My ethics professor is gonna hate me

[Deeko]

Most of AT probably would too. I'm writing my term paper for Computer Ethics on computer software copyrights, and why developers have the right to protect their software, and why they should be permitted to protect their source code. I just found out in class discussion on Thursday that my professor is a huge proponent of the open source movement, GNU/Stallman, etc. Baaasically he's gonna hate my paper and everything written in it.

Oh well. I ain't changin my story because he don't like it.

 

[eigen]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Most of AT probably would too. I'm writing my term paper for Computer Ethics on computer software copyrights, and why developers have the right to protect their software, and why they should be permitted to protect their source code. I just found out in class discussion on Thursday that my professor is a huge proponent of the open source movement, GNU/Stallman, etc. Baaasically he's gonna hate my paper and everything written in it.

Oh well. I ain't changin my story because he don't like it.

Thumbs up on having a pair. One time I wrote a paper defending Genocide.So I know what your thinking.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Oh well. I ain't changin my story because he don't like it.

Good.

It's a long story why, but suffice it to say there are two sides to every story, and the creative potential of open source if offset by the economic contributions you can get from closed source.

It's a tricky line to toe.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you want to get a good grade, you might show how both models can coexist, despite MS calling Open Source a "cancer" at one time.

Also look into how some libraries and tools are open source but can still be used to create closed-source commercial products.

It's not an either/or world.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Most of AT probably would too. I'm writing my term paper for Computer Ethics on computer software copyrights, and why developers have the right to protect their software, and why they should be permitted to protect their source code. I just found out in class discussion on Thursday that my professor is a huge proponent of the open source movement, GNU/Stallman, etc. Baaasically he's gonna hate my paper and everything written in it.

Oh well. I ain't changin my story because he don't like it.

When you compile opensource, you're executing COMMUNISM.

- M4H

 

[mzkhadir]

if your professor doesn't have a bias, you are ok.

if he does screw you over, you can bring up how he is a proponent of open source and that is why he failed you

 

[Baked]

So how does it feel to get a big fvcking F?

 

[everman]

I doubt he will fail you for the subject matter. Why don't you talk to him? If you can present a good, intelligent, well written case, you should be fine.

Oh and if he does fail you simply because of subject matter, talk to the dean.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
If you want to get a good grade, you might show how both models can coexist, despite MS calling Open Source a "cancer" at one time.

Also look into how some libraries and tools are open source but can still be used to create closed-source commercial products.

It's not an either/or world.

yea, I'm not arguing that open source shouldn't exist, but rather that companies have the right to do so. Red Hat's $54 million income is described in the paper...although at one point its contrasted to other closed-source software giants' earnings.

Open source is only part of the issue I'm arguing though, the other half is people like Stallman claiming all software should be free and that everyone should be legally allowed to make all the copies they want. Come on....I'm not gonna say I don't own any pirated software, but I certainly would never say its legal or ethical to do so.

 

[drum]

I read the first sentence and decided I better not read the rest as a result of guilt

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

If he fails you because he doesn't agree with you, tell him to go fvck himself.

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: eigen

Originally posted by: Deeko
Most of AT probably would too. I'm writing my term paper for Computer Ethics on computer software copyrights, and why developers have the right to protect their software, and why they should be permitted to protect their source code. I just found out in class discussion on Thursday that my professor is a huge proponent of the open source movement, GNU/Stallman, etc. Baaasically he's gonna hate my paper and everything written in it.

Oh well. I ain't changin my story because he don't like it.

Thumbs up on having a pair. One time I wrote a paper defending Genocide.So I know what your thinking.

Ich stehe für Recht! Wir müssen die Juden entfernen!

 

[eigen]

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: eigen

Originally posted by: Deeko
Most of AT probably would too. I'm writing my term paper for Computer Ethics on computer software copyrights, and why developers have the right to protect their software, and why they should be permitted to protect their source code. I just found out in class discussion on Thursday that my professor is a huge proponent of the open source movement, GNU/Stallman, etc. Baaasically he's gonna hate my paper and everything written in it.

Oh well. I ain't changin my story because he don't like it.

Thumbs up on having a pair. One time I wrote a paper defending Genocide.So I know what your thinking.

Ich stehe für Recht! Wir müssen die Juden entfernen!

