[angersock]

It's not that we think they're stupid.

It's that "common sense" is more a function of good advertising than, you know, what actually makes sense.

It's "common sense" that pedestrians should stay out of streets--except that that was the result of careful lobbying by auto makers in the early 1900s.

It's "common sense" decades ago that cigarettes didn't cause harm to anyone --except that they do.

It's "common sense" that piracy is tantamount to theft--except that copying a file does not deprive the original owner of their information.

"Common sense" is a tired refrain used by people who are either too narrow-minded to actually think through policies or who are shilling for a larger player.

Maybe you should start thinking critically about why things are the way they are and whether or not that's actually necessary--after all, that's just common sense.

[PM_Tech]

It is common sense that pedestrians should stay out of streets. And for many years in the UK the pedestrian had the right of way; right up until a Judge was smart enough to realise it is easier for a pedestrian not to step into high moving traffic than it is for a 2000 kilogram lump of metal hurtling along at 30-40MPH to accomodate such idiots.

So now, the law is balanced again. Pedestrians are given safe crossing points but the roads belong to vehicles.

It was never common sense that cigarettes didn't cause harm. It was a lack of medical research.

It is common sense that piracy is theft. You the deprivation argument is utter bullshit. Otherwise you won't mind if I make copies of all of your house keys; car keys and private documentation. After all; I am not depriving you of the originals and they are just a series of atoms. No biggie.

Seriously; just grow up.

[angersock]

Here, try reading:

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/19962/when-we-lost-...

Roads didn't "belong" to vehicles--in fact, it was generally considered that the driver of the larger vehicle in an accident was at fault, which is common sense.

As for cigarettes, consider the old ads:

http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1848212_17...

As for piracy--look, taking my keys (even to make a copy) requires the temporary loss of access to them, whereas with files it does not. Arguments against copyright infringement cannot hang on stealing, because it is plainly not stealing: instead, you have to construct them as being about the infringement on somebody's right to control access to their works (which is a bit more subtle, and far from settled).

You need to read more and talk less, and maybe you'll learn something. I don't blame you for being brainwashed by the societal norms these days, but if you want to be taken seriously you need to google your way to success.

[PM_Tech]

"You need to Google your way to success"

I suppose that says it all! What a brilliant demonstration of exactly why you should be ignored.

Keep up the good work, you are a fine example of modern reasoning.