What I want is a way to answer the phone like a fax machine. Just press a button and the call gets answered and immediately starts playing that fax machine sound.

I’ll bet that would stop calls. Surely they have something that can tell if they’re calling a fax machine over and over.

But that’s how dogwhistles work: they can hide behind a veil of plausible deniability.

And his refusal in the leadup to the 2020 election to denounce the Proud Boys.

“Stand Back and Stand By” isn’t the kind of thing you say to a group you want nothing at all to do with.

As someone who took the plunge years ago, you just have to accept that some programs will just be unusable. There are likely alternatives, though very few will be ‘drop in’ replacements so to speak. So there will be a learning curve.

It’s the price you pay to have full control of your system. As time goes on, it gets easier.

On one hand, I get it. You’re used to Windows and want to use an environment you’re used to and apps you’re comfortable with.

On the other, you need to be aware that you’re going to be constantly fighting an uphill battle. Microsoft doesn’t care that you don’t want those programs using resources, they’re going to install them because it’s in the best interest of their shareholders. The programs might be able to be removed using third party tools, but then you’re relying on random tools found on the internet to remove bits of your operating system without hurting anything or doing anything malicious.

The data these programs gather is more valuable to Microsoft than the blowback because this is the exact stance people will take: sure it sucks that this is being forced upon me, but it’s still better than leaving. So I’ll either deal with it (99% if users are here) or ill find a random program and cross my fingers it does only what’s on the label.

The only solution I see is to swap to something else, causing Microsoft to lose market share and thereby convincing shareholders not to force this on users.

The choice is yours.

I don’t think anyone is advocating for turning a blind eye to Mozilla. I think the argument being made is that a monoculture for browsers is a concern that can outweigh some blunders Mozilla makes.

I’m old enough to remember what a shit show ActiveX was for web security.

I can’t help but see it as the foot in the door.

I understand that Mozilla needs money, but I can’t make everyone who uses Firefox commit to donating money to keep them from having to do things like this to stay afloat. But them going down this path makes me not want to donate at all.

I never said I was, just that I wanted to support the browser that respects my privacy, and this move is making me reconsider it.

As long as it’s open source someone will be able to find a way to turn it off, either by an addon or by patching and compiling the source code.

IMO, that’s splitting a hair.

For a browser that supposedly respects user privacy, the fact that this is opt-out rather than opt-in really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I’m going to reconsider my monthly recurring donation to Mozilla, especially if they keep this up.