OT: Is Bill Gates the Anti-Christ?

[dmm]

The article referenced does not claim that Gates is the Antichrist. It points out yet another trend in our society (or new technology) that would allow biblical prophecies to come to pass. It wasn't all that long ago that doubters had a great time making fun of biblical prophecy, pointing out how ridiculous it was to think that:
a) anyone could control world finance and commerce to the degree predicted;
b) horrible painful sickness could be spread by flying things with people inside;
c) 1/3 of humanity could be wiped out in a single calamity;
d) people all over the world could watch events in Jerusalem as they occurred;
e) the antichrist could be fatally wounded, yet live (heart transplant?, clone?, AI?, something else?);
f) the "king of the east" could field a million-man army; or
g) the West would trade democratic freedom for safe dictatorship.
I could go on, but you get the point. Regardless of your religious views on the Bible, the prophecies are at least no longer funny.

[dmm]

Regarding the technical side of the discussion:
Gates is again doing proprietary bundling to "make things easier for the end-user" and, oh yes, incidentally kill off the competition and force upgrades. (I read somewhere recently the following very insightful comment: for MS, forcing upgrades is now equivalent to killing off the competition, since at this point MS's main competion is older Versions of MS software.)

I am equivocal about MS: I hate its tactics, but it seems to be one of the few remaining American exporters.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Originally posted by dmm:
The article referenced does not claim that Gates is the Antichrist. It points out yet another trend in our society (or new technology) that would allow biblical prophecies to come to pass. It wasn't all that long ago that doubters had a great time making fun of biblical prophecy, pointing out how ridiculous it was to think that:
a) anyone could control world finance and commerce to the degree predicted;
b) horrible painful sickness could be spread by flying things with people inside;
c) 1/3 of humanity could be wiped out in a single calamity;
d) people all over the world could watch events in Jerusalem as they occurred;
e) the antichrist could be fatally wounded, yet live (heart transplant?, clone?, AI?, something else?);
f) the "king of the east" could field a million-man army; or
g) the West would trade democratic freedom for safe dictatorship.
I could go on, but you get the point. Regardless of your religious views on the Bible, the prophecies are at least no longer funny.

Consider also the possibility of identification bar codes on your hand or forehead...eliminating the need for credit cards...and allowing the government to instantly id you.

[Stone Mill]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
Consider also the possibility of identification bar codes on your hand or forehead...eliminating the need for credit cards...and allowing the government to instantly id you.

At least I'd get through the checkout line quicker. But I'd imagine my forehead would get sore from rubbing against the scanner.

[dmm]

With RFID technology, you only have to get close to the "scanner," which both powers and interrogates the ID chip using radio frequency (RF) waves. This is seeing widespread use for things like inventory control, tracking packages, and road tolls. People in Spain are already having RFID chips implanted under their skin, so they can -- are you ready for this? -- skip the long lines at popular nightclubs. Preventing identity theft is a much more powerful rationale. Imagine the extent of people's voluntary cooperation if it became difficult to transact any business without it.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Regardless of wether you beleive the bible or not, anything that gives the government that degree of control is wrong.

[Raging Deadstar]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
Consider also the possibility of identification bar codes on your hand or forehead...eliminating the need for credit cards...and allowing the government to instantly id you.

Now i certainly don't believe the whole basis of this (the bible) but if this was ever done in anyway I think it's time to say bon voyage from civillisation and become a nomad in the country.

As for those chips... I would never agree with that. If in the end it comes to that then the world better stop spinning and let me off. If as you said if it got to the stage where business was impossible then i guess thats the point we start becoming property instead of people and i certainly wouldn't agree with that.

[ June 24, 2004, 19:22: Message edited by: Raging Deadstar ]