While copy-pasta is an exceptionally dangerous form of code rot, I do agree that the ENTIRE point of good design is to emphasize code reuse. If you've ever come across a section of ugly code you have to fix, just because someone didn't feel like using Perl::DateTime, you know what I mean.

There are a lot of smart people out there. Most of them are smarter than me. (Think about the collective "smartness" of compiler developers every time people think the project should ignore compiler warnings.) I strive to stand on the shoulders of these giants as much as possible when writing code.

This is not a flamebait question: Isn't this the natural course of socialized medicine? Seriously, when I control your health care, how can you be free to choose the treatment you see best, especially if that "best treatment" is a placebo in the form of meditation and sugar pills? How can anyone expect any other outcome?

First, sexual preference is a choice, race is not. BUT whatever, I don't want to feed the trolls and argue that here.

Second, even if it is a so-called "protected" trait (a phrase which itself is an enemy of freedom), we are still talking about SPEECH. It is still not illegal to be a racist. It is likewise not illegal -- or deplorable, for that matter -- for reddit to decide they do not want to support racism. It is equally not illegal to celebrate redefinition of marriage, and completely within the rights of another to not support or advocate that redefinition.

These are not two different rights.

Very well said. "Free Speech" means the GOVERNMENT can't make certain speech illegal, or ban books, or silence dissent (even though all those things do happen, even China enshrines free speech in their constitution). It DOES NOT mean I have to support you, or help you disseminate that speech.

(Still with me... you won't be in a moment)

It's the same reason a Jewish printer can turn away business from a pro-Palestinian group, and the same reason a Christian baker can^H^H^H should be able to refuse to make a gay wedding cake.

Ever had 6 months of application work flushed down the toilet, only to be restarted with a new manager who want's to do it "his way?" Yep. That's me.
Net progress in 1040+ man-hours? Nothing. Nada. But that's the engineering game, it happens to everyone.

>> "For the 5th year in a row, potatoe production has far exceeded government estimates!"
> Dan Quayle, is that you?

You caught me :)

I was using the odd spelling on purpose, since I was referencing backwards-R russia.

That said, the trailing-e spelling is, and has always been an acceptable spelling of the word. The lib media decided to paint Quayle as an idiot and thus the lie was spread. Similar to how most people think GWB is dumb. 100% manufactured propaganda.

"For the 5th year in a row, potatoe production has far exceeded government estimates!"

"We have now experienced an unprecedented 64 straight months of job growth!"

Government will never fail. Programs are judged by their intentions. Similar to how "businesses" in Frisco can have billion dollar IPOs without any positive revenue, or plans to make any.

We live in bizzaro-world.

The United States (or, more accurately, "These United States" was more common in that era) did not invent slavery, but we did fight a very bloody war to end it. The fact that the founders engaged in a deplorable, yet common agricultural practice in the late 18th century does not invalidate their accomplishments or ideas.

In fact, it was the very wordings of our founding documents that Lincoln used to argue against chattel slavery. In that light, Lincoln was not a radical revolutionary, he was in fact a conservative who argued that we return to our ideals.

True. I doubt it flies above any government buildings in the United Kingdom, but I bet you can still buy one at TESCO!

Yep: http://www.tesco.com/direct/us...

Search google for "confederate flag" and click the "shopping" tab.

https://www.google.com/#q=conf...

Now replace "confederate" with just about any other potentially offensive term (nazi, communist, rhodesia) and you get plenty of results.

(NOTE: I don't support flying the flag. It's a rebel flag and I don't like it. But banning it from the marketplace? That seems rather self-defeating)

Zee Germans have made it illegal to block ads? Is there polizie stading next to billboards saying, "You must consume zis advert for the weinersnitzel! Look at it!"

(I realise this is referring to blocking Internet ads, but what's the difference?)

This is true with my AGW posts with 100% consistency. /. has very much become a victim of groupthink, where anything that questions the Liberal Agenda cannot be tolerated and will be removed via the normal channels.

Climate Change is happening. It has always happened. It's nature. There's nothing we can do about it except adjust to meet the new demands.

Thank you.

And props to /. for actually modding this informative, since it is.