The Faustian bargain of E-books

[ProfCrash]

I will have him hooked into my Amazon account (assuming that it still exists in 6-7 years which I think it will) and let him read the age appropriate books I have for him there. I need to get on top of making a list of my various store accounts and passwords for the hubby so that if anything happens he can access them.

[Ravensknight]

Originally Posted by Sregener

Gutenberg's invention was a pretty good one on the whole. But we still gave up the ability for people to remember word-for-word what they heard (why remember when it can be written down.)
And the proliferation of books and reading led to a new era in eyeglass manufacturing as people spent far more time focusing closely, leading to widespread myopia. .

Bold's all mine.

Holy smokes Batman. Can you say "completely unbacked up assertions?!?!"

1) Most people DIDN'T remember things word for word. Usually a very small group was tasked with such a thing.They get wiped out, bam, you have to put it all back together from the imperfect memories of others, and usually wrong. The printing press removed the "human memory error" from the process of passing along info. People didn't get lazy.


2) What a load of crock about reading and myopia. Prove it.

So take your little arguments and leave.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You're giving up the ability to resell it, or pass it on to someone else. Of course, if (like me) you never do that anyway, it's no loss.

Same here, and if I do choose to loan out a book I throw it on one of my older Kindle devices and loan the whole thing out.

[WT Sharpe]

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[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The dilemma only exists if the legality matters to you. You are locked in if you allow yourself to be locked in. There is no dilemma for me because I am fine with removing the DRM so that I can read my books on any device or using any application. There is no dilemma.

I don't think that Amazon is going to sue me for breech of contract because I am not pirating the work and I doubt that they know that I have removed the DRM. Is it possible that an author here might see my post and try and find out who I am and sue me? Sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they need more then a post or 100 on a message board to get a warrant.

I only use DRMed works on my Kindle and Kindle for IPad app so it would be hard for Amazon to know that I had removed DRM unless they are reading this board. (shrugs)

It is a moral dilemma in most cases, along the same lines as petty theft.

Many feel no discomfort if there is little danger of being caught. Kind of like taking your grandmother's, social security check if you know she would never dream of reporting you.

I don't think removing DRM is quite in the same league, but I often wonder why people gloat about it and self justify ad infinitum.

I have been guilty of many a petty crime and misdemeanor, but I am not simple enough to expect kudos from them or cover my feelings of guilt with smugness. Mostly if I know it is wrong, I will carry on and expect to face the consequences, or man up and stop. Bragging about it with a shrug is not on my list of options.

[Sregener]

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

Can you say "completely unbacked up assertions?!?!"

I suggest a quick read of "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Neil Postman. It might enlighten you as to the nature of technology and the Faustian bargains it makes.

This is an Internet forum, and I am not required to do your research for you. If you want footnotes, go read a scientific journal.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You're giving up the ability to resell it, or pass it on to someone else. Of course, if (like me) you never do that anyway, it's no loss.

As long as you never buy second hand books either.
Or think that the existence of a second hand market affects the prices for new books.

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

It is a moral dilemma in most cases, along the same lines as petty theft.

Many feel no discomfort if there is little danger of being caught. Kind of like taking your grandmother's, social security check if you know she would never dream of reporting you.

I don't think removing DRM is quite in the same league, but I often wonder why people gloat about it and self justify ad infinitum.

I have been guilty of many a petty crime and misdemeanor, but I am not simple enough to expect kudos from them or cover my feelings of guilt with smugness. Mostly if I know it is wrong, I will carry on and expect to face the consequences, or man up and stop. Bragging about it with a shrug is not on my list of options.

Nothing is being stolen. I'm sure that the makers of your car and your house would love to have you scrap them when you're finished with them.

'I paid for it and I'll use it how I wish' has nothing in common with 'I stole it, but I deserved to have it'.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Fluribus

Nothing is being stolen. I'm sure that the makers of your car and your house would love to have you scrap them when you're finished with them.

'I paid for it and I'll use it how I wish' has nothing in common with 'I stole it, but I deserved to have it'.

Depends what you're doing with it. If your concept of "I'll use it how I wish" includes giving copies of it to all your friends, then one might reasonably suggest that this is cause for concern.

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Depends what you're doing with it. If your concept of "I'll use it how I wish" includes giving copies of it to all your friends, then one might reasonably suggest that this is cause for concern.

Indeed, but the same would be true of physical books. Besides, I'm cranky and never give anything to anybody. >>BAM<< Don't touch that! You can't have it! Mine! Mine! Mine!