From:	Brett Borger <bxb121@***.EDU>
Subject:	Re: "Free" Software (was: Euro question)
Date:	Fri, 1 May 1998 15:23:43 EST

> >Uh huh. And how many people pirate software, use mp3's, copy
> >videotapes, and otherwise bootleg stuff? Nice theory, but reality
> >seems to be on my side here.
>
> Which reality in particular, 1998, or 205X?

well, 205x, but I'm keeping human nature as basically the same in
both.

> - From everything I've read in the sourcebooks, living as a citizen
> of an extraterritorial would be similar to the experience of living
> under a totalitarian regime. A benevelent one, I'll grant you, but
> still.

I'll agree with that. But Big brother had unlimited resources and a
passive populace. (meta)Humanity is just too rebellious for a mega
to nit-pick all employees personal habits. (Or rather, they will
nitpick, but they can't afford to monitor and enforce everyone.) The
only time the Mega will take the extreme step is when the cost of
doing so (including the hit to reputation, which will affect sales
AND future employees) is when it will save them more money than not
doing so.

-=SwiftOne=-