I found it! [at long last]

After many years of talking about this story, I finally found it online. It's very short; wherever one stands on the discussion spectrum, this is a fun story to read.

If they implemented this, I don't know if it'd work or not, but it'd sure be fun to see them try. It's by Jack C. Haldeman II.

https://www.sff.net/people/jack.haldeman/people.htm