Re: Not "Satanism;" realism.

[Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org>]

At 04:39 PM 1/1/99 -0500, Mark Hinds wrote:
 
>Brett Glass wrote:
>
>> Cygnus is a group that has, since its inception, accepted the notion
>> that programmers should be day laborers rather than creators of
>> intellectual capital. They're willing to run on the consulting
>> "treadmill." Most programmers, however, dream of being more
>> entrepreneurial.
>> 
>> --Brett
>
>Most dream of this? Possibly, but dream only. The people I know
>in software, myself included, expect only to work and be paid for it.

I guess I have higher aspirations, then. So do most of the programmers
with whom I associate.

>For most (all that I know), intellectual property is something that
>their employer owns and always will. I accept this 'day laborer'
>notion.

That's a sad view. It relegates programmers to the role of menial
laborers rather than that of creators. I should HOPE that a creative,
inventive person would want to be much more. I honestly feel sorry
for you if your world view is really so hopeless.

>Intellectual property will end up in the hands of those with money.

Not so. Intellectual property is one of the few areas in which
the little guy is on a par with the big guy. In fact, the framers
of the Constitution set things up that way. That's why, if I write 
a book, even the biggest and most powerful publishers will 
respect my copyright on that work. 

>I personally do no like or accept this. This does not make me a
>communist.
>I simply have drawn a line beyond which capitalism must not go.

Unless an individual can create something of value, capitalism
cannot go ANYWHERE.

>Your idea of us foolishly relinquishing our right to knowledge 

No one is suggesting that anyone "relinquish one's right to
knowledge." I am, in fact, suggesting that you prevent others
from depriving you of the opportunity to benefit from your
knowledge.

>to support the entrepreneurial fantasies a few is not acceptable. 

Sorry, but there are a lot more than a "few" of us who would like
to be (or are) entrepreneurs. That's the wonderful thing about
America: small entrepreneurs actually have a chance. That you have
set your sights too low should not encumber the rest of us.

>Our only defense
>against the eventual hoarding of knowedge by those who can afford it
>is something like the GPL.

This is one of the most patently false assertions of those who
support the GPL. No one can "hoard" something that someone else has 
released to the world. One can only keep one's own unique
contributions to oneself. And that is everyone's right.

--Brett