From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!utah-cs!arizona!70:rogerh
Newsgroups: net.followup
Title: Re: Computers \\& Society - (nf)
Article-I.D.: az70.112
Posted: Wed Sep 22 17:33:40 1982
Received: Thu Sep 23 04:56:31 1982
References: pur-ee.558

The problem with the libertarian view (free competition) is that businesses
don't like competition.  They like to make money.  Therefore you need an
arbitrator (read government) to ensure that you get anything like competition
happening.  
As to the central issue, computers and society: I agree with Seymour Papert
that computers can be used two ways: to empower people (a *good thing*) and
to control people (a *bad thing*).  This corrrelates highly with the tools
vs packages approaches.  I use the computer in an improvisational manner,
sticking programs together as the whim arises.  Poor Shmuck, who bought a big
accounting package from Foobar & Son, enters data exactly as the package
demands and then chooses operation "a" or operation "b", or else gets bitten.
The computer increases my freedom, decreases Shmuck's.  Even worse: the 
computer convinces me that I have control over my world.  It tells Shmuck that
the world controls her.
Solutions?  Well, I think the spread of micros is hopeful.  People won't (I
hope) buy something that belittles them.  Now if only there wasn't so much
mediocrity for them to choose from...
		Roger Hayes
		University of Arizona