[wlindley]

Most shocking of all is how almost every free-software, anti-big-government, anti-big-business, and libertarian advocate swallowed these allegedly "smart" alleged "telephones" -- which are obviously computers that someone else controls and utterly disempower the users -- to the utter disregard of every principle they said they believed.

Don't call it a "computer" (computers are scary), call it a "smart" "telephone." Or call it a "device" as if it were a can opener.

Don't call it a "program" (programmers are geeks), call it an (ugh) "app" [which is just short for "application program" of course]

Never had one of those nefarious handheld treacherous computers, never will, thanks.

[sealeck]

The problem I see with free software advocates is they're basically trying to paddle upstream to a destination that is not particularly desirable. Most people don't care if they can go visit their local water treatment works and propose modifications – they really, really want their water to be drinkable and would prefer some regulation and oversight from the state.