# Why can't you just leave your fucking computer on??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 7, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281 "2003-06-07T14:34:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/1 "2003-06-07T14:34:54Z")
Ok, I’ll admit it…I use a download service. Mostly, I use it to download television shows that I can no longer get, since I dropped my cable subscription. I figure it’s okay, since the shows are broadcast for “free” in the first place. Here’s the problem: for an hour-long show, the filesize is around 450MB. Now, I’m on a 1.5mb DSL connection, so if I get a good connection, with no other shares, I can get this file in about 45 minutes to an hour. Not that bad…unfortunately, I’m invariably initially queued behind 100 other users **WHO ARE ON A FUCKING 56k CONNECTION!** So, consequently, I may wait literally DAYS before my turn comes up in the queue. Then, when it’s down to just 1 or 2 or maybe 3 users ahead of me, **THE FUCKING USER I’M QUEUED WITH DECIDES TO SHUT DOWN!!!** GRRRRRRRRRR… Just leave your fucking computer on, you flaming Nimrod! And don’t get all snotty when I request for my transfer to be started! I share, just like everyone else, so cut ME a little slack, would you! Also, limit the number of users on your bloody connection! If you have a DSL/cable connection, then don’t let 50 users download from you at once! It’s ridiculous for me to get a .9kb download speed if you have a broadband connection, you twit! And if you DO NOT have one, then advertise your ACTUAL SPEED, you pathetic excuse for a jizz-stain! And while I’m at it…YOU! You who are connecting to ME and advertising the DSL or cable connection…if you claim to have that speed connection, then you had **DAMNED WELL BETTER BE DOWNLOADING FROM ME AT SOMETHING FASTER THAN .8kb!!!** You’re holding up all the other broadband users waiting in MY queue, and I only allow 4 users at a time!!! Ok, enough of my rant for now… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/2 "2003-06-07T14:38:51Z")
Cheaters never win. [sub]because, you know, I’ve never used Napster or Kazaa or anything like that. No siree. I pay for everything anybody buying _that_?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Ego\_Mk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Ego\_Mk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ego_Mk2)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/3 "2003-06-07T14:42:22Z")
Just shell out the cost of an extra phone like per month for DSL or a cable modem. It’s worth it. If you think you can’t afford it, drop cable TV. Of course then you’d probably be less likely to d/l old TV shows… ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/4 "2003-06-07T14:45:23Z")
I love it when people respond without reading the actual OP. Literacy rocks! ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/5 "2003-06-07T14:48:04Z")
I dropped cable, not because I coudn’t afford it, but because I was tired of having to shield my children from that inanity being promoted as “entertainment.” Even when television-watching by the young-uns was being supervised, the bleedin’ COMMERCIALS were so bad that I didn’t want them to watch it… Hence, the removal of cable television from our household…but there are still a few worthwhile programs that we would like to enjoy, thus, the downloads… ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/6 "2003-06-07T14:49:30Z")
Oh, yeah…the benefits of not having cable have been interesting…my older kids (9 and 12) are reading MUCH more and their grades improved (marginally, but they did improve). We’ve been w/out cable for about 8 months now… [end of self-hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/7 "2003-06-07T14:51:14Z")
[link to the FAQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=3510383#post3510383) It’s OK to rant on the subject, but let’s not turn this thread into a how-to on downloading TV programs or music. (I’m sure that if that is a dire need for someone they can find another board on the internet that will help in that respect.) ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/8 "2003-06-07T15:13:26Z")
Thanks, Arnold… uhm, I thought I had pretty much stayed with the guidelines in your FAQ link, and I certainly don’t want anyone posting any “how-to’s” here… …or were you just reminding folks not to post that type of info? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/9 "2003-06-07T15:26:16Z")
No Dirk there was nothing wrong with your OP. But if you were _really_ psychic, you would have known that already! ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/10 "2003-06-07T16:07:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DirkGntly \* > **And don’t get all snotty when I request for my transfer to be started! I share, just like everyone else, so cut ME a little slack, would you!** You mean, you want them to start your transfer before the others who have queued before you and waited as long or longer, who may be sharing as much as you? Why should they do that? ---
