This man's job is to shovel enough money at people fast enough to make some of them not totally despise Comcast. Is there a doubt in anyone's mind that Comcast would pay him to sit idly at a desk with his hands folded 81% percent of the time to skirt legally binding restrictions on influencing elected officials?
It seems a little like companies that think they need to defend their trademarks to maintain validity.
To maintain the finely crafted veneer of "totally-intentionally barely-technically not-a-lobbyist" Cohen, Comcast keeps "correcting" people who "mischaracterize" his actions (*wink*) and malign his forthright and uncontroversial (*grin*) work.
They've got no right or power to stop people from using the completely appropriate term, but public consensus is reminded that he still technically isn't a lobbyist instead of settling on the reasonable and accurate belief that he is.
I think this is the point where the CIA would start torturing people to "create" golden key encryption.
It's really the best way to get what they want; for security professionals to say what the government wants to hear despite the fact that it's not true and the torturees don't believe it. Why else do people keep starting the same "conversations" about things that things that can't be done?
If TQP isn't around any more to pay the legal fees by the time this all gets sorted, the buck would seem to stop in East Texas. If it's not bad intent then someone's negligence is costing them a nice chunk of change.
It was a $40 difference when Smith suggested that die-hards would purchase the $80 noob-tastic collector's edition instead of only the $40 Taken King DLC. Now the sweet dance moves can be had for $20 on top of the DLC $40.
Yes it kinda stings how these charges seem to add up (especially since I had to by the base game again when I upgraded consoles), but if you actually use it the price averages out to something like $11 a month. That's way more value for engagement than I got from a stack of other games on my shelf.
For all the folks that self-identify as ignorant of video games in general or Destiny specifically. Hurling insults accusing gamers of being too splineless to boycott on this either A) completely misinterprets the situation or B) is highly hypocritical.
The people who are upset really like Destiny. They want more of it, and they plan to spend money to get it. If they weren't invested they would walk away. This is the third major DLC in under a year, without which the base game is essentially useless. That's because the game is centered more around events and community than delivering a static narrative; it's a living organism that changes over time. So if you don't like buying DLC or you want to wait for the "Game of the Year" edition, that's fine but you'll be playing a vastly different game than the rest of us.
Bungie and the Destiny community have nearly weekly feedback sessions about how the game is running, what to expect, what we've broken, and what we'd like changed. Pushback is a regular occurrence, this time it happens to be about price structure instead of Shotgun Damage which means non-gaming publications are giving it more credence because they understand the terms. (Smith giving a douchy interview didn't help things)
So $40 for some dance moves and a new gun doesn't seem fair, but it's not worth burning your profile over. Do you cancel your ISP subscription because they give better promotional rates to new customers? Do you quit the gym because they have pizza night for new members? Do you trash all your team jerseys because the game airs at a strange time of day when they travel? It's not that big a deal, and frankly you all should wish you have as much pull as the Destiny community does at Bungie.
And I understand their thoughts on this, try to get the people who haven't tried the franchise with a whiff of exclusive content. Honestly the blow-back wouldn't been as bad if they'd said "sorry, it's for noobs only" instead of "it's so awesome you'll throw money at the screen."
I'd say the split is more between the "collectors" and everyone else who understand that they're not going to unlock everything in the game anyway.
On the one hand it stinks that there's content, ostensibly from the Taken King, that we're not getting. On the other hand it's no worse than the PlayStation exclusive missions and weapons. Someone else having a little more in no way lessens my experience.
I'd like to see the proliferation of 'artificial noses' with a verifiable number on the screen instead of a subjective 'my dog looked at a thing' analysis.
"Do you know why I pulled you over today sir? My K9 indicated that you were 15 mph over the speed limit. He also says you weren't wearing a seatbelt and that you're hammered. None of that is slightly true, but wait here while I see if he smells any outstanding warrants on your license."
time to finish rotting and vanishing from history!
This is my major issue (besides the fact that it applies retro-actively somehow) with extending the term; orphaned works are already out of control. I'm fine if I can't use the latest banal pop track for backing in a home movie for the rest of my life. But these durations are so long that no one cares or even remembers the media by the time it's unshackled. Forget about monitizing it that long, it's not even worth keeping on a server unless you're interested in preserving history/culture/all that unprofitable B.S.
You know what? Screw 'em. You want your song locked up for 70 years? Fine. We'll all pretend it never existed to begin with if that's what you really want. Just keep it off the radio and outta my face.
On the other hand, it sets the precedent that we could reduce the copyright term on existing works.
You know, if we ever manage to keep our representatives from being bribed to betray us, or if the bribers finally go out of business after decades of clawing to stay above water in an irreverent industry.
On the post: Comcast Really Wants Me To Stop Calling Their Top Lobbyist A 'Top Lobbyist'
Executive Gargoyle & Intermittent Cash Funnel
On the post: Comcast Really Wants Me To Stop Calling Their Top Lobbyist A 'Top Lobbyist'
Re: Re:
There's nothing wrong with that logic; unless I spend a fifth of my time actually being a cat...
