Re: David Gerrold - War with the Cthorr

Bryan Derksen wrote:

> Default User wrote:
> > Bryan Derksen wrote:
> > > By all means, choose not to make backups if you don't believe
> > > they're useful. As long as you don't prevent those who do believe
> > > backups are useful from making them we'll get along fine. 
> > 
> > Do what you want.
> 
> Yes, but...
> 
> > > Sort of like how some
> > > people refuse blood transfusions for religions reasons. :)
> > 
> > Not really.   Backups could be a good insurance policy for families
> > and businesses.  Doesn't do you any good (you being dead and all)
> > but a close simulation might be acceptable for them.
> 
> Are you suggesting here that other people would be the ones who'd
> have a say over whether I get backed up and/or restored from backup?

No more so than you buying life insurance. Although I could envision a
scenario where a business could require backup for an im****tant
executive.

> I don't think that's a good idea. I mean, if someone were to give me
> a gift certificate good for one (1) free backup, I'd love that. But I
> don't want my employer being able to make that decision on my behalf.

There are lots of things my employer can decide on my behalf at times,
including "finding alternative employment" that I don't necessarily
like. That's part of why it's a job.

> What if I hated my job and finally found a good opening somewhere
> else and left, and they instantiated a backup without my permission
> to take over my position?

That's a very interesting question. It would, I suppose, depend a lot
on the laws controlling backups. A solution would a contractual
agreement not to do so while you're "alive", meaning an existing copy
is walking about.

It wouldn't surprise me if there were a story already that features
such a thing.





Brian

-- 
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)