Ricky's Ramblings

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March 01, 2000

A Response

I've decided to respond to that guestbook entry I got a while back asking for me to respond to what the person said. I find it odd that said person did not leave his or her name, but oh well.

Here's what it said:

I would be interested in your response to this -- why not post it in your rantings. For a college student, it seems you have a lot of time on your hands to make such silly, ill-thought postings to the www. I was humored by your ranting about Microsoft being such a monopoly and "evil company", yet on the same page you go on and on about how you frequent Wal-Mart so much. Seems like a double-standard to me. Sam Walton's company has done more to become a monopoly and stomp out every small businessman in the towns they have taken over than any company since Carnegie. The inventions and innovations Gates has made have revolutionized our world, while Mr. Walton has done nothing but create a haven for barefoot white trash to buy their toilet paper, Crunch and Mmunch, and haltertops in the same stop. For pete's sake, you wouldn't HAVE a web page if it weren't for Microsoft.

Here's my response:

1. I also frequent Microsoft. I use Win98 and Internet Explorer every day, and use Office on most days. For the most part, they are good products. That doesn't change that company's evilness.


2. I have to disagree with the comment that I wouldn't have a web page without Microsoft. They had nothing to do with the creation of the Internet. Yes, their operating systems are credited with the popularity of PCs, but who's to say we wouldn't all be perfectly happy running Netscape on our Unix systems?


3. While Wal-Mart has run plenty of people out of business, they've done it the old-fashioned way. They offer a great selection of products at better prices than their competitors. They don't break laws like Microsoft.


4. Wal-Mart has legitimate competition, i.e. K-Mart, Target, etc. Microsoft has none.


5. The barefoot white trash comment isn't even close to right. EVERYBODY goes to Wal-Mart at least now and then, and in a college town like here it's even more important.


6. That's all I can think of for now.

And as for me having too much free time to write ramblings, let's see, today I:

• got up early to study for a test


• took a test and went to three other classes


• squeezed in a 10 minute lunch between two of them


• took a nap


• planned, set up for, had, and cleaned up after a worship service


• had choir practice


• cleaned up, mopped, and took the trash out of the lobby


• watched two episodes of That 70s Show


• talked to friends for a while


• cleaned up my room


• played around on the Internet for a while.

So what have YOU done today?