Attempt to ban all free software

[Edmund Blackadder]

Did you report the thread using the report this post link as I don't see it in the feedback? It would probably get a quicker response that way , though I doubt anyone would say anything now you have raised it

Yes, MackemX, I'll just wait and see. If those anti-French remarks will start popping up again, I'll report this thread. Thanks for the tip. 8)

@Edmund Blackadder:NBC is 80% owned by GE:
http://www.cjr.org/tools/owners/ge.asp

Sorry, I guess I was watching too much Conan O'Brien lately.

[Lester Burnham]

I watch the movie, so I don't see the black bars, regardless of how big they are.

Even if that means removing valid parts of the picture / frame, or stretching the picture and ruining the proportions of parts of the picture?

Sometimes, I just don't understand... some people would rather obliterate some of the viewable and intended frame, or mess with the proportions in parts, than watch content in the aspect ratio that was intended.

[preacher238]

Did you report the thread using the report this post link as I don't see it in the feedback? It would probably get a quicker response that way , though I doubt anyone would say anything now you have raised it

Yes, MackemX, I'll just wait and see. If those anti-French remarks will start popping up again, I'll report this thread. Thanks for the tip. 8)

@Edmund Blackadder:NBC is 80% owned by GE:
http://www.cjr.org/tools/owners/ge.asp

Sorry, I guess I was watching too much Conan O'Brien lately.

You know what there ol Edmund? I notice that in your profile you list the USA. Since you hate the USA so much and seem to just love France and the "Friendly" people, move on over there and live with them and their crazy laws. Just leave us crazy, rude, disrespectful, hated, Americans behind! We don't need you anyway. Geez some people!!

[Colindale]

Isn't France just some small country everybody pretty much ignores on the continent of Europe? They are lobbying to ban free software because poverty and unemployment are at an all time high. What better way to increase rural frustration then to take free assets away from your people. I've always known there was something wrong with the French Government. In any case, this proposal if enacted will only effect the French, similiar to how the ruling against Kazaa only effects Australians.

That is just idiocy on so many levels it is ridiculous. If France is so bad why do diverse types like Richard Perle and Johnny Depp choose to live there?
The fact is it is part of their repressive copyright law they are enacting. You know the crap you support.
I imagine if France really wanted to piss it's citizens off the would stop health care or social services.
Thank you for proving you are not only a RIAA shill but also a Republican. So go help yourself to a big bowl of Freedom fries while in your Freedom maids outfit.

You must be born in the USA, France also has a VETO in the United Nations, and can block even America at times.

Apart from that, this idea does sound crazy!

[thecoalman]

You must be born in the USA, France also has a VETO in the United Nations, and can block even America at times.

Yes they completely stopped the US invasion of Iraq with their veto power..... :P

[bacardi/avt]

I just want to say that it doesn't matter what you think of the French, the problem is that they are a strong member of the EU which can make this stupid laws spread to the whole of EU.

By then it will affect even people in the US since all development done in the EU probably will disappear.

[junkmalle]

I just want to say that it doesn't matter what you think of the French, the problem is that they are a strong member of the EU which can make this stupid laws spread to the whole of EU.

By then it will affect even people in the US since all development done in the EU probably will disappear.

It's worse than than. Once the law is established across the EU the RIAA and MPAA will have no trouble convincing US politicians that our laws need to be in line with "international standards".

[ROF]

I think some people are making a mountain out of a mole hill. This is only proposed legislation in a solitary country which most other countries ignore anyways.

It's also being tooted as more than it actual is and I agree with Colindale in that it sounds crazy anyways.

[ntscuser]

I think some people are making a mountain out of a mole hill. This is only proposed legislation in a solitary country which most other countries ignore anyways.

It's also being tooted as more than it actual is and I agree with Colindale in that it sounds crazy anyways.

That's easy for you to say since you don't live in the EU. The French regard the EU as belonging to them and that any law they devise must eventually apply to all other countries in the EU. That is why we can no longer buy bananas by the pound or petrol by the gallon. Many French proposals which were initially regarded as being totally 'crazy' have eventually become EU law

[bacardi/avt]

@ntscuser: I wouldn't blame the French for that! Nearly all countries in Europe have had the metricsystem i use for over 100 yaers, it's only the UK that still try to use an older system.

