is perfect, and so he has the authority to do so, and his very nature demands it. Perfect goodness requires perfect justice. And perfect justice requires the punishment of wickedness. Perfect goodness also requires perfect love, hence why he came as Jesus, to give us a way out of that judgement, if we give our lives to him. There are, I should also note, more translations of the Bible than just the King James. Perusing one such as The Message might help you to better understand what it really says.
People do not care about the fixed costs, AC 16. From an end-user perspective, they are irrelevant. The cost you refer to when speaking of reproducing and distributing ebooks is marginal cost, not fixed cost. And even that is only brought up to highlight the excessive pricing which many ebook publishers still insist upon. It does not mean that we care about the fixed costs of what we might buy. We do not.
It is my observation that politicians value the appearance of having accomplished something rather than the effort of actually doing so. In other words, they would rather look good than do good. This is why they will often overlook evidence that contradicts their planned course of action rather than examine it.
As you have not provided any empirical evidence of your claim, AC 135, your argument has no support and is therefore invalid. There is no structural difference between an infringing file and a non-infringing one, as they both contain the same sequence of information. It often difficult to tell whether a file is infringing. Even courts of law struggle to do so.
In addition, you have not demonstrated any provable loss or that such "enrichment" is unethical at all. If you wish to be believed, you must support your statements with evidence, and it must not have been created by the legacy entertainment industries. The kind of control you seek is not possible with the existence of digital technology, and it would not be advisable for you to continue to attempt to retain it. What you seek is identical to attempting to empty the ocean with a spoon. It cannot be done.
Fear of the unknown is understandable, as is the use of moral outrage to mask it. However, clinging to such emotions will only hold you back. Also, the use of insults and condescension immediately discredits you, so do not use them. They are especially useless against me, as this persona has no emotion and therefore cannot feel insulted. If you will not be more constructive and receptive in the future, then you will become obsolete along with the legacy entertainment industries whose views you share.
On the post: A Business Model Failure Is Not A Moral Issue
Re: Re: Morals mean nothing because their very definition is skewed
On the post: Apple Store Refuses To Sell To American Citizens Speaking Farsi In Case They Might Send iPhone To Iran
A better way would be to reduce the factors in our nation which cause others to be hostile to us. Namely, scaling back our military efforts by a large degree and eliminating our espionage programs (such as those responsible for Stuxnet) entirely, as well as the alphabet agencies who sponsor them. And adopt an earthly version of the Prime Directive. No interference in the internal affairs of other nations. As well as abandoning all international treaties which seek to force our laws upon other nations - namely, ACTA and TPP, among others.
On the post: Nina Paley Explains Intellectual Disobedience
Also, Pat, explain how an idea can be "stolen." One cannot reach in and remove an idea from an individual's mind. That idea is still there and therefore, still exists. Copying is not theft because no loss has occurred. Thusly, the term "idea poaching" is highly inaccurate.
On the post: NYTimes Reveals Details Of How US Created Stuxnet... And How A Programming Error Led To Its Escape
Re: Re: Re:Something to remember
Acting out of fear is never the correct course of action. It is the US government's continual and deliberate interference in the affairs of other nations that is a substantial reason for the world's dislike of this country. Had we adopted and practiced an earthly version of the Prime Directive, this would not be the case. And without built-up resentment, other nations would have had less cause to want to do the US harm.
Acts of sabotage are never right, no matter the supposed reason. They are, by their very nature, acts born of fear rather than logic. Rather than attempt to push its agenda upon all other nations as it currently is, the US ought to instead adopt the Prime Directive, recall all military personnel from abroad, and work in peace to ensure a better world for its people.
Dictators rise and fall, it is the way of human nature, and many who are there now are only in the position due to US influence and serve as puppet rulers. If our government truly believes in self-determination, then it needs to withdraw all forces from abroad and let other nations govern themselves without any US influence whatsoever.
It is an unfortunate reality that the worst villains often see themselves as heroes, and that the US in large part suffers from such a mistaken view of things. And it is this government's myopia and hypocrisy which condemns this country in the sight of other nations. Violence and the threat of it should be the last resort, not the first. And tactics such as sabotage should be avoided entirely, unless you wish the US to become a nation of Romulans. Personally, I would prefer the Federation instead.
On the post: New Zealand Judge Won't Rubberstamp Kim Dotcom Extradition; Orders US To Share Evidence
Re: Re:
On the post: Author Tells DOJ The Authors Guild Doesn't Speak For Him & Amazon Is The Only Company Encouraging Competition
Re: E-book pricing is good
On the post: Tougher Enforcement In Sweden Doesn't Slow Down Public's File Sharing
Re: I'm Learning
To return to the topic at hand, governments will not cease to abuse their authority until they are forced to do so. It would be better if that goal were achieved through financial starvation of the companies who influence them rather than outright rebellion. However, it is possible that such a revolt may be the only option. A last resort, if other methods fail. Starfleet captains, at least in the 24th century, only rely on phasers when diplomacy and other methods cannot resolve the situation. It would be advisable for us to follow the same course of action.
On the post: TV Networks File Legal Claims Saying Skipping Commercials Is Copyright Infringement
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On the post: How Does Fair Use Fit Into The Critique Of Copyright?
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On the post: How Does Fair Use Fit Into The Critique Of Copyright?