On the post: Comcast Really Wants Me To Stop Calling Their Top Lobbyist A 'Top Lobbyist'
Re:
To maintain the finely crafted veneer of "totally-intentionally barely-technically not-a-lobbyist" Cohen,
Comcast keeps "correcting" people who "mischaracterize" his actions (*wink*) and malign his forthright and uncontroversial (*grin*) work.
They've got no right or power to stop people from using the completely appropriate term, but public consensus is reminded that he still technically isn't a lobbyist instead of settling on the reasonable and accurate belief that he is.
On the post: East Texas Court Finally Issues Newegg Order Two Years Late; Judge Upset About How Newegg Handled Things
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Comcast Lobbyist Admits It Helped Create Netflix By Refusing To Compete On Price
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: East Texas Court Finally Issues Newegg Order Two Years Late; Judge Upset About How Newegg Handled Things
Re:
On the post: NSA Apologist Offers Solutions To 'Encryption' Problem, All Of Which Are Basically 'Have The Govt Make Them Do It'
Re: Re:
On the post: FBI: Bring Us A Unicorn. Techies: They Don't Exist. Senator: Stop Complaining & Tell Us Where The Unicorn Is
Enhanced Securitization
It's really the best way to get what they want; for security professionals to say what the government wants to hear despite the fact that it's not true and the torturees don't believe it. Why else do people keep starting the same "conversations" about things that things that can't be done?
On the post: Two Of The Most Ridiculous Statements From Senators At Yesterday's Encryption Hearings
Re: tl; dr
On the post: Florida Judge Sued After Banning Protestors From 'Questioning Integrity Of The Court'
If only
On the post: Newegg Asks Appeals Court For Help After Waiting Nearly Two Years For East Texas Judge To Actually Rule In Patent Case
So... can you sue a court?
On the post: With New Destiny DLC, Bungie Gives A Master Class In How To Alienate And Annoy Paying Fans
Re: Re: Re: Re: A Little Perspective
On the post: With New Destiny DLC, Bungie Gives A Master Class In How To Alienate And Annoy Paying Fans
Re: Re: A Little Perspective
Yes it kinda stings how these charges seem to add up (especially since I had to by the base game again when I upgraded consoles), but if you actually use it the price averages out to something like $11 a month. That's way more value for engagement than I got from a stack of other games on my shelf.
On the post: With New Destiny DLC, Bungie Gives A Master Class In How To Alienate And Annoy Paying Fans
A Little Perspective
The people who are upset really like Destiny. They want more of it, and they plan to spend money to get it. If they weren't invested they would walk away. This is the third major DLC in under a year, without which the base game is essentially useless. That's because the game is centered more around events and community than delivering a static narrative; it's a living organism that changes over time. So if you don't like buying DLC or you want to wait for the "Game of the Year" edition, that's fine but you'll be playing a vastly different game than the rest of us.
Bungie and the Destiny community have nearly weekly feedback sessions about how the game is running, what to expect, what we've broken, and what we'd like changed. Pushback is a regular occurrence, this time it happens to be about price structure instead of Shotgun Damage which means non-gaming publications are giving it more credence because they understand the terms. (Smith giving a douchy interview didn't help things)
So $40 for some dance moves and a new gun doesn't seem fair, but it's not worth burning your profile over. Do you cancel your ISP subscription because they give better promotional rates to new customers? Do you quit the gym because they have pizza night for new members? Do you trash all your team jerseys because the game airs at a strange time of day when they travel? It's not that big a deal, and frankly you all should wish you have as much pull as the Destiny community does at Bungie.
On the post: With New Destiny DLC, Bungie Gives A Master Class In How To Alienate And Annoy Paying Fans
Re: Re:
On the post: With New Destiny DLC, Bungie Gives A Master Class In How To Alienate And Annoy Paying Fans
Re:
On the one hand it stinks that there's content, ostensibly from the Taken King, that we're not getting. On the other hand it's no worse than the PlayStation exclusive missions and weapons. Someone else having a little more in no way lessens my experience.
On the post: Judge Orders Lying, Cheating Government To Return $167,000 To The Man They Stole It From
Re: Sniffing dogs
"Do you know why I pulled you over today sir? My K9 indicated that you were 15 mph over the speed limit. He also says you weren't wearing a seatbelt and that you're hammered. None of that is slightly true, but wait here while I see if he smells any outstanding warrants on your license."
On the post: Judge Orders Lying, Cheating Government To Return $167,000 To The Man They Stole It From
Re: Re: Re: What about 2 years worth of lost interest/profits?
On the post: Canada Saves Public From Public Domain, Extends Copyright On Sound Recordings Another 20 Years
Re:
You know what? Screw 'em. You want your song locked up for 70 years? Fine. We'll all pretend it never existed to begin with if that's what you really want. Just keep it off the radio and outta my face.
On the post: Canada Saves Public From Public Domain, Extends Copyright On Sound Recordings Another 20 Years
Re: Ex Post Facto
You know, if we ever manage to keep our representatives from being bribed to betray us, or if the bribers finally go out of business after decades of clawing to stay above water in an irreverent industry.
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