Find highlights in kindle6/26/2023 ![]() ![]() It is the fact that, once I buy a (e)-book, I don't want to hear from or interact with the publisher ever again concerning that purchase. It's not the fact that I can opt in or out. There is no reason why Amazon should not be treated equally. In the interests of non-discrimination, I hereby request that those of you with fanboy inclinations, who derive your identity in part or whole by feeling a personal connection to non-human entities that don't give a damn about you except that you spend money, who cheer their successes and mourn their losses, who add your free contributions to their already multi-million dollar marketing and PR budgets, who use ad-hominem and invective against anyone who dislikes "your team", speak up and be heard. Or better yet, who will point out a EULA clause or similar document stating, "we can arbitrarily modify this agreement without notice or ability to opt-out, at any time, to allow ourselves to engage in any practice" and conclude that this completely justifies everything beyond reproach, both legally and morally/ethically? ![]() So, who will it be? Who's going to try convincing us that this is a good and desirable practice, that it's in our interests as customers, that it's not a step in the wrong direction that has a long series of steps, or that there's something wrong with seriously questioning it? ![]() It's what happens whenever there is a story about excessive vendor lock-in, general control-freak practices, or arbitrary and inconsistent actions (like which apps are accepted/rejected for its App Store) by Apple. That's what happens whenever there is a story about alleged or proven malfeasance by Microsoft. I'm wondering who is going to make excuses for Amazon and advocate that we view this as a desirable or at least benign practice. It's a real Amazon product and service with all of the brand recognition that goes with that. The Kindle is quite the exception to that. Most of the items they sell are things you happen to have bought from Amazon but could obtain elsewhere. I know Amazon doesn't have the fanboy base that Microsoft and Apple currently enjoy, but I think that's because they are, for the most part, "just a retailer" reselling goods they did not themselves design or produce. I can't wait to see who comes out of the woodwork to defend Amazon on this one, and what sort of faux reasoning they use to do it. 2.) upload in steal, er, I meant borrow.ahhhrr.
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