Microsoft hates Freedom and Democracy!!!

[Asher]

Originally posted by Agathon
But you can't say that they are forced to do it, if you follow the definition of compulsion used by the political right (that's the point of my previous post).

They are forced to do it in that region that they do business in. It's a market, they follow the local laws.

That's how business works.

Would you think it was OK if Microsoft agreed to censor all words relating to homosexuality?

I'm not saying it's okay, I very much disagree with the Chinese laws. If China had laws forcing them to censor all words relating to homosexuality, of course it would be okay for Microsoft to abide by those laws in that region.

No it isn't. That is an interesting issue, but this is about western corporations being mealy-mouthed about human rights when it suits them.

Unreal.

Microsoft doesn't dictate human rights policy in China. The Communist party in China is responsible for that.

China is a rapidly growing market of increasing importance, and Microsoft would shoot itself in the foot by not participating in that market. And to participate in that market, they need to follow the local laws.

The problem is the Communist part of China, not the corporations abiding by the law.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Last Conformist
Hm. Aggie's position seems to be that M$ should keep out of the PRC till the later tidies up. This would help whom, exactly?

Linux.

It's really astonishing that Aggie stoops to the level of using human rights issues to further his vendetta against Microsoft.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kidicious
The law forbids them from selling non-censoring software. It doesn't force them to sell censoring software.

Who would gain by them not selling the software/service?

All such software/service needs to be censored in China.

That's where the "forcing" part comes in. Of course they're not being forced to SELL it there, but they do sell it there because it's a rapidly growing market. And when they sell it there, they are FORCED to censor it.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Asher

Who would gain by them not selling the software/service?

All such software/service needs to be censored in China.

That's where the "forcing" part comes in. Of course they're not being forced to SELL it there, but they do sell it there because it's a rapidly growing market. And when they sell it there, they are FORCED to censor it.

They have the option to sell software in China or not. If they don't no one will die. The only thing that will happen is that their stockholders may not make as much. If that's your definition of being forced to do something then you think people are forced to make profit.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

Your argument is bull****. It's on the same level as the Puritan's "you're free to practice your religion, somewhere else".

You ought to read more carefully, boy.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kidicious
They have the option to sell software in China or not. If they don't no one will die. The only thing that will happen is that their stockholders may not make as much. If that's your definition of being forced to do something then you think people are forced to make profit.

That's not what I'm saying.

No one is forcing them to sell there, except perhaps the shareholders. China is a rapidly growing market of increasing importance, and MS not selling products there would give Linux a huge, huge advantage in every market.

It's in the company's interest to provide product to consumers who want them. That's the goal of a business -- to make money.

Companies must abide by local laws. If the local laws include censorship, that's not the fault of the company for complying.

The fact that the commies here are relentlessly trying to blame an "evil corporation" for simply complying with laws set by the communist government is ridiculously telling of the mindset of people who think a communist government could actually work...

[Hueij]

The fact that the commies here are relentlessly trying to blame an "evil corporation" for simply complying with laws set by the communist government is ridiculously telling of the mindset of people who think a communist government could actually work...

I've read this sentence three times now but it still doesn't make sense to me...

[Asher]

PEBKAC.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Hueij

The fact that the commies here are relentlessly trying to blame an "evil corporation" for simply complying with laws set by the communist government is ridiculously telling of the mindset of people who think a communist government could actually work...

I've read this sentence three times now but it still doesn't make sense to me...

That's because it doesn't really make sense. I'm already tired of this thread, since I'll have to spend ages explaining simple logical distinctions to people who won't understand them anyway.

[Asher]

You're tired of this thread because you can't defend the ridiculous assertion that a company abiding by local law set by communists is evil.

[Agathon]

I already defended it by pointing out that your analysis of compulsion was severely lacking and that it goes counter to that of all people who share your fascist views in any case.

When you repeat the same mistake three times, it gets boring. I come here to enjoy myself, not to waste my time making up for your educational deficiencies.

[Asher]

Now you're calling me fascist.

Oh Aggie...

[Agathon]

I've called you fascist since I started posting here, what's new?

[Hueij]

Originally posted by Asher
PEBKAC.

[Asher]

Apparently nothing.

I still think you're a complete embarassment for UofT, or perhaps the perfect example of the kind of rubbish that passes for teaching Philosophy in today's universities.