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His views only seem radical because of the way he presents them. Easily his biggest mistake is naming his movement Free Software instead of something like Softw
by such_a_casual 11y ago
His views only seem radical because of the way he presents them. Easily his biggest mistake is naming his movement Free Software instead of something like Software Liberties or Software Rights, and then refusing to change the name at any point after the realization of this error. Then he says things like, "They're trying to put a cloud inside your head." Which is just laughable. Most of the time he's speaking very generally without citing specific facts to back up his arguments (In the video he mentions that software is malicious, why not mention one of them so everyone knows what he means by that). Which causes anyone who doesn't know what he's talking about to write him off, and the people who do know what he's talking about don't need to hear what he has to say.
In a real debate about these topics, people usually hide behind capitalist ideals to explain the immoral use of software. As opposed to trying to argue that immoral use doesn't exist, or isn't prevelent.
- irq-1 11y agoHere are two of Stallmans' writings addressing "Free" and "Cloud". > Why Open Source misses the point of Free Software > When we call software “free,” we mean that it respects the users' essential freedoms: the freedom to run it, to study and change it, and to redistribute copies with or without changes. This is a matter of freedom, not price, so think of “free speech,” not “free beer.” https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.... > Who does that server really serve? > On the Internet, proprietary software isn't the only way to lose your freedom. Service as a Software Substitute, or SaaSS, is another way to give someone else power over your computing. https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.en.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-s...
- EGreg 11y agoIt is a false dichotomy for Stallman to keep saying the only alternative to the word Free is Open Source. I have written to him and suggested terms such as Liberating Software, which is more accurate. Or at least Freeing Software. But he never even responded.
- such_a_casual 11y agoWhat do any of those things have to do with my thesis? Can you restate the main point of my argument?
- belorn 11y agoThe argument made against "Software Liberties" is that any word that is similar to liberalism is highly associated with the US two-party political system. RMS has repeatedly suggested that the word "liberty" is superior over "free" in nations outside the US where that association doesn't exist.
- such_a_casual 11y agoI'm pretty sure the word "liberties" is used more by the tea party and other right wing movements than by the left. Who is making this argument? Do they have any data to back that up?
- WhatIsDukkha 11y agoI think your thesis is at least worth reading and thinking about in regards to communicating with the ideals of Free Software to people. I'd be very cautious in assuming it was correct. Stallman has tested his thesis about how to communicate his ideals over many decades and has achieved more then we can really fathom or appreciate. Why don't you test your thesis in talking to others and seeing how it works?