Vic B 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Court Orders FCC To Hand Over Data On Bogus Net Neutrality Comments

    Vic B ( profile ), 20 Sep, 2018 @ 09:47am

    Re: Re: 'post fact era'

    To add to your insightful comments, let's remember that media has historically been controlled by the powerful, from religious organizations to the various elites and history primarily remembers the written words. Our common understanding is one that has been layered and molded over the centuries, for better or for worse. Many of those left out of the conventional historical discourse are voicing anger, distrust and rejection, also for better or for worse.
    The structuring of history gives us comfort and sense of belonging, at least for those who identify positively with the narrative. I think this is where conservative values are rooted.
    The first explosion of ideas came with the popularization of books when alternative voices finally had an opportunity to be heard, for better or for worse. Because television was controlled by few, at least in countries with limited numbers of channels, it recreated order from the chaotic printed media. Walter Cronkite was "the" news sayer, Vietnam was "the" news, communist Russia was "the" news and furthering the building of the collective consciousness.
    If books were explosive, the internet became nuclear. Anyone can now voice -as I do here- an opinion, however ludicrous it might be. But we haven't absorbed the significance of this, we are in the midst the very first repercussions. We can't even gauge success! Today's article says ESPN+ gets 1M subscribers in 5 months; YouTube star PewDiePie has 67 millions followers; Apple sold 217M phones in 2017... We're flabbergasted by numbers we couldn't fathom 15 years ago and make companies and individuals millions, billions and trillions because we can't figure out how to value things.
    Let's take this back of envelope calculation.. let's say 1% of the US population is a fanatic, that 50% are men, 60% are white and we exclude anyone younger than 16 and older than 70. Let's say that 80% own a computer with access to the internet. That's about 700k nut jobs spewing hatred and potentially reaching millions and billions of people, too many of whom have limited capability of understanding magnitudes and intent, meaning that the potential destructive capabilities of a micro minority is still beyond comprehension. Multiply that by x number of other special interest groups and I can see why the feeble minded decide to check out with as many of their fellow men as they can.

  • On the post: Dutch Government Prosecuting Dutch Citizen For Insulting Turkish President Recep Erdogan

    Vic B ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2018 @ 09:59am

    If I recall correctly, the Dutch government didn't stand up to Hitler either.

  • On the post: ICE Trying To Deport Journalist For Reporting On Abusive ICE Behavior

    Vic B ( profile ), 25 May, 2018 @ 09:47am

    For the many right wing murikans who feel free to spew their hatred of the different, it really doesn't matter if he was undocumented or not. Any non-white person with a non northern European name is a potential target of character assassination. Trump led the flock.

  • On the post: Uber's Video Shows The Arizona Crash Victim Probably Didn't Cause Crash, Human Behind The Wheel Not Paying Attention

    Vic B ( profile ), 22 Mar, 2018 @ 04:33pm

    Re: Re: Re: You believe police when exculpates Uber. -- WAIT FOR THE TRIAL.

    I suggest lithium

  • On the post: World Of Tanks Developer Gets Negative Review Video Taken Down Under Threat Of Copyright Claim, Backlash Ensues

    Vic B ( profile ), 26 May, 2017 @ 10:14am

    Re: Apology isn't genuine until...

    I have been playing World of Tanks for several years, spending far more money on the game than I would ever admit to. SirFoch's rant is one most of us who play this game regularly complain about. Like in many other aspects of life when feeling manipulated but not having proof of it (until it is and everyone says "I knew it!"), WoT is a master game of deceit, letting players believe they are in control of their in game actions while in unproven fact, there are multiple parameters coded in the game that also influence the outcome of a battle that have nothing to do with the player's skills. From time to time avid players sense it and see it and rant about it. SirFoch threw a tantrum trying to prove that the game is not a true test of one's skills but a business venture maximizing its profit potential masquerading as a game of skills.
    And why then are we still paying good money to play this game? I ask myself this question often, then the adrenaline of the win or the great move rushes in and I forget at least for a few more days that I should just switch off and do something less frustrating with my time.

  • On the post: Cord Cutting Is Very Real, And 25% Of Americans Won't Subscribe To Traditional Cable By Next Year

    Vic B ( profile ), 26 Apr, 2017 @ 09:55am

    used them all - now no more

    Comcast, U-Verse, Dish, Direct TV... I've had them all. I think they are all modeled after one another and thus offer the same low service. This weekend we finally put an end to our misery by canceling our service and switching to Sling for $20/month. All that because our $130/month package did not include ESPN... wtf?!? Good weekend after all: Warriors beat Portland and I'm saving $1320 over the next year.

