5 ms·

For lack of a better term, Stallman is a zealot. For that I can respect and admire him even if his stance isn't always practical. I can look up to his hard line

For lack of a better term, Stallman is a zealot. For that I can respect and admire him even if his stance isn't always practical. I can look up to his hard line mentality even if I understand why I (and many others) can't follow the same path. He is to open source what monks are to buddhism (ironically both the good parts and some of the bad). With that in mind his lessons are the golden path that many of us should aspire to even if we cannot attain it. When ever I have to confront Stallman I am always left with the same dismal feeling, he's right, he might be an ass(1) but he is still a person(2). 1. https://kottke.org/11/10/richard-stallmans-rider https://kottke.org/11/10/richard-stallmans-rider Yea he's saying please but its still outrageous this article was chosen because it makes the brown M&M's comparison and that apparently had a secondary purpose. There is no secondary purpose for asking for a Parrot, regardless of how politely or how it is caveated. 2. This (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pube5Aynsls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pube5Aynsls ) is what I go back and watch every time I go through this (difficult) process. It is funny (unexpected) that a man as large as my self can be so nimble... guts, self-awareness, gusto... IDNK what kinds of traits would possess him to do such a thing but it is just fun to watch. The fact he does it with the lap top just makes me giggle.

zokier 8y ago
It's fine for rms to be the extremist and zealot. I feel like the problem is that the Free software/copyleft movement is missing strong pragmatic realist leaders and organizations, so the situation is that either you are on the crazy train helmed by rms, or you fall back to the more relaxed open-source world.
- craigsmansion 8y ago
  > is missing strong pragmatic realist leaders and organizations As far as I'm concerned, that is by design. Even though he is fairly well known, rms is not the pope of Free Software as some seem to think. He's just a guy. You can email him if you want to, if you have questions. He has some very specific ideas about software. He writes essays about that and tries to explain the thought process behind his ideas. You can read those and agree or disagree with these thoughts or not. I think "strong pragmatic realist leaders and organizations" would be harmful to Free Software, because people swayed by such things can ultimately be swayed in the opposite direction once even stronger leaders and organisations with even better marketing pop up. So no, there is no "crazy train helmed by rms" as you, and a lot of others, like to believe. rms is not the one standing in the way of the global victory of "open source." What does stand in the way is dilution and corruption from within. And I think, in that regard, rms could be considered a "leader", and the Free Software movement, and even Open Source by proxy, is lucky to have him.
DonHopkins 8y ago
Rider Rider Evolution, courtesy of David Dolphin: https://github.com/ddol/rre-rms https://github.com/ddol/rre-rms Richard Stallman's rider has been a cause of amusement, bemusement and confusion for many conference and lecture organisers who have hosted him. It has even drawn the attention of the press[0]. But what is the story behind this complex beast? When were certain clauses added, and why? We hope that with enough data regarding when modifications were made, we may be able to shed some light on the why's. If you have a copy of RMS's rider we would love to include it in this archive. You can mail me a copy personally if you do not want your identity attached to this project. I can be e-mailed at: David.Dolphin at skynet.ie
greyman 8y ago
I usually don't have a slightest problem with someone being a zealot, but I don't respect RMS because of his tactics to take some word (for example 'freedom'), attach his own meanings into it, modifying what the word normally means, and then pushes his definition no matter what. I consider this an incorrect thing to do.
- zer00eyz 8y ago
  After spending at least 15 minutes explaining the difference between spicy, spices, hot (as in burn your fingers) and hot as in peppers to a small child I have to say that this is yet one more thing that is done with language that I find horribly disappointing.
watwut 8y ago
I dont find his tactic always admirable nor his positions that great. He is quick to claim superiority without there being any real evidence for it. While that thumping of chest feels good and inspiring when I was younger, the older I am the more suspect it is and the more it looks like self serving lie. Not a lie in something big and important, but a lie that no one checks and thus works even better. It makes me loose respect for such people now. I get that zealots often achieve more success, but I find more admirable people who don't do everything just because they want something.

zokier 8y ago

It's fine for rms to be the extremist and zealot. I feel like the problem is that the Free software/copyleft movement is missing strong pragmatic realist leaders and organizations, so the situation is that either you are on the crazy train helmed by rms, or you fall back to the more relaxed open-source world.

craigsmansion 8y ago
> is missing strong pragmatic realist leaders and organizations As far as I'm concerned, that is by design. Even though he is fairly well known, rms is not the pope of Free Software as some seem to think. He's just a guy. You can email him if you want to, if you have questions. He has some very specific ideas about software. He writes essays about that and tries to explain the thought process behind his ideas. You can read those and agree or disagree with these thoughts or not. I think "strong pragmatic realist leaders and organizations" would be harmful to Free Software, because people swayed by such things can ultimately be swayed in the opposite direction once even stronger leaders and organisations with even better marketing pop up. So no, there is no "crazy train helmed by rms" as you, and a lot of others, like to believe. rms is not the one standing in the way of the global victory of "open source." What does stand in the way is dilution and corruption from within. And I think, in that regard, rms could be considered a "leader", and the Free Software movement, and even Open Source by proxy, is lucky to have him.

DonHopkins 8y ago

Rider Rider Evolution, courtesy of David Dolphin: https://github.com/ddol/rre-rms https://github.com/ddol/rre-rms Richard Stallman's rider has been a cause of amusement, bemusement and confusion for many conference and lecture organisers who have hosted him. It has even drawn the attention of the press[0]. But what is the story behind this complex beast? When were certain clauses added, and why? We hope that with enough data regarding when modifications were made, we may be able to shed some light on the why's. If you have a copy of RMS's rider we would love to include it in this archive. You can mail me a copy personally if you do not want your identity attached to this project. I can be e-mailed at: David.Dolphin at skynet.ie

greyman 8y ago

I usually don't have a slightest problem with someone being a zealot, but I don't respect RMS because of his tactics to take some word (for example 'freedom'), attach his own meanings into it, modifying what the word normally means, and then pushes his definition no matter what. I consider this an incorrect thing to do.

zer00eyz 8y ago
After spending at least 15 minutes explaining the difference between spicy, spices, hot (as in burn your fingers) and hot as in peppers to a small child I have to say that this is yet one more thing that is done with language that I find horribly disappointing.

watwut 8y ago

I dont find his tactic always admirable nor his positions that great. He is quick to claim superiority without there being any real evidence for it. While that thumping of chest feels good and inspiring when I was younger, the older I am the more suspect it is and the more it looks like self serving lie. Not a lie in something big and important, but a lie that no one checks and thus works even better. It makes me loose respect for such people now. I get that zealots often achieve more success, but I find more admirable people who don't do everything just because they want something.