Microsoft battles piracy with free software

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People.

You asked:
Why do you hate Linux so much Anton?

Glad, first, that you didn't suggest that I favored Microsoft. I wouldn't mind seeing Microsoft outcompeted to users' benefit.

The main problem with open source is its roots in free software. Pace Mr. Stallman, the intent behind the movement is to have fewer paid jobs in software, and to pay less those who are employed.
There are other trends such as outsourcing and transferring IT to an outside consultant which are probably doing more damage. But why should idealistic people remain persuaded that doing harm to others employed in their industry is benign?

The only counter-argument I've heard is similar to the one about the man beating the horse pulling his carriage. When told to stop, the man replied, "I'm not beating the horse, I'm making the carriage go faster."
Similarly, some people have argued that the jobs lost to open source are the price of progress. Nope, it's the price of the ability to substitute unpaid for paid labor. If all software workers received a fair salary, fewer jobs would be lost.

One novel defense was posted here. In order to obtain cheap software, company employees are being directed to collaborate using open source channels. There hasn't been any volunteer labor in Linux for a long time, by this view, because volunteers aren't trustworthy enough.
I could accept this as a justification for open source, particularly if it's a questionably legal way to get around restraints on anti-competitive behavior. If open source is only good old American know-how applied to breaking the law, then go for it.

But I'm afraid there are idealistic volunteers attacking an endangered species: people who work in jobs similar to their own.
Maybe they can be persuaded or teased out of uncritically believing in open source. If so, if I can save one job by criticizing open source to a volunteer, then I'll feel I've made the world a better place.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 10/28/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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