Rant Post

[sherlockbbc_fic]

Previous (Full) Rant Post

No real directions, but this isn't a place for debate. It's a place for RANTIN' AND RAVIN'.

There is a rule: There is to be no calling out anyone by name in Rants, Chatter, or on the Meme itself. This only produces an atmosphere of animosity and it is no longer tolerated. If you see any names being ranted about, please link us at Page-A-Mod. Thanks! :)

Please do not use this post or any other posts in the meme for sharing of download or streaming of links that aren't the official source of the content.

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Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Now I'm nervous about all the crap I've downloaded. Are fanmixes considered illegal?

[(Anonymous)]

I'm nervous because I watched a series of Big Bang Theory on MegaUpload D:

An open letter

[(Anonymous)]

Dear traditional content providers (Movie studios, network TV studios)

There is one simple solution. Make your content legally available, worldwide, simultaneously.

People who download are not losing you money. They are watching a low-quality copy because they want it right now. Most of them go on to purchase the DVD's and Blu-rays because they want a better quality version with bonus material, but they have to wait months for that when they're friends overseas are watching these things already and discussing them.

The discussions and fanworks get you more viewers, people who have seen the content and like it talk to friends, relations, get them to buy it, or watch it on TV or try it out online. The people who watch your content by whatever means are all providing promotion for your franchise or series, free of charge. How much would it cost to have several thousand earnest, honest and gushing fan pages put up? Match that against the money you think you are losing.

However, if you simulcast across the internet, no region restrictions, the same day the show aired in the country of origin, or made permanent digital versions available for a reasonable fee, people would be able to watch your material on your terms, with your advertisers in the corners if you must, and share the joy of their friends across the world, rather than having to sit out of the fun until they can access the material legitimately, and by then, the people who have already seen it have moved on and had every fresh idea about it. Lack of international simulcasting generates social isolation.

Those who download very rarely do so because they prefer to. They have no other option for seeing your material while it is fresh and new available to them.

The world has changed, the idea of intellectual property and content has changed, but the old ideas of distribution remain the same. Anyone in any part of the world can speak instantly to anyone else, provided the infrastructure and equipment are available. People are social creatures who like to discuss things that excite them, and when your movie/tv show excites someone in one country, they want to share it with their friends, wherever they are, and their friends want to see it too.

The demand is obviously there. It's time for you to rethink your infrastructure of supply.

TLDR: INTERNATIONAL SIMULTANEOUS DISTRIBUTION WILL SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS. GET ON IT.

Re: An open letter

[(Anonymous)]

Heh, probably would take a while. They're not gonna give up the old models of distribution too soon. And there is money to be made in holding pockets of different audiences around the world hostage from seeing the movie/tv show when it first airs. How are local tv channels/cabel channels going to make their money if HBO decided to air Mad Men stimulataneously everywhere on the net?

Or PBS, what would Masterpiece Theatre be without the BBC or ITV withholding their costume dramas and mystery shows from Americans/Canadians for months on end? Who on earth would donate to PBS without those British Imports that they lord over us? By god, that would mean PBS would need to spend a lot more money making their own TV shows with lower budgets. Or just a lot of cheap educational shows with talking heads to fill time.

No, there are hundreds of tv channels out there and not enough good content to go around (see all that crap reality tv), so it wouldn't make sense if they'd put it all on the internet for us to watch whenever we want. It's not just about people who make the product, it's about the distributors as well. They're not gonna screw over the distributors who pay them good money for the rights to air these shows just to make us all happy. It would be nice, but it's not gonna happen any time soon.

[(Anonymous)]

NO, SCREW IT. I HATE ONLINE CLASSES, I HATE ONLINE DISCUSSIONS. I AM A DAY AHEAD AND 8 HOURS BEHIND THE REST OF THE CLASS- EVERYTHING IS DUE EARLIER AND I CANNOT PHYSICALLY JUMP THROUGH TIME TO DO DISCUSSIONS WHEN EVERYONE ELSE DOESN'T POST UNTIL THE LAST DAY AND IT'S CLOSED FOR ME.

Also, thank you so much. No, really. Thank you for saying that people should only have two children. That any more is just a waste of space and air and food.

Thank you for saying you don't want me to exist.

YOU FIRST.

