5 ms·

>open source is not about politics This is a quite naive point of view that even very smart people hold. Open source software makes and breaks whole industries

• mason240 11y ago
  You don't think it's a bit silly to say that building a product or tool is the same thing as engaging in government?
  • vdaniuk 11y ago
    Ah, but politics isn't limited to governmental affairs, it is everywhere: communities, technical committees and standard groups. Also some projects contribute more change to the structure of the society than most governments. I would say that linux and *bsds had a much more pronounced impact on global affairs than most countries governments.
    • mason240 11y ago
      Ah, but now you've made the term "politics" meaningless, as what I had for breakfast falls under your new definition that encompasses everything.
      • snerbles 11y ago
        How is your breakfast meaningless? Did it contain meat, or genetically modified organisms? Was it grown with water in a drought-stricken area, or from a subsidized or non-unionized farm? Have you considered its carbon footprint? Someone, somewhere, has opinions on that breakfast of yours...and some of those folks have the power to enact those opinions. If it somehow involves policy, power and status - no matter how petty - there are politics attached. See in particular definitions 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5: https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/politics https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_en...
      • vdaniuk 11y ago
        If members of your breakfast group have various preferences and you are negotiating contents, place and price of breakfast then yes, sure it's politics :)