[quantummagic]

Capitalism is the reason the Internet exists. Instead of just complaining, why don't you recommend an alternative. One that hasn't starved and murdered millions of people, such as communism. It's childish to denounce an entire system, with no bloody idea at all about what to do instead, except idealistic utopian dreams... like we'll all just get along and prosper, if only capitalism didn't exist.

[defrost]

> why don't you recommend an alternative.

Gee, I dunno, maybe state sponsored research?

  The people who invented the internet came from all over the world. They worked at places as varied as the French government-sponsored computer network Cyclades, England’s National Physical Laboratory, the University of Hawaii and Xerox. But the mothership was the US defense department’s lavishly funded research arm, the Advanced Research Projects Agency (Arpa) – which later changed its name to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) – and its many contractors. Without Arpa, the internet wouldn’t exist.

~ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/15/how-the-i...

[quantummagic]

There may have been worldwide influences, but there is a reason it took hold and flourished in the United States, and other capitalist countries first. It all happened with capitalism in full swing, it was financed and built with the engine of capitalism driving it. It's disingenuous to pretend that capitalism is the problem and what is actually holding things back. It's childish and destructive. God pray we don't actually get to find out what these envious, spiteful people will spawn if they manage to destroy the system that has produced more wealth and prosperity than any other invented by man. They have no plan, or indeed any clue, what will arise out of the ashes.

[alsetmusic]

> but there is a reason it took hold and flourished in the United States

Because we're special. Full stop. I talked like this when I was a teen. "How are you gonna run your computers if you destroy us" (because we were the only people who could make software and computers).

> get to find out what these envious, spiteful people will spawn if they manage to destroy the system that has produced more wealth and prosperity than any other invented by man.

We generated a lot of wealth via slavery. Do you get it? The USA has exploited and HARMED other countries. If you're unaware, research it. Did your clothes become cheap because workers in Indonesia got a fair paywage similar to your loved ones? Or were people paid almost nothing to finance your lifestyle.

Oh, also the countries who hate a bully are envious and spiteful. It has nothing to do with throwing our weight around to eliminate and install autocrats because we love democracy and freedom.

[bitfilped]

No, publicly funded research is the reason the internet exists.

[account42]

The Internet was initially developed for the military and then extended for academic use. Capitalism wasn't needed to create it. And neither does "not the capitalism we have in the west today" equal to "soviet communism" - it's neither a binary distinction nor is it a one dimensional spectrum.

[alsetmusic]

It wouldn't have become the internet of today without capitalism. The government / military certainly didn't finance everything that happened after it was created.

[account42]

I'd much prefer if it hadn't become the Internet of today actually.