Isn't that usually the question though? Do things need to be secret? I'd argue that somethings do need to be held close to the vest. But who watches the watchers?
Skilled hackers that want to prove a point against secretive organizations, that's who. We have a checks and balances system, it's just not codified into law.
A plague a' both your houses!
You misunderstand me. I'm not doubting the value of education, merely why one would be surprised there is a bias against management on a site such as this one. I have an undergrad degree in English and I am getting a MS in IT. Neither subject is going to cause readers to flock to my doorstep in worship or have academics gasp in awe. And if you sincerely enjoy the subjects a MBA program has to teach -- more power to you. That's one of the best reasons to seek an education.
My post shouldn't be taken as an assault, but the first MBA poster did ask: Why? I answered with my perspective on why.
I don't understand the constant Slashdot slurring against MBAs. Yes, I have one. But MBA means you can't use Google now? It means you can't understand anything related to IT in any form? Why do slashdotters use MBA as an interchangeable term for "idiot"?
Because most of us are the technical type that clash with management, management with MBAs. Though unfair, you chose a degree that many here consider of low practical value. Our heroes in management are those that never even heard of "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" or "Six Sigma Lean". They got there because they were charismatic, bad-ass techies with a flair for business. And often, we believe that MBA techniques are political window dressing designed to enrich the manager at the expense of the talent. See: Programming Motherfucker, Do You Speak It?
Oh it's unfair I know. MBAs, Law, PR, and other degrees and their professions grew out of need. But you're on a site that is "News for Nerds." I'm surprised you need an answer as to why there is bias against your degree. Hell, having a degree in general is under attack and probably always will be. We venerate the self-educated genius, not the above average guy that needed someone to teach him or her the basics.
Lifetime is too excessive; electronics do break over time. But I WOULD like a company to at least stand behind their product for a minimum of three years. The fact that extended warranties exist is like taxing someone on assets lost in a burglary. You just got robbed twice.
In fact, I think it's the fact that extended warranties exist that dissuade companies from offering bigger warranties. Much like rebates, few people really take someone up on warranties unless someone comes to your house. So it's not like bolstering confidence in the product by offering a longer warranty means that much. Tool makers pull that trick all the time.
You make a good point. I thought I had read the entire chain, but somehow I missed his responses to Mike. The treatise back to the guy was over-the-top, but he was provoked. *Shrug* The PR guy was so out of his mind stupid (and apparently still appears to be going strong) that it seemed like kicking the mentally disabled.
But I didn't see the chain continue to where "Dave" had calmed down and took the higher road after all. The whole thing still doesn't give me fuzzy feelings for anyone, but my Soap box got misplaced somewhere and I have nothing to stand on now.
This should be entertaining to me; it is a pretty sweet burn to someone that appears to deserve his fate. Yet I can't laugh at the exchange; it's like taking joy in reality television. Many people do, but I just feel dirty watching the downward trajectory of humanity. Is the customer that less of a dick? Is his motivation at making this exchange public to help other frustrated gamers or to make revenge so sweet and cold? The motive is probably somewhere closer to revenge than help.
Besides, I just noticed your user number. You get off MY lawn sonny.
I know that I'm going to get modded down for this, but this isn't news worthy at all.
If I had mod points you'd only get modded down for this self-pitying sentence. Just say what you have to say dude.
Besides, failing to be a l33t engineer, this is a pretty good first try. We don't have to hug it out, but being a dick doesn't really help either old timer. People used to be the crap out of people that did these things too. Now we have an international forum for who can do cool, nerdy things better.
...of the power of 3rd party contributions to a platform: Daemon Tools, Magic ISO, Clone DVD, etc are all tools that perform ISO mounting quite well. Some are free solutions, some are not. Win 7 has ISO burning built in, but not mounting.
It's sad watching people argue over which advertising conglomerate they want to give all their personal information to.
As compared to the more important Bluray vs HD-DVD, Mac vs. PC, Steelers vs. Browns, Blue state vs Red, US vs Canada, Star Trek vs Starwars, Missionary vs Doggystyle, Christians vs Islamists, or Pepsi vs Coke debates that needlessly consume our lives?
The obvious logical fallacy with your statement is that, just because other regimes may be evil and corrupt, it does not mean that the US is not.
Of course. But it also kinda points at peculiar Anon cowardice -- going after the society open enough not to execute anyone even suspected of being anti-establishment. Seriously, when Anon dumps out some big dirt on the Chinese or Russians, mocking them with their usual flair, in a sustained campaign I'll be impressed: Assuming they survive.
True, we act like dicks with Gitmo, but I don't think any anons have been sent there lately. The fact that we are lower on the douche scale doesn't excuse us, but it does raise some questions about the courage of the attackers.
And probably gotten away with it because they didn't announce it to the world.
I'm not going to quote logical fallacies to you or use odd home/car/bank analogies. Nope. I'll adapt an old cliche: "If all your friends act like dicks and steal personal information, should you?"
And what the fsck have they accomplished anyway? Do I know what's going on in Area 51 or what the Chinese Premier's secret world domination plans are? No, I know that the Neverwinter Nights forum and a shit-ton of secondary servers aren't well protected. Mein Gott! Who knew that many systems, some important, aren't locked down tighter than a virgin at a promise-ring concert.
Heh, it didn't really go over my head so much as I worded my response improperly. Blame, as I apply the word, can only be assigned to a party that deliberately left themselves open. They've got to know better first. It remains to be seen if that is the case for all the targets we've been reading about.
Even my own statement has limits though. I don't care if my bank didn't know better; they have a responsibility above and beyond an ordinary business to keep my information and finances secure. Sony falls under this aegis. The Neverwinter Nights forum though? Not so much.
My workstation has a big assed red banner when I log on saying "DO NOT STICK A USB IN ME YOU FUCKING MORON"*. So if this study was conducted at my site, or was malicious, I'd wager they'd have a few things to say to me.
"Just look at how people have reacted to this spring's exploits of web sites and services...they don't blame themselves for choosing idiot passwords or not cancelling services they no longer use."
Really, do people believe that the ends justify the means as long as we're showing vulnerabilities lulzsec style? I mean even following that logic doesn't give you props. Exploiting stupid, or simply thoughtless, behavior just means you aren't clever enough to crack effective solutions and are targeting low hanging fruit like a gimped monkey.
*Color is correct, but the wording might be paraphrased
Anyone can make an omelet with eggs. The trick is to make one with none.
