4 ms·

What, because one arm of the US Government is doing something bad at any given time means that another arm isn't allowed to do something good? These are very s

by hugh3 15y ago

What, because one arm of the US Government is doing something bad at any given time means that another arm isn't allowed to do something good? These are very separate sets of issues, and I think it's kinda sad that about half the comments in this thread are ignoring the issue this is about and jumping straight to whining about how the US Government won't let you pirate Battlestar Galactica.

nate_meurer 15y ago
No, not separate issues. Our government are hypocrites because they work to undermine censorship imposed by foreign governments on their respective populations, while at the same time imposing censorship on their own people for nothing more than "unauthorized viewing" of Battlestar Galactica. Or perhaps you think Battlestar Galactica is actually a better reason to censor and oppress than, say, the threat of riots and political unrest. Not being snarky; I really can't tell from your comment.
- true_religion 15y ago
  That's a poor implication. Censoring an entertainment television show is not as oppressive to the general public as censoring political discussion. If you censor political discussion, you can't even talk about how bad it is to censor anything---televisions shows included.
  - nate_meurer 15y ago
    I never made such a judgement. I would agree that, in general terms, censorship of political speach represents a greater degree of oppression. However, that's not to dismiss the oppressiveness of our current copyright regime, where the content industries are lobbying for even non-commercial infringement to be criminalized, and our government seems largely willing to go along.
Groxx 15y ago
Not at all. But we're all stuck funding all branches, so we do have a right to complain about the bad ones. And they do harm the image / reception of the good ones, as well as waste scads of money that could be doing (more?) good. As to the differences, yes, this is far from the piracy issues. But not from banning books or bypassing due process.

by hugh3 15y ago

nate_meurer 15y ago

No, not separate issues. Our government are hypocrites because they work to undermine censorship imposed by foreign governments on their respective populations, while at the same time imposing censorship on their own people for nothing more than "unauthorized viewing" of Battlestar Galactica. Or perhaps you think Battlestar Galactica is actually a better reason to censor and oppress than, say, the threat of riots and political unrest. Not being snarky; I really can't tell from your comment.

true_religion 15y ago
That's a poor implication. Censoring an entertainment television show is not as oppressive to the general public as censoring political discussion. If you censor political discussion, you can't even talk about how bad it is to censor anything---televisions shows included.
- nate_meurer 15y ago
  I never made such a judgement. I would agree that, in general terms, censorship of political speach represents a greater degree of oppression. However, that's not to dismiss the oppressiveness of our current copyright regime, where the content industries are lobbying for even non-commercial infringement to be criminalized, and our government seems largely willing to go along.

Groxx 15y ago

Not at all. But we're all stuck funding all branches, so we do have a right to complain about the bad ones. And they do harm the image / reception of the good ones, as well as waste scads of money that could be doing (more?) good. As to the differences, yes, this is far from the piracy issues. But not from banning books or bypassing due process.