Skeptical Cynic 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Using Wikileaks To Figure Out What The Government 'Redacts'

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 30 Jan, 2012 @ 05:35am

    Re:

    Much better way of going about it.

    "If you can't dazzle them with skill, baffle them with Bullshit"

  • On the post: Using Wikileaks To Figure Out What The Government 'Redacts'

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 30 Jan, 2012 @ 05:32am

    Re:

    Sure those things do cause the US some problems. A lot of problems. But I think the larger problem stems from the fact that the US is the largest economy in the world and is directly responsible for the success of 2nd Japan and 3rd China. They are envious.

  • On the post: Using Wikileaks To Figure Out What The Government 'Redacts'

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 30 Jan, 2012 @ 05:17am

    Re:

    Agree with you that this is not surprising, enough already of everybody US hating.

    I am willing to bet anything that the US is not the worst offender in the world. I would bet also that it is not even in the top 10. The US government is doing a lot things that we all agree are bad but because of the level of free (not as free as it use to be) speech we have in this country we are more aware of it. We know about it. In a lot of countries you don't.

  • On the post: Using Wikileaks To Figure Out What The Government 'Redacts'

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 30 Jan, 2012 @ 05:00am

    It's kind of like seeing behind the Wizards curtain.

    And finding a sweat shop using child labor.

  • On the post: Misguided Twitter Protests… And Why Twitter Could Have Explained Itself Better

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 30 Jan, 2012 @ 04:52am

    Censorship will always occur.

    They will always be censorship in one manner or another. Censorship happens everyday. Courts censor litigants with gag orders, you censor yourself from telling that funny but not-so nice joke, businesses censor the data they provide to the customers and investors.

    Censorship in and of itself is not a bad thing.

    What is worse is when you do not even know about the information being censored. When you don't know what you don't know. We will never be able to stop all censorship.

    The best we can hope is to at least know it is happening and who is doing it.

    Because at least then we can work to get around or defeat it.

  • On the post: Tales From Ubisoft DRM: Latest DRM Goes From Horrible To Slightly Less Horrible

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 27 Jan, 2012 @ 05:15am

    Re: The bigger issue

    Forgot to mention that they are not happy with me being able to do with game disks what I want to so the next step it to stop you from playing used disks.

    How the next Xbox could stop you from playing used games

    http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2012/01/how-the-next-xbox-could-stop-you-from-playing-used-games.ars?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arstechnica%2Findex+%28Ars+Technica+-+Featured+Content%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

  • On the post: Tales From Ubisoft DRM: Latest DRM Goes From Horrible To Slightly Less Horrible

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 27 Jan, 2012 @ 05:10am

    The bigger issue

    Is when did we give up our right to OWN what we buy when it comes to PC software? And why did we give that right up?

    If you don't understand what I mean by the above statement just search around. I don't want to get going on a long rant about this but I have been involved with the Tech industry for over 25 years and have seen the evolution of this concept.

    I will just give one example. When I buy software for my Xbox (i.e. a game disc) I own that disk. I can do anything I want with that disk including but not limited to reselling (first sale doctrine) but for a lot of software on the PC when you buy it you get to install it (with their limitations imposed inside the sealed package) sure and use it (in the manner allowed by them) sure but just about nothing else.

    We have given up somewhere, at sometime without being truly aware our right to own the software we buy.

  • On the post: Twitter Decides To Censor Locally, Rather Than Block Globally, In Response To Government Demands

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 27 Jan, 2012 @ 04:44am

    Re:

    Yes it is. Period. If you a controlling power want to say what someone can or can not be said about anything then that is censorship.

    By definition "Censorship is the suppression of speech or other public communication which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient to the general body of people as determined by a government, media outlet, or other controlling body."

    The problem is that everyone can find something that they see as objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient to the general body of people from time to time. So to censor already involves subjective opinion.

    There is not enough space on this webpage to get it to a full discussion on censorship.

    So all I will say is that not just no, but hell no.

  • On the post: Twitter Decides To Censor Locally, Rather Than Block Globally, In Response To Government Demands

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 27 Jan, 2012 @ 04:34am

    Re: Re: really?