  • On the post: Two Days, Two Shootings, Two Sets Of Cops Making Recordings Disappear

    Vic B ( profile ), 08 Jul, 2016 @ 11:51am

    Re: Re:

    The problem is this though... Like you, it seemed clear to me the cop was totally overwhelmed, almost sounding like he was crying while shouting orders. However, this cop is not a rookie, having been on the force 5 years. So he's had plenty of target shooting practice and whatever other training is given to cops to fulfill their function. But cops in America are stuck between a rock and a hard place, in a country where just about anyone can own a weapon which, in some instances, are more powerful than those carried by the police. Cops are also confronted with lots of dangerous situations (which is what they are paid to do) where they can lose their lives. Frequent dangerous situations + free flow of weapons + a shoot to kill training = A higher probability of police blunder. Add media feeding frenzy onto this and now you have a highly dangerous cocktail of potential violence. When know from statistics than cops kill upwards of 200 people a year in America, which means a tv channel could be devoted entirely to police shootings! To only spin white cops shooting black men is shameful, because the specifics of the event end up a side note to the juicier story of "white cop kills another black man". In this particular instance there is little doubt that this cop will end up with a long prison sentence and the city will pay millions in compensation. But there are plenty of other situations where cops are being exonerated when facts are presented in court, out of the media circus.
    Reality is, all cops in America must be retrained to address difficult situations without drawing weapons, weapons in America should be made extremely difficult to own and citizens in America must learn to abide by police authority when confronted.

  • On the post: Standards Body Whines That People Who Want Free Access To The Law Probably Also Want 'Free Sex'

    Vic B ( profile ), 07 Jul, 2016 @ 10:06am

    Re: In lies the rub, 'standards' are not 'the law'...

    Glad your bring up ISO. If anything, the American model of private enterprise in everything once again shows its flaws, regardless of the "non-profit" label that is nothing more than businesses pooling their resources to fight for their interest which may, or may not, be in the interest of the population. ISO is a European government created and mandated "best of class" standard. Businesses see it as a value added certification and those who meet the standards (often extremely burdensome) pay for the right to affix the ISO logo on their business marketing.
    ANSI and other US based organizations are effectively doing government's work while establishing standards that suits their members best (read protectionism whenever you want). Adding these "private" standards to law effectively enshrines these (I'm not arguing against their value). The scam, well detailed in the article, is when ANSI (and other standard creating organizations) act like private businesses and decided to create new revenue streams by charging anyone who wants to see the standard. This affects thousands of productive businesses across the country.

  • On the post: French Parents Face Fines, Lawsuits And Prison For Posting Pictures Of Their Own Children Online

    Vic B ( profile ), 07 Mar, 2016 @ 02:56pm

    Re: Although...

    you recall wrong. Inheritance tax in France are based on the amount inherited, the larger the amount the greater the tax. I've not heard of 90% inheritance tax although they can be in excess of 60%.

    The logic behind it is that France wants to prevent concentration of wealth transmitted from generation to generation, much like aristocracies in centuries past. France is a small country where billionaires can wield quite a bit of influence over everything...

  • On the post: French Parents Face Fines, Lawsuits And Prison For Posting Pictures Of Their Own Children Online

    Vic B ( profile ), 07 Mar, 2016 @ 02:59pm

    France isn't a litigious society like the US is. It is very, very unlikely that offspring would sue their parents over childhood pics. It does make for media attention though.

  • On the post: Sick Opportunist Taxi Industry Lobbyists Use Death Of 6-Year-Old Girl To Attack Uber

    Vic B ( profile ), 13 Jan, 2014 @ 03:18pm

    I agree with Mike's first paragraph but I think he isn't being fair when blaming the "victims". Taxi drivers and the companies managing cab fleets have had to expand time, effort and money to meet ever increasing government regulations over the years and it is only right that they shoud fight to ensure they are competing on an even playing field. Uber et all are only disruptive in that they don't come from that world and its rules and are only concerned with supplying demand. The real fight should be directed at government regulations and those who seek to preserve them, and yes, that could also be the cab companies.

  • On the post: Australian Politicians Call For TPP Text To Be Made Public Before It's Signed

    Vic B ( profile ), 06 Dec, 2013 @ 11:03am

    Participative versus representative democracy

    I see what you're trying to say Mike although I'm not sure that you fully grasp the consequences of your wishes. Democracy doesn't necessarily mean everyone gets to chime in everything for a number of reasons, from process efficiency to competency and many others reasons, some good and some bad. That's why we elect and pay people, preferably with the required intellect and experience to make decisions for us. Representative government is the cornerstone of democracy. The kind of democracy you espouse, the populist so called participative democracy may be idealistically pure but, except for cases with relatively few participants, is always been a social disaster corrupted by fundamentalists of the worst breed, from religious zealots to right wing nuts. I realize it is more popular than ever to flame elected officials but at the end of the day it does nothing to strengthen our democractic principles but instead encourages anarchy or dogmatic crazies. Just my opinion.

  • On the post: The Latest Leaks Contradict Claims Made In Microsoft's Own 'Law Enforcement Requests Report'

    Vic B ( profile ), 12 Jul, 2013 @ 01:39pm

    ... and we prevent Chinese companies from purchasing US communication companies on "national security" grounds...

