Yes. The title here on /. is misleading. It says it "hinders learning", but does not address the question of whether there is any other kind of learning taking place, perhaps even at an accelerated rate.

Excellent point. Thanks for the reminder.

Not to mention the fact that when "Almost all experts agree" on a wide range of things, they are almost certainly going to be wrong about at least a few of them. The notions of experts about what sorts of foods make people fat have changed drastically in my several decades of adulthood. They're bound to change again. Will the taxes go away on foods that the latest scientific version of the truth decides are no longer fattening? Of course not. They'll stay, and also be added to the new alleged culprits, as more and more foods fall under the tax.

And then, aside from the food question, there's the question of whether it's in the best interest of government to discourage mental activity and learning (in the form of games) on the dubious assumption that the alternative that people will choose will be healthier.

If a bread multiplying machine was invented would you outlaw it with the best interest of bakers in mind? No. You ( we ) would want free bread. Sadly, looking at history, there would indeed be an earnest effort to halt, or at least limit, the use of such a machine, for exactly the reason you give. There would also be people decrying the machine as "untested" and demanding that it never be used till it can be proved to be 100% safe.

Slashdotware?

I have long said that any body of law that can't be memorized by a reasonably intelligent person inside of a week is too long.

Then the writer will sic the cops on you for copyright infringement. You can't win, man.

We sacrifice inessential liberties for safety all the time. We are required to get our cars registered and inspected (in some states),

I'm curious -- do you have some evidence that car registration and inspection increases car safety? I'd be interested in seeing studies that show that such requirements are actually "for safety".

While I understand your frustration at the paraphrasing, but all the same let's not lose sight of the aptness of the (mis)quote: I think this case is profoundly disturbing, for the same reasons Franklin provided the original saying.

Or maybe I'm just availing every opportunity He tosses my way, so as best to take care of the gift He has given me (i.e., my life). To do otherwise would be ungrateful and ungracious.

So I'm assuming that you'll be skipping all future (straight) weddings and anniversary parties you're invited to, and holding your hands over your ears and singing "La la la la la la la la la" whenever anyone mentions his or her opposite-sex significant other.

shut up about your sexual orientation like all of us straight people do about ours.

Unless (assuming you've had such) you've honestly never openly referred to "my girlfriend", "my wife" (or "boyfriend" and "husband" if you're a woman), or in any way let anyone know the gender of a person you're dating or find attractive, then you most certainly do not "shut up about your sexual orientation."

Linux runs on your girlfriend? Now that is one versatile operating system!

The Salon article you linked to actually confirms the W's incident, as well as several other small-scale pranks. It does indeed, though, make clear that the scope was far less than has been frequently reported.

divine intervention could restore it

Now I have to come up with a way to avoid THAT, too? Damn.