Stop the Anti-Divx Madness!

Posted by Bear [IP: 208.205.84.2] on November 19, 1998 at 14:15:28:

In Reply to: Stop the Anti-Divx Madness! posted by David on November 16, 1998 at 01:36:15:

: : Perhaps our founding fathers established something other than a "democratic capitalistic system". My copy of the constitution clearly establishes slavery as a legal institution.

: That's more an ignorance of racial equality rather than the establishment of a caste system. You'll recall that was amended.

The Constitution literally set the value of slaves at 60% of that of other men who were created equally and denied them the right to vote. It was certainly ignorant, but it also clearly established a caste system in the U.S. It was wisely amended, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives, nearly 90 years later. We still see some effects to this day. Yeah, this is off topic.

: Perhaps OPpression (not REpression) was an overstatement, but I have found Divx-bashers to be hot-headed browbeaters if not oppressive (since that requires some real power), though that may be more a function of the forum (electronic) than of the speakers.

I have not attempted to browbeat anyone, but I have seen abuses from both sides on this argument. I think this thread has been both lively and civil. I also disagree about being powerless. I have the ultimate power every consumer has: I can discern the truth and spend my money accordingly.

:The formation of larger, web-centered sales machines and the reduction of smaller vendors is nothing new, and furthermore is a reality we have little control over. With the low overhead of web sales and the immediacy of price comparisons enabled by the web, the traditional business model of a showroom with salesmen can't keep up, and many such stores are going belly-up, leaving us with fewer vendors.

The web cannot currently satisfy my need to rent video products. The competition in my area has provided me with choices and good prices. The little guys in my area kick the crap out of Blockbuster and Hollywood for price and service. The web isn't more convenient because I drive right by half of these outfits on my way home from work every day. The control I have is to shop where it makes sense for me to shop so that I have the option to continue to do so in the future.

:But if Divx reeks of oppression, then you might want to have a few words with Bill Gates, who knows a thing or two about true oppression.

I wouldn't mind having a few words with Gates, and I fully support the Justice Department's attempt to curtail some of Microsofts most outragious displays of monopolistic power. I wasn't in favor of granting this power to MS, and I definately oppose granting similar power over video rental distribution to Hollywood lawyers and CC.

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