"So WHY do you advocate fascism at times, then rail at it other times?"
Your dichotomies presented are false in so many ways it's not funny.
There aren't "sides" ... and this isn't some "battle." Google is evil in ways, and "not evil" in others. Comcast is the same.
So it's not about what "Techdirt is advocating" as it is how to present one of the most complex arguments in our technological history.
Almost no one likes the idea of "more Government regulation" ... but that is necessary to keep ISP companies from going "full oligarchy."
Google made promises it hasn't kept, because people fell for the argument they were making.
Comcast et. al (remember, there are other ISP's) is trying to do the same, and some people are falling for the argument they are making as it pertains to Net Neutrality.
Some people (like Ajit Pai) are "bought" into the idea in more than one way.
But as simplistic as I'm trying to make it, this is a big complex mess of politics, policy, money, Internet, infrastructure, capitalism, etc...
Un-tying that mess (which the Big Co.'s and their lobbies create) is what Techdirt does fairly well.
It might appear they "go one way" then "go the other" to you, but expand your dichotomies from "favor or oppose" to "How does this one thing affect the 50 other things?" and "How do those 50 other things affect each other?"
Cox is simply following in Comcast / Xfinity's shoes.
And, Comcast isn't going to back down, so I doubt Cox is either. Pretty soon, Internet access will likely only be able to be afforded by upper-middle class or wealthy.
Every one of these "analysis" of cable costs and such seem to forget to analyze the "true" cost of whatever Internet provider you're paying, and what you can "use them for."
For example, if I pay $50 per month to Comcast for Cable TV access, AND pay $50 per month to them for Internet access ... I essentially have a "double cost".
If I combine those two access costs instead into the same $50 per month Internet cost by itself, I've already saved $50 per month, PLUS I also get Internet access to do other things on the 'net (email etc...) within that same cost.
So "actual cable usage" doesn't cost the full $50 per month of the internet access charge at all, it would depend on how much time I'm actually using my Internet access to watch TV.
If I only use my Internet access to watch TV for 25% of my usage of my total Internet access cost (most likely less than that) ... then my adjusted cable cost is actually only $12.50 per month, adjusted for "actual usage time," and not the full $50 per month as most of these comparisons state.
Seems to me, this security team at the school is using pages out of the NSA's playbook, whether the NSA called them or not.
They are using the tried and true "But look at what our program has stopped!" routine.
I don't care about what our over-reaching security programs are stopping in this country ... if I wanted to trade away my privacy for "more security," I wouldn't be an American.
Our freedom IS our security dammit. That is, until our security becomes our prison.
I come to Techdirt because of the "way" you approach stories. You don't cover topics in a "tabloid fashion" (a good thing), but you aren't afraid to write the story "as it is."
You don't sugar coat your titles, your viewpoint is unique and well thought out ... and you don't compromise in your writing.
I comment when I have something I feel can contribute (generally) to the conversation at hand. But there are so many smart people on Techdirt, it raises the bar for that opportunity.
When you create an article, use "post slugs" that are shorter, but get your article's point across (as best as it can).
Because when I try to share via Twitter, the post slugs in current use, plus the longer titles ... equal exceeding the character limit on Twitter in some cases.
This is one reason (of many) why we have so many laws in this country... we create a "good" law, then others find a way around them, and we have to create ANOTHER law or pass an amendment like this.
Drink it in, the U.S. is headed here in 10 - 30 years. Not just being watched ... but FORCED to be watched and punished if we don't comply, or say anything against "The Union."
I know there are examples of this now, but I'm referring to where it becomes law, is enforced, and our idea of freedom is altered dramatically.
A film released 5 years after this post, is Jared Leto's very scathing, articulate, and balanced documentary of 30 Seconds To Mars and the battle that spawned from this lawsuit.
I highly recommend anyone watch it who is interested in just how corrupt the "big music" business is.
I hate the excuse "race to the bottom." It implies laziness on the part of whomever is using it to justify their charging for content.
Use. The. Information. To. Market. Something. Else. That. Has. Value.
As it applies to newspapers, advertising is one method...
Collections of stories, DVD content that supplements reporting (professionally produced), physical (and Kindle) books that supplement reporting, become a publisher yourself and publish books, etc...
There are a ton of ideas, but if you run a newspaper, don't sell yourself short at "race to the bottom."
"We can audit the actions of our people 100%, and we do that,"
Just because they have the ability to audit, doesn't mean they actually use it 100% of the time (in fact, from what I'm reading, it seems they rarely use it at all).
And that's the problem, they (our Government officials in support of this NSA stuff) keep saying what they are capable of doing, instead of saying what they are actually doing... or coming clean with the public.
We immediately classify people based on rather stupid criteria, and if you read the slide shared in this article carefully, you'll notice the "speaks openly about unhappiness with U.S. foreign policy" as one of the criteria.
What is our world, and our country coming to? This type of approach immediately does 2 things that I'm concerned about...
1. It creates fear, especially the kind for "speaking out" in our supposedly free country.
2. This type of "training" immediately boxes people into categories, so BEFORE you meet a person, you've immediately classified them (within the context of employment at this Government agency).
You don't even get to know a person before they now must prove to you they don't fit this "box".
This. Is. Sad.
So because she has financial difficulties, travels to India, and speaks her mind... she is high risk.
Re: You've long argued for cities making "public-private" partnerships...
Your dichotomies presented are false in so many ways it's not funny.
There aren't "sides" ... and this isn't some "battle." Google is evil in ways, and "not evil" in others. Comcast is the same.
So it's not about what "Techdirt is advocating" as it is how to present one of the most complex arguments in our technological history.
