4 ms·

Totally agree, he is a man or principles with genuine concern for others, when he speaks, others listen. More of his caliber.

Melk 10y ago
I consider Elon Musk of a similar caliber but it's interesting to see how different both of them are portrayed: Stallman is weird, frustrating, and an Aspie, and Musk is eccentric, ambitious and a legend. (All real quotes from HN). The difference of course is that one is the father of the free software movement and the other is a billionaire.
- RodericDay 10y ago
  Oh man I totally disagree with this. Elon Musk has almost "manifest destiny" ideas about the inherent goodness of America. He talks about the virtues of unfettered capitalism while his lobbyists keep India from playing in American satellite markets. He donated to Marco Rubio as well as to democrat candidates. I don't think Musk is particularly principled. We're just lucky that he thinks rockets and alternative energy are cool.
  - chc 10y ago
    Just because he subscribes to a different ideology doesn't mean he isn't also very principled. I mean, his "manifest destiny" ideas (as you put it) led him to give his competitors open access to Tesla's patents.
    - hrjet 10y ago
      The parent poster gave an example of hypocritical behavior: > He talks about the virtues of unfettered capitalism while his lobbyists keep India from playing in American satellite markets.
  - hammock 10y ago
    Their principles are just different, man.
  - patja 10y ago
    Totally agree. His personal/family life is a shambles which is a real litmus test of character and integrity. He has achieved great financial, business, and technology successes and is a visionary, but let's not confuse that with being a role model or hero to be emulated. Stallman on the other hand gets nothing but respect from me for his personal integrity and values.
  - bitL 10y ago
    Musk has a great backing by a few enlightened persons that try to bring ideas that were floating 40-60 years ago to reality as due to technological advances some of them are now possible or viable and no longer need to reside in sci-fi world only.
- dzhiurgis 10y ago
  One gave world a compiler and a text editor. Another sells self driving electric cars and may even stop global warming.
sanderjd 10y ago
Something that has always rankled me with respect to this view of Stallman as a high-caliber role model is the name calling the original commenter mentioned. Of all the people I look up to and aspire to be more like, not a single one employs that particular childish style of "discourse".
- RubyPinch 10y ago
  I think it'd be a mix of a couple things, it keeps things lighthearted for him, and it allows him to not have to keep typing out the name of something he dislikes very much. He ain't writing strict legal discourse, he's writing out his own feelings in the way he feels most enjoyable. Personally I respect that. For myself: I don't like using words like f*, and I prefer to censor them if I do use them, and I'd rather call someone a goob, instead of an idiot or a moron. My intent isn't to be mean!
- pmyjavec 10y ago
  You don't think you're being a little over-sensitive with respect to the name calling ? Uber to Guber isn't that bad?

Melk 10y ago

I consider Elon Musk of a similar caliber but it's interesting to see how different both of them are portrayed: Stallman is weird, frustrating, and an Aspie, and Musk is eccentric, ambitious and a legend. (All real quotes from HN). The difference of course is that one is the father of the free software movement and the other is a billionaire.

RodericDay 10y ago
Oh man I totally disagree with this. Elon Musk has almost "manifest destiny" ideas about the inherent goodness of America. He talks about the virtues of unfettered capitalism while his lobbyists keep India from playing in American satellite markets. He donated to Marco Rubio as well as to democrat candidates. I don't think Musk is particularly principled. We're just lucky that he thinks rockets and alternative energy are cool.
- chc 10y ago
  Just because he subscribes to a different ideology doesn't mean he isn't also very principled. I mean, his "manifest destiny" ideas (as you put it) led him to give his competitors open access to Tesla's patents.
  - hrjet 10y ago
    The parent poster gave an example of hypocritical behavior: > He talks about the virtues of unfettered capitalism while his lobbyists keep India from playing in American satellite markets.
- hammock 10y ago
  Their principles are just different, man.
- patja 10y ago
  Totally agree. His personal/family life is a shambles which is a real litmus test of character and integrity. He has achieved great financial, business, and technology successes and is a visionary, but let's not confuse that with being a role model or hero to be emulated. Stallman on the other hand gets nothing but respect from me for his personal integrity and values.
- bitL 10y ago
  Musk has a great backing by a few enlightened persons that try to bring ideas that were floating 40-60 years ago to reality as due to technological advances some of them are now possible or viable and no longer need to reside in sci-fi world only.
dzhiurgis 10y ago
One gave world a compiler and a text editor. Another sells self driving electric cars and may even stop global warming.

sanderjd 10y ago

Something that has always rankled me with respect to this view of Stallman as a high-caliber role model is the name calling the original commenter mentioned. Of all the people I look up to and aspire to be more like, not a single one employs that particular childish style of "discourse".

RubyPinch 10y ago
I think it'd be a mix of a couple things, it keeps things lighthearted for him, and it allows him to not have to keep typing out the name of something he dislikes very much. He ain't writing strict legal discourse, he's writing out his own feelings in the way he feels most enjoyable. Personally I respect that. For myself: I don't like using words like f*, and I prefer to censor them if I do use them, and I'd rather call someone a goob, instead of an idiot or a moron. My intent isn't to be mean!
pmyjavec 10y ago
You don't think you're being a little over-sensitive with respect to the name calling ? Uber to Guber isn't that bad?