Re: Who owns the Root Name Servers

[Einar Stefferud <Stef at nma.com>]

Well, this argument certainly is an excellent defense for those who
choose to be uncooperative zero-sum players;-)...\Cheers...\Stef

>From your message Fri, 20 Mar 1998 21:49:36 -0800:
}
}At 08:56 PM 3/20/98 -0800, Einar Stefferud wrote:
}>The problem is that too many people have not yet figured out what it
}>means to say that the Intenet is a non-zero-sum game, so they are busy
}>trying to grab the biggest share of benefits, assuming that what thye
}>don't get, someone else will.
}
}Stef, 
}
}there have been many psychology, sociology, etc. studies done on the ways
}people make decisions in various situations.  One of the constants which
}emerges is that there are always some folks who will try to optimize for
}themselves, no matter what the group detriment might be.  For that matter,
}they will even do it when their OWN net benefit is reduced!  (I was in one
}such experiment and actually watched this latter, remarkable phenomenon
}among 2 of the 10 subjects.)
}
}At this point, it is not likely to be realistic to assume that changing
}this can be placed into the critical path of any effort.  While it's fine
}to try to appeal to the common weal, we must not rely on everyone gaining
}the enlightenment necessary to achieve it through idealism.
}
}>So, they spend great effort on beating on other people, rather than
}>being productive and generating more value.  
}>
}>What is the value of a beating?  Either personal or social?
}
}Alas, "beating on" is only one of the techniques used.  Others involve
}distortions of information, and otherwise seeking to heighten one's own
}position at the expense of others.
}
}d/