Mike, I've been a big fan of TechDirt for a long time, but in this particular case, your argument of "If Hollywood can't figure out its own technology issues, why does it think that the tech industry should solve all its problems for it?" fails basic argument.
In any other venue, how would this argument pan out? "If {Masnick} can't figure out his own {abdominal surgery} issues, why does he think the {surgeon} should solve all his problems for him?" We both know they're spitting in the wind, but constructing the argument this way makes you sound like a partisan pundit poking at the opposition rather than a considered thinker pointing out the gaps in a flawed system.
Yes, they're off-base, but calling on experts to exercise their expertise when you're not an expert really isn't a basis for mockery.
This is the kind of light reporting that is fun to read at TechDirt: smirky, tongue-in-cheek head-shaking at the world. Matherne set himself up, decided to forgo spell-checking, and to assert his own bizarre legal system on the rest of the world. A perfect bump and set for widespread mockery on the internet.
After 16 paragraphs of well-deserved ribbing of his theories and correspondence, however, you decided to shift gears into an ad hominem attack of the structure of his website. Perhaps it was just to besmirch his character as a link-spammer, but I think it degraded your rhetoric on his ideas by going there. You can't do much about what people below the line right, but as a supporter, I'd ask that you keep it classy on top.
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I think this argument is below you
In any other venue, how would this argument pan out? "If {Masnick} can't figure out his own {abdominal surgery} issues, why does he think the {surgeon} should solve all his problems for him?" We both know they're spitting in the wind, but constructing the argument this way makes you sound like a partisan pundit poking at the opposition rather than a considered thinker pointing out the gaps in a flawed system.
Yes, they're off-base, but calling on experts to exercise their expertise when you're not an expert really isn't a basis for mockery.
Poor Form
After 16 paragraphs of well-deserved ribbing of his theories and correspondence, however, you decided to shift gears into an ad hominem attack of the structure of his website. Perhaps it was just to besmirch his character as a link-spammer, but I think it degraded your rhetoric on his ideas by going there. You can't do much about what people below the line right, but as a supporter, I'd ask that you keep it classy on top.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Bob Hansen.
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