Shut up and use Gamemaker, friend. Your internet is nothing compared to Gamemaker's true ferocity.

Because copyright isn't strictly for the author. Its intended purpose is to encourage innovation (which doesn't mean living off of previous creations forever). Monopolies should be avoided where possible. That's why people want to limit how long copyright lasts to a reasonable amount of time.

What? That's an absurdly long time. I'd accept no more than 15 years, and even that's probably more than is "needed."

If they're not careful, they'll turn into another US. Draconian copyright laws abound!

But it's pretty difficult to 'steal' an IP, anyway.

Agreed. I think the best way is to not buy it new, not pirate it, and not buy it used. The former helps them directly, while the latter two could provide free advertising.

Well, you're saying this in response to people who don't seem to be saying that Bioware has an obligation to change the ending. I've seen very people who said anything to that effect.

Because that's very similar to collective punishment, and it has nothing to do with limiting the government's authority (authority the average person doesn't have).

There is no perfect system; no one to my knowledge denies that. However, if you give people lots of authority, there will be abuses. More so than with the average person. We want to minimize this as much as we can without completely getting rid of the useful functions of said authority figures.

Whether it's from their "arm chairs" or somewhere else, this by no means affects the validity of their criticisms.

Maybe I missed something, but I don't see where he said that.

It seems this is a false dilemma. There is a third option, and one that many people seem to be choosing: voice your criticism, and then vote with your dollar. That has a chance of actually changing something.

This is a straw man. No one ever said they were (well, most people didn't). They will either listen or they won't. It's that simple.

"The company still lost potential profit! Used games are bad! Filthy pirates!"

No one is saying that Bioware is forced to make anything. What they're saying is that they're displeased with what Bioware did make, and that they would like Bioware to fix it. It's Bioware's call after that.

You know, voting with your wallet? I'm really tired of people who think criticism is bad/giving your opinion is bad. Neither equates to thinking you have the ability to force someone to do what you want.

I'm not seeing where he was holding a gun to Notch's head and demanding he not make it in Java. He was simply saying that he wishes it wouldn't be made in Java (for one reason or another). Nothing wrong with criticism or opinions.

Just as he's free to post his opinion, you're free to do the same. "Wow! I love it!" isn't the only thing allowed to be posted, you know.

People seem to like to excuse the imprisonment of whistleblowers by saying that it could endanger people. I believe evil practices should be revealed whether or not it puts a few people in danger. "A few people might react to the information that you just released in a way that you did not intend! Therefore, what you did was illegal." Basically punishing them because of the potential actions of other people!

I don't understand.

But only the most dysfunctional marriages will likely be ruined by pornography. Which I've never seen before, I might add. Pornography is harmless to normal people.

Honestly, if you're trying to convince me that a normal marriage that isn't totally dysfunctional will be ruined by something as harmless as pictures and videos (but it's really ruined by addictive personalities, anyway), you're going to need to present me some evidence. I'll be surprised, but that is truly the only thing that will convince me.

When will they rule that punching someone in the face is speech? I need to let off some steam...