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| Quote : Now you're splitting hairs between right and 'reason' to complain? |
The purpose of the distinction between 'right' and 'reason' was to acknowledge that while everyone is entitled to share their opinion, entitlement does not imply correctness or validity. Thus I was supporting everyone who is upset, but at the same time I was saying that I disagree with them.
| Quote : Be interesting to see your answer, as a representative of the USofA. |
Before I continue, I will state that my opinion on anything should not be taken as representative of the USA. I hate politics. I hate political correctness. I hate any idea that is based on anything other than logic and common sense. I hate the fact that idealistic motives like religion prevent any government from acting rationally. Furthermore, I don't get worked up over thinks that are unimportant or have no effect on my life. I take things day by day and care only about things that matter, like my schoolwork and the latest MidEast turmoil. I am a centrist, and from this short summary of 'me,' it should be evident that I don't fit on any side of American politics. So regardless of what you think of my opinion, please don't associate it with the rest of the USA.
| Quote : The omission of that group as builders and contributors, and their strict prohibition from participation is simply myopic, and obviously to some worthy of comment/objection. It doesn't mean they have a right to a free PC, but it does say: THG, you do yourself a diservice by ignoring the rest of your loyal readers who you feel have a 2nd class loyalty unworthy of recognition. |
I agree with you completely. However, my argument has nothing to do with the actions on THG's part. Call me cynical, but I'm not the least bit suprised when such things happen. They do what they want and I am indifferent in any case. In the hypothetical case that this were a sweepstakes exclusive to Germany, it would make no difference to me whatsoever. I care about things that impact my life, not petty things like a minute chance of winning a free computer. If I were paying for the reviews that I read here then I'd probably be pissed, but I'm not, so why should I feel any emotional attachment to the website/organization? What logical reason do I have to feel betrayed? Isn't there something more important that I should be wasting my energy and despair on?
This is the only point I am trying to make. Being upset that you are not included in such a petty thing as a sweepstakes is based solely on emotion. It makes no more sense logically than the emotional attachment to a corporation that everyone here so eloquently refers to as "fanboyism."
| Quote : What kind of system do you think better embodies a global site operating on the borderless .net, pluralism or the segregation of parties into disaprate groups/castes? |
In an ideal case, of course I think borderless .net pluralism is better, but I've never been naive enough to assume things would actually work that way.
Oh, idealism...such a strange and paradoxical thing. Oddly enough, hatred of idealism is itself an ideal. There's some food for thought...
So back to the idea of representing USofA...it's amusing to me that you mention it. I know this is not the context that you intended, but I've been told numerous times by friends/acquaintances that I should enter politics and run for president. Actually, one of my history professors told me that I should drop my electrical engineering major and go into political science. Last time I checked though, only puppets and mindless bureaucrats get elected. Did I mention that I despise politics? 
Luckily I'm only 20 and have plenty of time before that's even a consideration. Right now I don't even want to waste time thinking about something so unlikely.
Sweet PC! Don't quite see how it's 10k, unless the monitor is like 7k though. Not that I'll complain if i win... 
Oh, yeah. Tom's Hardware rocks!
| Quote : I am a centrist, |
There's hope for you yet... 8)
| Quote : So regardless of what you think of my opinion, please don't associate it with the rest of the USA. |
As a centrist you are likely more representative of the 'majority of the US' than the voices that are heard loudest yet speak only for the select few of both extremes.
| Quote : In the hypothetical case that this were a sweepstakes exclusive to Germany, it would make no difference to me whatsoever. |
Nor would it I, but I also wouldn't diminish or make light of anyone's reasons for complaining should their argument be one of valid logic. Like I said no one deserves a PC, but complaining about the restriction and it's overt restriction of what likely constitues the majority of the readership of Tom's now (in all it's forms) seems pretty fair reason to speak up, not to the point of riotousness but that isn't the position of most people here except for one again the select extremes.
| Quote : I care about things that impact my life, not petty things like a minute chance of winning a free computer. |
It's not about the size of the chance but the opportunity to take that chance. Just like the promise of democracy (seen often as the American Dream) is not about everyone being rich/powerful/life/liberty/etc., but everyone being afford the same right and opportunity to take their shot.
| Quote : What logical reason do I have to feel betrayed? Isn't there something more important that I should be wasting my energy and despair on? |
Depends, despair there's lots of options, energy depends on what your restrictions are, currently here at work this seems to be a good outlet for me to challenge the status quo. 
| Quote : This is the only point I am trying to make. Being upset that you are not included in such a petty thing as a sweepstakes is based solely on emotion. |
True but it's an emotion of loyalty, as stated in the contest itself, in recognition of their loyal readers, ie the rest of you are not loyal. My statements about your mom wouldn't be anything less than petty baiting, but likely would garner a response, no? Similar situation of no real harm, but still a feeling of being slighted by the omission, or more importantly not really omission but purposeful restriction.