[(Anonymous)]

Eh, from a cold-blooded POV it depends where you live. Like what your country's population is. If people have 2 children the ratio parents:children is 2:2 so no rise in population so good news if you want population numbers to stay the same. China can't take more people so 2:1 ratio is law. The whole thing's bits of geography and kinda politics and lots of other stuff.

From a non-cold-blooded POV that person is an ass.

I am so ready for the police state

[(Anonymous)]

NOT.

If existing laws are strong enough to shut down MegaUpload, what will happen if SOPA/PIPA get passed?

And for the New Zealanders that got arrested... well I hope they aren't extradited to the US. I heard it's against the NZ laws because the US federal government still retains capital punishment.

Love how they're arresting everyone from Julian Assange to Bradley Manning to Anon/LulzSec hacktivists to people affiliated with MegaUpload.

Re: I am so ready for the police state

[(Anonymous)]

So you believe enforcing the rights of individuals to earn a living from their creative/imaginative works is a police state then I don't think you understand what a police state is.

Toxic water >:C

[(Anonymous)]

Urghhh my water is so awful I just realized recently that even doing things like taking a shower was making me sick. I replaced the shower head today with a filter one and the difference was so fucking obvious I feel like a moron for not doing it sooner!

Anyway, I'm apparently still a dumbass because I washed my hands in the sink a few times and now I have a horrible rash on the back of my hands.

Fuck you water treatment plant!

Re: Toxic water >:C

[(Anonymous)]

I sort of know how you feel. Well, the water here doesn't make me sick, exactly. However, because I'm somewhat allergic to chlorine, whenever I take a shower, I get a nice, itchy rash-like thing down my chest, face, back, stomach, legs, etc. I'm okay if I just wash my hands in the sink, apparently.

I can't just stop showering. Not an option. Seriously. I'd get fired. And I don't have the type of showerhead which can be replaced with a filtered one. So, I just deal with the itchiness that happens every other day when I shower. I can't bring myself to deal with it every day, which is why I only shower every other day. Hopefully my colleagues understand.

Sounds like you've sort of taken care of your problem, though! That's good! Hope your water treatment plant improves itself, though!

[(Anonymous)]

Wormald says today's operation was a successful one despite a less than straightforward entry to the Dotcom Mansion"

"Police arrived in two marked Police helicopters. Despite our staff clearly identifying themselves Mr Dotcom retreated into the house and activated a number of electronic locking mechanisms.

"While Police neutralised these locks he then further barricaded himself into a safe room within the house which officers had to cut their way into.

"Once they gained entry into this room they found Mr Dotcom near a firearm which had the appearance of a shortened shotgun.

"It was definitely not as simple as knocking at the front door" said Mr Wormald.

[(Anonymous)]

... What the fuck is happening. What the fuck is that. I don't agree with any side of that at all.

[(Anonymous)]

Those of you have hit rock bottom, what was your rock bottom like? And how has your life changed since, if changed at all?

Now I am:

1. Broke.
2. Kicked out of college.
3. Cut off from my family and friends,
4. On the verge of getting thrown out on the street.
5. No longer 'young' anymore.
6. Depressed.

And I don't see a way out.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm not going to start a 'my life was worse than you' competition :-)

However, I've been in pretty dire situations and managed to dig myself out, sometimes with the help of services and institutions that are set up to help.

My parents moved around a lot when I was a child, they also split up regularly. So, in order to go to one school for two years to do my A Levels, I left home and lived in a variety of hostels and with friends. I managed to get good grades and get accepted for university. Because my parents weren't interested I had to support myself and work, part time and full time throughout my three year degree. I also have SAD and needed medication throughout.

However, I made use of all the services available to me from my GP to the Student Union. I worked hard enough to get a good reputation at the temping agencies so was always almost able to get work when I needed it. Because, I had a goal - to get a good enough degree to get myself out of the hole my parents had put me in and to build a stable life which wasn't anything like theirs.

I did well enough that I was able to put a deposit on a flat when I left Uni - though I wasn't able to afford any furniture for two years.

So, it may help you if you work out what resources and skills you have personally, what resources you can use (doctors, statutory bodies, charities) and what you are aiming at. Set small targets to start with, don't overreach yourself and use everything and everyone's help you can - once you are on your feet again you can pay them back or help others as a thank you.

A rant disguised as a helpful suggestion

[(Anonymous)]

...or vice versa.

