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"I can't sympathize much with those app developers, since they are making proprietary software. They all deserve to fail. However, that doesn't excuse the way A

by Frondo 10y ago

"I can't sympathize much with those app developers, since they are making proprietary software. They all deserve to fail. However, that doesn't excuse the way Apple treats them." This is one of the first things I read on this page. This kind of uncompromising, unsympathetic view makes me think less that Stallman stands for something valuable, and more that he wants to use his principles to be a dick. I mean, I get it, it's Stallman. He always has a few nuggets of insight, wrapped up in page upon page of pontification. But "they deserve to fail"? The other thing that gets me is how muddled his political views end up being. Like this bit, "Apple is culpable if its products are made by people working a longer workweek than is allowed in the US." Really? They are culpable? Or you think they should be? China's a sovereign nation, it can set its own rules, but that's worth discussing and not just making some blanket assertion. And, for someone who tends to play so pedantic, I'm surprised he's claiming that "the mere practice of referring to service staff as "geniuses" is dishonest already" without actually assessing whether Apple has only hired geniuses for its stores. Last..."iBad"? Where's the eyes-rolling emoticon?

munin 10y ago
> This kind of uncompromising, unsympathetic view makes me think less that Stallman stands for something valuable, and more that he wants to use his principles to be a dick. Stallman is at war, and there are casualties in war. He probably feels that the ends justify the means.
- Frondo 10y ago
  If Stallman's at war, then this attack is, to quote Terry Pratchett, "right down at the bottom end of the scale that things like the Charge of the Light Brigade are at the top of."
Snesker 10y ago
What do you think is a valid excuse for polluting the world with non-free, source-obfuscated software? Do you think hiding what your program does from the user is in that user's interests? Or even a good use of man hours? No need to answer, I know already. I don't even think my comments can be replied to.
jacalata 10y ago
I don't know how he justifies using the US as a yardstick for humane employment practices. Why should Apple be allowed to have employees anywhere work longer than they would be allowed to in France?
sotojuan 10y ago
"iBad", "Swindle", "Out, out damned Spotify!", etc. Forgot what he uses for Netflix.
- adrusi 10y ago
  Pretty sure he doesn't watch any Hollywood films or any mainstream tv shows, since there's no DRM-free legal way to consume them. Edit: The theater I guess, but I can't really imagine Stallman going to see the movies honestly.
  - Thlom 10y ago
    Cinema films are DRM-ed in all ways imaginable.
DSMan195276 10y ago
> China's a sovereign nation, it can set its own rules, but that's worth discussing and not just making some blanket assertion. While I understand what you're getting at, would you feel the same way if they were taking advantage of cheap labor from a dictatorship? China may be a sovereign nation, but how much choice do the citizens have regarding their working conditions? I realize they're not strictly a dictatorship, but at the same time the question still stands. And perhaps more to the point: Ignoring that he just focused on the workweek, if your company is well aware that the working conditions are bad in any sense of the imagination, is that really justifiable just because it is legal? Or do you have a certain amount of responsibility to ensure proper and safe working conditions regardless of what is considered sufficient by the law?
belorn 10y ago
What would your reaction be if the Greenpeace founder said ""I can't sympathize much with those coal miners, since they are helping to ruin the environment. They all deserve to be without a job. However, that doesn't excuse the way the coal mining company treats them." Uncompromising indeed. Maybe a bit unsympathetic to wish that people go unemployed. I doubt however that Greenpeace would described as "less stand for something valuable, more that they wants to use their principles to be a dick".

by Frondo 10y ago

munin 10y ago

> This kind of uncompromising, unsympathetic view makes me think less that Stallman stands for something valuable, and more that he wants to use his principles to be a dick. Stallman is at war, and there are casualties in war. He probably feels that the ends justify the means.

Frondo 10y ago
If Stallman's at war, then this attack is, to quote Terry Pratchett, "right down at the bottom end of the scale that things like the Charge of the Light Brigade are at the top of."

Snesker 10y ago

What do you think is a valid excuse for polluting the world with non-free, source-obfuscated software? Do you think hiding what your program does from the user is in that user's interests? Or even a good use of man hours? No need to answer, I know already. I don't even think my comments can be replied to.

jacalata 10y ago

I don't know how he justifies using the US as a yardstick for humane employment practices. Why should Apple be allowed to have employees anywhere work longer than they would be allowed to in France?

sotojuan 10y ago

"iBad", "Swindle", "Out, out damned Spotify!", etc. Forgot what he uses for Netflix.

adrusi 10y ago
Pretty sure he doesn't watch any Hollywood films or any mainstream tv shows, since there's no DRM-free legal way to consume them. Edit: The theater I guess, but I can't really imagine Stallman going to see the movies honestly.
- Thlom 10y ago
  Cinema films are DRM-ed in all ways imaginable.

DSMan195276 10y ago

> China's a sovereign nation, it can set its own rules, but that's worth discussing and not just making some blanket assertion. While I understand what you're getting at, would you feel the same way if they were taking advantage of cheap labor from a dictatorship? China may be a sovereign nation, but how much choice do the citizens have regarding their working conditions? I realize they're not strictly a dictatorship, but at the same time the question still stands. And perhaps more to the point: Ignoring that he just focused on the workweek, if your company is well aware that the working conditions are bad in any sense of the imagination, is that really justifiable just because it is legal? Or do you have a certain amount of responsibility to ensure proper and safe working conditions regardless of what is considered sufficient by the law?

belorn 10y ago

What would your reaction be if the Greenpeace founder said ""I can't sympathize much with those coal miners, since they are helping to ruin the environment. They all deserve to be without a job. However, that doesn't excuse the way the coal mining company treats them." Uncompromising indeed. Maybe a bit unsympathetic to wish that people go unemployed. I doubt however that Greenpeace would described as "less stand for something valuable, more that they wants to use their principles to be a dick".