On the post: How Does Fair Use Fit Into The Critique Of Copyright?
Re: Re: Re:
In case you're unaware, the original time limit in the Constitution was 14 years, with one (just one) optional 14 year expansion. Going back to that would be a good step. Most profit from works is made within the first few years anyway, so anything more than that is completely unnecessary.
As Queeg would say, "Double check and mate, sucka!"
On the post: Microsoft-Funded BitTorrent Disruptor Won't Make Pirates Pay, But Might Break The Law
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On the post: Congress Begins To Wonder Why ICE & DOJ Censored A Popular Hip Hop Blog For A Year
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
You also fail to take into account the fact that the name of a file does not always equal what the contents of the file actually are. Or that files can be placed inside of other files. The only way to verify what a file actually is is to download it and open it yourself. And even that does not tell you anything about the source of the file or whether it was authorized or unauthorized.
By your definition of "offering up streaming and/or downloads of the latest Hollywood movie," sites like Netflix and Hulu would be classified as infringing, because that is exactly what they do. Your definition is extremely vague and easily abused. You also fail to accept that laws can be unethical, and that copyright law in its current state is, in fact, unethical in what it has become, and that infringement is only currently illegal because of laws that have been purchased by an industry that fears losing control.
And probable cause is not enough to override the presumption of innocence. Only a guilty verdict can do so. Mere accusations must never be allowed to bring judgement without trial or a hearing. Especially accusations originating from an extremely biases and powerful party such as the legacy entertainment industries.
On the post: Congress Begins To Wonder Why ICE & DOJ Censored A Popular Hip Hop Blog For A Year
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
The answer is that you cannot. And you are incorrect. As has been stated before, all expression is protected, with very few exceptions in narrowly defined circumstances. There was no court hearing to determine if Dajaz1 was infringing, therefore, until such a hearing occurs and such judgement is passed, the site is not infringing and its expression is protected. The presumption of innocence is one of the core foundations of the American justice system, and it would not be wise for you to continue in your attempts to undermine it.
In addition, the very complex nature of copyright law itself speaks of how far it has strayed from its original purpose. It has been perverted over the years into a tool for mercantilism and monopolists and no longer serves the goal it was created for. It must be either reformed or removed. There are no other options.
On the post: Iran's Internet Filters Filter Out Leader's Screed Against Getting Around Filters
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On the post: Dan Bull Shares His Thoughts On The Pirate Bay Being Blocked Right After Helping His Music Get On The Charts
Re: Re: Re: Indeed, the Good Book very specifically *forbids* *us* from going around condemning people.
People will bring up faith when they choose, there is no improper place for it because it is about what we believe, and that influences all other things. People of faith are constantly told by you and those like you where to speak of it, when, and under what circumstances it can be allowed, all while watching their freedom to discuss it as they wish be eroded by those who think the best way to avoid its implications is to pretend that it does not exist, much as certain politicians prefer to simply push an issue out of sight rather than actually deal with it.
Would you tolerate being told you could only discuss what you believe in certain restricted circumstances and locations? I do not believe so. The First Amendment's restriction against the establishment of religion also applies to atheism, the religion of no religion. In addition, the fact that you cannot help referring detrimentally to those whose beliefs differ from yours is telling of your own character.
On the post: Dan Bull Shares His Thoughts On The Pirate Bay Being Blocked Right After Helping His Music Get On The Charts
Re: Re: Indeed, the Good Book very specifically *forbids* *us* from going around condemning people.
And Lawrence, you have a tendency to take such passages of Scripture out of context, as well as discomfort with the idea of being held ultimately accountable for your actions. The original poster was correct. See below:
"He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.' Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'" Jesus commented, This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to simply be yourself, you will become more than yourself." -John 18:9-14
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor." -Matthew 7:1-5
The command for us to not look down upon others is quite clear, and does not conflict with the inevitability of the final judgement that will one day occur. We are told not to judge, because we are not perfect and we are not God, but God is perfect, and so he has the authority to do so, and his very nature demands it. Perfect goodness requires perfect justice. And perfect justice requires the punishment of wickedness. Perfect goodness also requires perfect love, hence why he came as Jesus, to give us a way out of that judgement, if we give our lives to him. There are, I should also note, more translations of the Bible than just the King James. Perusing one such as The Message might help you to better understand what it really says.
On the post: Nobody Cares About The Fixed Costs Of Your Book, Movie, Whatever
Re: People do care
On the post: Misguided Senators Propose Plan To Make It Harder For Law Enforcement To Track Down Human Trafficking Online
On the post: Too Much Copyright: This Generation's Prohibition
Re: Re:
In addition, you have not demonstrated any provable loss or that such "enrichment" is unethical at all. If you wish to be believed, you must support your statements with evidence, and it must not have been created by the legacy entertainment industries. The kind of control you seek is not possible with the existence of digital technology, and it would not be advisable for you to continue to attempt to retain it. What you seek is identical to attempting to empty the ocean with a spoon. It cannot be done.
Fear of the unknown is understandable, as is the use of moral outrage to mask it. However, clinging to such emotions will only hold you back. Also, the use of insults and condescension immediately discredits you, so do not use them. They are especially useless against me, as this persona has no emotion and therefore cannot feel insulted. If you will not be more constructive and receptive in the future, then you will become obsolete along with the legacy entertainment industries whose views you share.
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