Decentralization

jamesgregory writes "'Geeks make new stuff primarily because it's fun, because it's useful, and because they can. Suits make new stuff primarily because they hope to earn a profit. Yes, that is an oversimplification, and there's overlap between the two types -- there are plenty of profit-seeking geeks and geeky business folks. Still, the distinction is real.'"

Comments

if you don't want to read slashdot anymore...

[SweetAndSourJesus]

there are lots of things to do

• Maybe look at some boobies
• Go for a drive
• Call your mom
• Smoke a bowl
• Make a really amazing sandwich and photograph it
• Make a website for your sandwich pictures
• Take a nice hot bath
• Dread the inevitable monday

Who made you an expert? What is your category?

[Conspire]

Hello Poster, you draw some very clear lines in a subject that is impossible to draw clear lines within. Of the 6,233,821,945 (July 2002 est.) people on this planet, you are saying all those involved with the development of technology are either geeks or capitalists exclusively. I would argue that most (if not all) geeks are in fact capitalists or living in capitalist societies by the capitalist ways, while many capitalists are not geeks but do try to grasp and utilize technology to thier advantage (either capitalist or personal).

There are also many many semi-geek capitalists, people like myself, whose primary function in society is capitalist by description, but whose primary personal interests lie in technology, science, and "geek" things. Yes, I love to play with tech and "create" things just for fun, not only for profit. If the opportunity arises to profit from one of those creations, of course I, being a human living in a capitalist society, would of course look to profit from said creation. Where do you categorize that?

I fail to see your point, or the validity of your points, and any historical societal evidence behind those points. Are you saying that geeks are ANTI-capitalist in nature? Or, are you saying that real capitalists cannot be geeks? The logic is interesting, but I arge that there is no real "distinction" in the classes you draw.