COK@PSUVMA.BITNET (R. W. F. Clark) (03/11/88)
If you follow news.admin, you've probably seen one of the most revolting outpourings of managerial idiocy ever seen on the net. I find it amusing that the majority of the complaints concerning this involve resentment at the very hackers who created the net. These administrative toads seem to believe that the creations of those they employ become irrevocably their property, and are obviously committed to the destruction of any humanity on the net. One assumes they would like the net much better were it absent of the sounds of mirth; their ideal version is populated only by clicking machines, exchanging data in the sterility of utter utilitarianism. They would be glad to remove one of the only truly free forums for discussion from the world permanently, leaving us with a forum approximately as interesting as an IBM catalog. These people worry me to no end. Unsatisfied with ordering the occupations of the wage-slaves they employ, they intend to order their recreations, their life-styles, and the entirety of their existences. I've dealt with companies on occasion. I've never been impressed by the subjection they demand of their 'employees'. The sort of appalling disregard for personal liberty all organizations-- schools, churches, companies, governments--show has led me to vow that I will never seek a career which involves slavery to a corporation. It looks like they're going to win, though. We'll fight against it; but blind, stupid power never loses. Freedom will be driven from the net, and perhaps will develop elsewhere. When the net's been destroyed by bureaucratic imbecility, then I'll leave. Until then, I'll fight. ------- cok%psuvma@psuvax1.psu.edu "Such giddiness of heart and brain UUCP:. . .rutgers!psuvax1! Comes seldom save from rage and pain" psuvma.BITNET!cok S. T. Coleridge, "Christabel"
chip@ateng.UUCP (Chip Salzenberg) (03/17/88)
Keywords: In article <35661COK@PSUVMA> COK@PSUVMA.BITNET (R. W. F. Clark) writes: >These administrative toads seem to believe that the creations of those they >employ become irrevocably their property, and are obviously committed to >the destruction of any humanity on the net. Hmm. >One assumes they would like the net much >better were it absent of the sounds of mirth; This is correct: _one_ assumes that the net administrators would prefer a mirthless net. That _one_ is COK. Assumptions do not necessarily bear any resemblance to the truth. The net is the property of no one person or company. Individual machines are, on the other hand, clearly the property of specific persons or companies. To give private ownership no weight and to consider only the "common good" as preached by a few vocal persons is, roughly, communism. Anarchy (the net's current state) is greatly preferable to communism. It's true that anarchy is not always pleasant. --> Too bad. <-- By the way, the posting I'm responding to has a header line which says "Lines: 665", although the article is [thankfully] much shorter than that. Perhaps COK's low opinion of Usenet sysadmins has been unduly influenced by the neglect exhibited by the administrators of PSUVMA? -- Chip Salzenberg UUCP: "{codas,uunet}!ateng!chip" A T Engineering My employer's opinions are a trade secret. "Anything that works is better than anything that doesn't."