Wikipedia Moves To Delete the Free Speech Flag 258
decora writes "After a version of the PS3 Free Speech Flag (from the Yale Law & Tech blog) was deleted from Wikipedia, for being a copyright violation, discussion turned to the original Free Speech Flag, from the HD DVD / AACS encryption key controversy. The result is that this flag too (currently in use on six different wikipedias) has now been nominated for deletion."
For all you non-Americans . . (Score:5, Interesting)
This controversy is a metaphor of the beautiful paradox that is the USA.
We have a flag for free speech, yet the flag is legally unavailable unless a contract with the owner of the flag is secured.
Is this a joke? (Score:3, Interesting)
This can't be for serious. They're deleting an image that represents free speech because it violates copyright law?
Am I missing something or is this really as stupid as it sounds?
This is on par with that whole debacle of 1984 getting remotely recalled from kindle's.
Re:Is this a joke? (Score:5, Interesting)
Am I missing something or is this really as stupid as it sounds?
I'm afraid it really is this stupid.
Wikipedia has become more of a bureaucracy than an "open" encyclopedia. [citation needed]
Re:5 fucking color stripes in a square. (Score:5, Interesting)
"This is where we are down to, with this copyright/intellectual property shit. i mean, now arrangements of colors are being owned/dominated. "
Arrangements of the 7 existing (western) musical notes are much worse.
Re:Is this a joke? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:5 fucking color stripes in a square. (Score:4, Interesting)
The deletionist griefers at wikipedia enjoy filling their empty lives by destroying others work. Thats why its gone, because you cared, and they wanted the rush of destroying something you wanted. If you expressed deep desire for a table of American Morse Code letters or perhaps semaphone signals, they would delete them. Everything else is rationalization and story telling. On both sides.
Re:5 fucking color stripes in a square. (Score:1, Interesting)
It is inevitable that all organizations become corrupt, as they attract people desiring Status or Power. Wikipedia did that as people sought status by become "moderators", and now it's an unfriendly place for contributors, due to these persons acting dictatorial (or bureaucratic - almost as bad).
Re:5 fucking color stripes in a square. (Score:2, Interesting)
Thats why its gone, because you cared, and they wanted the rush of destroying something you wanted. If you expressed deep desire for a table of American Morse Code letters or perhaps semaphone signals, they would delete them. Everything else is rationalization and story telling. On both sides.
I'd like to officially express my deep desire for the deletionistas to live long and healthy lives. With any luck, they'll get right to work figuring out how to die in a fire.
more exciting version: (Score:2, Interesting)
Alfred Pennyworth: A long time ago, I was in Burma, my friends and I were working for the local government. They were trying to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders by bribing them with precious stones. But their caravans were being raided in a forest north of Rangoon by a bandit. So we went looking for the stones. But in six months, we never found anyone who traded with him. One day I saw a child playing with a ruby the size of a tangerine. The bandit had been throwing them away.
Bruce Wayne: Then why steal them?
Alfred Pennyworth: Because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.