3 ms·
My usual goto about "free" software and "free" service: "Free speech is not the same as free beer."
by rm_-rf_slash 10y ago
My usual goto about "free" software and "free" service:
"Free speech is not the same as free beer."
- mi100hael 10y agoSure, that's a common line. But the fact that such an explanation is necessary at all is a pretty strong indicator that the label "free" is a poor one.
- jonathankoren 10y agoI don't think RMS was being deliberately obtuse, I think he was just trying to be too clever by half, and making stupid puns. Think about it. The same guy that thought, "If we have 'free speech', why not 'free software'?" is the same guy that thought "Not 'copyright', 'copyleft'!", which doesn't even make any sense.
- jonathankoren 10y ago"Oh I get it now. So how much is a copy of GNU Toolchain?" "Oh it's free." "..." "It's free as in beer."
- mi100hael 10y ago"Support home brewing! The beer is free as in speech, not Gmail"