[extropy-chat] Agreement on principles. (was Microsoft)

[KAZ]

----- Original Message ----
From: Eugen Leitl <eugen at leitl.org>
To: ExI chat list <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 7:11:51 AM
Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Agreement on principles. (was Microsoft)


On Thu, May 18, 2006 at 07:42:43AM -0400, Heartland wrote:

> Look, MS Outlook/Express users are completely free to develop their own, 
> alternative set of RFCs, and an alternative Internet, and leave us all in peace. 
> But we built this city of rock'n'roll, and these are our rules.
> Don't like them -- don't play. End of discussion. 

Surely you're using such ridiculous hyperbole consciously, as self-ridicule.
 
It is utterly laughable fallacy to say, in essence, "we did one thing you like, therefore you must accept everything".
 
A majority of the "standards" developed by such bodies has gone by the way-side, for the same reason that central planning can NEVER work better than a free market in the long run.
 
It is always best for the standards-setters to be nothing but suggestors, and for the free individuals of the society to always, in each case subsequently, decide the value of their musings.
 
I shudder to imagine the world where we submitted to each standard the "experts" expounded at us.
 
--
Words of the Sentient:
The government is huge, stupid, greedy and makes nosy, officious and dangerous
intrusions into the smallest corners of life -- this much we can stand. But
the real problem is that government is boring. We could cure or mitigate the
other wills Washington visits on us if we could only bring ourselves to
pay attention to Washington itself.              -- P.J.O'Rourke
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