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Originally Posted by frankenbike
Given that the limit of my statement was refusing to offer sympathy while you're suggesting an entire program of taking advantage of the ignorant, even going as far as suggesting this is equivalent to breaking into someone's house, I really don't accept your criticism of my attitude as repugnant.
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Fair enough, so let me rephrase. Would you have no sympathy for the elderly or mentally challenged who got ripped off? Would you have no sympathy for a neighbor whose house got robbed because they didn't know enough to install better locks than those that came with their house?
Quote:
Originally Posted by frankenbike
For those who go the extra mile to understand a little bit more about the world around them, there are and should be benefits to acquisition of knowledge. There are all sorts of things that smarter people than I get as benefits. Better jobs, investments with better returns or non-catastrophic losses, etc.
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Yes, there should be benefits. Your benefit is that you know how to rip a CD and don't need to worry about WalMart's DRM servers going away. That doesn't preclude somebody from sympathizing with others who aren't so knowledgable. As I often say, even the most knowledgable among us are still woefully ignorant about 99% of the world.
Quote:
Originally Posted by frankenbike
Do those who are born beautiful feel sorry for those who weren't born beautiful. Most don't, some do. Those that do feel sorry about it aren't going to socialize with those objects of sympathy.
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Like you rejected my analogy, I'm rejecting this one. Those are intrinsic features that we have no control over. This is a company actively doing something to their customers, not just some accident of chance.
Regardless, some people might feel sympathy for those born less than beautiful. Did you ever watch "The Elephant Man" or similar movies? And some people do feel sympathy for victims of random chance, like tsunami victims.
Quote:
Originally Posted by frankenbike
Those who are nerd haters and anti-intellectuals, deserve EVERYTHING that happens to them.
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There's a big difference between being hateful and anti-intellectual and having differing priorities from you, which I think Ed alluded to.
I agree with Jason, and still find that attitude repugnant. Your mileage obviously varies.
Steve