logajan@ns.UUCP (John Logajan) (03/18/89)
Thoughts on making money (that new age evil) on the net: Do computer manufacturers make money selling the machines than compose the net? Do modem manufacturers make money selling modems that connect the net? Do phone companies make money selling services that interconnect the net? Do software companies make money selling operating systems that run the net? Money is a medium of exchange. It is what we use to exchange one value for another. As long as the exchange is voluntary, that exchange should remain unmolested by outside observers. They are not party to the exchange and have no rational justification for interfering in that exchange. To rail against one form of voluntary exchange and ignore all the others is the height of ignorance or hypocrisy. The anti-money advocates are merely making symbolic gestures -- gestures that cannot be logical because they are ultimately inconsistent. Consistency can only be obtained by insisting that all hardware/software/services be donated (and financed out of the profits of the company, rather than by "taxing" the customer an additional amount to cover the donation.) Since this will never happen, consistency will never be possible for the anti-money advocates. -- - John M. Logajan @ Network Systems; 7600 Boone Ave; Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 - - ...rutgers!umn-cs!ns!logajan / logajan@ns.network.com / john@logajan.mn.org -
john@frog.UUCP (John Woods) (03/22/89)
In article <1214@ns.UUCP>, logajan@ns.UUCP (John Logajan) writes: > Thoughts on making money (that new age evil) on the net: > Do modem manufacturers make money selling modems that connect the net? Don't tell anyone I told you this, but USENET is actually a conspiracy by the modem manufacturers to continually sell brand new, faster modems to people in order to keep up with the increasing traffic. > > Do phone companies make money selling services that interconnect the net? > Don't tell anyone I told you this, but USENET is actually a conspiracy by the long-distance companies to continually sell long-distance time to people who just have to have the last word in arguments. -- John Woods, Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA, (508) 626-1101 ...!decvax!frog!john, john@frog.UUCP, ...!mit-eddie!jfw, jfw@eddie.mit.edu "He should be put in stocks in Lafeyette Square across from the White House and pelted with dead cats." - George F. Will