Re: and visual library once again

["Björn Persson" <spam-away@nowhere.nil>]

tmoran@acm.org wrote:
>>>    "Public goods" is a technical economics term, not a reference
>>>to GPL or "Free software".
> 
>>I don't care whether it's a technical economics term or a martian
>>politics term. You used it about GPL'd programs.
> 
>    Actually, I didn't use it about GPL'd programs.

You used it to draw a conclusion, like so:

Steve: In 5 to 100 years all programs will be GPL'd.
economists: Only [category B] will pay programmers to produce public 
goods programs.
Tom: So in 5 to 100 years programmers will be employees of [category B]?
(Statements condensed for clarity.)

There's a hidden assumption in that argument, namely that "GPL'd" is a 
subset of "public goods". If GPL'd programs aren't public goods, then 
your conclusion about who will pay programmers is invalid.

> As you said about words in another thread
> 
>>This is what happens when we take words like "buy" (or "steal") that
>>apply to material objects, and try to use them on information such as

The thought has indeed crossed my mind that maybe the term "public 
goods", or the economic theory you referenced, is only relevant to 
material goods.

-- 
Bj�rn Persson                              PGP key A88682FD
                    omb jor ers @sv ge.
                    r o.b n.p son eri nu