4 ms·

This is a fairly amusing read. Favorite quote: This devil would be a human being disguised to teach a moral lesson with a theatrical metaphor, so let's not

This is a fairly amusing read. Favorite quote: This devil would be a human being disguised to teach a moral lesson with a theatrical metaphor, so let's not take the metaphor too far. I think we would do well not to say that users are “selling their souls” if they install nonfree software—rather, part of their own freedom is what they forfeit. We don't need to exaggerate to teach the point... I'm sympathetic to the FSF's goals, but I think they're desire for ideological purity prevents them from achieving meaningful wins. Increasing the availability and desirability of Free software shouldn't have to mean total exclusion of all non-Free software. As an industry, I think we should be more troubled by devices that aren't even allowed to run code without special permission from some third party. The App Store is a sad state of affairs in my opinion.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
SimonPStevens 8y ago
Quote reformatted for mobile: This devil would be a human being disguised to teach a moral lesson with a theatrical metaphor, so let's not take the metaphor too far. I think we would do well not to say that users are “selling their souls” if they install nonfree software—rather, part of their own freedom is what they forfeit. We don't need to exaggerate to teach the point...
smelendez 8y ago
That part confused me. Having someone in a Devil costume is going to be scary, confusing or offensive to many people, so if it's not a great metaphor, why not pick another one? I think it's better to skip certain classes metaphors for this kind of event: religion, sex, death, disease (cancer, etc.) probably chief among them.
- enriquto 8y ago
  ouch, you "serious" and "professional" people are so boring! It's a cute idea and respectfully presented. As long as the costume is clearly innocent you cannot fathom anybody being offended.
- krapp 8y ago
  > Having someone in a Devil costume is going to be scary, confusing or offensive to many people No it isn't. People sell devil costumes to children for Halloween. Almost no one is confused or scared by the sight of someone in a devil costume, just as almost no one is going to see someone dressed as Thor and actually likely believe the god of thunder is walking among them.
- scoutt 8y ago
  Like a tall guy with beard, round glasses and a black turtleneck?
- rzzzt 8y ago
  FreeBSD occasionally encounters the same problem with their logo: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3310063 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3310063
DanBC 8y ago
Please don't use spaces to quote text. It makes it unreadable for some people. https://imgur.com/a/jxVHTM7 https://imgur.com/a/jxVHTM7
krapp 8y ago
That ideological purity is the entire point. The Free Software movement views non-free software as a moral evil on par with human slavery. Obviously in that context, tolerance for it in any form is unthinkable, and the only moral goal is to teach the world to find non-free software reprehensible and work towards its complete elimination. If you're not willing to buy into the ideology, fair enough, then you can slot yourself into the Open Source camp.
- boucher 8y ago
  I find it hard to believe that even rms would compare Free Software to human slavery, but would be interested if you have a source.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

SimonPStevens 8y ago

Quote reformatted for mobile: This devil would be a human being disguised to teach a moral lesson with a theatrical metaphor, so let's not take the metaphor too far. I think we would do well not to say that users are “selling their souls” if they install nonfree software—rather, part of their own freedom is what they forfeit. We don't need to exaggerate to teach the point...

smelendez 8y ago

That part confused me. Having someone in a Devil costume is going to be scary, confusing or offensive to many people, so if it's not a great metaphor, why not pick another one? I think it's better to skip certain classes metaphors for this kind of event: religion, sex, death, disease (cancer, etc.) probably chief among them.

enriquto 8y ago
ouch, you "serious" and "professional" people are so boring! It's a cute idea and respectfully presented. As long as the costume is clearly innocent you cannot fathom anybody being offended.
krapp 8y ago
> Having someone in a Devil costume is going to be scary, confusing or offensive to many people No it isn't. People sell devil costumes to children for Halloween. Almost no one is confused or scared by the sight of someone in a devil costume, just as almost no one is going to see someone dressed as Thor and actually likely believe the god of thunder is walking among them.
scoutt 8y ago
Like a tall guy with beard, round glasses and a black turtleneck?
rzzzt 8y ago
FreeBSD occasionally encounters the same problem with their logo: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3310063 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3310063

DanBC 8y ago

Please don't use spaces to quote text. It makes it unreadable for some people. https://imgur.com/a/jxVHTM7 https://imgur.com/a/jxVHTM7

krapp 8y ago

That ideological purity is the entire point. The Free Software movement views non-free software as a moral evil on par with human slavery. Obviously in that context, tolerance for it in any form is unthinkable, and the only moral goal is to teach the world to find non-free software reprehensible and work towards its complete elimination. If you're not willing to buy into the ideology, fair enough, then you can slot yourself into the Open Source camp.

boucher 8y ago
I find it hard to believe that even rms would compare Free Software to human slavery, but would be interested if you have a source.