Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The file-sharing bill

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  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    Oh, look - a quiet release of SCF documents

    Jee-zuz fuck!!!

    Just when I thought it wasn't possible to despise the Government more.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • 3410,

    Is it, I don't know, copies of bloody 'Sucker Punch' or Lady Gaga songs (or whomever, Katy Perry, I don't know) or what?

    Yep, pretty much.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Percy Flage, in reply to 3410,

    Oh. Oh dear. Thank you. So this law will, generally, stop people getting for free now that which they might get from a Warehouse bargain bin for $5 in six month's time?

    In practice, could this have an impact on my freedom of expression (or opportunities to express myself freely) or is this all about ensuring that I'm a compliant, meek and obedient consumer? Viscerally, I would like to be affronted by the law, but if it merely curbs people's opportunities to swap nonsense...

    Since Apr 2011 • 5 posts Report

  • Grant McDougall,

    Apart from the obvious legal and IT flaws of the bill, it's also flawed on a practical level, in that it'll be basically impossible to police who is actually breaking the law.

    For example, while a parent may own the computer and pay the connection bills, it's more likely to be their kids that d/l stuff. Yet there's no way of identifying the actual perpertrator, but the parent will be the one to wear the penalties.

    There's all sorts of possible scenarios where it'll be impossible to know who did it.

    It's not like speeding, where the camera picks you out.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report

  • Grant McDougall,

    In general, it's real locking the door after the horse has bolted territory, isn't it ? I'd love to know how many relatives and friends of politicians and NZFACT d/l stuff. Chances are it's many, many of them.

    This bill is egregious to the nth degree. It's much like trying to clamp down on home brewers because it's taking money away from breweries.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report

  • Gaddis, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    It's not like speeding, where the camera picks you out

    Yup, it is. If you were to lend me your car and I went for a hoon it is still your car, your fine.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2011 • 1 posts Report

  • vangam,

    Is there a chance that this bill was rushed through in an attempt to pre-empt a more draconian version being introduced via the TPPA agreement?

    Rangiora • Since Jun 2007 • 103 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to vangam,

    I doubt it - sounded like pure opportunism to use up the Urgency time beyond what was needed for CERA. If TPPA demands worse conditions this government will just grab their ankles tighter. And Labour will hand them the vaseline.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rex Widerstrom,

    Katrina Shanks and Melissa Lee...

    Tell me again, MMP supporters, just how good is the system which foists these people upon us and how democracy will be the worse for it if we abandon this farce come the referendum.

    Yes I know FPP brought us Ben Couch and Merv Wellington, but I'm not suggesting we return to it, but rather that we adopt a system whereby people can watch this sort of festival of teh dumb (live or via a streamed candidates debate, or just hear about it from friends or online) and go "I don't think so" without being forced to either vote in a way that does not advance their preferred party, or accept these mouth breathers as their "representatives".

    /threadjack

    Perth, Western Australia • Since Nov 2006 • 157 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Rex Widerstrom,

    Maybe a recall option like California has? Or a simple IQ test, perhaps.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Kracklite, in reply to Rex Widerstrom,

    Was it Eisenhower who expressed surprise that half the population was below average? MMP has nothing to do with this moronic inferno. Our representatives are… our representatives. I’m depressed by this fact, but I’m angered when they don’t do what they’re paid to do or claim to do (Hello Mr Robertson, how's that inquiry going? I hear that the police have been rather uncivil with someone else lately).