    Sweet

  • On the post: Twitter Decides To Censor Locally, Rather Than Block Globally, In Response To Government Demands

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 27 Jan, 2012 @ 04:33am

    Re: Re: It is also an elegant way

    I know. That is what I like. Follow the law, but only to the letter of the law not to what they intend.

  • On the post: Twitter Decides To Censor Locally, Rather Than Block Globally, In Response To Government Demands

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 07:15pm

    It is also an elegant way

    of showing to the world who is blocking what and how often. Not to mention that it keeps the information from becoming unavailable based on what one government or content holder says it wants censored.

    I would also ask that Twitter open source their method so that other websites will be able to do the same.

  • On the post: European Parliament Official In Charge Of ACTA Quits, And Denounces The 'Masquerade' Behind ACTA

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 01:08pm

    Re: Re: Daring to speak out

    Very funny!! There are a lot of people missing sarcasm on TechDirt today.

  • On the post: European Parliament Official In Charge Of ACTA Quits, And Denounces The 'Masquerade' Behind ACTA

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 01:05pm

    Re: Re: Re: Hope this is a sign

    I don't say this in a cynical manner. Every politician is "bought" in one way or another. That is not always a bad thing. You don't get elected to any major office with being helped. Some more than others. Even if the "bought" is only some group rallying around you. You still are bought to some extent.

    I am glad he came out in the public manner he did and proud of him for doing so in a manner that will more than likely cause him some harm but offer more for the greater good.

    That being said he did not do this just for the public good.

  • On the post: European Parliament Official In Charge Of ACTA Quits, And Denounces The 'Masquerade' Behind ACTA

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 12:49pm

    Re: Re: Re: Daring to speak out

    Had that happen to me earlier today. Turned out to be pretty funny.

  • On the post: European Parliament Official In Charge Of ACTA Quits, And Denounces The 'Masquerade' Behind ACTA

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 12:43pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Good people?

    Fine agreed. It was qualified because this is primarily a USA tech blog and he is a European Politician. But I don't get how that assumption came about.

    Of all the stereotypes related to French people none that I am aware of are that the French are dishonest. So how do you relate the two or filter it for the French part when the more obvious stereotypical relationship with dishonest is with politicians.

  • On the post: European Parliament Official In Charge Of ACTA Quits, And Denounces The 'Masquerade' Behind ACTA

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 12:38pm

    Re: Re: Re: Good people?

    Where do you read that? Dishonest because he is a politician. Duh?!?!? Hell what is wrong with people today.

  • On the post: European Parliament Official In Charge Of ACTA Quits, And Denounces The 'Masquerade' Behind ACTA

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 12:34pm

    Re: Re: Re: Good people?

    WTF is wrong with you? Where in my comment did I mention race or socialism in reference to him being honest or not. He's a politician. (Pol is short for politician)

    You say "I'm neither French not Socialist, but neither am I racist or inclined to buy into offensive stereotypes." and neither do I. So how the hell could you or any sane mind read something racist in to my comment?

    You have issues and you need to deal with them. But don't accuse me of something your militant mind can dream up.

  • On the post: Public Interest Groups Speak Out About Next Week's Secret Meeting In Hollywood To Negotiate TPP (Think International SOPA)

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 12:20pm

    Re: Are they really in the public's interest?

    I don't want to waste time by pointing out the many, many things wrong with your comment. I am just going to say one thing.

    Even if everything you say is true, do you really want to live in a world where laws are decided on in secret?

  • On the post: European Parliament Official In Charge Of ACTA Quits, And Denounces The 'Masquerade' Behind ACTA

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 12:09pm

    Re: Re: Hope this is a sign

    Maybe not, or maybe just by another interest.

  • On the post: European Parliament Official In Charge Of ACTA Quits, And Denounces The 'Masquerade' Behind ACTA

    Skeptical Cynic ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 12:08pm

    Re: Good people?

    He's a French Pol. So I wouldn't exactly call him an honest bloke.

    Kader Arif, is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the south-west of France. He is a member of the Socialist Party, which is part of the Party of European Socialists, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade.

    Might not be all bad, but not an honest bloke.

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