I think it's once again time for a bit of a tutorial. This, memers, is how one should properly nest one's comments when filling a prompt:

PROMPT
>FILL PART 1
>>FILL PART 2
>>FILL PART 3

Or, if one is posting a multi-part fill over time:

PROMPT
>FILL PART 1A
>>FILL PART 1B
>>FILL PART 1C
>>FILL PART 2A
>>>FILL PART 2B
>>>FILL PART 2C
>>FILL PART 3A
>>>FILL PART 3B
>>>FILL PART 3C

Etc, etc. This way, readers only need to click "expand" once to read a new part, your fill is self-contained to differentiate it from any other fills on the same prompt, and it doesn't get all squished up on the right side of the screen as will happen when you just reply to the previous comment. Please, I know we've plenty of new faces 'round these parts, but do think about ease of reading when posting your fills.

(Rant: fuck I'm getting fucking annoyed with all these fucking poorly nested fills. Don't people understand how comment nesting works? For fuck's sake. Oh, also, title your fucking fills.)

Re: A rant disguised as a helpful suggestion

[(Anonymous)]

I apologise for my any of my poorly nested fills, anon. I'm an idiot, who forgets until it's too late, and I'll be sure to try and remember next time I post something longish.

[(Anonymous)]

This Anon is cackling with glee. Anonymous, what a fucking great hack. *bows*

[(Anonymous)]

I (not so secretly) love Anonymous.

Though my favourite part is when mainstream media outlets try to cover the news. It's like watching Die Hard 4 IRL, it's hysterical.

Argh

[(Anonymous)]

Dear person living in the block opposite mine,

I, being Chinese too, appreciate that Chinese New Year, a time for great joy and lovely family time is here again. You're welcome to celebrate, but please stop blasting CNY music so loudly that I can hear it from my room, at 10pm? Thank you! :)

-A

(PS Pineapple tarts, I'm going to bake the hell out of you *muacks* Then my family and I will eat all of you Muahahahaha)

Very unpopular opinion

[(Anonymous)]

If you want to watch a movie, television show or listen to music...than buy a ticket or dvd, get a licence and television and buy the cd or mp3.

Megaupload,putlocker and all other sites are against many a law in MANY a country including mine--and I don't live in the us.

Stop bitching because your free ride is finally over.

Re: Very unpopular opinion

[(Anonymous)]

Like I'm going to wait half a year to watch a show I'm fannishly interested in because it's not available in the US yet. RIGHT.

I'll gladly buy anything I can get legally, but if pirating is the only way I can watch Sherlock and keep up with my fandom, I will use any means necessary until they actually put me in jail for it.

[(Anonymous)]

I just had a very long discussion with an acquaintance over the SOPA/PIPA bill. They honestly thought the opposition was just over copyright issues, and that it was just "The hackers pouting they couldn't keep stealing." (First of all, hackers will still be able to access their hacking sites even if it's being blackout *unless it's a shut down US site* by entering the direct IP address and bypassing the url and search engine block)

Second of all, no. It's about the hamfisted legislation which threatens free speach. Not that it was the intent of the legislature, (or maybe it was, but let's assume it wasn't) but it has a wide and obvious potential for abuse. For example, people who keep trying to hack LJ can now merely post a bunch of links, report it, and let the government shut down LJ for them. Anyone could do this to any site they didn't like. And even if it was a site not based in the US, with American traffic blocked out, will the site be able to stay open?

So yes, Person I Was Talking To, there is a reason why the human rights organizations and peoples from other countries are very concerned. Because to them, it's even more complicated, because a country they're not even a citizen of is controlling their lives. I'd be freaking pissed/terrified as well.

(As someone said about the Megavideo shut down, there is something wrong when a Dutch citizen in New Zealand can be arrested and have their property confiscated over a US copyright violation. Which I agree with, no matter what my attitude is on the shutdown of Megavideo itself.)

OP

[(Anonymous)]

Agree with the statement that there is something wrong with that scenario, that is, not that the US should even have the power to do that.

[(Anonymous)]

Please, please people, could you stop saying stuff like "We (Americans) are not our government," or generally equalting the US government with SOPA and PIPA? Several reasons.

1) Any citizen of any country anywhere would benefit greatly from knowing the difference between executive and legislative, and how important the seperation of powers is. Honestly, I'm shocked to the bone to see how many people seem to have no clue about this.