[MackemX]

does anyone think any other countries will try something simialar?

You know what there ol Edmund? I notice that in your profile you list the USA. Since you hate the USA so much and seem to just love France and the "Friendly" people, move on over there and live with them and their crazy laws. Just leave us crazy, rude, disrespectful, hated, Americans behind! We don't need you anyway. Geez some people!!

now where did he say he hated the USA , I think someone didn't read his post properly

[mbellot]

I watch the movie, so I don't see the black bars, regardless of how big they are.

Even if that means removing valid parts of the picture / frame, or stretching the picture and ruining the proportions of parts of the picture?

Sometimes, I just don't understand... some people would rather obliterate some of the viewable and intended frame, or mess with the proportions in parts, than watch content in the aspect ratio that was intended.

Lester, I think you are missing his point.

He is watching THE MOVIE, not the black bars that surround it.

Do you have anything on top of your TV? I have a lamp and my wife has various figurines, but none of them interfere with the watching of a movie (even though they are still in plain view) because they are outside the area of interest.

[Lester Burnham]

I watch the movie, so I don't see the black bars, regardless of how big they are.

Even if that means removing valid parts of the picture / frame, or stretching the picture and ruining the proportions of parts of the picture?

Sometimes, I just don't understand... some people would rather obliterate some of the viewable and intended frame, or mess with the proportions in parts, than watch content in the aspect ratio that was intended.

Lester, I think you are missing his point.

He is watching THE MOVIE, not the black bars that surround it.

Quite possibly - but I was just remembering some comments from higher up the thread about zooming in wider aspect stuff - but that may not have been gunsl1nger's intent.

Do you have anything on top of your TV? I have a lamp and my wife has various figurines, but none of them interfere with the watching of a movie (even though they are still in plain view) because they are outside the area of interest.

Well quite.

I'm not sure if gunsl1nger was advocating or suggesting zooming stuff, or not - but regardless of whether he does, or not - my comments were more general, really.

I just don't get some people who'd prefer to obliterate some of the viewable frame, or distort some of the picture, just so as there's no black bars (either top and bottom for the wider aspect ratios, or left and right for 4:3 stuff on widescreen TVs).

I do know people who do this - <Yoda voice> understand them, I never will though </Yoda voice>, in talking to them, their perspective being they want their screen fully used, and they don't really care about what get's removed, or what get's stretched.

[SCDVD]

Just a response to Edmond Blackadder. We discuss many problems on this forum. Many are related to software and hardware issues while other topics have to with problems such as laws or proposed laws that cross over the line with respect to overregulation of software or backup issues etc. When we discuss hardware or software issues, we very often share opinions on underlying platform issues that are the root of the problem. Similarly when media problems are discussed, problem vendor issues are brought up often with a helpful candor. Some of these inputs may sound like an attack on Intel or AMD or a blast against Taiwan. But facts are facts. We shouldn't just ignore them because someone thinks that they aren’t politically correct.

In the same vein, this thread is about some ridiculous set of new regulations/laws in France that go WAY too far. The true scope of this cannot be rationally discussed without also discussing the underlying "platform" problems. History speaks for itself and speaks very clearly. We can pretend otherwise and play little PC games, but the comments made that are underscored with sarcasm or other feelings have a lot of real validity to them that simply cannot be denied. When someone makes a negative comment about the lack of concern about quality with a Taiwan media manufacturer, that doesn't mean it shouldn't be mentioned just because it is about a Chinese company and its attitude. It's the same thing with DVD piracy. Facts are facts. Are we supposed to just pretend like none of these issues exist?

These comments are NOT racist. Most of the people on this forum are of the same race as the people in France. These comments express distain for a national PLATFORM, NOT the French people themselves. When someone makes a negative and sarcastic comment about Intel or Nero, does that mean they hate the people in those companies? Of course not, that’s ridiculous. It is only by having a true and factual discussion about the problems with a "platform" that we can have a correct understanding of what it is all about and why.

