icedtea’s Comments

• Apr 20th, 2012 @ 3:45pm

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  on Playmobil Is Upset That Its Pirate Figures Have Been Used To Illustrate The Pirate Party
  It amazes me that so many companies hate to get free advertising. Eh. Every article I read on Tech Dirt seems to be about some company trying to screw itself over. It's an epidemic.
• Apr 20th, 2012 @ 3:43pm

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  on Cargo Cult Reverse Activism: Maximalists Think That If They Use Social Media They Can Counteract Public Concerns
  It doesn't matter if its businesses or public officials - most of them don't have a clue about what people want to see on social media - stuff that benefits them. That's it. The reason that so many brands are struggling with converting fans to actual activity and sales is that they don't really get social media. Too many companies are of the mindset that all they really have to do to succeed is set up a Facebook page, throw a few bucks into Facebook ads, maybe use one of the types of companies at BuyFacebookFansReviews and that will just automatically catapult them to success. Things don't work out that way online. They have to be able to offer something to people that they value and listen to their customers. This is the best way to achieve long-term success.Also pictures of cute animals are always viral online, so good for them for taking advantage of that fact and using it to their advantage. The additional factor here is that while Facebook offers features to increase engagement, those features are really only designed to increase engagement on Facebook pages themselves. You have to go out and offer people something of value on Facebook to really find a way to get success.
• Apr 20th, 2012 @ 3:41pm

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  on Judge Alex Kozinski Fears That People Share Too Much Info Online; But Does That Mean We Give Up All Privacy Rights?
  Privacy is irrevocably changed, and that's not something most people will care about because they've gotten used to things like Facebook. So that's the new reality. Most online privacy issues can be prevented by common sense. Particularly problematic for many people is seeing how they post personal information on social media, neglect to use privacy settings, and are surprised when their personal information is stolen weeks later. While you can be careful about what you post about yourself, you can't prevent other people from posting about you. Also problematic for people is how there are sites like DirtyPhoneBook where people post personal information about each that can't be removed. With Google making all of this information widely available, being vigilant about seeing what people can find out you is critical to maintaining your online reputation. Facebook can do a bit more to prevent people from accidentally messing up their own lives by encouraging more sensible defaults, but in the end people have to be smart about what they post about themselves online, and this doesn't solve all potential problems.
• Dec 7th, 2011 @ 1:57pm

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  on Publishers Can't Just Blame Ad Network For Having Ads On A Site That Links To Infringing Content
  This kind of thing makes me wonder whether or not our lawmakers are seriously trolling the world just to see what kind of nonsense they can get away with. If you don't commit an offense, you shouldn't be held liable. Laws holding ad networks and advertisers liable for the mere possibility of others linking to infringing content would make businesses very hesitant and cautious about doing any kind of advertising online. In this kind of down economy, anything that would put a lockdown on commerce is completely irresponsible. Right now some of the most common methods that businesses use to promote their products to consumers include search ads, Facebook ads (whether directly through Facebook or through the dozens of 3rd party companies listed at BuyFacebookFansReviews), content ads and various display networks, and other forms of social media. Putting a massive potential legal liability on all of these activities makes this very risky for businesses and is not something that I think is in any way reasonable. Regardless, I am encouraged somewhat by seeing how much public outcry there has been against this and I think even the most dim-witted politician has seen where the people re-electing them stand on this issue.
• Dec 7th, 2011 @ 1:46pm

  (untitled comment)

  on Mythbusters Crew Accidentally Fire Cannonball Through Suburban Neighborhood... Quickly Start Deleting Tweets Of The Evidence
  I don't get the point about them deleting tweets and pics and trying to scrub a popular account. They weren't doing anything illegal (presumably) and had insurance (presumably) so deleting stuff just makes them look bad if this does go to some kind of trial.