# DVD: I'm sick of your horseshit technology and pussy specifications. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 18, 2003, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721 "2003-12-18T11:00:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/41 "2003-12-18T20:24:57Z")
Why include insults based on ethnic slurs? What purpose do they serve? It gets tiring to hear small-minded bigots and verbally challenged troglodytes using inate characteristics of minorities as insults. If no one ever objects, the issue will never be dealt with and, hopefully, ended. I didn’t fly off the handle so there is no reason for me to “get a grip”. I’m continually astounded, however, that people of presumably good will and nominal intelligence want to whip out the canard about growing a thick skin every time someone objects to bigoted language. I don’t want to grow a thicker skin. I want the practice stopped. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/42 "2003-12-18T20:37:59Z")
Number of DVDs I own: probably twenty or thirty Number of defective DVDs I have bought: zero Number of defective DVDs I have rented: three or four Number of defective DVDs I have rented that have screwed up my DVD player: none… so far. Number of VHS tapes I own: over 300 Number of defective VHS tapes I own: none. A few have self-destructed over the years. Number of defective VHS tapes I have rented: Dunno. Lost track over the years. Call it “variable X.” Number of defective VHS tapes I have rented that have screwed up my VCR: More than half of the variable X. A few have unspooled inside the damn thing, requiring me to pull the case apart and take the fraggin’ tape out in chunks. A few have been encrusted in spooge of some sort, scragging up the playing heads and requiring the machine be run through a head cleaning cycle. It’s worth noting that these tapes are never dirty on the outside; this would provide some WARNING. One actually came APART while being ejected, requiring me to take the VCR casing apart and pull the tape carriage apart in order to remove the freakin’ tape. Until the day Gene Roddenberry rises from the dead and entertainment technology reaches “Star Trek”-like levels, we are going to have our little problems, Desmo, as each level of technology supersedes the old. Could be worse. Ever try threading up a full reel of any movie on an old-style 16mm film projector? Those things, I think, were engineered specifically to provide no less than fourteen places where major fuckups could occur, and at least three ways to damage the film being run through them… And when I think about how my old View-Master used to eat the little cardboard picture discs I put in them… ---
**Author:** ![MrSarcasticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@MrSarcasticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSarcasticus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/43 "2003-12-18T21:57:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*Why not go to a DVD rental place that makes sure their stuff stays in good condition? \*\* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA That was fucking priceless. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/44 "2003-12-18T23:15:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by r\_k \* > \Nope. Christmases. Plurals don’t take apostrophes. Not even if the word ends with an “s”, or a vowel, or is the name of a fruit or vegetable.\ [Hijack in the thread about deeveedees] 50’s? 60’s? [/hittad] ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/45 "2003-12-18T23:26:57Z")
I own roughly 100 DVDs, none defective. I’ve rented hundreds more, and the few problems I’ve had were solved by wiping off the disc. I’ve also rented hundreds of VHS tapes, many of which were in such poor shape that I couldn’t even imagine what happened to them. > [@](#): > > Here’s a better idea. How bout putting VHS flicks on widescreen so I don’t have to deal with this monkey horseshit ever again? Because it looks like shit. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/46 "2003-12-18T23:54:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Gaspode \* > \*\*[Hijack in the thread about deeveedees] > > 50’s? 60’s? > [/hittad] \*\* It’s actually '50s or ‘60s. The "’" (typing that is really weird) is short for 19. When you type 50’s what you’re really saying is “approximately the year 5019.” ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/47 "2003-12-19T00:40:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > \*\*I’m also curious about this. Why would you include an ethnic slur in a rant about DVD quality? Are your literacy skills so feeble that insulting ethnic minorities is the pinnacle of your abilities? (Not to mention the gender bias of using “pussy” as a derogatory term in the title.) You’ve got more issues than poor DVDs. \*\* I have very stringent ‘pussy specifications’ myself, but I’m always open to taking test samples in consideration of a waiver. I dunna think Mr. S is going to explain what he meant for us. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/48 "2003-12-19T01:41:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Waverly \* > \*\*I have very stringent ‘pussy specifications’ myself, but I’m always open to taking test samples in consideration of a waiver. > > I dunna think Mr. S is going to explain what he meant for us. \*\* Probably because 99% of us are bright enough to realize what he meant. You offenderatti really do need to perform a reality check every now again, you know? ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/49 "2003-12-19T06:48:42Z")
Over 200 owned DVDs. Over 400 through Netflix over the years. I have had the same player since mid-1999. I have a $79 Circuit City DVD player in the bedroom. Number of completely bad DVDs? Two (both from Netflix). Number of screwed up DVDs that were unscrewed by simply cleaning the disc: a couple dozen. Number of porn DVDs with interactive games that would not work on my player: Everything from Vivid. Never had a VHS tape not work. Did have many where I stopped watching because the picture quality was so poor. So, from my perspective this is an amazingly successful technology. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/50 "2003-12-19T06:58:53Z")
heh in the old days I once rented a laser disk. The thing ran like crap and I couldn’t get it to work at all. I took it (well actually my parents took me) back to the store and asked why it wasn’t working. The answer? “Oh my son pulled the disk out of the sleeve and made a jelly sandwhich on it.” D’oh! Just to top it off he wouldn’t refund my money for the jelly encrusted _The Dark Crystal_ ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/51 "2003-12-19T08:47:46Z")
