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You know, I agree with you that RMS might not be the most effective communicator and that maybe he should present his arguments differently in order to reach pe

You know, I agree with you that RMS might not be the most effective communicator and that maybe he should present his arguments differently in order to reach people more effectively. What I completely don't understand is how people seem to derive from that that he owes them a certain style of communication before they agree with the content of his arguments, even though they seem to somehow understand the problem, and that the problem affects them just as much as him. No matter how much of a nutjob or asshole or whatever else someone appears to be (or possibly is), that's not a reasonable reason for rejecting their argument once you have understood it, against all odds, especially so when they are arguing for something that is in your interest.

millstone 9y ago
Well, people love the nutjobs, and want to love the assholes. Is the style of communication really RMS's problem? I think the problem is the content itself, not its delivery. RMS seems unable to separate the good arguments from the stupid ones. For example, don't have kids because of overpopulation (good argument), and also don't have kids because parents have to do whatever someone with money tells them to do instead of what's right (breathtakingly stupid argument). The life RMS has chosen to live is inspiring on some level, but has also warped his perspective, and therefore his arguments often miss the mark.