Makes me glad my reader is not connected - Page 9

Kali Yuga · 07-19-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richman

This TOPIC is right out of the 1984 Orwellian book , think about it, someone "read" a book that he was not suppose to be reading. They broke down the doors and took away his book because it was an illegal book to read by the government....

While the deletions of 1984 are ironic, your characterizations are incorrect.

Amazon is not revising history or pulling a book for political content; they yanked it due to copyright reasons. They are not backing up their actions with the threats of state-sponsored violence, nor are they acting as the sole conduit of information for an entire society.

They also did not "break into" anyone's home to do this. When you buy the Kindle, you've already given them access to the device. They update the firmware, add or remove features, push content to your device, and remove content already (e.g. expired newspapers).

Quote:

Originally Posted by richman

p.s. It's even more frightening that some people think that what Amazon did was right.... Amazon IS WATCHING you with your kindle and the PEOPLE that read the BOOK or saw the MOVIE see the startling parallels.

Uh huh. News flash: Every commercial transaction you engage in, especially online, gets tracked by the retailer as well as by your credit card company. Many companies, including Google and ad companies like Doubleclick, use multiple techniques to track and examine your online behavior.

Of far, far more concern is that the NSA apparently reviewed a huge chunk of Internet traffic and communications without authorization (or discrimination). If you're worried about "Big Brother," worry about the NSA.

Oh, and I've read 1984 and other works by Orwell several times. Some of us realize that it was intended as a critique of Stalinism, i.e. totalitarian Communism and Soviet state control. Commercial actions, while not necessarily legitimate, are in an altogether different realm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by richman

So, YES it makes me glad that my 505 is not connected to Amazon.

I see that you have a very short memory. Go look up "Sony rootkit" and you may be less inclined to view Sony as the savior of digital rights....

whitearrow · 07-19-2009, 01:41 PM

More to the point, to my way of thinking, is that the 1984 analogy fails because Amazon is not the government.

richman · 07-19-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitearrow

More to the point, to my way of thinking, is that the 1984 analogy fails because Amazon is not the government.

Oh, if it was the government, then it would apply, you are very literal in your thinking, which is not a bad thing, but I see the principle behind it , as some others do too. Amazon wouldn't have revised their position and say they will not do this again in future if they didn't FEEL the backlash of their action. If a private school or company played Big Brother , since it also would not be the government like in 1984, you could not see the PRINCIPLE of the book?

You guys can defend amazon if you want and take a sentence I wrote out of context, that is your right, but even Amazon can see the parallel's , and news articles can see the parallel. You don't , and I'm ok with that.

JSWolf · 07-19-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

Who is John Galt?

Nobody we care to read about.

JSWolf · 07-19-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

I think the irony extends beyond Orwell, The last time it happened it was Atlas Shrugged!

Ha! There; I'm gonna make you read it!

Who is John Galt?

BTW Atlas shrugged can be downloaded here

You should go back and edit your message to remove the link to the priate site. You should know by now that links like that are not allowed on MR.

carld · 07-19-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Nobody we care to read about.

whitearrow · 07-19-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richman

Oh, if it was the government, then it would apply, you are very literal in your thinking,

Um, excuse me... I am not "very literal in my thinking." I am not attacking your reasoning skills, and I would appreciate the same respect for my opinion.

The whole point of 1984 is that it's about a big-brother government. Governments hold power over people that private corporations do not. I am not saying that corporations can never be intrusive, but individual corporations simply do not have the type of power that a government does.

Yes, I get that Amazon was intrusive. It's still not a government. You can choose never to deal with Amazon again, if you want to. Good luck trying that with a government.

richman · 07-19-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitearrow

I would appreciate the same respect for my opinion.

As would I!

Let's agree to disagree, in an agreeable way!

whitearrow · 07-19-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richman

As would I!

Let's agree to disagree, in an agreeable way!

Then perhaps you could refrain from making snap judgments about my reasoning skills in the future.

richman · 07-19-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitearrow

Then perhaps you could refrain from making snap judgments about my reasoning skills in the future.

You like to keep it going don't you?

whitearrow · 07-19-2009, 06:40 PM

No, I just decline to accept a passive-aggressive non-apology.

richman · 07-19-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitearrow

No, I just decline to accept a passive-aggressive non-apology.

Ok! Don't accept it!

I just didn't agree with your viewpoint and you didn't agree with mine. It happens all the time. My intent was not to insult your intelligence, and if I did, I'm sorry. How you interpreted 1984 and how I interpreted was different. Do you want me to change how I look at it? I'm not trying to change your viewpoint, it is valid. And so is mine. And there are some that would see it your way, and some that would see it my way, and some that would not see it your way or mine.

Moejoe · 07-19-2009, 07:50 PM

I heard Amazon are rebranding the Kindle in light of the latest Big Brother like behaviour. The new name will more accurately describe the state of your library at any point in time:

Meet the new Amazon Dwindle. Where your books might dissapear at any moment without any inconvenience to you!!! *Special discounts for totalitarian governments wishing to buy in bulk.*

Jill74 · 07-19-2009, 08:35 PM

Hope Amazon will do something with this issue.

akira28 · 07-19-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I heard Amazon are rebranding the Kindle in light of the latest Big Brother like behaviour. The new name will more accurately describe the state of your library at any point in time:

Meet the new Amazon Dwindle. Where your books might dissapear at any moment without any inconvenience to you!!! *Special discounts for totalitarian governments wishing to buy in bulk.*

Or maybe more accurately the "Swindle".

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07-19-2009, 01:41 PM	#122
whitearrow Guru Posts: 808 Karma: 2260766 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	More to the point, to my way of thinking, is that the 1984 analogy fails because Amazon is not the government.

07-19-2009, 06:40 PM	#131
whitearrow Guru Posts: 808 Karma: 2260766 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	No, I just decline to accept a passive-aggressive non-apology.

07-19-2009, 07:50 PM	#133
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	I heard Amazon are rebranding the Kindle in light of the latest Big Brother like behaviour. The new name will more accurately describe the state of your library at any point in time: Meet the new Amazon Dwindle. Where your books might dissapear at any moment without any inconvenience to you!!! Special discounts for totalitarian governments wishing to buy in bulk.

07-19-2009, 08:35 PM	#134
Jill74 Banned Posts: 74 Karma: 410 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NYC Device: Sony Reader 505	Hope Amazon will do something with this issue.