←back to thread

568 points rntn | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.198s | source
Show context
freedomben ◴[] No.41882500[source]
It's ironic that farmers (traditionally thought of as less technical people, "workers of the earth", etc) and hackers (highly technical nerds writing operating systems and engineering compatibility parts) are so connected by this issue. Some of the farmers I've talked to understand the importance ownership and right to repair better than even many engineers.

That said, I think John Deere is just the asshole willing to weaponize the legal system to enforce their dreams. The real problem is laws that protect IP like the DMCA and the patent system. I'm not saying we should just delete all those, but they are in bad need of reform and enable a tremendous amount of abuse. The abuse is only going to get worse unless we treat the cause(s) rather than just the symptoms.

I'm glad the feds are giving John Deere some attention, but I really hope they are going to fix the lopsided system instead of just try to bully or micro-regulate John Deere into "voluntarily" allowing more repair. If we stopped unleashing the lawyers on people for modifying or interfacing with devices they purchased, it would shift the balance of power more toward the center (whereas currently the power is almost entirely on the side of the companies).

Even if you have no interest in repairing or "tinkering" with your own stuff, you should be on the side of right to repair.

replies(13): >>41882635 #>>41882642 #>>41882728 #>>41882740 #>>41882790 #>>41882959 #>>41883019 #>>41883069 #>>41883182 #>>41883561 #>>41883969 #>>41884071 #>>41886649 #
quickthrowman ◴[] No.41883561[source]
> It's ironic that farmers (traditionally thought of as less technical people

I see you’ve never met a farmer. The exact opposite of what you claim is reality.

Farmers are highly technical and have come up with plenty of ingenious solutions to problems on their farms, any labor saving device they can dream up can save them lots of time and money. Repairing equipment quickly is an important skill to have when something shits out during harvest, the weather isn’t going to wait..

A farmer can work miracles with a welder, hammer, wrench, and pliers since they’re generally put in the middle of nowhere and need to keep equipment operational.

replies(1): >>41895487 #
1. freedomben ◴[] No.41895487[source]
> I see you’ve never met a farmer.

More evidence that people really shouldn't trust their first, shallow reactions to things. You know nothing about me and yet have jumped to an absurdly wrong conclusion, ironically while trying to correct what you think was an incorrect conclusion of mine. For more information, see: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41887807

> The exact opposite of what you claim is reality.

Please read it a little closer. I'm not claiming any such thing. I'm pointing out that it is a popular conception - and it is. That the popular conception is wrong does not mean it isn't a popular conception. That's quite the logic error. And for someone to point out a popular conception does not mean they agree with it, and even if they did, it certainly does not mean they've never met a farmer (lol). This has so many fallacies in it, it's actually funny.