On Tue, 19 Dec 2000 01:16:39 -0500, Samuel W. Heywood wrote:
> The problem with unsafe email clients can be cured simply by legislation
> mandating the standards. They have passed laws prescribing certain safety
> standards for cars, electric appliances, firearms, kerosene heaters, crash
> helmets, baby cribs, child safety seats, and practically everything else
> thought to pose potential harm to consumers. Why not just pass a law
> prohibiting the manufacture and use of unsafe email clients? Do you have
> any thoughts about this?
hrmmm...
Don't even have to think. Thought, observed, reasoned, and
de-ratiionalized that one long, long ago.
NO!
why?
CHOICE
...that's why.
Don't think for one second that manufacturers and designers don't have a
leather-lunged voice in what regulations are passed. Publicly, they
bitch a-mile-a-minute. In the word-of-mouth-type "memos" they chuckle
and gloat. They're the established big boys, and can easily make the
changes, while new, potential competitors (read - NEW CHOICE) are now
looking at an impossible investment.
There are too few ways to do things as it is.
Let's not even *think* about suggesting any more lists of *one* way to
do anything else!
All such regulations DO give ONE and ONLY ONE way for a product to be
safe. Reality differs with that, but given the potential violence
(there's no other correct word here) involved if one persists in doing
things in a manner BETTER (read OTHER) than approved, the ONE AND ONLY
approved way will be followed and consumers and users are the worse off.
The solution is to allow production and dissemination of better
products. Right now, it's not all that hard to do with software
products. Things are made _truly_ better by choices.
This was not a rant.
This was a friendly reminder.
We aren't children, we know the stove is hot. We don't need a paternal
institution to limit our choices. We'll do quite well when those who
wish our patronage are free to attempt to please us as they see fit.
As long as we have a choice.
I let a lot of political type things just float on by on non-political
lists. Not really the proper forum, and all. I say again...
This was not a rant.
This was a friendly reminder that we are capable of making choices for
ourselves.
Should someone should ask in the future about my "thoughts" when "there
ought to be a law" is suggested, THAT will be a rant.
Enjoy your life. At least that part of it that's still yours.
While you still can.
Bob
Starts April 1, 2001
-- Arachne V1.69, NON-COMMERCIAL copy, http://arachne.cz/