DVD compatibility problems? Never had them. Every DVD I’ve bought or rented works on my old Panasonic ($200-$300 a few years ago) and my new Norcent ($70 from Amazon), though the ones I’ve burned often don’t work on the Panasonic. I have, however, had VHS compatibility problems. My copy of _Who Framed Roger Rabbit?_ simply will not work on one VCR; I put it in and it comes right back out. The tape works fine in other VCRs, and other tapes work fine in that same VCR. I’ve also never had a problem with a rented DVD that I couldn’t solve with a little soap and water. Try that with a video tape! ---
**Author:** ![Reverse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Reverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverse)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/52 "2003-12-19T09:25:14Z")
I’ve had DVD combatipility problems on my computer’s DVD drive. No, wait, that wasn’t the drive’s or the DVD’s fault, it was crappy software which I replaced immediately. Other than that, I haven’t had problems any DVD problems even on my PS2, which is a bit odd seeing how people keep saying how much the PS2’s DVD drive sucks ass. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > \*\*That’s just too weird. > > I didn’t know previously that you just some random teenage asshole. I’ve informed myself now, having read the CafeSoc thread [Anyone going to get an N-Gage?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=3842963#post3842963) \*\* It’s called humour. Sheesh, take my penis out of your ass and lighten up a bit, bud. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/53 "2003-12-19T09:25:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > \*\*I’ve also never had a problem with a rented DVD that I couldn’t solve with a little soap and water. Try that with a video tape! \*\* > [@](#): > > MIKE: Must have gone wrong somewhere. > > VYVYAN: Oh God! > > MIKE: Maybe you shouldn’t have poured all of that washing-up liquid in it. > > VYVYAN: But it says here, Michael look, “Ensure machine is clean, and free from dust”! > > MIKE: Yeah, but it don’t say, “Ensure the machine is full of washing-up liquid”! > > VYVYAN: No, but it doesn’t say, “Ensure the machine _isn’t_ full of washing-up liquid”! > > MIKE: Well, it wouldn’t would it! I mean, it doesn’t say, “Ensure you don’t chop up your video machine with an axe, put all the bits in a plastic bag, and bung 'em down the lavatory”! > > VYVYAN: Doesn’t it? Well maybe that’s what’s going wrong! > > [picks it up as if to start following these new instructions] > > MIKE: [yelling] VYV! Put it down! Put it down! That’s worth 500 pounds! I’m minding it for Harry the Bastard! ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/54 "2003-12-19T10:38:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Probably because 99% of us are bright enough to realize what he meant. You offenderatti really do need to perform a reality check every now again, you know? \*\* Are you suggesting I have a pattern of taking offense on relatively inoffensive comments? I’m open to the possibility; please make a case. You may also want to note that I _asked_ Mr. S what he meant, I haven’t flamed him based on any assumptions. Is asking for clarification typical of the offenderatti? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/55 "2003-12-19T14:39:51Z")
No, Brutus, people need to be called on their offensive behavior more often and perhaps those who still have some spark of civility left will change. I don’t expect that you will be one that changes. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/56 "2003-12-19T21:38:05Z")
Damn, I was hoping this would be a nerdy rant about DVD specifications. For example, according to the [official specs](http://www.pioneer.co.jp/crdl/tech/dvd/1-e.html), all PAL DVD players support audio in MP2, AC3, and PCM formats. NTSC players only officially support AC3 and PCM. What’s up with that shit? Well, anyway, DVDs really are more delicate than even CDs. Why? Recording density. The pits on DVDs are spaced much closer together than those on CDs. That means a smaller scratch can do more damage. Scroll about a third of the way down [this](http://www.pioneer.co.jp/crdl/tech/dvd/2-e.html) page to see a picture of both types of media under an electron microscope. DVD tries to compensate for this by using more error correction than CD. The DVD’s second substrate layer also makes it much hard to scratch away data from the label-side than it is with a CD: > [@](#): > > Finally, 0.6 mm substrates are at a disadvantage when it comes to surface dirt and damage. Since the pickup beam diameter at the disc surface is only one-half that of the diameter for the 1.2 mm substrate, the DVD pickup is twice as sensitive to surface dirt and damage. This disadvantage is compensated for by using powerful error correction schemes. The CD format provides correction for error bursts up to 2.29 mm long, while the DVD format can correct for error bursts as long as 6.0 mm & more than twice as long. And when it comes to scratches, the CD information layer is covered only by protective lacquer and the printed surface, making the information layer quite vulnerable to scratches on the label side. The DVD, on the other hand, is actually composed of two bonded substrates. Since the information layer is protected by a full 0.6 mm substrate, it is much less vulnerable to label-side scratches than a CD. ---
**Author:** ![Ryle\_Dup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Ryle\_Dup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryle_Dup)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/57 "2003-12-19T21:51:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > \*\*No, Brutus, people need to be called on their offensive behavior more often and perhaps those who still have some spark of civility left will change. I don’t expect that you will be one that changes. \*\* This is the pit, the posts are _supposed_ to be offensive, sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/58 "2003-12-19T22:00:28Z")
Being full of vitriol and invective is allowed in the Pit. Neither trait requires the use of offensive racial, sexuality or gender stereotypes or insults. For a primer, check out the legendary [My rage burns with the fire of a million suns.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62082) rant by **lno**. Enteraining, effective and completely non-offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/59 "2003-12-19T22:01:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ryle Dup \* > \*\*This is the pit, the posts are _supposed_ to be offensive, sheesh. \*\* Has a rule been added the _requires_ offensive language? I really have been meaning to take a look at the ATMB forum. I feel like such an idgit. My aplogies. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721/60 "2003-12-19T22:02:30Z")
would ya believe that passed a spell check? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-im-sick-of-your-horseshit-technology-and-pussy-specifications/219721.md?page=4)