2) The White House actually opposes the bill.

3) SOPA was introduced to the House of Representatives by a Lamar Smith, a Republican Representative for Texas.

4) There's an election coming up that, if things go very wrong, might leave the world with POTUS Santorum. Please stop spreading the idea that the Obama administration is responsible for SOPA, because that might just make things worse.

[(Anonymous)]

1) Any citizen of any country anywhere would benefit greatly from knowing the difference between executive and legislative, and how important the seperation of powers is. Honestly, I'm shocked to the bone to see how many people seem to have no clue about this.
Not from the US but you're right, it wouldn't hurt for anybody anywhere to know, so let's see if I remember enough from my school days to get this right: SOPA and PIPA are... legislative propositions, right? They haven't been immediately effective, they still need to be discussed. Did I pass? (honest question here, otherwise I might have to look up a few things and educate myself much better)

Teeth, hey?

[(Anonymous)]

Wisdom tooth currently growing in the back of my mouth.

The process obviously fucking hurts like shit. It's not pushing against my other teeth, or infected, or other marvellous things that happen to some people so I'm lucky there... but yeah, piercing through my gums and everything, it doesn't give me pleasure.

I think it's the last one of the four (I can't remember how many wisdom teeth I already have... why do those things grow several years apart anyway?!), but it's the most painful. Particularly if I eat bread, for some reason? Bread hurts like fuck!
I WANT TO EAT SANDWICHES. LET ME EAT MY SANDWICHES, DAMN IT!

Re: Teeth, hey?

[(Anonymous)]

WISDOM TEETH. GOD I HATE THOSE LITTLE FUCKERS. They kept cutting into the back of my gums long after they finished growing out so I could never close my mouth properly rrrrgh. Looked like a cow chewing cud whenever I ate. >O

Look on the bright side, at least you're not me and probably don't have to get them pulled TWICE. <-- anon had four wisdom teeth pulled. Turned out I had supernumerary teeth on top of those teeth. Lucky me.

[(Anonymous)]

I can't help myself snicker a bit, when I see people publish complimentary asks people send their way "de-anon" on Tumblr, as if to say 'here, look people, I just got a fan mail! Aren't I cool?' It's nice and all, but you could have just answered it in private, you know.

[(Anonymous)]

But what's the point of even being on Tumblr if not to show off your popularity?

Please, all of you awesome writers!!!

[(Anonymous)]

Please, please remember to post a link to your fills in the Filled Prompts post!!

I know I'm missing on some wonderful fics because I can't go through all the pages everyday. So please remember to index your fills!


and : there have been some rants about the sheer number of prompts, but I have to say, there are a *lot* of fills too and it is wonderful :D

Re: Please, all of you awesome writers!!!

[(Anonymous)]

Good thing you reminded me, I forgot about that! Just checked though and I can't do that yet because the pages where I filled two prompts are not up yet but still, thanks for reminding me, anon! :)

[(Anonymous)]

I'm asexual and an introvert, and I'm generally freaking ecstatic about the way my life is and that I live alone, but there days like today where I wish there was someone at home waiting for me, so that they could just hug me for about an hour straight. All I have at home is a snake.

I NEED A HUG, DAMN IT! Just the one, and I think everything would seem better.

[(Anonymous)]

Anon. You're me. You're me!!. *Hum, sorry.*

I know exactly how you feel, and if I could reach through my screen to hug you, I would do it.
Although you may be a little bit freaked out when two arms suddenly spring through your computer and embrace you.

So instead... *Virtual Hug!!!*
Not as effective, but it's all I can give until technology gets a move and allow trans-computer hugs...

Hope you'll feel better soon!

Well, There Goes That Dream...

[(Anonymous)]

The grad schools I applied to are looking over applications now. Except they're not looking at mine, because one of my recommenders hasn't sent it in yet. (I've actually already complained about her on the rant post, but fuck it, she deserves a second mention.)

It's been over a month since they were due. She warned me that they might be "a little late" because she writes recommendations for her favorite students first. It might've been nice to give me a time estimate for "a little late," 'cause I sure as hell wasn't expecting it to be this long.

When I met with her (long after she agreed to this via email), she told me that she says yes to everybody who asks for a recommendation, because she doesn't want to turn anyone down. Um. No. Fuck no. If you don't think you have the time to commit to doing this for someone, don't say you'll do it. Tell them you can't, and let them find someone else. Otherwise, they end up in an awkward position like me - frantically waiting for you to send in your recommendation, and quickly losing hope because I know I'm at the bottom of your list.

