Too many users abused unlimited Dropbox plans, so they’re getting limits

L4sBot@lemmy.worldmod to Technology@lemmy.world – 288 points –
Too many users abused unlimited Dropbox plans, so they’re getting limits
arstechnica.com

Too many users abused unlimited Dropbox plans, so they’re getting limits::Some people have taken "as much space as you need" too literally.

149

You are viewing a single comment

2 things wrong with that analogy:

  1. Restaurants don't advertise "unlimited condiments".

  2. Condiments aren't the main business of a restaurant.

But if a restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat buffet, there will be people stuffing themselves silly, because that's what they advertised.

Its not a bad analogy because both are services provided by a company. Both are up to the user to determine their usage. Both are services that over consuming of the service makes everyone lose the service. Free condiment's and unlimited data are both do not impose restrictions on customers. But customers should self regulate in both instances. At some point when you're uploading 20 TB you have to stop and wonder when the ride ends just like a normal person would when you're stuffing your purse full of ketchup packets

If the restaurant advertises all-you-can-EAT condiments then it would be within my rights to stuff myself silly on ketchup. But filling my pockets would be against their terms. Similarly, if they advertised "as many ketchup packets as you can take home for $5", they can't cry to me when I bring home their whole supply of ketchup packets.

Similarly, if Dropbox is offering unlimited personal storage, they'd be well within their rights to ban me if I resold it. But using to store 20TB of my own shit is me doing exactly what they advertised.

I wish the world was as utopian as you described. Unfortunately, and I'm sorry to say, that's an extremely naive world view you hold. I hope you won't be taken advantage of by people with less good intentions.