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This is a normal post Genuinely good and innovative things can come from Capitalism. We're having this conversation after all.
But like all human endeavors, it's the human beings that can screw things up.
 (I helped save b3ta! JamTallons, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 22:46, Reply)
This is a normal post we're having this conversation because the internet is an open system,
if it had been invented and pushed by the capitalists we'd have to have this conversation through something like Facebook with adverts all over it. There'd be no B3ta.

Big companies have come up with good things, I don't believe for a minute it's the best way of coming up with good things though.
 (I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 22:51, Reply)
This is a normal post Telephones are an open system.
Capitalism built telephones. ?
 (I helped save b3ta! JamTallons, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:00, Reply)
This is a normal post not really,
there are telephone companies that own the lines, switchboards etc. there is no "internet company". There are service providers who allow you to connect from your house but it's not the same thing. It's a completely decentralised system.
 (I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:08, Reply)
This is a normal post I mean the infrastructure.
People can say what they want on the telephone, but they need the wire connecting them to do it. The Internet "arises" from the benefits of Capitalism in other words.
 (I helped save b3ta! JamTallons, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:14, Reply)
This is a normal post yeah you can,
not sure the analogy is very useful though. The whole point of the telephone is so that individuals can talk to each other. A profit-driven service model of the internet would more likely be a bit more one sided, more like television. Think FOX/Sky News. You can't go on there and read your own news story can you.
 (I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:18, Reply)
This is a normal post The only point I'm making is that you need the wire.
For our conversation to happen that means copper cables, fiber-optics, satellites, deep sea cables, routers and so on.
 (I helped save b3ta! JamTallons, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:23, Reply)
This is a normal post you need more than just the wire for the internet,
you need the protocols as well. Thankfully these are not proprietary. Anyone can set up a server in their house and host a web page on it.
 (I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:25, Reply)
This is a normal post Yep.
For telephones to work you need language too.
 (I helped save b3ta! JamTallons, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:26, Reply)
This is a normal post and thank goodness language is not proprietary

(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:28, Reply)
This is a normal post Yep.
I think we're agreed then: you should have more faith in Capitalism ;-).
 (I helped save b3ta! JamTallons, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:31, Reply)
This is a normal post what
non sequitur alert
 (I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:31, Reply)
This is a normal post
since... they built the infrastructure. Ok - never mind :-).
 (I helped save b3ta! JamTallons, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:38, Reply)
This is a normal post the infrastructure was largely developed and built
by governments and academia. The World Wide Web, which is what most people think of when you say "Internet", was invented by researcher Tim Berners-Lee while he was working for CERN, which he made freely available and refused to patent it or profit from it.

That various private interests have since capitalised on it is by the by. The internet as we know it exists despite capitalism, not because of it. They'd love to make it patriarchal but it's too late now.
 (I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Fri 6 Jul 2012, 23:43, Reply)
This is a normal post capitalists built my bed though
and now I'm going to lie in it.
 (I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Sat 7 Jul 2012, 0:01, Reply)
This is a normal post a good idea :-).

(I helped save b3ta! JamTallons, Sat 7 Jul 2012, 0:04, Reply)
This is a normal post
Oh for goodness sake :-) The CABLES! The satellites. All that good stuff. It seems you mean "infrastructure" to be the communication itself.
 (I helped save b3ta! JamTallons, Sat 7 Jul 2012, 0:03, Reply)
This is a normal post yes,
not sure what point you're making there. They were laid by private companies, so what. I just ate a pizza from Pappa John's, it doesn't mean the world has capitalism to thank for pizza.

I'm going to bed.
 (I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Sat 7 Jul 2012, 0:07, Reply)
This is a normal post You have capitalism to thank for giving you THAT pizza to eat.
Goodnight :-).
 (I helped save b3ta! JamTallons, Sat 7 Jul 2012, 0:16, Reply)