[tde-users] Re: [users] systemd-homed - new thread

Better not to give in to conspiracy-theory thinking here. I believe a simpler proportion is at work. The more money, property or power is involved, the greater the degree of corruption. Who was it that said it? Lord Acton? "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Corruption creeps in by small degrees. It starts with somebody offering front-row seats at some special, exclusive event, or just being given "free money" or other unearned bonuses and perks. In all this technophobic conspiracy thinking, there is a simpler principle at work. People who are in business want to know who are their customers. (It makes more sense in a small business, where we meet in person.) When we move into situations where the people in business never actually meet most of their customers, they must find other ways to get to "know" them. At first, I'm sure, they mean well, and only want to serve the needs and wants of people who buy or use their goods and services; but as the company and customer base grows, and as competition also increases, then comes the need for greater control. And now, we the users are not even really exactly "customers" or "clients", but just use what we get for free; and because it's free, of course, we are taught that we should not complain or make demands, but just be grateful. In the end, we, the customers, users, renters (whatever our situation) become the least important part; in fact, an obstacle to doing business. What the business person would prefer, really, is just to withdraw money directly from our accounts, without any interaction from ourselves. But this is only because doing business in person is becoming a rare occasion any more. Bill