On Sat, Oct 13, 2001 at 10:12:38PM -0700, Morlock Elloi wrote:
Maybe the high density living that we are so used to is incompatible with new weapons. Maybe societal structures based on projectile-throwing weaponry are passe. New weapons always changed rules, and it was called progress.
I think that's an interesting argument, but you'll note that the Florida Anthrax case targeted a firm that was hardly in a "high density living" situation. Apparently it was a nondescript suburb. Throughout history people have congregated together, in family groups and small tribes. It strike me as hardly likely that we'll give up that pleasure because of some vague fear of anthrax. (Maybe huge island cities like NYC, however, will see a sudden erosion of residents.) Instead we'll take proper precautions and continue meeting. This is a perfect market opportunity for a "mail opening and detoxification" firm that would be employed by media groups and large, hated computer companies as a contractor. Think food tasters, but different. -Declan