Just Walk Away
by Zube (zube@stat.colostate.edu)
Created:  Oct 22, 2005
Updated:  May 13, 2007   
http://www.stat.colostate.edu/~zube/justwalkaway.txt

Alton Brown is an entertaining guy.  If you've never seen his cooking show
_Good Eats_ on the Food Network, you are missing a treat.  

One of his catchphrases is "Just Walk Away."  It's usually uttered after
a short amount of mixing and the abrupt dropping of a whisk.  

I like the phrase and will now steal it for my own use.

I'm tired of people (usually in the guise of corporations) thinking of
me as a consumer instead of a customer.  I'm supposed to consume what
they offer when they offer it and only in the way they decree.  For
example, if I want to rip a cd to my hard drive, the RIAA will actively 
try to stop me.  They will also continue to extend the length of copyright
so that they can keep selling me the same things over and over, just in
different formats and with DRM (nee copy protection).  Fairness and good 
faith are such *quaint* ideas.

Here is my solution:  Just Walk Away.

To the RIAA, MPAA and every entity that believes they can maximize profit
by treating me like dirt, you know what?  I don't need you.  You sell 
entertainment, not essentials.  If someday you develop a non-rippable cd,
I won't be ripping cds, but I won't be buying them either.  I'll be just
fine with a turntable and scads of old vinyl.  If the congressmen in your
pocket decide to outlaw that, I'll read books or pursue other interests.  
I can adapt much easier and faster than you can.  There is nothing you 
provide that I cannot do without.  

Sure, there are some things I might miss, but I don't negotiate with bullies
and unlike grade school, there are no locks on the doors.

You are powerless over me.  

I don't need you.  

Just Walk Away.