Almost no one likes the idea of "more Government regulation" ... but that is necessary to keep ISP companies from going "full oligarchy."
Google made promises it hasn't kept, because people fell for the argument they were making.
Comcast et. al (remember, there are other ISP's) is trying to do the same, and some people are falling for the argument they are making as it pertains to Net Neutrality.
Some people (like Ajit Pai) are "bought" into the idea in more than one way.
But as simplistic as I'm trying to make it, this is a big complex mess of politics, policy, money, Internet, infrastructure, capitalism, etc...
Un-tying that mess (which the Big Co.'s and their lobbies create) is what Techdirt does fairly well.
It might appear they "go one way" then "go the other" to you, but expand your dichotomies from "favor or oppose" to "How does this one thing affect the 50 other things?" and "How do those 50 other things affect each other?"
Xfinity / Comcast is getting away with it so...
And, Comcast isn't going to back down, so I doubt Cox is either. Pretty soon, Internet access will likely only be able to be afforded by upper-middle class or wealthy.
Re: I have to disagree
But yes ... "better" is a better word for the title.
Ahhh yes...
One more cost I haven't seen discussed...
For example, if I pay $50 per month to Comcast for Cable TV access, AND pay $50 per month to them for Internet access ... I essentially have a "double cost".
If I combine those two access costs instead into the same $50 per month Internet cost by itself, I've already saved $50 per month, PLUS I also get Internet access to do other things on the 'net (email etc...) within that same cost.
So "actual cable usage" doesn't cost the full $50 per month of the internet access charge at all, it would depend on how much time I'm actually using my Internet access to watch TV.
If I only use my Internet access to watch TV for 25% of my usage of my total Internet access cost (most likely less than that) ... then my adjusted cable cost is actually only $12.50 per month, adjusted for "actual usage time," and not the full $50 per month as most of these comparisons state.
They have the NSA's playbook though...
They are using the tried and true "But look at what our program has stopped!" routine.
I don't care about what our over-reaching security programs are stopping in this country ... if I wanted to trade away my privacy for "more security," I wouldn't be an American.
Our freedom IS our security dammit. That is, until our security becomes our prison.
When will they ever learn?
When will these institutions get that? #holdingbreath
(I know, they won't, probably ever)
When you do bad stuff, the bad stuff gets discussed in the media. The simple solution?
Do good/the right stuff.
(and yes, it is that easy)
(untitled comment)
You don't sugar coat your titles, your viewpoint is unique and well thought out ... and you don't compromise in your writing.
I comment when I have something I feel can contribute (generally) to the conversation at hand. But there are so many smart people on Techdirt, it raises the bar for that opportunity.
A suggestion for Mr. Masnick...
Because when I try to share via Twitter, the post slugs in current use, plus the longer titles ... equal exceeding the character limit on Twitter in some cases.
Just a suggestion, nothing more.
For example, this post slug might be:
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140723/17420627984/authors-guild-refuse-to-debate
Or something like that.
my only question is...
This is one reason (of many) why we have so many laws in this country... we create a "good" law, then others find a way around them, and we have to create ANOTHER law or pass an amendment like this.
Where the U.S. is headed in 10 - 30 years?
I know there are examples of this now, but I'm referring to where it becomes law, is enforced, and our idea of freedom is altered dramatically.
Ahem...
They aren't "checking" and they're really screwing up the "balance."
More like: "screw up and backfire."
so, the answer is vote with your dollar?
Until then, some 6 year old will probably be sued by them for buying their stuff from Goodwill or something.
And now... a little retribution...
A film released 5 years after this post, is Jared Leto's very scathing, articulate, and balanced documentary of 30 Seconds To Mars and the battle that spawned from this lawsuit.
I highly recommend anyone watch it who is interested in just how corrupt the "big music" business is.
The ultimate copyright troll?
Hopefully, other options will gain as much momentum as they obviously have.
But, I think that momentum will come more quickly if academics across the country boycott them in one voice, but 13,000 isn't enough.
Re: Re: Hey California!
She was re-elected last year, and we've had a few whistle blowers before Snowden report on the NSA.
Yet, she still got re-elected.
On the "race to the bottom"...
Use. The. Information. To. Market. Something. Else. That. Has. Value.
As it applies to newspapers, advertising is one method...
Collections of stories, DVD content that supplements reporting (professionally produced), physical (and Kindle) books that supplement reporting, become a publisher yourself and publish books, etc...
There are a ton of ideas, but if you run a newspaper, don't sell yourself short at "race to the bottom."
If my 76 year-old Grandfather can use email...
There is absolutely NO justifiable reason in the world these Justices cannot (do not) use email. None.
We're not asking them to figure out the Theory of Everything here... simply to write on the new "paper."
This makes me wonder how many other members of Congress, Senate and the Administration are in this same boat (not using email).
It's absolutely inexcusable that the figure heads of our country don't use 25 year old technology... and play it off as though "we're old people."
Just because they can...
Just because they have the ability to audit, doesn't mean they actually use it 100% of the time (in fact, from what I'm reading, it seems they rarely use it at all).
And that's the problem, they (our Government officials in support of this NSA stuff) keep saying what they are capable of doing, instead of saying what they are actually doing... or coming clean with the public.
(untitled comment)
What is our world, and our country coming to? This type of approach immediately does 2 things that I'm concerned about...
1. It creates fear, especially the kind for "speaking out" in our supposedly free country.
2. This type of "training" immediately boxes people into categories, so BEFORE you meet a person, you've immediately classified them (within the context of employment at this Government agency).
You don't even get to know a person before they now must prove to you they don't fit this "box".
This. Is. Sad.
So because she has financial difficulties, travels to India, and speaks her mind... she is high risk.
Wow.
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