  • On the post: Judge's Random, Unrelated Rant Against Facebook Leads To Child Porn Sentence Being Overturned

    Vic B ( profile ), 15 Apr, 2013 @ 02:28pm

    Agism...Really?

    Of course there should be a mandatory retirement age for lots of professions! Be it based on age or motor/psych evaluation doesn't matter but why should businesses be burdened by individuals living their retirements at work? At my job there are several guys in their late 60's who can't be let go for fear of getting sued for age discrimination and yet aren't able to keep up with the speed of change, from computer to smartphone usage to simple drive to get things done. I say let them go and rehire them as consultants when there's a specific need for their experience and let new blood in the workforce!

  • On the post: Recording Industry Lobbyists Accuse Pandora Of Deliberately Not Selling Ads To Plead Poverty To Congress

    Vic B ( profile ), 05 Apr, 2013 @ 09:52am

    To have or not to have

    I don't listen to commercial radio because music only serves to occasionally interrupt advertisers. I've been listening to Pandora for at least 2-3 years but have been getting turned off by it because of the louder, more frequent and longer ad interruptions. As a consequence, I've actively searched for and downloaded one of its competitors (Slacker) which I listen to more now because it is what Pandora used to be.
    Some might suggest I pay Pandora $50 ($60?) per year to hear music with no commercial interruptions. The problem I have with paying for listening to music is that it turns me from a passive listener (which I happily am) to an active stakeholder (am I getting what I want for my money? Are there better ways to spend that money?...) I don't know about you but I have enough on my plate not to want to think about such questions and more financial commitments than I care to juggle with.
    Something tells me I'm not alone with this dilemma...

  • On the post: EA Labels President: DRM Is A Failed Strategy, But SimCity Didn't Have Any DRM

    Vic B ( profile ), 29 Mar, 2013 @ 01:00pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    I can understand some of the frustration with the online-only model which can become an expensive addictive model. But developers have spent years trying to figure ways to increase revenue from gaming and the fairly recent online-only model is showing to be by far the most lucrative of them all. Yes, EA is charging upfront for online-only SC and I think that's a big mistake. Like WoT, it should be free to play and then add micro charges for expansive options such as buildings, land, etc.. If the game is addictive, people will eventually send the $60 that they would have charged with a CD distri model.

  • On the post: EA Labels President: DRM Is A Failed Strategy, But SimCity Didn't Have Any DRM

    Vic B ( profile ), 29 Mar, 2013 @ 12:43pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    I think it's because online-only can't be hacked (thus no need for DRM) unless the main servers are hacked of course. Also, with online-only, developers can instantaneously offer you (paying) incentives. Finally, online-only isn't well suited for mods (unless approved by the developers) which are out of reach to the developers.
    Ultimately, this is about how to get more money from game production knowing that gaming is still cheaper than most other forms of entertainment.

  • On the post: EA Labels President: DRM Is A Failed Strategy, But SimCity Didn't Have Any DRM

    Vic B ( profile ), 28 Mar, 2013 @ 01:19pm

    Re: Re:

    Fighting online only is like fighting automobiles when they first came out..it's a bit dinausorish.

    I discovered the difference a couple years ago when I started playing an online-only game (WoT). Before that I was playing games that I purchased for $60 from a store and played for a couple of years. Before that I was playing game copies that I bought for $2 from street vendors and played for at least 3 years. Maybe I should have started there to make my point... Over the last couple of years I must have spent close to $800 on WoT and something tells me I'm not the only one who followed that path.
    This is why WoT (Wargaming.Net) is the most successful game model in the industry and one likely to be followed by all gaming companies, including EA.
    Put yourself in the gaming developers' shoes for just a second and you'll understand the economic model.
    From a player's perspective it sure is going to be costly to win but free to play (a friend calls them free-to-play, pay-to-win games). Another advantage of the online only model is games that are free from hacks and that's a big deal to me as a gamer.

  • On the post: Newspaper Publisher Disturbed By His Own Reaction To Walking Dead; Thinks Censorship Might Be The Answer

    Vic B ( profile ), 13 Mar, 2013 @ 01:35pm

    relax girls

    The editor expressed an opinion leading to an ambiguous conclusion that Tim called him on in a well written article (thanks Tim!) Now why do we have to have so much angst and name calling in the comments? All you're doing is showing your close mindedness!
    As for the free speech bs, let's agree to disagree. When fanatics call on fanatics to harm non fanatics then I have no moral dilemna shutting them off.

  • On the post: Activist Tells Court That Since Corporations Are People, He Can Drive In The Carpool Lane With Incorporation Papers

    Vic B ( profile ), 14 Jan, 2013 @ 04:20pm

    Re: Moral of the story

    It doesn't take 10 years to get caught, it took him 10 years to get caught.

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