EFF: A broadcast flag update [LWN.net]

EFF: A broadcast flag update

Posted Sep 27, 2005 21:25 UTC (Tue) by rknop (guest, #66)
In reply to: EFF: A broadcast flag update by euvitudo
Parent article: EFF: A broadcast flag update

As you say, they are going to erode our rights regardless... why not erode the power they have to purchase politicians? Don't give them your money! Simple as that.

Somehow, I have a hard time feeling that checking out from all popular culture as an option to avoid these restrictions is part of a good working defintion of the word "freedom".

I resisted getting a DVD player for many years because of all this. Eventually, however, not getting a DVD player became, more and more, checking out completely from popular culture. I didn't want to do that.

I want to have the option of participating as a member of society without having to sacrifice all control to big media companies. Sure, one always has the option of living as something approaching an ascetic monk, but would it be better if society were a place that we'd feel weren't too oppressive if we chose to participate in it?

-Rob

(Log in to post comments)

EFF: A broadcast flag update

Posted Sep 27, 2005 21:36 UTC (Tue) by euvitudo (subscriber, #98) [Link]

My... what did we *ever* do before big media. Is popular culture really sitting around watching the tube or big screen, or listening to digital radio all day, just so I can say to my friends... "oh, did you see ______ last night? Wasn't that just ______"? Nice conversation piece. ;^)

Whatever happened to creativity? You don't have to become a monk to get away from the media.

EFF: A broadcast flag update

Posted Sep 28, 2005 11:58 UTC (Wed) by rknop (guest, #66) [Link]

Oh yeah?

How long before all books are DRMed, hmmm?

I'm not arguing for or against TV watching or movies or music. I AM arguing, however, that it would be idea if people had the option of choosing to engage and BE CREATIVE with those sorts of things without having to sacrficie too much of their freedom of motion and freedom of expression to big media companies.

If you think all movies and TV are crap, that's fine. Don't watch them. On the other hand, if you *do* want to be able to engage at some level with newspapers, recently written popular books, movies, music, the Internet, and so forth, then you really need to be worried about what's going on with DRM and media control.

-Rob

EFF: A broadcast flag update

Posted Sep 28, 2005 15:09 UTC (Wed) by mrshiny (subscriber, #4266) [Link]

Is popular culture really sitting around watching the tube or big screen, or listening to digital radio all day?

Yes, I'd say that's a big part of popular culture. Aside from TV, movies, and music, what else IS there? Books, I guess. Maybe a little live theatre.

As for creativity, most people aren't creative. That's why pre-made music and other art is so appealing to people, because they can't make their own, and hey, even if they could, they want to enjoy someone else's work. I can write my own stories, but sometimes I want to enjoy a story someone else wrote. And I certainly can't compose my own music. I do know some people who write their own music but not all of that music is to my taste; furthermore almost nobody that I normally hang out with knows any of the independant artists I am familiar with. So I can't use that as "popular" culture because it's not popular.