[Bobboau]

not that I'm opposed to abortion mind you.

[Flipside]

It's still a silly comment to make, it's pretty obvious from the statement that I'm not comparing the two opinions, I'm comparing the rights of those opinions to exist.

[MachManX]

That said, I do worry that modern western society is heading in troubling directions... mostly that as we get more connected and involved in the virtual world, we become less connected and involved in the real world. We're abstracting ourselves away from reality, and I worry that the consequences of this will be more bad than good.

You are not alone on that, man, you are not alone

I guess I sorta do miss the old days where inventing something didn't have to be patented and people can learn off of other people without getting into trouble.  Now you gotta worry about the legal issues about everything in life.  Even though those same legal issues are meant to protect people, they are also abused.

[Locutus of Borg]

LOL sounds like the Texas school books

But then they would be going back only 8,000 years

[Liberator]

I don't know many people that don't accept that the Earth is significantly older than the Bible seems to indicate.  Even the matriarchs/patriarchs and my pastor don't.  Though they don't speak about it often.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

The Earth is 4.7 billion years old, and according to what science says, what happened during that period seems to contradict what the Bible says.

[karajorma]

I don't know many people that don't accept that the Earth is significantly older than the Bible seems to indicate.

Try visiting Answers In Genesis's Creation Museum then. It's full of the ignorant bastards.

[General Battuta]

I guess I sorta do miss the old days where inventing something didn't have to be patented and people can learn off of other people without getting into trouble.  Now you gotta worry about the legal issues about everything in life.  Even though those same legal issues are meant to protect people, they are also abused.

When were these days again?

As I recall invention theft has always been a big problem.

[Kosh]

That said, I do worry that modern western society is heading in troubling directions... mostly that as we get more connected and involved in the virtual world, we become less connected and involved in the real world. We're abstracting ourselves away from reality, and I worry that the consequences of this will be more bad than good.

You are not alone on that, man, you are not alone

I guess I sorta do miss the old days where inventing something didn't have to be patented and people can learn off of other people without getting into trouble.  Now you gotta worry about the legal issues about everything in life.  Even though those same legal issues are meant to protect people, they are also abused.

Patents exist because if they didn't if you invented something cool you wouldn't be able to make any money off of it.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Remind me what copyright is for again.

[SpardaSon21]

Same freaking thing as patents, except it applies to stuff like books and movies.

[karajorma]

I'd love to know how you could make a system using copyright for ideas and inventions without having it be exactly the same as a patent anyway.

[Scotty]

I've always thought of copyrights as "Mind patents" anyway.

[Bobboau]

Same freaking thing as patents, except it applies to stuff like books and movies.

and lasts for 9 zillion years

[Nuke]

the problem i have with intelectual property is that most of the property isnt very intellectual at all. as a result you cant add 2 and 2 without paying someone.

i think what we should do is to throw together a bunch of money, and patent something like the wheel, or fire, just to show everyone how stupid patents are, while getting filthy rich in the process.

[BloodEagle]

i think what we should do is to throw together a bunch of money, and patent something like the wheel, or fire, just to show everyone how stupid patents are, while getting filthy rich in the process.

Been tried before. Many times, in fact. They keep denying the patent.

[Kosh]

the problem i have with intelectual property is that most of the property isnt very intellectual at all. as a result you cant add 2 and 2 without paying someone.

i think what we should do is to throw together a bunch of money, and patent something like the wheel, or fire, just to show everyone how stupid patents are, while getting filthy rich in the process.

2+2 is public domain.

[mxlm]

I read mach's posts and I think two things. First, I really want to post some photos of lynchings. Ah, the good old days. Second, how does it feel to be outstripped by the pace of cultural change?

[Aardwolf]

I guess I sorta do miss the old days where inventing something didn't have to be patented and people can learn off of other people without getting into trouble.  Now you gotta worry about the legal issues about everything in life.  Even though those same legal issues are meant to protect people, they are also abused.

Translation: you miss the days before you knew about that stuff.

[Scotty]

I guess I sorta do miss the old days where inventing something didn't have to be patented and people can learn off of other people without getting into trouble.  Now you gotta worry about the legal issues about everything in life.  Even though those same legal issues are meant to protect people, they are also abused.

Translation: you miss the days before you knew about that stuff.

Quoted for truth.