rbanerji@sjuvax.UUCP (R. Banerji) (04/18/84)
So far I havenot seen the following point of view expressed, except once in some anger from Edinburgh. A normal user, if he pulled this joke, would have caused his root to scratch his or her head and take steps to protect the confidential system files. So, in making this joke, a superuser was definitely using his power (and the trust with which the power was given) to pull the joke. Should power be used in jest? Depends, right? Would it be OK if everyubody lost their files for half an hour at 10 am, April 1? But he didnot do that. Right? If the president of the US (after duly informing France), went on national TV and declared that we are now at war with France, it wouldnot be appreciated, right? What if he appered on TV and dissolved the national debt? How much power can be used to what extent in jest is not an easy question to answer. I am asking, should a superuser tramper with a ystem file in jest?