[toadstone]

I don't understand this community. I thought you were wolves, but here you are taking the part of the sheep. Instead of being outraged, you should be trying to get your own piece of the data pie. Every single web startup is doing exactly that.

[forensic]

Most computer scientists want to help the world. Including those who believe in the free market.

[Helianthus]

I don't think you understand communities. People acting in a group will act similarly and be derided by you as 'sheep.' It it is the type of thing that motivates group action that determines whether you think group members are 'wolves.'

Wolves move in packs, too.

[toadstone]

It was a predator/prey metaphor, not a individual/group metaphor.

[forensic]

It's out of date. The planet has enough resources for everyone. Humans do not need to prey on our own species.

[toadstone]

Predator/prey is also a metaphor. People aren't actually being eaten. They are voluntarily sharing data that is used to provide them with a service that they want. I'm so depressed that I have to spell everything out.

[forensic]

And in these threads where you call us sheep, we are deciding that the data price is too high for the service rendered.

We have the right to use government to nationalize these programs if they are going to be so deceptive and intrusive.

Facebook falsely advertises their service as free. They don't tell their users that they are collecting unnecessary amounts of data to violate people's privacy, and that this data is payment for the service.