RE: Not "Satanism;" realism.

["P.A. Petricone" <pap@tiac.net>]

On Friday, January 01, 1999 3:21 PM, 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.
> For most (all that I know), intellectual property is something that
> their employer owns and always will. I accept this 'day laborer'
> notion.
>
> Intellectual property will end up in the hands of those with money.
> 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.
>
> Your idea of us foolishly relinquishing our right to knowledge to
> support
> the entrepreneurial fantasies a few is not acceptable. Our only defense
> against the eventual hoarding of knowledge by those who can afford it
> is something like the GPL.
>
> Mark Hinds
> Software day and night laborer

With all due respect to diversity and hard fought choice as we know it now, 
there are reasons for concern when the likes of giants come into the 
playground with sacks of cash. They are very conspicuous and just may prove 
bad intent. Don't think for a minute that they are going to foster new 
methodology or exploitation of more cost effective hardware that conflicts 
in any meaningful way with the status quo. It could be a double win for 
them, as Brett suggests. Anything new that you do will be of clean room use 
to them and them alone, don't delude yourself too much.

If that is OK with you and all is well in life, so be it. For Brett and 
folks like him, who still have the fire, it is not, on two fronts, of any 
lasting value.

The Wampanoag hereabouts have a phrase;

"Without legend, dreams die. When dreams die, there is no greatness."


Best Holiday wishes,

-pap