It had nothing to do with anti-semitism.The paper dealt with utilitarianism and the moral imperative.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: eigen

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: eigen

Originally posted by: Deeko
Most of AT probably would too. I'm writing my term paper for Computer Ethics on computer software copyrights, and why developers have the right to protect their software, and why they should be permitted to protect their source code. I just found out in class discussion on Thursday that my professor is a huge proponent of the open source movement, GNU/Stallman, etc. Baaasically he's gonna hate my paper and everything written in it.

Oh well. I ain't changin my story because he don't like it.

Thumbs up on having a pair. One time I wrote a paper defending Genocide.So I know what your thinking.

Ich stehe für Recht! Wir müssen die Juden entfernen!

It had nothing to do with anti-semitism.The paper dealt with utilitarianism and the moral imperative.

Can you elaborate on that?

 

[Deeko]

haha, in high school I wrote a paper saying that if you survived, the black death was a GOOD thing in Europe.

I got an A.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

It's not about te subject matter. It's about how you support and back up your statements.

If they dock you on anything else, tell em to go fvck themselves and talk to the dean.

Moderator bias shouldn't be present when grading

 

[eigen]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: eigen

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: eigen

Originally posted by: Deeko
Most of AT probably would too. I'm writing my term paper for Computer Ethics on computer software copyrights, and why developers have the right to protect their software, and why they should be permitted to protect their source code. I just found out in class discussion on Thursday that my professor is a huge proponent of the open source movement, GNU/Stallman, etc. Baaasically he's gonna hate my paper and everything written in it.

Oh well. I ain't changin my story because he don't like it.

Thumbs up on having a pair. One time I wrote a paper defending Genocide.So I know what your thinking.

Ich stehe für Recht! Wir müssen die Juden entfernen!

It had nothing to do with anti-semitism.The paper dealt with utilitarianism and the moral imperative.

Can you elaborate on that?

I took my metric of doing the least harm to the least number, as treating the least number of agents as mean.Then I showed that agressive expansionist policies were justifiable under that.

 

[Deeko]

http://24.193.246.166/paper.doc

unproofread first draft

 

[revnja]

As long as it is a well-written paper and you can support and show examples for what you say, I'd imagine you will be alright. Unless the professor is an ass. I know I was strongly against what my college english teacher believed, and wrote a paper about it. I made my points and supported them, and got an A- on it, so that shows you (for the most part) what they're really looking for.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
It's not about te subject matter. It's about how you support and back up your statements.

If they dock you on anything else, tell em to go fvck themselves and talk to the dean.

Moderator bias shouldn't be present when grading

unlike on AT...

 

[Yossarian]

"Computer software is a hotly contested ethical issue." not a great opening, computer software itself has nothing ethical about it.

"Software developers ethically protect their source code" wtf does that mean?

 

[Deeko]

Meh, the opening paragraph is probably going to be completely redone before I turn it in. That's the easy part - I just threw the current one together so that I could start writing.

The second sentence clearly means that it is ethical for a developer to produce closed-source software.

 

[tami]

you mention that "developers have the right to protect their software," but they also have the right not to protect their software. if you're concerned that your professor will not like your approach, you can write about both sides of the coin, perhaps just focusing slightly on open source and your awareness of its existence and that you think it's an excellent thing (whether or not you agree with that statement) for those who prefer that lifestyle as programmers..

the main points that stick out for me is that open source allows people to access the code, thereby getting faster fixes for software and even teaching others how to become programming (i, for example, learn from looking at code -- once i understand it all).

closed source, however, is a different thing. if someone wants to commit to supporting software in its lifetime, that's his prerogrative and he's entitled to the cash payouts that come with that choice.

 

[Deeko]

tami, later in the paper I discuss open source in more depth, and illustrate that open source is fine and has a place in society, but that closed source does as well. The paper is more arguing for closed source than arguing against open source.

Yea....just got back from class where I turned in the paper. The last five minutes of class, literally right before I turned it in, he went on a rant about how open source is clearly the morally superior form of software, and how he loves his job because it allows him to impart these values on people, and so forth. That's a good sign...

 

[tami]

if you grade sucks when you get the paper back, just tell him that he has converted you. maybe he'll reconsider.