Lone Ranger was: Why would AI want to be friendly?

From: Dan Fabulich (dan@darkforge.cc.yale.edu)
Date: Sat Sep 23 2000 - 23:28:57 MDT


[Non-member submission]

Zero Powers wrote:
> >From: "J. R. Molloy" <jr@shasta.com>
> >Since when are Native Americans Socialists or Communists?
>
> Hmmm. They hunted together and shared the spoils with the entire tribe.
> Each one worked according to his own ability, and consumed according to his
> need. What would you call that, capitalism?

No, I'd call it a myth. Hunter families eat whatever they can get,
not what they need. It's true they often share; this is a wise
insurance policy, since hunting is sometimes a matter of luck more
than anything else. Nonetheless, the food goes to the good hunters
and/or the leaders first. Some food is shared, but people who aren't
expected to be able to share back find themselves underfed. When food
is scarce, practically no one shares.

> Learned your American history from Lone Ranger re-runs, eh?

I don't want to respond to this, per se, so much as call attention to
it.

-Dan

       -unless you love someone-
     -nothing else makes any sense-
            e.e. cummings



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