And given that I complained about this to you in person (since, y'know, you wouldn't answer any of my emails), I'm not banking on it being a good recommendation either. Lovely. Thanks a bunch.

"Between you and me, why don't people just think?"

[(Anonymous)]

People need to stop fucking thinking SOPA and PIPA are just about piracy. Read more about them and think about the big picture, for fuck's sake, and be fucking scared.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PROTECT_IP_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act

Re: "Between you and me, why don't people just think?"

[(Anonymous)]

The choir is all preached out, guys.

The Moff's at it again

[(Anonymous)]

So, Moffat apparently said this:

"There's no indication in the original stories that he was asexual or gay. He actually says he declines the attention of women because he doesn't want the distraction. What does that tell you about him? Straightforward deduction. He wouldn't be living with a man if he thought men were interesting."

Uhm, interesting?

Re: The Moff's at it again

[(Anonymous)]

It's as if the man has no concept of basic logic and common logical fallacies.

Possible spoilers for Glee I guess

[(Anonymous)]

We've already seen Rachel Berry's parents in the pilot. I remember because there was a joke about it, but also because of how rare it is to see long-term interracial gay relationships on TV. I also thought it was cute her parents were kind of goofy looking. WTF happened?

[(Anonymous)]

I know this is so shallow but

I just don't think that putting an actual picture of yourself as your user icon is a good idea Unless you're crazy beautiful. Yep. That's my opinion.

[(Anonymous)]

Nah, I think it's weird regardless of how you look. It feels like a throwback to MySpace.

[(Anonymous)]

God, please let me be smarter. If I can't, at least let me care less.

a strange addiction

[(Anonymous)]

I think I have an addiction, a strange one: there are certain people that do things or write things in such a way that... almost hypnotises me. I could stay there unmoving and not speaking for hours watching them do something, I could read their words in a blog or a book during my lunch break at 1pm and look back at the time realising it's gone 4pm.

It's... difficult to describe: people who do or write or speak in this certain hypnotising way completely capture my attention, I start to feel this utterly pleasant feeling on top and at the back of my head, as if somebody was softly passing their fingers through my heads and massaging my scalp, it feels fucking amazing and that's why I just want to keep feeling that feeling, to keep watching/listening/reading these particular people that have this effect on me.

And it's an addiction because I find myself constantly looking for people (real or in films, anything works) that have this effect on me, it's a neverending research that is driving me a little crazy (hence a bit of ranting, I suppose).

A few examples: Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas, I keep watching over and over again the scene in which he does his experiments with various xmas things; my best friend, the way she moves her hands when she folds a piece of paper into an origami; my tailor, a 60-something years old man when he cuts pieces of cloth and sews them together.

Does anybody... know the feeling I'm talking about? Or something similar? Have a similar addiction? Advice on how to cope with it? Anything at all?

Re: a strange addiction

[(Anonymous)]

Yep. Sure do. Its zoning. And fuck its lovely.

ambiguity my ass

[saxgu4.livejournal.com]

I HATE MOFFAT!

"But how did Moffat and Gatiss solve the most vexing mystery, Sherlock's sex life? "There's no indication in the original stories that he was asexual or gay. He actually says he declines the attention of women because he doesn't want the distraction. What does that tell you about him? Straightforward deduction. He wouldn't be living with a man if he thought men were interesting."

Moffat is not saying that Sherlock, like Austin Powers, misplaced his mojo. "It's the choice of a monk, not the choice of an asexual. If he was asexual, there would be no tension in that, no fun in that – it's someone who abstains who's interesting. There's no guarantee that he'll stay that way in the end – maybe he marries Mrs Hudson. I don't know!"

In the latest series' first episode, Holmes was sexually discombobulated by a lesbian dominatrix who strips off in order to arouse Sherlock's sexuality from its dogmatic slumbers." - http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2012/jan/20/steven-moffat-sherlock-doctor-who?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038

Looks like Sherlock's sexuality is pretty crystal clear. Moffat denies any interpretations beside a suppressed homosexual detective.

Re: ambiguity my ass

[(Anonymous)]

I just posted this above, but apparently, it bares repeating: