The Freedom Bit

Computers speak in a string of 1s and 0s. We call each one of these 1s and 0s a “bit.”

The digital world is incredibly simple: everything is either true (1) or false (0). Ever try to fast-forward in a DVD and had a message that says “operation not permitted” come up? That’s because that section of the disk has a bit that tells the player to not allow you to skip that section. Deny track skip = 1.

The people in power — big media companies, many governments, maybe even your boss — are trying to trade our freedom away so they can make more money. They use many tactics for this: they keep us afraid, they threaten us, they ridicule our interests as insignificant.

They lie to us, as if giving up our freedom and wasting our time could possibly make our lives better.

Those who want more control are busy setting bits that tell us what not to do. Broadcasters are trying to set a bit to make it impossible to fast-forward through commercials with your TIVO. They’ve even said that they should be able to set a bit to tell your TIVO not to record a show…and make a law telling your TIVO it has to respect that bit.

We suggest setting your own bit. We call it the “freedom bit”.

When your freedom bit is set, that means that you refuse to indulge those who would restrict your freedom for their profit and gain.

New versions of Photoshop require “product activation”, so if you upgrade your computer, you have to waste your time to call Adobe and beg them to let you run the software that you paid them $650 (US) of your own money. When you’re asked to do that, just tell them “Sorry, operation not permitted.”

When you’re told that you have to sign a two-year contract in order to use your cell phone, make sure that it’s a good deal for you. If it doesn’t seem like it’s worth it to be stuck with one company for that long, just say “operation not permitted.”

Show my ID or give out my address for a cash transaction? Sorry, operation not permitted. My freedom bit is set.

Come into work on Christmas? Is it really worth the money? Is public health on the line? No? Sorry, operation not permitted.

When you buy something, should you have the right to use it? If you bring a DVD home and find out you can’t fast forward or copy it to your iPod, what do you do? Do you have the same problem when you download the movie? Which choice is better for you?

Sony decided to put a computer virus on some music CDs that would stop you from copying your songs, that you paid for, to your iPod. Are you going to keep giving them your money?

Is your freedom bit set?

-Daniel