2008/5/15 Jordi Gutiérrez Hermoso <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Power to the users. If they break the laws, that's their problem. We > don't need paternalistic corporations doing the job of law-enforcement > agencies.
Engineering does not work that way. Neither does medicine, nor driver's licenses for that matter. _First_ you learn the trade, then you are permitted to practice it in a public setting. The government won't wait until you kill someone to prevent you from doing something dangerous. For instance, most BMWs are computer-limited to 250 kph. The drivetrain could probably get them close to 300 kph, but the computer limits them. That's great, the engineers can then design a braking system that is good for 250 kph, and tires that are designed for 250 kph. If you reprogram the computer to allow 300 kph, and don't upgrade the tires and braking systems, you are endangering everyone else on the road. Also, you forget about pollution controls, which are also regulated by the government. > Sure, but it's *my* responsibility not to harm others. If by > negligence or stupidity I harm others, then by all means, put me on > trial and remove me from society until I reform. Don't take away > freedom from me just because I might misuse it; I will also mostly use > it properly. If it is the case that most people use power responsibly in your land, then I want to move there. Most places in the world are not blessed with such responsible citizens. > Right, I don't have any details about this. But if I am interacting > with the software, I do believe we have a fundamental right to know > how it's working or to hire anyone knowledgeable enough to do modify > it for us, regardless of their affiliations. No, you don't. Dotan Cohen http://what-is-what.com http://gibberish.co.il א-ב-ג-ד-ה-ו-ז-ח-ט-י-ך-כ-ל-ם-מ-ן-נ-ס-ע-ף-פ-ץ-צ-ק-ר-ש-ת A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text. Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?