One of the things that makes this forum so great is that issues that are important to our hobby can be discussed in a broad fashion. It is only in that way that we can develop accurate and complete understandings of the various problems and issues that are discussed. I just finished reading this entire thread again and I saw zero attacks aimed at French people. The comments that did express frustration or other feelings were aimed at France, not the French people. I am sure that many French people also feel these same negative feelings as well. This forum would be a much less informative and interesting place if we limited our discussions only to which Codec is best and how to run DVD Shrink.

[ROF]

Skewing/Zooming the image to fit the screen is almost worse than using a display device that isn't proper for the aspect ratio. In any case, I fail to see what any of this has to do with legislation to ban free software.

[Captain315]

Moderators, please, could you direct this thread in the right direction. I am not French, but this talk of almost hatred of France and anything French is really annoying. I thought it's against this forum's rules to do either political, religious, racist, etc., remarks. While I don't dislike these groups, but what if I made comments such as "I hate blacks, Jews, U.S. citizens who hate foreigners, and especially the supporters of George W. Bush"? I'm sure that I would get a big fat warning pretty quick. Comments like that would quickly fall into "politically incorrect" and "racist" category, but somehow everybody can hate Freanch all they want. We need some balance here.

I've been in France once and enjoyed the country and the people's kindness and hospitality very much. So please just stop all your racist (I don't have a better word for it) remarks and grow up. And it's partially because of biased people like you, French- and foreign-haters, why the U.S. of A. is so much disliked around the world (much more than France could ever dream of). You dislike everyone French just because they are French - that a perfect nazist opinion. There are many great American people, and I'm friends with many of them, but somehow it's the narrow-minded people (and politicians) like you that seem to be creating the negative image of this country around the world. Just don't be surprised when one day it backfires in a big way.

First off, let me say thanks to “MovieGeek” for straightening me out on the misinformation about Target stores. I appreciate it very much and have edited my post accordingly. Let me also say thanks to “Preacher238” for having the courage to stand up and be counted. As for “MackemX”, I have nothing to say.

What follows will probably get me banned from Videohelp, and to be honest, I couldn’t blame them. However, if they are to be fair, they should also ban “Blackadder” for having the audacity to brand me a NAZI and RACIST because I stated: “I have no respect for the French people IN GENERAL.”

Well, Blackadder and MackemX, I stand by my statement and will stand behind it until I die. Twice we’ve helped pull their a$$es out of the fire in two world wars and they’ve done nothing but oppose everything we do that does not meet with their supreme approval. This to the point of not even letting our jets fly over their country in defense of the Kuwaitis when they were being slaughtered by Saddam Hussein. Talk about another Hitler, this man was his twin. Public mutilation, mass genocide, decapitations, wholesale murder, attacking our shores, killing thousands of our own innocent men, women and children…. need I go on. When we and a few other countries decided to do something about it, we were immediately referred to as criminals. In France while under Nazi occupation and the rule of Hitler, we were referred to as liberators. How soon they forget.

I’ve been to France four times. A good friend of mine (a full blooded Frenchman, name withheld on purpose) has a vineyard in the south of France. To quote him, “The problem is that there are not enough people who remember what really happened. I blame the media for most of the anti-American rhetoric but I also blame the school system for teaching a slightly modified French version of history. They would prefer that the whole and complete truth not be taught.” To loosely quote General Patton, “I’d rather know I was facing a battalion of German soldiers than to know a battalion of French were guarding my rear”. Also, the French people have now embraced a Socialist form of government. You need only to study history to see what’s in store for them.

I did not, nor have I ever said that I “hated” the French people as you stated. It’s people like you that are the hate-mongers. You attack anyone over anything that will provide you a podium to spout your misguided morality and veil the true character and purpose that lies beneath. You get people like MachemX to trail along while you willingly and knowingly twist words and profess outrage when in reality you incite and perpetrate hatred through half-truths and lies. You’re not interested in truth, honesty or the freedom of people from persecution of any kind. You don’t have the intelligence to do that.

Your profile says USA/Ukraine and you call yourself a Socialist Elite. I know you’re not American as can be attested by your own statement: “There are many great American people, and I'm friends with many of them”. An American would never have said that. What else do you conceal behind your anonymity?

