Ghostbusters Containment Unit Shutdown: Putts Law in Action

Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage and those who manage what they do not understand.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putt%27s...

In the film the EPA wants to shut down the laser containment unit because it is in violation. The Ghostbusters try to tell them it is a bad idea but they do not listen. When it is shut down all of the ghosts escape into the city and everyone is worse off. When Walter Peck sees the results he blames the Ghostbusters and asks that the cops arrest them.

You can almost see each one of the characters as an analogy for the various characters. Walter Peck, the EPA rep is the lobbyist. The cop is the Judicial System. The electricians are like the ISPs. And the Vankman and Egon are the technology specialists, EFF, and law professors warning of the coming unintended consequences.

• Category

  Education

[albee1000]

IMO, Peck suffers a shameful loss here. Fond as I am of the boys in gray, Peck had every right to investigate their tech and, if deemed necessary, shut them down. He didn't do that, however. Instead, he just stormed in with a policeman, a warrant, his ego, and his beard, and demanded that the experienced Con Ed guy with misgivings simply shut down the power after a cursory glance.

He had his opportunity to sniff out a bomb, yet instead, he set it off.

[nsputnik]

The cautionary parable of our time...

[cirian75]

its edited, not the full version, there's about 20 seconds missing when the red alarm goes off.

[nsputnik]

Yeah, I edit it down to make it as short as possible to include the points I am making in the description.

[dokkles]

Pretty sure this is how the MegaUpload takedown went down.

[nsputnik]

Yes, Peck is the government, Venkman is the users who know how the internet works, and the ghosts are Anons.

[vnyc82]

I'm Walter Peck

[NekoSOM]

Lol, I love I'm not the only person who had to look this up after hearing Sips reference it. Not that I haven't seen Ghostbusters like a million times, but I kept wondering why Sips called him "pencil dick," as I didn't remember anyone ever calling him that. It was "pencil neck" then (combined with Ray and Peter calling him "dickless" later). Thanks for the confusion Sips, you fantastic bastard!

[christopher davey]

god damn it sips

[mine crafter]

Sips. ;)

[bjarki3021]

And Huge bastard.

[BlacKobra100]

Sips XD

[fendergibson2112]

6 people got their asses sued for wrongful prosecution

[Ethan Guysmen]

No YOUR MOTHER

[John Nevins]

Don't Shut it off... I'm Warning you.

[Shawn Trommeshauser]

the funny thing is that there is no violation. Peck is simply being spiteful and wants to damage Venkman's business.