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • Kracklite, in reply to Sacha,

    Well, I know the latter part is facetious. Possibly the recall option…

    Part of the problem with California now is the fact that it has become ungovernable through, I believe, an excess of populism through excessive reliance on referenda, which is not the same as representative democracy. Of course everyone will prefer lower taxes; of course everyone will prefer X, which incidentally costs more… and so on. There’s a nice quote from Burke, I believe…

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Kracklite,

    We'll need some good reminding about the failures of California and Colorado if Hide continues to push equivalent daftness on this country's Councils.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Steve Parks,

    Anywho, Media 7 is on, meet ya all back here in 30 minutes.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Parks,

    spoken like a man with Freeview

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Rex Widerstrom,

    I know FPP brought us Ben Couch and Merv Wellington

    And they were not the stupidest elected members. All parties have had their share. Of course, it always seems that National's had a little more than their share... ;-)

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Rex Widerstrom, in reply to Kracklite,

    MMP has nothing to do with this moronic inferno. Our representatives are… our representatives.

    But in most professions where an IQ above luke warm is an asset, there's an effective filter to stop those possessed by teh dumb getting through. Unless you've had a surgeon say "the dangly bit next to your... you know, like the sausages are made of, but not of course that we make actual sausages out of ours because I remember this one time, at med school..." :-P

    Unless your argument boils down to "the stupid deserve a voice too", in which case the diplomat part of me (as opposed to the diplomatic part, which errr... doesn't exist) agrees.

    But the blind have a right to be able to travel. That doesn't mean we actually give them the car keys, we let those with the requisite ability drive for them.

    Perth, Western Australia • Since Nov 2006 • 157 posts Report

  • Kracklite, in reply to nzlemming,

    Personally, I subscribe to the model that all current or former ministers of education are either stupid or swine, with considerable overlap if one were to draw a Venn diagram. Tolley and Wellington (Arthur Wellesley was most definitely a genius, apparently rather upsetting that model – but he was never minister of education) are clearly in the idiot circle. That Thunderbirds puppet wosshisname and Russell Marshall likewise. Joyce is not an idiot, but a phallocephalos that can go in the porcine realm. As for Goff… well, once I would have said that wasn’t an idiot…

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Kracklite,

    Apparently, Brian Tallboys was reasonable…

    And Mallard was interesting.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Kracklite,

    The officer who conducted the interview with Mr Farmer was “moved sideways” within the force. Could that bus ticket be any wetter?

    It was 2007 that the conviction was overturned, so slightly different internal environment. And given that detectives are something of an elite, if the guy got shuffled off into traffic that would be quite the serious status demotion. You don't always have to reduce someone's rank (and detective isn't a rank, anyway, so you can't demote someone from detective) to make it clear that they're unworthy of responsibility.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Kracklite, in reply to Rex Widerstrom,

    Unless your argument boils down to “the stupid deserve a voice too”

    It does, actually.

    I'm sure we agree in principle that even the stupid deserve votes. I'm also sure that we agree that they don't deserve respect.

    IQ above luke warm is an asset

    You know, there are plenty of opportunities for humour in pointing out the difference between Celsius and Kelvin, numerical comparisons with IQ and room temperature, if you know what I mean. Ie., mine is Kelvin, X's is... ahem, you know...

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • Steve Parks, in reply to Sacha,

    spoken like a man with Freeview

    heh
    Sorry, busy watching the Court Report.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report

  • Kracklite, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Maybe so, but loss of “status” versus false imprisonment and the destruction of a family? I’m sorry, but that officer is going to enjoy freedom and hot meals and a guaranteed income for life despite committing what would be a serious criminal offence had he not been a police officer.

    I suggest listening to this to understand the real affect this has had on Farmer and his family.

    These are real people, dealing with real and long-lasting consequences due to the malice of a corrupt officer who – as it seems now – is being protected.

    “Elite”? Please, don’t get me started.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Kracklite,

    despite committing what would be a serious criminal offence had be not been a police officer.

    umm, what? What offence, exactly? He didn't perjure himself, and in any case perjury by police officers is very definitely a criminal offence.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Kracklite,

    IQ above luke warm is an asset

    You know, there are plenty of opportunities for humour in pointing out the difference between Celsius and Kelvin

    I'm just waiting for someone to suggest that one of our elected representatives has an IQ of zero. Kelvin ;)

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

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