Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 01:11:18 -0400 From: drifter@stratos.net To: "Michael Rice" <marice@email.msn.com> Cc: "FreeBSD Questions List" <freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: commercial software Message-ID: <199805150511.BAA16928@stratos.net> In-Reply-To: Your message of "Thu, 14 May 1998 18:14:37 MDT." <018901bd7f96$72f7b420$6e00cbc0@rice-home>
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On Thu, 14 May 1998 18:14:37 MDT, "Michael Rice" <marice@email.msn.com>
wrote:
> I couldn't disagree more.
>
> If I need some software to get a job done, I don't mind paying for it. The
> creator of the software deserves to get paid for providing that software.
> By buying the software (as opposed to pirating it), I am helping another
> human being...I'm helping him earn a living and providing him/her incentive
> to create more and better software.
>
> I do use quite a bit of freeware, thanks to all the gracious authors.
> However, I am a capitalist to the bone. I love to see new and innovative
> products in the commercial world; I also love to see the creators of those
> products rake in as much $$$ as possibile - they deserve it.
>
> What you speak of just reeks of Socialism.
>
> BTW, I _love_ Microsoft products and I think Bill Gates is King.
>
> Michael Rice
You think Michael Rice is part of the "grass-roots" pro-Microsoft
movement :)
Hey Mike: politically, I agree with you. "Freeing yourself
from Businessmen" may appeal to some, but considering the fact that
we wouldn't even be /driving/ if it weren't for evil businessmen taking risks
and selling things (Henry Ford), I happen to think capitalism is a good thing.
Of course, Bill Gates is no Henry Ford. (And don't tell me computers
give you more freedom than automobiles... I happened to be old-fashioned
in this regard.)
I guess the thing that bothers me is that for people on the
outside looking in, this whole anti-Microsoft thing looks pretty similar
to a bunch of anti-smoking zealots going after Tobacco (and I
don't work for Big Tobacco or smoke, in case your wondering. But here in
Ohio, if one state Senator has her way, there will soon be a bunch of
20-year old's "gettin' busted" for smoking /under-aged/. The next thing
you know, the drinking age will be raised to 25... I am ranting, sorry)
Statements like "Bill Gates makes enough money already" aren't
really the issue (It's no one's damn business how much money he makes --
it's a free country.)
I'm not a real technical guy, but I like FreeBSD. I like the
flexibility and stability it offers. And I like the atmosphere of FreeBSD
and UNIX in general, because people here respect your intelligence and
and don't patronize you with self-promoting,
just-a-click-of-the-mouse "Tips and Tricks" for moving icons, or whatever.
Frankly, I think FreeBSD is /better/ than Microsoft.
That's the reason why I subscribe to this mailing list,
not because Ralph Nader (Nadar?) is my best friend. :)
(Boy, am I going to regret writing this in the morning! That's
what you get when a former Political Science major tries to commentate
on the state of the computer industry. Sorry guys :)
-Rob
--
drifter@stratos.nospam.net (remove nospam to send)
"Ever notice that in every commercial about the Internet, advertising
geniuses can't resist having a bunch of kids staring into a monitor, awe-
struck, looking at a whale jumping out of the ocean? Or is it just me?"
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