damian86
Distinguished
[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]The iPhone is not threatening democracy. The fact that iPhone users choose to allow Apple to exert such a control over their lives is a bad sign for the future of American democracy. Basically, if people are willing to let Apple decide which apps they can and can't use, including news, opinion, and politically-based apps, what are they willing to let others choose for them in other aspects of their life?Each and every Apple user is basically making this statement: "I don't see the harm in letting Apple decide what I can and can't run, or that they know exactly where I am at most times". Let's try re-wording this just a bit: "I don't see the harm in letting the government decide what I can and can't do, or that they know exactly where I am at most times". This has completely different implications, but would some of these Apple users (and other individuals) even be able to see the difference? Would you be so happy if a police officer followed you around 24/7. Following you on the highway as you make your way to work. Walking behind you down the hallway to your office, sitting in a chair in your office. Following you to the bathroom. Following you home, sitting in your dining room as you ate dinner, your living room as you watch TV, your bedroom as you sleep, monitoring your every move? Sounds kind of creepy, but also think about this, there's no way anyone is going to rob you, mug you, assault you if you have a cop trailing you 24/7. If you get into an accident on the freeway, that cop will be there immediately to offer first-aid, and will be able to radio directly to dispatch to get emergency crews to the scene. You'd never be safer, and all you have to do is allow some police officer un-limited access to your life, is it worth it? If not, at what point do you draw the line? Would you want the police officer to stay out of your bathroom while you shower? Are you aware of the amount of slip-and-fall accidents that happen every year in the bathroom? Maybe he shouldn't follow you to work, just hope a co-worker doesn't go postal. Now, take this back to the Apple approach. Is the reduced risk of downloading a virus worth the fact that you can't download Firefox or AmazonMP3 or some other competing app to your phone? Is the risk of losing your phone on the bus enough of a concern that Apple can track your daily movements, and sell that information to advertising partners who end up doing who knows what with that information? How much freedom are you willing to give up for some meaningless hand-holding assurance? Look at California and New York. Trans fat "might" be dangerous to your health, but rather than just require that products be clearly labeled if they contain trans fat, they actually BANNED trans fat from foods. Did you really need the government to shut-down Krispy Kreme, or could you have maybe weighed the cost and benefits of eating a glazed donut yourself? "Gee, one donut a week is probably not going to kill me!" FOOL! Thank god the government knows more than you do, even driving past the Krispy Kreme probably gave you a mild heart attack!There is a building trend in this country to lay down and die like a dog rather than stand up for yourself once in a while. It's like the old coach/drill instructor mantra: "When I say jump, you say 'how high?'". This isn't boot camp, if Apple or the government says jump, you say "Why the hell should I?". That's your right as a free citizen.Sure, you as an individual don't have to own an iPhone, but tens of millions of people do. How many of those people also vote, and elect politicians that will decide how WE should live our lives? Do you want someone who is willing to bend over and let Apple have their way with them making important decisions that affect YOUR life? It's easy to say that person is wasting their own money and not harming you in any way, but that same person probably voted to ban trans fat, and happy meal toys, and black cars and incandescent light bulbs. How long before they vote to ban the internet (too much scary stuff out there), ban smoking, drinking, pornography, gambling, any other vices you might enjoy. Maybe they'll ban religions that aren't theirs, maybe one of those is yours. If they have the mentality that there is always a big brother looking out for them, how much of their and your freedoms are they willing to sacrifice to feel safe and warm and snuggly in their trans-fat free Apple-dictated little world?[/citation]
This is how a person's time can be wasted with a simple article.
This is how a person's time can be wasted with a simple article.