Philosophical Quandry: Piracy

[Thermodyne]

Originally posted by Arkcon:

quote:

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Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
The problem with that is that you are bending the word culture to suit your purposes. That is a sub-culture at best (probably not even that).

Well, I disagree with this point of yours, Imperator, even more strongly than I disaggree with the originial point of this discussion.

I don't know what the most rigid definition of a culture is, but an ideology that's held by even a few can spread, like a cultural virus. Linkont cross the memes.

I'm oh so tempted to list a specific case ... but I want to keep this thread civil.

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OK I took the test, and they really need to work on it a lot.

Viruses I do suffer from:
1) Junk food---NOT (Unless beer is junk food)
2) Sci fi---Oh ya, they got that one.
3) Politics---yep I guilty there
4) Environmentalism---Perhaps, but then we get fined if we put the wrong kind of trash in the wrong color bin

I (might) suffer from:
1) Linux 80%---NOT EVEN close
2) Religion 60%---NOT
3) British 85%---NOT
4) Windows 75%---True but a low number
5) freeBSD 90%---True but way high. I guess it was because I kenw it at all.
6) Brand Names 65%---True
7) Hippyism 65%---NOT EVEN Close

I would say it was a test of how much media you have been exposed to.

All in all, it needs work. And perhaps their parents should seek a refund from the uni

[ July 12, 2003, 13:54: Message edited by: Thermodyne ]

[Erax]

An ideology is a component of a culture, not an entire culture in itself. Hacker 'culture' is actually hacker ideology.

On a lighter note, Here's the viruses I suffer from, according to the test : Pokemon, USA, Sci-Fi, Junk Food, Cthulhu, Gaming, Religion, Discordia, Windows, Politics, Brand Names, Conspiracy Theory, Environmentalism.

Possible viruses : Linux, Goth, 8-Bit, Japan, Computer Games, Hippyism.

I plead innocent to Goth, 8-Bit, Hippyism and Discordia. Pokemon and Conspiracy Theory are entirely involuntary. Gladly admit to the rest.

[Fyron]

I am with Erax on this one. It would be an ideaology, not an entire culture. It takes more than a couple of people to form a unique culture. Hackers do not form a unique culture, but a subset of the culture in which they live.

Arkcon, just what do you think the original point of this discussion was?

[ July 12, 2003, 18:36: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

[Baron Munchausen]

Originally posted by Jack Simth:

quote:

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Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
So back to the regularly scheduled philosophizing...

And you neither defend nor rescind your statement that mine was vacuous when challenged. Odd. Nor do you apoligize when I explain how your statement was an insult. Also odd.

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But normal for Fyron. When he can't win on some particular point he hides in a rhetorical trick and waits for you to forget it.

[Jack Simth]

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
But normal for Fyron. When he can't win on some particular point he hides in a rhetorical trick and waits for you to forget it.

Yep, I know. If the discussion involves multiple points, he will quietly drop one or two of them, neither conceeding nor defending the point(s); although to be fair, not responding isn't quite proof that he believes he can't win; that's just the most likely possibility.

One has to be careful when calling him on his tactics, however; the Last time I did (about 3 weeks ago - the Last post in that thread was on June 23, 2003 12:51 (board time); I also called him on his claim that he always admits when he is wrong by quoting some of his own Posts from other threads) Fyron accused me of character assasination and that thread got locked down.

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

Arkcon, just what do you think the original point of this discussion was?

Wait ... um ... I lost track. Talk amoungst yourselves ... OK, back with you.

Ok piracy. Yes, I've done it myself. Pretty much without rationaliztion of any kind. I just take the copied CD and play the game.

After a while, I delete the game. Maybe I buy the full Version to assuage my conscience (and 'cause it was a good game).

But it's wrong. Obviously wrong. Like stealing cable TV or eating grapes in the supermarket checkout line. Lisa had to break the concept over over Homer's head to get hime to agree -- but it was clear to even him, the golden rule{Link}

[ July 12, 2003, 22:08: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

[Jack Simth]

Originally posted by Thermodyne:
OK I took the test, and they really need to work on it a lot.

Viruses I do suffer from:
1) Junk food---NOT (Unless beer is junk food)
2) Sci fi---Oh ya, they got that one.
3) Politics---yep I guilty there
4) Environmentalism---Perhaps, but then we get fined if we put the wrong kind of trash in the wrong color bin

I (might) suffer from:
1) Linux 80%---NOT EVEN close
2) Religion 60%---NOT
3) British 85%---NOT
4) Windows 75%---True but a low number
5) freeBSD 90%---True but way high. I guess it was because I kenw it at all.
6) Brand Names 65%---True
7) Hippyism 65%---NOT EVEN Close

I would say it was a test of how much media you have been exposed to.

All in all, it needs work. And perhaps their parents should seek a refund from the uni

So did I - It's definitely a test of how much media you have been exposed to. Some highlights from my results:

Linux
Install the latest Version of Microsoft Windows. Learn to love it.

Windows
Try MacOS X. It's based on UNIX, it has a smoother UI than Windows and it doesn't suck.
As an extra feature the boxes look nice.

Macintosh (80%)
Use a mouse with more than one button.

UNIX (60%)
Anything this old must be obselete. Go and install a nice modern operating system. I hear MSDOS has come a long way lately.

Do any of these seem slightly contradictory to anyone else?

[Phoenix-D]

The responses are designed to make whatever you have sound bad. So eventually they do contradict; there are only so many popular OSes.

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by Phoenix-D:
The responses are designed to make whatever you have sound bad. So eventually they do contradict; there are only so many popular OSes.

Yeah, the jokes about your choices are a little contradictory. But the point is, even if you're not an active user, follower, luddite, whatever -- you still carry the meme. You recognize it. It is in your thoughts. They have you. And you don't even know it.

I recognized Che Guevara, and failed to recognize the symbol for anarchy. A guy at work was the reverse. It doesn't matter exactly what politics you hold -- just that a certain black outline was obvious. I don't think we have to stop careing, like the game suggests.

Many of the symbols were "Oh, that was on Star Trek" Purely ficticious organizations, yet I recognize their icon better than some real national flags.

Not that that's a bad thing, just shows how symbols propagate though a society, despite your best efforts to control your own mind.

Imperator, if don't copy any games, you will be happier at the end of the day. Or some other day. Or not. YMMV.

[Fyron]

There is also the possibility that the conversation is heading into a bad area and getting way too personal, and that he feels that it would be best for that conversation to end.

There is also the possibility that he has nothing further to say on a particular discussion, and so Posts nothing further about it.