John85851 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: No, TikTok Is Not ‘Programmable Fentanyl.’ Stop It

    John85851 ( profile ), 18 Apr, 2024 @ 01:26pm

    Spinach to the Chinese

    I want to know how the author thinks it's spinach to the Chinese. Does he mean it's a leafy green vegetable and all vegetables are good for people, which is a good thing? Or does he mean in the Popeye sense, where eating a little spinach can give you super powers, which is complete hogwash? If he means the latter, then his argument is even more weak.

  • On the post: No, The Internet Hasn’t Gotten Worse: Just Your Outlook

    John85851 ( profile ), 12 Apr, 2024 @ 12:19pm

    I completely disagree with those findings

    First, there's no way to compare the internet of today with the internet of 30 years ago. Remember, 30 years ago is 1994. Back then, only a fraction of people even had internet access, and then just a fraction of those people even connected to the internet. When people posted something stupid, it was confined to a single BBS or AOL forum. Now,when people post crap, it gets spread on Facebook or Twitter to hundreds or millions of people. Another follow up research topic could be: how many people crave attention by posting on the internet now, versus 30 years ago. Could this craving of attention be related to how much junk is posted and shared?

  • On the post: Jim Jordan Demands Major Ad Companies Explain Why They Won’t Advertise On Truth Social

    John85851 ( profile ), 05 Apr, 2024 @ 12:55pm

    Can the government do that?

    I'll admit I'm not an expert in anti-trust law, but can the government really tell companies where they can and can't advertise? If a company thinks advertising on a certain platform won't give them good results, why should the government tell them what do to? And as always, I'd still like to heat these right-wing viewpoints that are being "censored"? Is it because they talk about conspiracy theories? Do they say Trump won the 2020 election? Come on, let's hear the topics that sites don't want us to know about.

  • On the post: Restricting Flipper Is A Zero Accountability Approach To Security

    John85851 ( profile ), 05 Apr, 2024 @ 12:49pm

    "Disney plans to charge $2 every time you want to put something in the trash" I don't think so either. What happens when people are charged to put things in the trash can? They don't put things in the trash can. What happens if trash isn't put in trash cans? It makes a mess and makes the parks look bad. And Disney still wants to maintain their image of a squeaky-clean park. Or did you mean this as satirical comment on how Disney charges for everything and it's only a matter of time before they even charge for other things, like using the bathroom.

  • On the post: Tennessee Senate Votes To Ban Chemtrails Because What Even The Fuck

    John85851 ( profile ), 26 Mar, 2024 @ 07:26am

    And if a plane was loaded with enough chemicals to overcome the evaporation, the weight would be almost too much for the aircraft to handle. So there's no physical way a commercial aircraft with passengers and luggage can carry enough chemicals to create chem trails that would have any effect. So, there we go- the law works! Next up- a law mandating that all cars must have at least 4 wheels and 2 doors. Oh, they have that already? Job well done, legislators!

  • On the post: Millionth Time Is The Charm: Donald Trump Again Sues A News Agency Over Factual Reporting

    John85851 ( profile ), 25 Mar, 2024 @ 01:04pm

    It's not about winning

    The Atlantic agues that the point of this case, and many others, is not that Trump will win the case (which he won't), but that he's somehow "sticking it to the liberal media". Yet at some point, all the legal costs will eventually catch up to him. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/03/trump-media-defamation-lawsuits/677859/

  • On the post: Ultra-Heavy EVs Will Easily Demolish Nation’s Unprepared Guard Rail System

    John85851 ( profile ), 20 Mar, 2024 @ 05:35am

    Wear and tear on roads

    Years ago I read an article, back when trucks were becoming bigger, which talked about the wear and tear on roads, especially the historic cobblestone streets. Yet car makers are making even heavier trucks, which will further damage the roads. So, forget about guard rails- what are we doing about ordinary roads that weren't designed for so many too-heavy vehicles? And who's to blame? Customers who want bigger and heavier cars because they seem safer? Or car makers (such as Ford) who think customers want big trucks, so that's all they make, forcing customers to think that's the only choice available?

  • On the post: IRS Direct File Program Goes Live In 12 States

    John85851 ( profile ), 15 Mar, 2024 @ 11:57am

    I've seen articles that talk about how this is exactly how it works in some European countries. Basically, their version of the IRS already knows how much you make and how much tax you pay. And since they already know this, they file the tax return automatically. If someone is owed money or needs to pay more, then the government will send put a letter. Otherwise, the average person doesn't need to go through even filing a tax return.

  • On the post: Florida’s Unconstitutional ‘Stop WOKE’ Act Blocked By The 11th Circuit Appeals Court

    John85851 ( profile ), 07 Mar, 2024 @ 02:01pm

    Gettinf these laws passed would be great for Republicans, but they also enjoy when the laws are ruled unconstitutional. Why? Then they can play the victim even more and say things like, "we tried to pass laws that you all like, but those woke, left-wing liberal judges won't let us". In other words, they have such a lack of shame that they think a defeat in the courts is a victory for them.

  • On the post: Meta Has Had Enough Of Australia’s Link Tax Shakedown; Says It Will Not Renew Any Deals

    John85851 ( profile ), 05 Mar, 2024 @ 01:39pm

    What content is Meta "stealing"

    I honestly, really like to know what content Meta and Google and other big sites are "stealing" from media companies? Does Meta publish the entire story without credit? I doubt it. Does Meta publish a headline, summary or paragraph, and maybe a photo? Yes. Then what's being stolen? Are the media companies really complaining that people see the headline on Facebook and don't bother to click to read more? Then isn't this an issue with the content? Maybe people are sick of click bait headlines and poor articles. But, nope, Meta should pay for the loss of traffic and revenue.