| Quote : It makes no more sense logically than the emotional attachment to a corporation that everyone here so eloquently refers to as "fanboyism." |
True to some extent, but byt the same token, the concept of corporate responsability and acting in a manner that reflects it's readers and patrons, is something that works in the interest of the company, because sites websites more than anyone should know the fickleness of audiences and how keeping them returning is something more important than a single sponsor in their most important giveaway. Depends really on how you look at it, you wish to look at it from the 'right' and 'reason' and provincial 'us' v 'them' and emotional positions, personally I tend to look at it from the marketing perspective (which heavily relies on psychology and sociology), where I view the impact of such an action as gaining them fairweather US readers in addition to their current ongoing US readership, at the cost of potentially losing some of their international audience. It's not a wise move, and while like I said, I don't care personally, and actually expect this thing 9 times out of 10, I would never discount people's reaction to what still amounts to segregation of 1st and 2nd class readers, and codifying it in the purpose of the contest to reward their 'deserving readers'. The contest taken outside of that explicit context would likely be less inflammatory.
| Quote : In an ideal case, of course I think borderless .net pluralism is better, but I've never been naive enough to assume things would actually work that way. |
The world is what people make of it, and neither this action, nor your reaction to it advance us towards anything but the later. I'm not naive enough to think that the world IS what we'd hope it would be, but it'd be nice to see more people trying to make it so than simply accepting the norm and saying screw those that complain/oppose. Since a concernof your is the mideast, I'd suggest more of that thinking might do that region a world of good as well, not that I'm anywhere near naive enough to think that that will happen anytime soon, nor that just thinking it makes it so.
| Quote : So back to the idea of representing USofA...it's amusing to me that you mention it. I know this is not the context that you intended, but I've been told numerous times by friends/acquaintances that I should enter politics and run for president. |
We probably have similar friends. 8)
| Quote : Actually, one of my history professors told me that I should drop my electrical engineering major and go into political science. Last time I checked though, only puppets and mindless bureaucrats get elected. Did I mention that I despise politics? |
You forgot the willful manipulators and parasites, but works in general ave the occasional exceptional idealist who is rarer than the $2 bill. Now if you could FEEL THEIR PAIN when the posters speak of being left out, then you mgiht have a shot at the WhiteHouse.
Enjoy your youth, but know that when you get older you may wish you'd done more to change the world you leave your children. Not that that has anything to do with a showy contest on a tech site. 
Glad I'm a US resident, hope I win it!! 
I can understand that people from other countries wish they had a chance at winning it. However I hope some of you whiners aren't over 13 years old. Do any of you really think TH purposely chose to exclude other countries??? Don't blame TH or Falcon Northwest blame your own governments for placing so many restrictions that it wasn't feasable. If TH has another contest I hope they're able to include other countries but exclude all those that are US haters.LOL
I know Rhino already set you straight, but really, if you are Canadian, and you live in Canada, you should know better than to spread these ignorant miconceptions. 
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Perhaps you should crack open a book, read the Globe (the Sun just don't edjumakate ya') or use Google, or whatever tool you need to use to get you up to speed, but there wasn't just the US that went into Afghanistan under the UN resolution (and Iraq under the UN), we're still there (we are the current lead NATO force!) Or do you not read in the papers every other week of the people being sent back?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/ser [...] ional/home
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canad [...] fghanistan
Heck I'm surprised you didn't at least hear about the new Tim Horton's in Afghanistan.
Seriously this is not a US vs the rest of the world issue, it's a "THG, why run a contest that specifically excludes the majority of your 'deserving readers'?" issue.
Edited to make wiki link work (THGC doesn't like apostrophes in links).
| Quote : If TH has another contest I hope they're able to include other countries but exclude all those that are US haters.LOL |
If you think that's what it's about, then you miss the point, I don't see where I was being a 'US hater', perhaps you could point that out.
Other than seeing it as my attempt at 'getting some for everyone', which means that it's not just exclusive to you thus diminishing your chances on that level, I don't understand why enabling the rest of the world to participate somehow equals US hating, if anything your comments about whining and restrictions are a projection of that type of sentiment towards the rest of the world.
I'd say considering the number of contest run in the US and Canada it's from from just 'our restrictions' for at least that particular case.
But hey, why not just call a spade a spade and say that your comments just reflect your own personal selfishness, why else would you care if others are asking for equality, in which case I think the 13 year old comment comes into play. 
That's no problem at all my friend. I too appologize for my confusion with your post as well 
OOT: There exists a common misconception regarding the Canadian military, the main argument being that since we dont have as many actual soldiers, our military sucks.
Ironically, yesterday I had a lengthy discussion with an ex-officer. He brought up the canadian JTF2, our SAS/Rangers equivalent in terms of high-risk, covert operations. JTF2 actually were regarded as one of the best teams out in Afghanistan, often scouting and relaying information to ally troops.
