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From: throopw@xyzzy.UUCP (Wayne A. Throop)
Newsgroups: news.admin
Subject: Re: Berkeley news
Message-ID: <281@xyzzy.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 28-Sep-87 14:43:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: xyzzy.281
Posted: Mon Sep 28 14:43:20 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 29-Sep-87 07:09:04 EDT
References: <5170@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Organization: Data General, RTP NC.
Lines: 19

> era1987@violet.berkeley.edu
>  Certainly if software can degenerate
> all by itslf, it could self-repair also.

Actually, it isn't certain at all, because this implication is false.
However, false as the implication is, it *is* true that software can
degenerate "all by itself", and it can also "self-repair".

As Eric pointed out, unchanged software can exhibit changed behavior
because of environmental changes.  I am noting in addition that this
changed behavior includes both the loss of function, and the gaining of
function.

What *is* certain is that the fact that netnews software under Eric's
control cannot function as Mark wishes it could does not imply malice on
Eric's part, nor incompetence.

                                Wayne
-- 
Wayne Throop      <the-known-world>!mcnc!rti!xyzzy!throopw