en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2451017 Comments by cghart http://wu.granneman.com/2008/03/31/ccc-publishes-fingerprints-of-wolfgang-schauble-the-german-home-secretary/#IDComment150465803 I appreciate the message that the CCC was trying to convey, but this seems like the case of presenting a problem but no solution. FIngerprints have been used for identification for years, so what would they suggest we do instead? Tue, 10 May 2011 01:06:43 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2008/03/31/ccc-publishes-fingerprints-of-wolfgang-schauble-the-german-home-secretary/#IDComment150465803 http://wu.granneman.com/2009/12/18/how-undercover-cops-get-suspects-dna/#IDComment150465259 As frightening as this is, it is completely legal. That this can occur legally may be worth questioning the broadness of the law that allows for it. It seems like an invasion, but as the utensil was discarded, there's no foul. Tue, 10 May 2011 01:03:48 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2009/12/18/how-undercover-cops-get-suspects-dna/#IDComment150465259 http://wu.granneman.com/2007/03/14/life-after-college-managing-your-reputation-online/#IDComment150464712 Unfortunately these are entirely relevant concerns, especially those pertaining to future employers and graduate schools. A reputation can be easily tarnished by not considering the consequences of what image one presents of himself. It's unfortunate that this is the case, but in the long run there it is better not to give someone the ammunition to use against you, no matter how foolish it may seem. Tue, 10 May 2011 01:01:00 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2007/03/14/life-after-college-managing-your-reputation-online/#IDComment150464712 http://wu.granneman.com/2007/02/07/sprint-nextel-will-fire-any-employee-caught-participating-in-blogs/#IDComment150463964 I assume this monitoring applies only to blogs where a poster was revealing information relevant to trade secrets or negatively commenting on the company or work environment. If someone were to be dismissed for posting on a completely unrelated blog this is an incredible violation of free speech, not to mention nonsensical. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:57:11 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2007/02/07/sprint-nextel-will-fire-any-employee-caught-participating-in-blogs/#IDComment150463964 http://wu.granneman.com/2005/03/06/scientists-to-make-stuart-little-mouse-with-the-brain-of-a-human/#IDComment150462718 I have to ask, if the researcher anticipates the mouse will "behave like any other mouse," then what is the point of doing the experiment? The only benefit would be if the mouse DID take on human characteristics, which has already been deemed unethical, so if it's going to develop and perform normally, then the natural brain cells are more than sufficient. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:50:46 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2005/03/06/scientists-to-make-stuart-little-mouse-with-the-brain-of-a-human/#IDComment150462718 http://wu.granneman.com/2005/04/11/scientist-calls-for-world-dna-database/#IDComment150461651 Anything that would allow an entire planet of people to be catalogued is intrinsically morally dangerous. The proposal would start off saying that the DNA would only be used for limited purposes, but eventually it would get into the hands of those with the power to use it against the population. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:45:44 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2005/04/11/scientist-calls-for-world-dna-database/#IDComment150461651 http://wu.granneman.com/2005/09/24/bill-would-permit-dna-collection-from-all-those-arrested/#IDComment150461024 While I may be able to consider the appropriateness of keeping a DNA sample of those who have been convicted of a crime, doing the same for someone who has merely been arrested is reprehensible. We say innocent until proven guilty, and with this measure the government would be, in essence, criminalizing citizens who have not had their day in court. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:42:21 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2005/09/24/bill-would-permit-dna-collection-from-all-those-arrested/#IDComment150461024 http://wu.granneman.com/2009/06/16/fertility-clinic-bows-to-pressure-nixes-eye-and-hair-color-screening/#IDComment150460364 I have a strong inherent aversion to anything of this sort... it smacks of trying to develop some Aryan race. This type of selective mindset would eventually result in there being specifically desirable traits versus undesirable, and the treatment of those who fall into the later category will become a social problem. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:38:49 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2009/06/16/fertility-clinic-bows-to-pressure-nixes-eye-and-hair-color-screening/#IDComment150460364 http://wu.granneman.com/2008/08/02/interspecies-family-law/#IDComment150459729 If we ever get to the point where this is an issue, I'm confident the process would have already been thought out far in advance. Simply put, we are nowhere near there since the government does not even acknowledge extra-terrestrial life, but if we get to a place where humans are actively interacting with other species, there would be room to consider the marriage question. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:35:25 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2008/08/02/interspecies-family-law/#IDComment150459729 http://wu.granneman.com/2008/08/02/extraterrestrial-property/#IDComment150459293 Well I know that people can "purchase" stars for themselves or loved ones and have them named and registered. It's one of those cutesy gifts that may have no real value, but someone is making money off of it, the same way you can "adopt" an animal at a wildlife sanctuary or the zoo. As far as countries purchasing new discoveries, I can't see what the monetary gain would be unless there was a way to actually use the resources from what was bought. That would require actually being able to reach the planet or star and harvest something worthwhile. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:32:53 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2008/08/02/extraterrestrial-property/#IDComment150459293 http://wu.granneman.com/2008/09/02/mental-privacy/#IDComment150458339 As was stated in a similar article, if we don't even have the freedom of our private thoughts, then there are no defenses left. This is an incredibly dangerous concept and would eradicate freedom as we know it. