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> This is asymetrical warfare. When I got to that sentence I thought "Really, a war comparison?". I couldn't figure out where you were going to go with the com

by dfc 12y ago

> This is asymetrical warfare. When I got to that sentence I thought "Really, a war comparison?". I couldn't figure out where you were going to go with the comparison but I thought I would play along. After reading your comment a couple of times I still can't figure out what the connection is to asymmetric warfare. Who are the belligerents and the casus belli? How is this different from traditional "telecom warfare"? This is one of the more bizarre reading experiences on HN: I don't think that is the solution. This is asymetrical warfare...The solution to this will be worked out by the free market slowly but surely.

freehunter 12y ago
Really? It's an off-the-cuff remark to describe a fight that's slowly playing out. It's a pretty common phrase.
- dfc 12y ago
  Yes, really. I have never seen the free market be offered as "the solution" to a metaphoric asymmetric conflict. It seems like there is an inherent existential crisis that has prevented people (up until now) from suggesting the free market as a solution to asymmetric warfare. Is it really a free market when such large asymmetries exist between market participants? That being said I find the suggestion that the colloquial definition of "asymmetric warfare" is "a fight that's slowly playing out" to be even stranger. Do you think that is the definition of "asymmetric warfare"? I must be reading different works than you because I cannot remember seeing "asymmetric warfare" used--and most certainly not commonly used--as a placeholder for a fight that is slowly playing out.
  - freehunter 12y ago
    First you were arguing that this should not be called warfare. Now it seems you're arguing something completely different. I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, sorry.
    - dfc 12y ago
      I never argued that this should not be called warfare. I said that I did not think that this was a good example of asymmetric warfare. To which you responded that "asymmetric warfare" was commonly used to describe a "fight that is slowly playing out." This was also confusing to me. I will restate my queries in order to clear up any confusion: 1. How is the CDN/ISP conflict an example of "asymmetric warfare"? 2. Do you think the definition of "asymmetric warfare" is "a fight that is slowly playing out"?

by dfc 12y ago

freehunter 12y ago

Really? It's an off-the-cuff remark to describe a fight that's slowly playing out. It's a pretty common phrase.

dfc 12y ago
Yes, really. I have never seen the free market be offered as "the solution" to a metaphoric asymmetric conflict. It seems like there is an inherent existential crisis that has prevented people (up until now) from suggesting the free market as a solution to asymmetric warfare. Is it really a free market when such large asymmetries exist between market participants? That being said I find the suggestion that the colloquial definition of "asymmetric warfare" is "a fight that's slowly playing out" to be even stranger. Do you think that is the definition of "asymmetric warfare"? I must be reading different works than you because I cannot remember seeing "asymmetric warfare" used--and most certainly not commonly used--as a placeholder for a fight that is slowly playing out.
- freehunter 12y ago
  First you were arguing that this should not be called warfare. Now it seems you're arguing something completely different. I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, sorry.
  - dfc 12y ago
    I never argued that this should not be called warfare. I said that I did not think that this was a good example of asymmetric warfare. To which you responded that "asymmetric warfare" was commonly used to describe a "fight that is slowly playing out." This was also confusing to me. I will restate my queries in order to clear up any confusion: 1. How is the CDN/ISP conflict an example of "asymmetric warfare"? 2. Do you think the definition of "asymmetric warfare" is "a fight that is slowly playing out"?