Jay Moore 's Techdirt Comments
Latest Comments (2)
-
On the post: Advertising Is Content, Content Is Advertising, I'm On A Horse
-
On the post: School Spying Scandal Gets Even More Bizarre: Student In Question Was Disciplined For Eating Candy
Jay Moore ( profile ), 22 Feb, 2010 @ 05:29pmwait...what?
If the software was installed to track down stolen laptops...well..for starters..that's a VERY insecure way of tracking down a laptop...any decent laptop thief is going to format the drive as soon as they get the thing to erase all evidence of previous owners. I mean...that's a really stupid reason to install that kind of software...it provides 0 protection. If they wanted to protect the laptops, they could of had the Lo-Jack option installed, which would provide actual security.
But let's ignore the ignorance of the school system's idea of security. The larger outrage is the fact they were activating the software on laptops that were in fact not stolen. But this just goes along with the fact that most schools want to dictate how the kids behave outside of school...because most of them are under the impression the parents can't do it. My school system, when I was there, had absolutely no problem with suspending kids for things they did at home if mere word even got around to school. Get in a fight on the weekend in a non-school related deal? All someone has to do is mention at school and it's just as it's happened ON school ground.
Schools need to be shown a line...they are there to educate the children....they are not there to dictate behavior. I surely hope the parents win whatever suit is brought against the school system...if they don't, then god help us because more and more school systems are going to try to control people.
My kids won't have school provided laptops with spyware installed for the sake of security...they'll use the untethered unmonitored laptops I provide them with...or they won't go to that school.
free advertising for providers?
I personally can attest to companies doing things like this. About 2 years ago I uploaded a copy of an iPod commercial that drove me nuts for about 2 weeks...and I expected Apple to promptly take it down. However, they haven't...the video is still up.
When Gary Coleman did the ads for CashCall...I promptly put them on Youtube because, hey, that's funny right? I also expected someone to come along and take them down...but to this day...it's still up...and has been linked by everyone.
I can't say all my advertising content is still up...some of it has been pulled...it all depends on the company that owns it.
My opinion is with a lot of the adverts that do manage to stay up on YouTube...it's essentially free airtime for them. They want the ad to reach as many eyes as possible..and if people are going to put them up...that's still eyes having viewed it...even if it's just as entertainment value..it's still somewhat affecting what they do.
Besides, the profit channels are different.