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A comment on As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Public-Key Encryption. Parent comment

Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by chongli on Thursday July 25, 2013 @12:28PM (#6103245)
If you're talking about the media, what did you expect? The mainstream media is just a mouthpiece for the government at this point.
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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by untog on Thursday July 25, 2013 @12:43PM (#6103344)
I know that's a popular thing to say, but the mainstream media broke the story. In what way are they a government mouthpiece?
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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by jessaustin on Thursday July 25, 2013 @02:03PM (#6103882)
In what way...

When they regurgitate the content of a government press release or briefing without challenging both its basic premises and noteworthy claims, which they all do every single day, many times a day, the popular news media perfectly inhabits the role of "government mouthpiece". This includes the many instances of on-the-one-hand-on-the-other press-release ping-pong between the two allegedly opposed narratives provided by our two allegedly opposed political parties.

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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by dhugiaskmak on Thursday July 25, 2013 @02:33PM (#6104077)
The media didn't break anything. Snowden gave them the story, which they have mostly ignored in favor of hit pieces against him as a traitor and a coward.
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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by untog on Thursday July 25, 2013 @04:35PM (#6104799)
Perhaps you need to look up the definition of "breaking a story":

"to be the first to broadcast or distribute the story of an event."[1]

Snowden provided the information, the media absolutely broke the story.

[1] http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/break+a+story

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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by chongli on Thursday July 25, 2013 @01:37PM (#6103691)
You're right, it is a sweeping generalization. It'd be better to say that most of the mainstream media serves as the government mouthpiece. A few key outlets continue to serve the vital role of breaking important stories such as this one.
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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by moens on Thursday July 25, 2013 @01:17PM (#6103553)
Unfortunately I believe @northernmonkey and all OP's are talking about the "average American" and maybe the "average human". After all, in the US anyway, aren't we-the-people the government? That would make the MSM a mouthpiece for... the average American. I believe that is more or less true as sad as it is.

Aware and concerned tech-heads are trying to protect a drunken fool (the public) from a hungry bear (whoever it is that actually runs the intelligence networks). Either one is dangerous enough on its own, trying to save one from the other is like trying to settle a domestic dispute... not sure it can happen.

I don't have an answer, just an analysis.

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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by rayiner on Thursday July 25, 2013 @01:55PM (#6103812)
> Aware and concerned tech-heads are trying to protect a drunken fool (the public) from a hungry bear (whoever it is that actually runs the intelligence networks).

What self-important, self-aggrandizing bullshit.

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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by sillysaurus on Thursday July 25, 2013 @02:12PM (#6103949)
Your comment leaves much to be desired.
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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by rayiner on Thursday July 25, 2013 @02:37PM (#6104112)
And an attitude of comparing the public to drunken fools doesn't?
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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by sillysaurus on Thursday July 25, 2013 @03:15PM (#6104361)
Not the point. Idiots will be idiots. It's better to hold yourself to a higher standard.
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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by rayiner on Thursday July 25, 2013 @03:40PM (#6104527)
There is something to be desired about an attitude that conflates people having different values and priorities with their being "idiots."
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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by sillysaurus on Thursday July 25, 2013 @03:56PM (#6104579)
Sorry, I miscommunicated. I was saying that the person you responded to was being an idiot by calling the general public drunken fools (true or not) and that it's a bad thing to lower to that level of discourse by retaliating in such a content-free manner because you won't change anybody's mind that way. I.e. your position is good, but it's only through expressing ourselves well that we can have an influence on others.

Of course if it was just to feel good about calling out idiocy then it's not necessary to put in much effort countering it.

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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by tptacek on Thursday July 25, 2013 @05:30PM (#6105131)
Just so you both know, from the outside, you both appear to be on the same page on the decorum issues here.
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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by moens on Friday July 26, 2013 @01:29PM (#6109337)
heh... missed this rabbit trail. Forgive me for the offense. s/Drunken fool/uncaringly ignorant/. @all, Thanks for the correction whether harsh or gentle, I don't mind. If its called for, tone is less relevant.
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Re:As Feds Demand the Keys, Preparing for the Death of Publi... by Jgrubb on Thursday July 25, 2013 @12:37PM (#6103308)
Or is it the other way around? I honestly don't know anymore.
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