  • On the post: Comcast, Paramount Eye Merger Because The Streaming Sector Is Completely Out of Ideas

    John85851 ( profile ), 23 Feb, 2024 @ 08:21am

    This is a great idea for theme parks

    Imagine if Comcast and Paramount merged. Would we finally get a Star Trek attraction or land at Universal Studios?

  • On the post: CBP’s Top Doctor Tried To Obtain ‘Fentanyl Lollipops’ For ‘Pain Management’ In Case Of A Helicopter Crash

    John85851 ( profile ), 22 Feb, 2024 @ 05:24am

    Those are excellent points and it makes me wonder why the chief medical officer didn't consider those things. ;)

  • On the post: Amazon Faces Class Action For Enshittifying Prime Video

    John85851 ( profile ), 16 Feb, 2024 @ 11:14am

    I'm not a lawyer, but I'm going to guess that Amazon's lawyers pull out this claim: People pay for Amazon Prime to get free shipping and faster shipping, so the video streaming service is just a bonus. Though the end result of this argument may be that Amazon is forced to separate the Prime shipping service from Prime video. Then people can choose whether to pay for Prime video or just ftee shipping.

  • On the post: Has Wired Given Up On Fact Checking? Publishes Facts-Optional Screed Against Section 230 That Gets Almost Everything Wrong

    John85851 ( profile ), 15 Feb, 2024 @ 12:10pm

    Written by AI or just seeking attention

    So that's my question: was the Wired article written by AI (which has no understanding of Section 230 or anything else) and then cleaned up? Or was the article badly written on purpose to get attention? After all, a lot more people will talk about it, and spread the link, if it's wrong, than if it was just another article supporting Section 230.

  • On the post: Feds Have Warned Medicare Insurers That ‘AI’ Can’t Be Used To (Incompetently And Cruelly) Deny Patient Care

    John85851 ( profile ), 14 Feb, 2024 @ 12:13pm

    I think the point is that tech people understand that the term is LLM, but the media has convinced people that this is some kind of artificial intelligence (AI) that will eventually take over the world like Skynet.

  • On the post: ExTwitter Suspends Reporter For ‘Manipulation And Spam’ Hours After Publishing An Article About ‘Manipulation And Spam’ On ExTwitter

    John85851 ( profile ), 13 Feb, 2024 @ 01:55pm

    Even more cynical explanation: the Irish Examiner stopped paying for blue check marks for its staff, but the spammer paid for his. Therefore, whoever doesn't pay for a blue check mark runs the risk if having their account suspended.

  • On the post: Papers Please, But For Porn Scheduled For A 2025 Debut In The UK

    John85851 ( profile ), 12 Feb, 2024 @ 01:04pm

    Registering a credit card?

    Is registering a credit card really on the list of age validation items? Can't a kid borrow his parent's credit card, type in the information, and then be "verified" as an adult? Though this is probably just one of many issues with this verification process. And is there any proof that the passport photo you upload is actually yours? Will be see a surge in sales of fake passport photos submitted as verification? How long until the verification site is flooded with yet another passport from "Ben Dover" or "Seymour Butz"?

  • On the post: Comcast Gets A Wrist Slap For Using Dumb And Misleading ’10G’ Marketing To Confuse Customers

    John85851 ( profile ), 09 Feb, 2024 @ 01:02pm

    Actually, the genius marketing term is "speeds up to", as in: "We provide speeds up to 10G... even though it was only recorded one time by the one customer who lives q0 feet from the backbone server." But this is the trick of using "up to": companies get away with it as long as there's no push back from consumers. It's like how HealthCare.gov can advertise they have plans "as low as $10 month": one customer got that rate because he's not even making minimum wage, so they advertise that anyone might be able to get that rate.

  • On the post: Kids Don’t Think Congress Has Their Best Interests In Mind With Their Grandstanding ‘Protect The Children’ Hearing

    John85851 ( profile ), 02 Feb, 2024 @ 01:28pm

    It's all theater

    As has been pointed out on this site, many studies have shown that an overwhelming number of kids actually enjoy social media. Yes, it's terrible that some kids took their lives after they went on social media, hut that's a tragic minority. Why is Congress so set on dragging social media CEO's into hearings and trying to hold them responsible yet not one gun company CEO has ever been investigated for their participation in school shootings. If a social media site is "responsible" for a death of a child, then gun companies should be responsible for mass shootings.

  • On the post: Netflix Eyes More Price Hikes… And Slowly, Steadily Becoming More Like Comcast

    John85851 ( profile ), 30 Jan, 2024 @ 08:25am

    Why isn't there more outrage over double dipping

    It seems like most (or all) reports about ad-supported tiers make it seem like a good thing. Why isn't there more outrage about how this us double-dipping? People pay a subscription fee, so the streaming service gets their income, but then the streaming service also runs ads, which is more income. I completely understand that free services like network TV, YouTube, and even Freevee need to run ads, and I don't mind watching those ads. But if I'm paying for a service, I don't expect the show or movie to be interrupted by ads. Why aren't these companies called out for their greed? Or is this practice perfectly fine since it returns more money to the investors, even at the expense of delivering a good experience?

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