>Tresy Kilbourne wrote:
>>
>> You, coaster brake, wrote:
>>
>> >i don't think it worked in your favor.  unless somehow you got a better
>> >version of the software by buying.  why give your money, which you work
>> >for, to a corporation, when you already have the software?  seems pretty
>> >dumb.
>> Reason #1: it's ethical. (Why should a corporation give you a paycheck
>> when they already have your labor?)
>
>because if they don't give you a paycheck, you'll either stop giving
>them your labor or you'll fuck their shit up.  either of which they look
>unfavorably upon.
>
>> Reason #2: there are perks that
>> registered owners get that software pirates don't.
>>
>> I thought this was a list dedicated to the ideas of Noam Chomsky. Has it
>> devolved into a discussion of the ideas of Abbie Hoffman in "Steal This
>> Book"?
>
>you're a snob and an asshole.

WHOA!  Although I tend to agree more closely with Coaster Brake's side of
this argument than Tresy's (with niether side do I agree completely) I think
this was a little uncalled-for.  And I may be an asshole, but I'm not a snob.
And while I'm at it, I will concede that computers are one spin-off of
taxpayer funded R&D that has improved lives but this does not mean it was
not socialism for the rich.  Furthermore, there are plenty examples of
taxpayer funded R&D that have absolutely no practical use, such as chemical
warfare, nuclear weapons etc.  If all we get for the billions we've spent is
the microchip, then I think the system is a little inefficient.
        Larry Libby

  "Open your eyes
   And look within.
   Are you satisfied
   With the life you're livin' ?"
            Bob Marley