_wmhc

>If you learn how to use photoshop then you’re unlikely to relearn GIMP.

We currently see something related to this in the Pharmaceutical industry. There are a lot of statisticians/programmers that learn R or python in university, while most large-pharma companies are using SAS. There is a movement within the industry to pivot or try to pivot to R due to the scarcity of SAS programmers or/and the cost of teaching new employees a new programming language.

If SAS would have more accessible trainings/certifications I am sure R would never even be considered.

>sent to gulags

The GULAG was a specific USSR agency and their camps. You can't just call any prison system you personally don't like GULAG.

>realize that personal liberties, sovereignty and privacy are important to the "west"

I think that Snowden showed us that this is not actually true. Things like National Security letters and the PATRIOT act make the US to me, as a European, seem very hypocritical right now.