More info? http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/ [...] /jtf2.html
Just for those less informed
That is quite a wicked PC. I wonder who is using the force here 
You make some good points, and overall I agree on most of them. I really don't have much to say in response, but there are a couple things I want to mention. Our opinions seem to differ mostly in our approach to looking at the issue. I take a logical perspective, while you go for a marketing POV. Phychology/sociology are not by strong suit by any means, so there's no question that you own me from that perspective. I'm guessing that our differences in viewpoints probably come from differences in age and experience (with you having more of both), or it may be as simple as a difference in personality. In any case, I enjoyed discussing this with you.
Have a good one
| Quote : Not trying to make this into a political discussion but I don't get how you think Canada is the lead force in Afgan. |
Because that's what they are.
Countries assume the role as they take that position. It has nothing to do with being a bigger, or stronger contingent (heck we rely on the US for alot of stuff I grant that easily). But we are the current Lead NATO Force (the US only has a handful of servicement as part of the NATO campaign [last year that number was 89]), and have been asked by NATO to assume all the NATO responsabilities in 2008.
| Quote : I can see it maybe being plausable since USofA is more focused on Iraq, but you never hear, atleast in the USofA, about any Canadian forces. |
Not surprising, it's not marketing driven news Canadians in Afghanistan.
| Quote : Yeah I know they went with us, but the only forces reported by the media are US and Britt. |
That's the media. If it were up to the media there would only be The US, then Any Hotspot in the War on Terror, then Any recent tragedy (Tsunami, etc), and then maybe a report on fun vacationing in Australia around Xmas time. It's not about who else is out there only what salacious new gets viewers, and what the sponsors want... which bring us back to Falcon NorthWest. 
| Quote : 10 pages in 3 days. That has to be a record. |
Nah, in the 'OTHER' section that's just a lazy afternoon/weekend.
| Quote : And what about the SAIN (SANE) remark above?
|
LOL!
Ok, well I was on page 9 when I replied last. 
Hell, I hope i get this screaming rig! My machine is 3 years old, and back in the day, it set me back over $2,000.00! What a waist of money!
Motherboard:Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro nForce 3
Memory:2x512 Corsair XMS
CPU:AMD Clawhammer 3400+ @ 2.35Ghz
Graphics card:original-NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra; upgrade-NVIDIA 6800GT 256MB
Hard drive:Western Digital 120GB ATA
Sound card:Sound Blaster Audigy 2
I'm guna win this!
I know this has been said MANY (so many is a little understatement) times in this thread, but DAMN IT FOR BEING US ONLY!!!!!!!!!!
Every piece of hardware that i would ever desire is cheaper there and now they even get the free stuff as well...totally unfair 
Look ArbY,
What I wanted to underline on my post, and it’s what I disagree with you, is that the information THG gives us readers is not REALLY free, for what I believe to be a simple reason: they get paid to give us this information.
The fact we don’t hand over anything for it doesn’t disqualify affirmation.
Elaborating…
The amount of viewers THG has, just because it doesn’t charge them (us), is exactly why people who have something to sell are willing to pay rather a lot for space in their website. Even in this very page there’s advertisement hyperlinked to take us somewhere else.
And it gives a full circle, as most likely, just because of that whole advertisement they don’t have to charge us readers anything. But still, one way or another, they get paid.
I’m NOT going to be a d***head and tell you that THG doesn’t have any merit in not charging us just because it’s more profitable this way, and that would have nothing to do with people at THG wanting to keep the site and the information in it as widely available as possible, simply because I could not possibly be able to do so. Yet they get paid.
I’m not saying either that THG owes me or any other reader anything. For about the sweepstake, I really believe it could be made in a different way as to include more people. I think it’s disappointing, but I’m not in anyway enraged or feeling betrayed. Over this I’m sorry if I made believe the contrary.
And just to make things as clear as possible: I LOVE THE SITE TOP TO BOTTOM, or I would not be visiting it nearly every work day as I previously mentioned. But that doesn’t mean I or anyone else can’t make any critics, or state the obvious (at least for me in this case ).
That’s the whole point of my previous post: if they get paid it’s not free… It’s convenience (for them, for us…). The rest of it was just joke hence the yellow round “dudes” at the end of it .
Regards.
I had kinda left this and had not noticed Marauder's post, but thanks for explaining it so well. I never said bigger, just LEAD NATO force (it was/is our turn). Sure we look like Spud Web standing beside Shaq, but the next country in Iraq would be MiniMe.
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It's at the operations at Kandahar airport. The whole thing made me laugh. The Troops request it, and it take 3-4 months to get through the red tape to finally get it out there. I could get one put in quicker on the mountain-top at Whistler!
But you have to admit, it'd be nice to start your morning in a LAV3 with a DoubleDouble and a Blueberry Fritter! Maybe we can win the Afghanis 'Hearts & Minds' with that!
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HAHAHA that is ajoke program where you can get that stupid paper clip to pop up and say anything including that statment above.
Did it to a co-worker and she was soo agry at it.
total bs, but quite ironic, THG was german from the start, no?
They can buy a 10K USD system, but not get another 200 for shipping?
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