Hacker News Reader

Comment by poet | Hacker News Reader

It's not surprising that words in a public forum are misappropriated, just like it's not surprising that a Mercedes with the keys in the ignition will be stolen. But that doesn't make either act any less illegal or deplorable. The law is clear in this case. Without any agreement to the contrary, the copyright still remains with the author.

View on HN

As a Mercedes it sounds like this:

"There's not much point lamenting about how your Mercedes could be appropriated in ways that you don't like.

If you are worried about that then your only option is to refrain from parking it in public places.

Otherwise the golden rule of the road applies: When it's out on the road then it's out on the road - and there's no taking it back."

The analogy would have to be, "if you are worried about that then your only option is to refrain from parking it in public places with the keys in the ignition."

Then in your proposed extension what is the internet equivalent of taking the keys out of the ignition but still parking in public places?

This entire thread is people taking my analogy and shooting in the face. The point is this: jut because a crime is trivial and likely to happen doesn't mean we shouldn't blame the criminal. Yes, you're an idiot if you leave the keys in the ignition of your expensive car and you're even more of an idiot if you're surprised your car got stolen. But that doesn't make stealing it any less of a crime or the criminal any less responsible.

This would make it a Crime of Opportunity, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_of_opportunity.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com