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A very sad thing. I don't think the early hackers writing GPL code envisioned this turn of events. Most of those Internet companies would not exist if it weren

A very sad thing. I don't think the early hackers writing GPL code envisioned this turn of events. Most of those Internet companies would not exist if it weren't for the free and open source software that they run on. Instead of 'liberating' people and bringing them 'freedom', the free sofware has the undesired effect of creating the Supreme Big Brother. We are "Hacker news" here, we should be very worried about this - the early hacker's visions are being killed by the hour. How can we win back the dream ?

dmihal 11y ago
I'm confused, what does GPL have to do with China's restrictions on the internet?
- codeshaman 11y ago
  Well, it doesn't, but then deep down, it does :). The point I was trying to make is that GPL and free software in general is the manifestation of a deeper idealistic dream - a society in which collaboration and sharing makes people free and everyone wins. Free to make their own choices, to do what they want, free from any form of control. That dream is what created most of the Internet, but now it's being hijacked by people who've contributed nothing... And that is the sad part.
  - tobltobs 11y ago
    Are you talking about the NSA or China?
krapp 11y ago
The only thing free software is intended to liberate people from is closed-source binaries and proprietary code. If governments choose to use GPL code to spy on and oppress their people, that's perfectly within the spirit of free software, as long as they respect the users' freedoms regarding the source code while doing so.
- codeshaman 11y ago
  Stallman's book on my book shelf is called "Free Software, Free Society" and I believe the spirit of GPL goes beyond just software. It's the idea that sharing and collaboration will bring us more freedom - freedom from opressors or owners of any kind, who can control our lives for their benefit. I believe this to be the deeper philosophical implication of free and open source software. It's the dream of a better, freer, smarter society. So I don't think government spying is perfectly in the spirit of free software, it's exactly opposite to it.

dmihal 11y ago

I'm confused, what does GPL have to do with China's restrictions on the internet?

codeshaman 11y ago
Well, it doesn't, but then deep down, it does :). The point I was trying to make is that GPL and free software in general is the manifestation of a deeper idealistic dream - a society in which collaboration and sharing makes people free and everyone wins. Free to make their own choices, to do what they want, free from any form of control. That dream is what created most of the Internet, but now it's being hijacked by people who've contributed nothing... And that is the sad part.
- tobltobs 11y ago
  Are you talking about the NSA or China?

krapp 11y ago

The only thing free software is intended to liberate people from is closed-source binaries and proprietary code. If governments choose to use GPL code to spy on and oppress their people, that's perfectly within the spirit of free software, as long as they respect the users' freedoms regarding the source code while doing so.

codeshaman 11y ago
Stallman's book on my book shelf is called "Free Software, Free Society" and I believe the spirit of GPL goes beyond just software. It's the idea that sharing and collaboration will bring us more freedom - freedom from opressors or owners of any kind, who can control our lives for their benefit. I believe this to be the deeper philosophical implication of free and open source software. It's the dream of a better, freer, smarter society. So I don't think government spying is perfectly in the spirit of free software, it's exactly opposite to it.