🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1gj3r6INNee5@falcon.natinst.com> cummings@natinst.com (Rodney Cummings) writes:
>In article <1992Dec14.184229.22277@mksol.dseg.ti.com> mccall@mksol.dseg.ti.com (fred j mccall 575-3539) writes:
>>Seems obvious, Peter.  The 'tool' central to the crime is the
>>computer.  Simply don't allow him to work with them for a while.  I'm
>>curious as to just how many people really don't 'get' this; that
>>think, as Mike would have us believe, that we're talking about not
>>letting him go to graduate school or something equally silly.  Of
>>course, if he was working on a C.S. degree, he might have a few
>>problems attending for a while, if not programming on computers was
>>part of his probation.
>
>Enforcement of this hypothetical punishment doesn't seem obvious or simple
>to me, so I guess you can count me as one of those who don't 'get' it.
>
>Are you saying that Morris should be prevented from using computers, or
>just programming them?  For example, if he decided to go back to graduate
>school for a P.H.D. in English, should he be forced to use a typewriter
>to do his thesis?  If word processing is acceptable, then should he be
>allowed to buy a personal computer for that task?
>
>I guess what I'm not clear on is your definition of "don't allow him to
>work with them".  This could range anywhere from not allowing him to do
>computer security work to not using the corner ATM machine.

It's worse than this.  What about all those telco switches that route all
our phone calls.  Are we going to bar people from using the phone?(:-)

On a more serious note,  I have a degree in Electical Engineering.  I am
currently doing a Master's degree that requires intensive computer use.
Were I to be working in EE, I would undoubtedly be using computers on a 
regular basis.  I do not believe that I am in any way unique in this 
respect - ie all my skills require the use of computers on a daily, routine
basis.  I am going to presume that RTM is similar in this respect.  Barring
such a person from computer use is tantamount to sentencing someone to
x years of collecting welfare.  A punishment that makes it impossible to
earn an honest living is not reformation of a criminal, but rather an
inducement to further crime.

Scenario:
Suppose a carpenter was convicted of assault.  Should she be barred from
using hammers for x years because a hammer could be misused (as a 
weapon.)?
>-- 
>     Rodney Cummings            cummings@natinst.com
>     National Instruments       Austin, Texas

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