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A comment on Copyright enforcement and the Internet: we just haven't tried hard enough?. Parent comment

Re:Copyright enforcement and the Internet: we just haven't t... by sophacles on Wednesday February 15, 2012 @09:20PM (#3597088)
You can argue that the usage of that term might be prejudicial, but calling it incorrect is at odds with the enlightened linguistic descriptivism we're all so enamoured of. :)

I get what you are saying, but this is a bit hypocritical. The very act of arguing and pushing for new terms, and trying to clarify language is in fact OK and even encouraged, even if one is a descriptivist. Even the most passionate "let language do what it will" person will agree that at some point you can't have every word collapsing into every idea.

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Re:Copyright enforcement and the Internet: we just haven't t... by repsilat on Wednesday February 15, 2012 @11:59PM (#3597448)
I think I agree, for the most part. I have no problem with people arguing that copyright shouldn't be called theft, but I do have a problem with people arguing that copyright can't be called theft.

Perhaps the distinction is finer than the subject deserves. If I'm honest I think I prefer the "should not" argument to the "may not" one because the latter begs for shallow, deductive arguments from definitions instead of admitting a more thoughtful discussion.

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