XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: YourName@YourISP.com   
      
   J. Clarke wrote:   
   > In article ,   
   > leszek.karlik@gmail.com says...   
   > > On Thu, 16 Jan 2014 22:10:58 +0100, Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)   
   > >  wrote:   
   > >   
   > > [...]   
   > > >    Big difference: I can quite literally sample the book. I can tell how   
   > > > it "tastes". I cannot do that with an online grocery.   
   > >   
   > > You can taste an apple in a supermarket and then leave it half-bitten when   
   > > it turns out you don't like the taste? Around here, eating the goods before   
   > > purchasing them seems to be frowned upon.   
   >   
   > Books are not subject to bruising, rot, insufficient ripening, excessive   
   > ripening, or any of the other things that can go wrong with apples.   
      
      
   True, but books are subject to rough handing, greasy fingerprints from   
   other store browsers, denting, ripping, water damage, etc.   :-(   
      
      
      
      
   > > Now, give me a matter replicator (a 3D printer capable of nanoscale   
   > > manufacturing from any materials) and designs for top-quality food, now   
   > > you're talking.   
   >   
   > Meh, I'm not sure if I'd want to eat food from a matter replicator. Who's   
   > to guarantee that the design is not spiked with some nasty chemicals by   
   > some pranksters or cyberterrorists?   
   >   
   > I can't scrutinize the molecular design of replicator "food", molecule by   
   > molecule. Give me old-fashioned grown food stamped by the FDA (or   
   > equivalent) anytime.   
      
   Any of thf foods in your local shop can also easily be "spiked with   
   some nasty chemicals by some pranksters or cyberterrorists", or simply   
   have a bad processing batch (there was a recall here in New Zealand   
   this week for bottles of fresh cream due to possible E. Coli   
   contanmination at the factory).   
      
   Even growing your own food isn't fail-safe ... who knows what your   
   neighbour's cat or some nasty person does to them while you're alseep   
   (even if you are extremely paranoid and have a glasshouse like Fort   
   Knox, something will can still get in.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)