Free computer, Ipod

[Goldmund]

You are all LOSERS I bet you have J.O.B.s (Jerk On Board!11)!

Just because there will be "eternally broke" written on your tombstones, don't try to steal our dreams!

GO DIAMOND!

[LGM]

I think you people need something better to do than attack a poor guy who was wondering about this silly thing.. Yeesh.

[DGMacphee]

Relik, you're still missing my point, which is this: We are not going to helping you out because what you posted was spam, as I've shown. We are an adventure game community. We're not here to sign up to marketing companies and what not, despite whether there is free stuff on not. People have done so in the past and the mods have go so far to lock their threads. And we want to make sure you (and everyone else) understands that clearly.

Richie, it is basically a machine, and this has been well documented. But like I said, it doesn't even classify as a conspiracy because all the terms and conditions are overtly stated. However, very few people read the fine print because the text size is so small (and it's a long, dull document too). That's why when you see small print in a privacy policy, you know there's something to hide.

As for BBB, I checked them out too. They're basically the same as Truste, as they're funding by the same big businesses that they're supposed to watch over. Basically, they can't do very much if someone launches a complaint on one of their members. So I give them as much legitimacy as Truste.

LGM: We're not attacking. Read again through the last few posts and tell me where we've made attacks. All we've (DM, Andail, myself, etc) all done is said it was either a scam or a marketing ploy and stated why. I think it's important to bring such facts to light, and I don't appreciate being falsely accused of "attacking a poor guy".

[Relik]

As for BBB, I checked them out too. They're basically the same as Truste, as they're funding by the same big businesses that they're supposed to watch over. Basically, they can't do very much if someone launches a complaint on one of their members. So I give them as much legitimacy as Truste.

Correct me if im wrong, but isn't this how the world is run?

[LGM]

Well.. You've been accusing him of posting spam... As if he had some evil intent on doing it.. Like he worked for the damn company or something.

It is a sketchy plan, I give you that.. But honestly I think this just got blown way out of proportion. The internet is not some big chomping machine out to get you. It's like saying everyone in New York is going to gang-rape you or mug you.

[Edwin Xie]

You guys should look at this >>

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,50131,00.html

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

But honestly I think this just got blown way out of proportion.

On a side note, it seems like lots of things get blown out of proportion, especially when someone feels personally attacked (which, mostly, isn't true). The "Frank the Farmhand -racist" and that Monkey Island AGS thread by a newbie, a loong time ago, come to mind...

Yeah, off topic, I know, but I had to say this.

[DGMacphee]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this how the world is run?

No, there are a great number of industries that have other forms of regulation than what is basically "self-regulation". For example, some industries conform to government regulation instead of self-regulation, like doctors and dentists.

Since Internet Privacy is a relatively "new" issue for governments, there isn't much out there to regulate marketing companies. In Australia, there's the Spam Act and certain parts of the Privacy Act. But these acts are useless because the Internet is an international medium. It's difficult to apply Australian law in an international context. Very few have tried and succeeded. Only one springs to mind.

Well.. You've been accusing him of posting spam... As if he had some evil intent on doing it.. Like he worked for the damn company or something.

It is a sketchy plan, I give you that.. But honestly I think this just got blown way out of proportion. The internet is not some big chomping machine out to get you. It's like saying everyone in New York is going to gang-rape you or mug you.

Firstly, I accused him of posting spam because he did post spam. I'm not being mean or attacking him. I'm stating the obvious, and I've shown why. I didn't think he had an evil intent in doing so, so I'd be happy if you didn't say I did. I pointed it out and said, "We don't appreciate you doing this. Look at our rules."

Secondly, the internet IS a big machine -- It is a series of networks. But you're probably talking more about internet marketing companies. Well, if you are, they work in a machine-like way in our society. If you've ever studied up on how all facets of society manufacture our lives into a bland and mediocre centre, you'd understand how such a machine works. Many theorists have said so, and I can direct you to some texts on the subject if you like. But this is really off-topic.

In any case, I never said such a machine was "out to get you". Like I stated three or four times, there is no conspiracy. Everything is spelt out for you. It's not that the machine is out to get you. It's just that a lot of people are lazy in checking it all out and think they can just get something for nothing with no strings attached. Thus, they end up walking blindly into a trap that has a sign that says, "Warning: this is a trap!" (Though, the sign is printed in very small letters most of the time)

All I did was point out how it all worked so a) people could understand, and b) show that what was first posted in this thread was spam, so no one got the wrong idea. I don't see why you're getting worked up about it and saying people are "attacking him".

If I said "U R MORON DOANT POAST SPAM HEAR RETAERD!", that would be attacking. But I didn't. I'm not calling him a moron or retard or whatever. I don't even know him. He's probably a very smart guy for all I know. All I know is he posted some spam, and I said "Hey, look at our rules. We don't allow this here", regardless of whether he was asking for help or not.


Now I hope some people here can cool it and discuss this a little more maturely. Like Andail said, the only reason this thread was still here was because the discussion was relevant. I hope we can keep it that way instead of overreacting.