**Author:** ![Ego\_Mk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Ego\_Mk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ego_Mk2)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/11 "2003-06-07T16:26:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silentgoldfish \* > \*\*I love it when people respond without reading the actual OP. Literacy rocks! \*\* If he’s (she’s?) got 4 people downloading from his computer his d/l speed it cut to 1/5 of 53kbps. So the BEST he can hope for is ~1K/s. .8 is not completely unexpected. Oh, btw, sometimes people need to shutdown and/or reboot their computers. It happens. It’s not their fault you’re using a 56k connection. But I’m not ranting at Dirk here… ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/12 "2003-06-07T16:31:29Z")
You know, it’s possible that the guy was having computer problems or something. Or maybe he was on a laptop–I can’t keep mine on for over about a day. If I do, things get really ugly, and I’m nigh on forced to shut down. If I got the Blue Screen of Death, shut down, and then found myself being assailed by requests the very moment I became available, I’d be cranky, too. You know, aside from the legality issues, this is why I don’t file share; it’s too much of a hassle. ---
**Author:** ![magog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@magog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magog)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/13 "2003-06-07T16:46:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ego\_Mk2 \* > > Oh, btw, sometimes people need to shutdown and/or reboot their computers. It happens. It’s not their fault you’re using a 56k connection. Yeah, **DirkGntly** , I completely agree with Ego\_Mk2. You should upgrade to something like a 1.5mb DSL connection or something like that. If you get a good connection with no other shares, you can download, say a 450MB file in about 45 minutes to an hour. Assuming you don’t get queued up behind other users who haven’t upgraded yet. It rocks. Or so I hear. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/14 "2003-06-07T16:46:58Z")
**Ego\_Mk2** , you _really_ need to read the OP a little better before you dig yourself in any deeper… Hint: The OP does not have a 56k modem. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/15 "2003-06-07T18:08:20Z")
Methinks the bottom line is such: It’s file sharing – Its up-and-upedness is sketchy at best. You plays the game, you takes your chances. I hate getting dropped and requeued too. But if it bugged me that much, I’d go out and buy the CD, or the video tape, as the case may be. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/16 "2003-06-07T18:20:51Z")
Yeah… I agree that **DirkGntly** should definitely get a 1.5mb DSL connection. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/17 "2003-06-07T19:19:33Z")
Actually, since the shows are _this season_ it’s not likely there will be a video out… And I don’t consider sharing TV shows, such as Smallville, which is the show in question, to beany worse than videotaping and sharing the tape…which may or may not have legal implications, but may be covered under “public domain” and “fair use” since it’s a publicly-broadcast show. (But IANAL) ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/18 "2003-06-07T19:26:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DirkGntly \* > \*\*Actually, since the shows are _this season_ it’s not likely there will be a video out… > And I don’t consider sharing TV shows, such as Smallville, which is the show in question, to beany worse than videotaping and sharing the tape…which may or may not have legal implications, but may be covered under “public domain” and “fair use” since it’s a publicly-broadcast show. (But IANAL) \*\* Do you not get the WB without cable? In NYC, that was a broadcast network - we got it even without cable. Of course, here in Richmond, there IS no fucking WB station…so our NBC stations shows _some_ of the WB shows in the middle of the night…which is why I only see Gilmore Girls and Angel an entire week later. My roomie in NYC started FedExing me Angel tapes the day after it aired up there since the season was so good and he wanted to talk about it. And I still have had to miss every episode of Reba this spring…my one guilty-pleasure TV show:(. Ava ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/19 "2003-06-07T19:33:44Z")
No, we live in a river valley a good 70 miles from the nearest WB transmitter - so reception would be spotty, if at all… Also, the point was to get rid of television PROGRAMS, not just cable… I guess I could get someone to tape it for me, but the truth is, getting someone to remember to tape it is a bigger bitch than dealing with the downloads… ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281/20 "2003-06-07T19:43:16Z")
**Revtim,** I missed your post earlier…anyway… it’s customary, on the service I’m on, to request a transfer start in trade with someone else who is trying to d/l from your system - I probably didn’t make it clear in my rant that my problem is with folks who won’t start transfers even though they, too, are waiting for a transfer from me; I offer to start their transfer in exchange for the file I want, and they refuse…soft of “bad form” in this instance. **Angel of the Lord,** Yes, I realize that sometimes folks have computer problems, myself included…it’s just that this has happened to me almost continually for a couple of weeks now and I was frustrated…needed to blow off some steam…and I just wish folks would show the same courtesy that I do…if I have to shut down and it’s something I can control, I generally send a message to the folks in my queue that I’m going to have to reboot and that they can try to queue up again in a few minutes… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-just-leave-your-fucking-computer-on/180281.md?page=2)