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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!psuvax!burdvax!sjuvax!rbanerji
From: rbanerji@sjuvax.UUCP (R. Banerji)
Newsgroups: net.general
Subject: USSR once more
Message-ID: <269@sjuvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Apr-84 14:59:57 EST
Article-I.D.: sjuvax.269
Posted: Wed Apr 18 14:59:57 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Apr-84 02:00:16 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Saint Josephs Univ. Phila., Pa.
Lines: 21

So far I havenot seen the following point of view expressed, except once
in some anger from Edinburgh. 

A normal user, if he pulled this joke, would have caused his root to
scratch his or her head and take steps to protect the confidential
system files. So, in making this joke, a superuser was definitely using 
his power (and the trust with which the power was given) to pull the
joke.

Should power be used in jest? Depends, right? Would it be OK if everyubody
lost their files for half an hour at 10 am, April 1? But he didnot do that. 
Right? If the president of the US (after duly informing France), went on 
national TV and declared that we are now at war with France, it wouldnot
be appreciated, right? What if he appered on TV and dissolved the national
debt?

How much power can be used to what extent in jest is not an easy question
to answer. I am asking, should a superuser tramper with a ystem file in
jest?