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A computer parts company offers (what was was) an exclusive service; computer parts.

A blogging platform that heavily reinforces markdown is still a blogging platform.

The example given by the guy who replied to you was a good one. ThinkGeek. It's Sharper Image, but with a science spin. They often overcharge, but they do so because of who they market towards,and how they do so (with their form of propaganda)

I understand why these markets spring up, it's profitable. People WANT to self-identify as a hacker and thus gravitate to services that say they are spun for that 'kind' of person. I just happen to think that it's sleazy to take advantage of the trend lately to self identify as a hacker.




Let me see if I get this right:

You're saying that it's sleazy to sell people (non-hackers who aspire to be hackers) things and services that they want and are willing to pay for?

Is that really what you mean?


No.

To clarify, I think it's sleazy to sell people products and then make ambiguous claims that a person of lesser intelligence may follow as fact.

Example : "See guys!? Major League Gamer Fatal1ty uses such and such hardware. Buy now!"

See how they never said that Fatal1ty is a good gamer BECAUSE he uses x & y hardware? They simply stated he uses it.

It's up to the victim to infer a correlation between game skill and hardware, but the marketer sets them up in a biased manner so as to manipulate what they infer.

THAT is what I have a problem with, and "a tool for [insert sect of people here]" exploits that the same way. "Hey guys, want to be a 'hacker'? Did you know 'hackers' use x & y? Buy now!"

They don't know what services or products they want, they simply read labels. I do, in fact, think it's wrong to exploit the mechanisms behind 'a fool and their money are soon parted.'.




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