Hello Bryan, Sunday, October 12, 2003, 11:15:57 AM, you wrote:
BP> On Sunday 12 October 2003 01:53 pm, rikona wrote: >> Given the past history, it might be a good idea to assume the worst, >> at least as a start. BP> As long as you keep in mind that making such assumptions automatically colors BP> any opinions that you form. My bias is showing? :-))) BP> We always need to differentiate our opinions from facts, and BP> especially our biases from what someone should interpret about BP> those facts. Keep in mind that M$ works in deep secrecy. Draconian NDS agreements are standard. As a result, very few actual facts emerge, and these are usually 'after the fact'. In general, I agree it is a nice practice to keep an open mind, but before you do that with M$, you might want to look at the large pile of 'dead bodies' that did that with M$. I'd prefer not to have to say "I guess M$ really DID want to take over the entire net, didn't they" >> BP> MS even dodges the Justice Dept. anti-trust bullet, >> >> Ain't gonna be a bullet, not even another gentle tap on the wrist. >> Nobody is in a better position to snoop/spy then M$, especially with >> the new direction they are going in. We could shut down an entire >> country and its economy in a flash. Makes the DOD drool, I'll bet. :-) >> All this incredible power does not cost the taxpayers a dime. The >> government LOVES it. It would be more likely that they would subsidize >> it than go after it. BP> The anti-trust laws have NOT been rewritten, just not fully enforced in this BP> circumstance. There are laws, and there are laws. When you get into the area of national security, all bets are off. As with the prisoners in Cuba, if you declare them national security hazards, you can invoke an entirely different way of operating. I'm suggesting that M$ software could be viewed, in a way, as a 'weapon'. This would allow DOJ, DOD, etc to enter into incredibly secret agreements with M$, and even give them money for development (as suggested by their lobbyists, of course). Oracle got a lot of $$ from the CIA, for example. You will not have even a HINT that this is happening. In fact, there will likely be a good, misleading cover story. BP> I don't see anything to suggest that it is not still in their BP> interest to maintain the illusion of an open and free market, BP> even while they do their best to keep it as closed as benefits BP> them. I agree. I'm suggesting that the government will HELP them do this, not fight it. We're not likely to see any DOJ action. BP> I personally don't believe that MS is evil personified, Agreed. Just keep a sharp eye on your wallet. :-) He'll pick your pocket. Is the pickpocket evil personified? Probably not, but still be careful. A bit of street smarts is useful for survival too. BP> Every human will try to make things work out best for himself, BP> even if that sometimes is at the expense of others. That is just BP> plain old self-interest and survival instinct. True. It depends on how you go about it. Empire builders often go well beyond just survival. BP> I would not want to argue that someone wanting to make more money BP> is necessarily evil. True. It depends on how you go about it. "Bank robbers succeed in huge robbery." They just wanted to make money too. BP> There are some people that I would classify as evil, and I don't BP> think that Bill and co. can hold a candle to them. As for harm to BP> people and the world in general, there are some who do much more BP> harm than does MS. Just because I can find someone worse does not make them good. BP> That doesn't mean that I would not resist someone trying to force me to use a BP> product that is not in my best interest, just that I don't take it BP> personally. I don't take it personally either. I'm just trying to keep ahead of the game, and cut off the bad guys at the pass. Act before the fact if you see danger coming. Helps survival, as it always has. -- rikona mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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