Almost 500,000 American souls were lost in defense of Europe, Asia and the world from the treacherous armies of Nazi Germany and Imperialist Japan. We fought two world wars on two different continents at the same time. We gave everything we had and still do in defense of freedom loving people throughout the world. I am PROUD to be an American because I know the truth. They gave their lives for you and this is how you repay. I pay a small price for what I do here. I give up the best website I’ve ever found for my one interest, video. I know I will be banned for this letter and like I said before, rightfully so. This is no place for politics but mealy-mouthed people like you need to know that there are a few of us who aren’t going to take it anymore. Now is your chance to really lambaste me as I will not be able to reply and defend myself. This should really make you happy. Run along now and report this post.

***Note to MODERATORS: I realize this will be my last post and for any problems I may have caused because of it, I apologize sincerely. I felt it necessary to defend myself and my country from people like Blackadder and MachemX. Especially when they threw the gauntlet down and practically dared me to make any other statement about the French people. I would appreciate your sending me an email that I can answer about continuing my support of this forum. I cannot blame you for my breaking of the rules. Maybe someday you will allow me back. If not, I understand.

[ROF]

Some people really need to learn to forgive past mistakes, especially when those mistakes were made long before they were born. I don't much care for the current French Government, however the French people I've met have been great.

[Captain315]

This is not about past mistakes ROF. This is about today and now. You make an assumption that I'm young. Wish I were. LOL

Also to SCDVD: Thank you for your intelligence.

[ROF]

Sorry I only saw a few sentences about current affairs(last few decades). In order to be considered "We've pulled them out . . . " you must be at least 62 years old to have been born then and to actually have been part of the we you must be approaching 80. I always find the discussions of the actions in World War II in relation to France as odd.

The actions taken by America at that time was a selfless action, yet today it's people who speak about it like this that make it appear that France owes us something for doing so. They don't owe us gratitude, they don't even owe us respect. America did what needed to be done, plain and simple. To expect gratitude is disrespectful to all those who have fought and died for selfless cause of freedom.

[Edmund Blackadder]

Almost 500,000 American souls were lost in defense of Europe, Asia and the world from the treacherous armies of Nazi Germany and Imperialist Japan. We fought two world wars on two different continents at the same time. We gave everything we had and still do in defense of freedom loving people throughout the world. I am PROUD to be an American because I know the truth. They gave their lives for you and this is how you repay.

I'm sorry Captain315, but Americans did not give my grandparents any lives on our soil during WWII. Yes, Americans were in Western Europe, but the Soviet Union had to defend pretty much by themselves. We lost nearly 20,000,000 people in that war. Somehow you don't hear those figures from American sources very often. We also helped liberate many Central Europe's countries from Nazis. Now that they are no longer socialist countries, you don't hear Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, etc., blaming those countries for not being loyal to socialist ideas anymore. But America is still complaining about French not being thankful for WWII. Most of those people aren't even alive anymore. That's why I said you had racist remarks: you don't like French people in GENERAL, that means you don't care in GENERAL, you just GENERALLY don't like them because they are FRENCH, even if they were born long after WWII. Look, Hitler was a racist too, he wanted his perfect white race, that among others excluded other white groups such as Russians, Ukrainians and Jews. Now, you Captain315, seem to be making GENERAL statements about the French, just because of their past actions. Should I even go into the US government's total and utter lies about the former Soviet government and people? And since that was the case, how do we know that what they do in Iraq now is for a good cause? George W. has changed his war banner already several times, from "Wat on Terror" to "Iraqi Freedom", which are two very different things. That man is lost and corrupted and he's pulling this country into a very big mess.

You, Captain315, still GENERALLY dislike French because of their past. Somehow, we, ex-Soviets, were able to forgive Germany (including the West Germany during the communist era in the USSR) and are now in very good cultural and economic relations without even a hint of Nazi comments or jokes. So how come so many Americans are still not able to forgive French? How come some many of you are so narrow minded and stubborn?

As for me being a Socialist Elite, well I thought that was just a clever thing to put in my profile. But I do believe, that socialist system, with all its negative points, was the best thing that happened to Ukraine and Russia. Of course it coudn't work let's say in the U.S., because of a different mindset. But you know what? I don't think that democracy is going to work in Iraq either, because of their set of mind. So what your president is doing now is pretty much wasting your lives and tax dollars, while further worsening your country's image.

And preacher238, you're not even worth my time.

[Baldrick]

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