Comments on: The Stallman Paradox http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5 Free Telephony for a Free World Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:49:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Peter http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-74 Peter Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:14:34 +0000 http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-74 I'd love to be able to disagree. But I cannot: pre-Y2K, I always wondered about how Herbert or rather any sane author could explain the device of butler's jihad in Dune. After Y2K the continually increasing abuse of IT got very obvious. And every worker in IT worth his salt is getting very nervous when yet another 'new' advantageous ID card with chip and stuff gets mentioned. Given the risks we face, butler's jihad suddenly seems like the emergency button and likely the only way to stop the ever increasing damage to our society and culture, which just might be a wee bit more important than IT and pure science. Not a nice world and not a nice development we had to witness in the last decade. cu Peter I’d love to be able to disagree. But I cannot:

pre-Y2K, I always wondered about how Herbert or rather any sane author could explain the device of butler’s jihad in Dune. After Y2K the continually increasing abuse of IT got very obvious. And every worker in IT worth his salt is getting very nervous when yet another ‘new’ advantageous ID card with chip and stuff gets mentioned. Given the risks we face, butler’s jihad suddenly seems like the emergency button and likely the only way to stop the ever increasing damage to our society and culture, which just might be a wee bit more important than IT and pure science.

Not a nice world and not a nice development we had to witness in the last decade.

cu
Peter

]]> By: jpeazy http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-73 jpeazy Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:45:21 +0000 http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-73 I think that this is a great counter point to the avalanche of articles and op/eds advocating the advance of technology in education as a solution. What is new is not always what is better, and in this case I believe that the school in question is accepting a future based on the "common" sense, which in reality may just be an echo chamber of the online community. If you live your life online and that is where you get your information as to where the future is headed, then it stands to reason you would believe we are unalterably headed for a paperless, digital age, in this case to the point where archaic books are a hindrance to education taking up space. I personally am not yet comfortable enough with Kindle to toss out my library, and I as leery of a future where published material is only available to those with the money for the technology and the subscription and written documentation is only as permanent as the last stroke of the backspace key. I think that this is a great counter point to the avalanche of articles and op/eds advocating the advance of technology in education as a solution. What is new is not always what is better, and in this case I believe that the school in question is accepting a future based on the “common” sense, which in reality may just be an echo chamber of the online community. If you live your life online and that is where you get your information as to where the future is headed, then it stands to reason you would believe we are unalterably headed for a paperless, digital age, in this case to the point where archaic books are a hindrance to education taking up space. I personally am not yet comfortable enough with Kindle to toss out my library, and I as leery of a future where published material is only available to those with the money for the technology and the subscription and written documentation is only as permanent as the last stroke of the backspace key.

]]> By: David Wiley http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-72 David Wiley Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:27:43 +0000 http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-72 While I agree with your overall sentiment, the language of "DRM disabling solutions" is problematic, because it sounds like a solution that disables DRM. Can you state this another way? Keep up the great thinking... While I agree with your overall sentiment, the language of “DRM disabling solutions” is problematic, because it sounds like a solution that disables DRM. Can you state this another way? Keep up the great thinking…

]]> By: zarzqtzq http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-69 zarzqtzq Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:59:46 +0000 http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-69 Renaissance, again? Renaissance, again?

]]> By: Magice http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-68 Magice Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:17:35 +0000 http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-68 Frankly, I don't know about other countries (such as Europe and Japan, as well as Canada, China, India, etc.), but the United States of America is ALREADY in Dark Ages. For example, more people believe in angels than evolution. Another example, the great influence of churches on politics. Yet another example, the blind fate in various issues, such as free market, religions, etc. Even in technical-savvy portion of the population (which is generally believed to be more progressive), the idea of masculinity's superior, hint of sexism and racism, the close-mindedness and scepticism toward concepts of freedom and community, the hopeless individualism and heroism are so wildspread that such portion can hardly be called "progressive." Of course, expect the worse from the rest. Dunno what you think, but warning about Dark Age at this time seems too late. Let's discuss about how to do a new renaissance, shall we? Frankly, I don’t know about other countries (such as Europe and Japan, as well as Canada, China, India, etc.), but the United States of America is ALREADY in Dark Ages.

For example, more people believe in angels than evolution. Another example, the great influence of churches on politics. Yet another example, the blind fate in various issues, such as free market, religions, etc. Even in technical-savvy portion of the population (which is generally believed to be more progressive), the idea of masculinity’s superior, hint of sexism and racism, the close-mindedness and scepticism toward concepts of freedom and community, the hopeless individualism and heroism are so wildspread that such portion can hardly be called “progressive.” Of course, expect the worse from the rest.

Dunno what you think, but warning about Dark Age at this time seems too late. Let’s discuss about how to do a new renaissance, shall we?

]]> By: Bogdan Bivolaru http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-67 Bogdan Bivolaru Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:47:02 +0000 http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-67 "It's going to be much worse for freedom, before it gets any better" -Someone I believe that's true at least for some people / organizations - it is only when it comes to a crisis that the disatvantages of DRM become evident to the mainstream. A crisis could be Amazon's issue with Orwell's books or Sony's rootkit "experiment". People are used to learn by experience, not when someone else tells them what to do and how - as in they have to get burnt themselves before they learn about the dangers of the fire. “It’s going to be much worse for freedom, before it gets any better” -Someone
I believe that’s true at least for some people / organizations – it is only when it comes to a crisis that the disatvantages of DRM become evident to the mainstream. A crisis could be Amazon’s issue with Orwell’s books or Sony’s rootkit “experiment”.
People are used to learn by experience, not when someone else tells them what to do and how – as in they have to get burnt themselves before they learn about the dangers of the fire.

]]> By: JohnMc http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-58 JohnMc Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:54:56 +0000 http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=5#comment-58 Hmmm. I think you are conflating the actions of a single institution with that of the broader opportunity. When I see Sanyo preparing to offer an ePub enabled reader rather than a DRM branded product. Or I see on TV that a group of entrepreneurs are offering small fee online textbooks that the instructor can enhance and tailor to a class, the outcome is heading in direction counter to your discussion. Hmmm. I think you are conflating the actions of a single institution with that of the broader opportunity. When I see Sanyo preparing to offer an ePub enabled reader rather than a DRM branded product. Or I see on TV that a group of entrepreneurs are offering small fee online textbooks that the instructor can enhance and tailor to a class, the outcome is heading in direction counter to your discussion.

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