🚀 go-pugleaf

> Another important point is that putting the load on
> the proxy instead of the transit pipe tends to improve throughput for
> all subscribers; i.e., not using the proxy can be selfish and
> counterproductive.

You know, this is a fascinating way of putting this.  I was just reading up on a
concept in capitalism called the "tragedy of the commons" which eerily seems to
apply in this case.  The "tragedy of the commons" refers to the situation where
many small independent entities are using and are reliant on one large but limited
shared resource.  Usually it is used to refer to situations like shared market
fishing populations (like Tuna or mackeral) or shared grazing land,etc, but it
seems equally applicable to shared backbone bandwidth.  Basically, the concept
claims that this situation is always doomed for failure because the small
independent entities will always put their own needs and priorities over the needs
and priorities of the whole, thus putting the entire shared resource at risk (i.e.
over-fishing, over-grazing).  It seems here that as Lawrence says, it may be
better for any individual user to NOT be on a cache server for his/her personal
performance.  But, as John says, it is better for the resource OVERALL if everyone
uses the cache server.

I don't know if really solves anything (and I am far from an expert on the
"tragedy of the commons" concept, any economists out there?), but I thought it was
an interesting parallel.

Randy S.