this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2024
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Did your Roku TV decide to strong arm you into giving up your rights or lose your FULLY FUNCTIONING WORKING TV? Because mine did.

It doesn't matter if you only use it as a dumb panel for an Apple TV, Fire stick, or just to play your gaming console. You either agree or get bent.

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[–] Reygle 17 points 9 months ago (4 children)

My Roku TV's been reset to factory and not allowed on the internet for a few years now. It's a TV. It displays shit that I give it over HDMI. If you desire more than that you're part of the problem. I work in IT and that's why my home has physical locks, a 30 year old thermostat, and cameras I own with recordings on a DVR I own.

[–] sebinspace 69 points 9 months ago (3 children)

In my experience, people that use the phrase “you’re part of the problem” so loosely are often the most miserable jackasses anyone ever allowed into society.

People just want neat things. It’s not wrong to want neat things.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 9 months ago (2 children)

It's not wrong, but it's just terribly short-sighted. You're giving greed-crazed companies total control over a device that you own and nobody else should be able to touch.

Shiny things come at a cost. Sure, it may look convenient and super cool to have all these features, but it's important to understand the trade-offs. And this is just the tip of the iceberg - we don't even know what kinds of malice these companies will think of 5-10 years from now when these machines are even more widespread and probably come with even more invasive anti-user hardware capabilities.

It's not wrong... it's just very very naïve.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Most people don't get that this is even possible until it bites them in the ass like this.

Certainly my own parents wouldn't think to try and find a "dumb" TV in this market or to not connect the damn thing to the internet like it tells you when you power it on. They bought a TV that lets them watch Netflix.

By the same token, I don't except my fucking microwave to suddenly require that I accept a ToS in order to nuke a potato, or to suddenly start showing me ads in increasing amounts a year or more after I bought and paid for it.

Users aren't the problem. Shitty companies and a lack of strong legislation against this (or legislators being for it) are the problem. Nobody should ever be presented with a 50 page ever-changing EULA for a product they've paid for to access common functionality.

They're not a problem. They're not even naive. They're just not savvy on all things about a given technology especially when it comes up aspects of legal arguments on such.

[–] sfgifz -5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

No ones asking you to stick some shiny thing up your ass and walk around to see how it fits. If you don't like these services don't use them, for most of us the convinience of an Internet connected device that let's you stream content published to the Internet is a value.

[–] Bahnd 1 points 9 months ago

The issue is that the market has spoken. People want cool neat things and they want them cheap. Companies were able to lower the price of major devices by including all the always-online stuff as it generated revenue after the initial purchase.

Now everything comes with smart shit wether you want it or not, and for those that dont, the product they wish to have dosent exist or is more expensive. So... the argument that the "naiveity" of the masses is making things worse is valid.

[–] Reygle 0 points 9 months ago

I agree. That was why I originally bought the damned thing. Once I saw what it was doing on my network I decided "nope, that's enough from you" and reset it. I'm not saying people who also bought it and continue to use it as intended are dumb, I'm suggesting the device itself and what it does is evil.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago (2 children)

The problem with not being part of the problem is that, in many cases, it means no longer being able to be part of vast chunks of society. Take it from me - I've been boycotting Big Media and most entertainment platforms for about a decade, and now I genuinely can't have any hobbies, besides of maybe activism, to share something with friends to begin with.

[–] Reygle 1 points 9 months ago

I'm sorry that you feel that way. I've got hobbies that may not interest you, but I feel un-hindered by being off the big platforms. Different generation maybe.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

same except i haven't felt there's a problem. get better friends.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

Yeah about that, I never really had any friends, and now it's increasingly difficult to make any if you don't watch movies or listen to music or follow sports or play the more popular video games. There's preciously little to talk about if you don't engage in popular culture out of ethical concerns.

[–] olafurp 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

If that's the case, why not just go for a commercial display TV (like McD). They run virtually forever and you get them for very low prices.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Happen to have any examples? The last time I looked into this (around 5 years ago) everything that existed in this category was substantially lower quality and substantially more expensive.

[–] Reygle 1 points 9 months ago

Sure! I didn't know when I bought it that I'd come to this conclusion, but I learned over time. Been about 4 years or so since I bought it.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Interesting take... If we desire to use the full advertised features of a product we own we are part of the problem.

I suggest some self love and an open mind to learn and adapt. It's okay though not everyone is capable of this.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

maybe try being less of a condescending ass

[–] Reygle -1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Huh. I don't actually think I said any of that. Sorry I made you feel that way.

I take it back- I guess I did.