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:27:44 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2008/09/02/mental-privacy/#IDComment150458339 http://wu.granneman.com/1994/10/09/human-consciousness-on-a-chip/#IDComment150457930 agree with Nicole that the question here would be what constitutes a "person." If it's just one's consciousness, as in the body is just a shell, then is this really cloning? I don't know what benefit this would even have in theory unless there were multiple realities/worlds for the duplicates to interact within separate from the original. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:25:22 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/1994/10/09/human-consciousness-on-a-chip/#IDComment150457930 http://wu.granneman.com/1994/10/08/brain-enhancements/#IDComment150455934 This would no longer make us human, but instead an extension of a computer. If these "upgrades" aren't anything that could be acquired naturally, as in with practice, knowledge or repetition, than I would not want to possess any of them. The only benefit I could see here is in terms of national defense, if willing members of the armed forces or CIA could be equipped with skills that would make the US far superior in terms of interacting with enemies. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:15:14 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/1994/10/08/brain-enhancements/#IDComment150455934 http://wu.granneman.com/2006/08/25/professor-blackberry-addiction-lawsuits-likely-in-future/#IDComment150455330 Besides being one of the more asinine things I've ever heard, this type of suit should have no chance of ever being filed. Anyone who attempts to receive damages for a "BlackBerry Addiction" will reveal themselves to be suffering from a severe victim mentality that should not be enabled by the courts. If someone thinks they're life "isn't that great" and the only thing they can consider to be the root of their unhappiness is a communication device, they have more problems than they think. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:11:58 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2006/08/25/professor-blackberry-addiction-lawsuits-likely-in-future/#IDComment150455330 http://wu.granneman.com/2005/05/29/global-climate-change-to-spawn-future-lawsuits/#IDComment150454458 My initial reaction is to agree with the premise that these resources are being willingly used by people world-wide. The blame, while palpable, will be impossible to pin down, because ultimately anyone who ever utilized any of the mentioned pollutants will be a contributor. Furthermore, the negative effects will be a cumulative result of thousands of years of human activity which may have been sped up more recently, but did not happen over night. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:07:07 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2005/05/29/global-climate-change-to-spawn-future-lawsuits/#IDComment150454458 http://wu.granneman.com/2004/06/28/pursuing-the-libidos-dark-side/#IDComment146612391 There are some really disturbing quotes as to the motivations of some of these players and I cannot help but wonder if this affects how they view certain situations in the real world. To have that sort of power and control over someone and have it be unregulated and without consequences certainly would skew one's perception of reality. The fact that players are made aware of the possibility of a rape occurring during the game is the only "comforting" factor here. However, I strongly disagree with the above posters who stated that this may be a way for people to act on their impulses and fantasies in a "healthy" way... this speak to a bigger issue with deeper implications and while legal, it is a slippery slope if I've ever seen one. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:39:48 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2004/06/28/pursuing-the-libidos-dark-side/#IDComment146612391 http://wu.granneman.com/2006/03/23/britain-to-witness-first-crucifixion-for-almost-2000-years/#IDComment146609994 Definitely jarring, and a little uncomfortable given that the last two-thousand years have provided a context of how we think of crucifixion, making something like this almost blasphemous. Ultimately, the participants seem to genuinely feel this punishment would be appropriate given the historical nature of the game and I'm sure this will get them a lot of media attention. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:29:27 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2006/03/23/britain-to-witness-first-crucifixion-for-almost-2000-years/#IDComment146609994 http://wu.granneman.com/2004/11/02/heavy-price-for-free-speech/#IDComment146607766 Regulating these issues in virtual worlds would be extremely difficult and almost pointless. The games themselves are designed to be escapist in nature and allow players to actively engage in behaviors that would never be permissible in the real world, i.e. shooting, looting, raping, etc. I realize that not all of the games have these components, but the point is that when one chooses to step into a "world" that has looser boundaries than the one in which we actually live, this inherently requires the player to recognize that they are not protected by the same laws and protections they are used to abiding by. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:19:38 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2004/11/02/heavy-price-for-free-speech/#IDComment146607766 http://wu.granneman.com/2003/10/03/sheriffs-of-norrath/#IDComment146605304 Really good points brought up here. The question of how (if at all) to apply real-world laws to a digital landscape is extremely valid. Additionally, with the psychological bond people feel to their avatars, making it difficult to separate themselves from whatever offenses the avatar may encounter, it will be necessary to establish boundaries that are clear across the board. In my opinion, the gamer is the one with the rights, not the virtual character. This is a product of one's creation, and does not even exist to speak for itself. The human account owner, on the other hand should be able to recoup any losses he suffers at the hands of another account owner ( or hacker or business owner) and should enforce these things on his behalf. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:08:38 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2003/10/03/sheriffs-of-norrath/#IDComment146605304 http://wu.granneman.com/2003/09/21/on-the-second-life-tax-revolt/#IDComment146596888 It seems pretty unfortunate that the fantasy world these players used as a distraction from the travails of real life has begun to reflect some of the most unpleasant traits of the life they were attempting to leave behind. Second Life is supposed to be an escapist game, and to impose taxes which then lead to sit-ins and protests and talks of implementing governments seems to completely contradict the intent most people likely had when signing up in the first place. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:37:53 +0000 http://wu.granneman.com/2003/09/21/on-the-second-life-tax-revolt/#IDComment146596888