5 ms·

This is actually the best outcome for the FSF. Unwittingly, the FSF might now need to find a leader who isn't a known weirdo/creep who's "genius" people merely

by typon 7y ago

This is actually the best outcome for the FSF. Unwittingly, the FSF might now need to find a leader who isn't a known weirdo/creep who's "genius" people merely tolerate. This might be the best news for FSF fans like me.

jordigh 7y ago
I kind of agree. As another free software fan, I've been uncomfortable with a number of things that RMS has been doing. Free software is good, no compromise/no surrender is good, and fighting against proprietary software is good. Doing it the ways RMS has been doing it is often not good.
- enriquto 7y ago
  I do not feel at all identified with that view. Mine is just a particular case, but as a mathematician I was attracted to computer science (as a legitimate field with important real-world effects) thanks to a talk that RMS gave in my university. First I liked his personality and sincerity in the way he explained the printer driver story; then I listened and read everything else he said (especially "the right to read") and it ressonated with my thoughts very powerfully. I guees the same thing happens to many people.
rezmason 7y ago
For as long as I've followed the free software movement, I've wanted them to find a new spokesperson. Surely there's an ideal-driven programmer iconoclast out there who doesn't pick stuff off his feet in the middle of a Q&A and then eat it.
partialrecall 7y ago
Do you have somebody in mind?
im3w1l 7y ago
Having an uncompromising autist with unbendable principles at the job was the right man at the right job. There is a high chance that FSF will be taken over by some people-pleaser that compromises FSF into oblivion. There aren't that many people out there who would take as strong and opinionated stances.
- CathedralBorrow 7y ago
  Even if that were true, putting that much importance on the personality of a single leader can't be healthy long-term for an organization.

by typon 7y ago

jordigh 7y ago

I kind of agree. As another free software fan, I've been uncomfortable with a number of things that RMS has been doing. Free software is good, no compromise/no surrender is good, and fighting against proprietary software is good. Doing it the ways RMS has been doing it is often not good.

enriquto 7y ago
I do not feel at all identified with that view. Mine is just a particular case, but as a mathematician I was attracted to computer science (as a legitimate field with important real-world effects) thanks to a talk that RMS gave in my university. First I liked his personality and sincerity in the way he explained the printer driver story; then I listened and read everything else he said (especially "the right to read") and it ressonated with my thoughts very powerfully. I guees the same thing happens to many people.

rezmason 7y ago

For as long as I've followed the free software movement, I've wanted them to find a new spokesperson. Surely there's an ideal-driven programmer iconoclast out there who doesn't pick stuff off his feet in the middle of a Q&A and then eat it.

partialrecall 7y ago

Do you have somebody in mind?

im3w1l 7y ago

Having an uncompromising autist with unbendable principles at the job was the right man at the right job. There is a high chance that FSF will be taken over by some people-pleaser that compromises FSF into oblivion. There aren't that many people out there who would take as strong and opinionated stances.

CathedralBorrow 7y ago
Even if that were true, putting that much importance on the personality of a single leader can't be healthy long-term for an organization.