John Fenderson 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (17316)

• On the post: Even The Usual Defenders Of The RIAA Are Pointing Out They're Simply Lying About YouTube

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2016 @ 02:27pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Look, on the screen! It's a commentor, it's a visitor, it's...

  I have to admit that I'm a bit confused about what you're saying.
  
  Do you believe that all regulation is bad and should be avoided?
  
  If not, then your real disagreement is not about the existence of regulation but about what you consider to be acceptable regulation.
  
  Do I have this right?

• On the post: Even The Usual Defenders Of The RIAA Are Pointing Out They're Simply Lying About YouTube

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2016 @ 02:10pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Regulation drums

  That article is examining why it is that free market principles have not been applied to broadband and different takes on what to do about it.
  
  Its bias is that free market principles are desirable in that space. This does not support your assertion.

• On the post: Even The Usual Defenders Of The RIAA Are Pointing Out They're Simply Lying About YouTube

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2016 @ 02:02pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Regulation drums

  "I think it is clear that people at TD see the word regulation as default good, and free market as default bad."
  
  I can only speak for myself, but I see regulation as inherently neither good nor bad. It is a necessary tool, and it can be used both to enhance freedom and liberty and to suppress it.
  
  Regulation is a powerful and dangerous tool, though, and needs to be handled with due caution and care.

• On the post: USPTO Rejects Whole Foods 'World's Healthiest Grocery Store' Trademark Because Naaaaaah

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2016 @ 08:40am

  Re: Re: Is it code?

  Whaa?!
  
  Well, that beats the asparagus water, which didn't have toxicity going for it.
  
  http://www.eater.com/2015/8/3/9090797/whole-foods-asparagus-water-wtf

• On the post: Comcast Tells The FCC It Should Be Able To Charge Broadband Users A Premium For Privacy

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2016 @ 08:26am

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Again Government Overreach

  Without any regulation, the free market devolves into monopoly.

• On the post: USPTO Rejects Whole Foods 'World's Healthiest Grocery Store' Trademark Because Naaaaaah

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2016 @ 06:59am

  Re: Trademark and Truth

  The USPTO has no interest (and should have no interest) in the truth or falsity of trademarks. Their only legitimate interest is in the possibility of consumer confusion.
  
  The FTC, however, might.

• On the post: How The Olympics Bullshit Ban On Tweeting About The Olympics Is Harming Olympic Athletes

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2016 @ 08:44am

  Olympics?

  What's that?

• On the post: Good To See: Blockstream Promises Not To Abuse Patents

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 06:29pm

  Re: Re:

  If a company is bought out, the only thing that matters is existing contracts. I'm not sure there are many judges who would consider a "pledge" as having any real weight.
  
  And if the pledge does get in the way, it wouldn't stop the company from selling the patents to someone else who aren't bound by any pledge.

• On the post: Canadian Comedian Plans To Appeal $42k For A Joke That Insulted Someone

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 03:23pm

  Re:

  (I know nothing of this specific case, so am speaking generally)
  
  I don't think the issue is whether or not terrible speech has some form of punishment as much as whether that punishment should be imposed by the government.
  
  But this is a cultural question, really. As an American, I'm in no position to criticize the balance other nations choose.

• On the post: New Jersey Man Files Lawsuit Over Pokemon Go After A Few Players Politely Knocked On His Door

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 01:27pm

  Re:

  "but jamming data is not."
  
  Umm, yes, it is. Jamming is illegal regardless of what it is you are jamming.

• On the post: What To Do About Lawless Government Hacking And The Weakening Of Digital Security

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 01:25pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re:

  "I also strongly believe". Ugh.

• On the post: What To Do About Lawless Government Hacking And The Weakening Of Digital Security

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 01:24pm

  Re: Re: Re:

  I believe that on this subject we differ more in timeline and temperament than in philosophy.
  
  I tip my hat to you! I also strongly, particularly in these times, that we need both the radical and the, well, whatever the hell I am.

• On the post: Study: Trolls Are Even Worse When Using Real Names

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 01:17pm

  Re: one persons troll...

  Yeah, this is how I feel.
  
  The only time trolling really irritates me is when it takes over the comments, and no effective discussion related to the actual article can take place. But that sort of thing is the fault of everyone engaging the troll more than anything (I'm guilty of this from time to time).
  
  Left unchecked, trolling can destroy destroy a community, though. The classic example would be the YouTube comment section of old. A comment section like that is no better than not having a comment section at all.
  
  My favorite approach to the whole issue is Slashdot's, although it is certainly imperfect. Techdirt's works well enough, too, although I do wish there was a way to collapse comment threads. I think that would allow people who love to troll or be trolled to do their thing, but still keep it usable for those who aren't interested.

• On the post: What To Do About Lawless Government Hacking And The Weakening Of Digital Security

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 12:58pm

  Re:

  Personally, I think that's overstating it by quite a lot. The US is not there quite yet. However, I agree that the trend has been toward increasing tyranny.
  
  The reason I stay optimistic is that this is not new territory for the US. We've been here a couple times before in history, and have managed not just to survive, but to come out of it a little better. It can be messy getting there, but we've done it before and we can do it again.
  
  I guess I agree with Theodore Parker when he said that in the long view, the arc of history bends towards justice.
  
  It's just that things can suck an awful lot in the short view.

• On the post: What To Do About Lawless Government Hacking And The Weakening Of Digital Security

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 12:49pm

  Re: EFF I recommend...

  That's a hard call. I think that what you're saying is true -- public awareness and education is critical.
  
  However, TV campaigns cost a ton of cash, and the need to raise that cash can all too easily turn an outfit into little more than a fundraising operation.
  
  I think the EFF does fantastic and invaluable work right now, and would hate to see that work adversely impacted by a new venture. I think that agencies (and people, and software, and so on) tend to be at their best when they "do one thing really well".
  
  Perhaps what we need is a separate outfit to do that sort of work in conjunction with the EFF and such.

• On the post: What To Do About Lawless Government Hacking And The Weakening Of Digital Security

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 12:39pm

  Re: Interesting factoids

  "Only about 1 in 6 arrests lead to a conviction that year. (perhaps plea bargains?)"
  
  Plea bargains are agreements to plead guilty to a lesser offense. The person is still convicted, though, just for something else instead.

• On the post: Houston Law Firm Sues Student With Severe Back Injuries For $200k After She Posts Negative Reviews To Yelp, Facebook

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 11:05am

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

  I agree. If I didn't engage in business activities, I would not personally know any attorneys whatsoever. Having contacts like that is excellent, but is an advantage that tons of people don't have.

• On the post: New Jersey Man Files Lawsuit Over Pokemon Go After A Few Players Politely Knocked On His Door

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 10:58am

  Re: Re: Re: Re:

  I think the relevant concept might fall under "attractive nuisance".

• On the post: New Jersey Man Files Lawsuit Over Pokemon Go After A Few Players Politely Knocked On His Door

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 10:53am

  Re: Re: Re:

  Well, it all depends. I don't play Pokemon Go, so I don't know what mechanisms they have in place. For all I know, they are doing all the same things they did with Ingress, including being very slow about fixing erroneous placements.

• On the post: FBI Official Compares Encryption Guru Moxie Marlinspike To The KKK, Refuses To Discuss Him

  

  John Fenderson ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2016 @ 07:57am

  Re: Re: Say it again with me: "Self-inflicted wound"

  This. And it's not just a computer thing -- it's a security thing.
  
  An "attacker" is anyone who is trying to bypass your security measures. Who they are or what their intentions are is irrelevant.

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