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> This topic is uncomfortable and a lot of people stay out of it or strongly self censor. he didn’t. This is my point. As the president of an organization it’s

> This topic is uncomfortable and a lot of people stay out of it or strongly self censor. he didn’t. This is my point. As the president of an organization it’s not your job to make people uncomfortable about things that have nothing to do with that organization’s goals. Debating what is and is not statutory rape is not a discussion that should take place in any professional or technical environment. This instance is actually even worse than just debating something in the inappropriate context. Epstein is a huge scandal. He raped dozens if not hundreds of girls. He loaned them out to other powerful people. It is within this context that RMS’ statements are most damning. He’s wading in some very murky ethical waters and it should be no surprise he caught a backlash.

zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC 7y ago
> As the president of an organization it’s not your job to make people uncomfortable about things that have nothing to do with that organization’s goals. Did anyone claim it was his job? > Debating what is and is not statutory rape is not a discussion that should take place in any professional or technical environment. Why? > This instance is actually even worse than just debating something in the inappropriate context. Epstein is a huge scandal. He raped dozens if not hundreds of girls. He loaned them out to other powerful people. It is within this context that RMS’ statements are most damning. Why is that? Does the fact that someone commits a crime make it inappropriate to defend people associated with them against incorrect accusations? How do you square that with the rule of law? > He’s wading in some very murky ethical waters and it should be no surprise he caught a backlash. He also should not be surprised that he gets a lot of opposition for promoting free software ... so, supposedly, he should not promote free software either?
zaphirplane 7y ago
Rms is an extreme proponent of freedom, the GNU software aspect is part of his larger beliefs. While not a follower most of what I hear is him talking from a freedom angle. Censorship limits his freedom I can’t comment on the rest of your point because again you talk about the horror of the crime and it’s not clear what of what he said or did you find abhorrent
- malvosenior 7y ago
  I said exactly what I find abhorrent. He should not have addressed this topic at all.

zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC 7y ago

> As the president of an organization it’s not your job to make people uncomfortable about things that have nothing to do with that organization’s goals. Did anyone claim it was his job? > Debating what is and is not statutory rape is not a discussion that should take place in any professional or technical environment. Why? > This instance is actually even worse than just debating something in the inappropriate context. Epstein is a huge scandal. He raped dozens if not hundreds of girls. He loaned them out to other powerful people. It is within this context that RMS’ statements are most damning. Why is that? Does the fact that someone commits a crime make it inappropriate to defend people associated with them against incorrect accusations? How do you square that with the rule of law? > He’s wading in some very murky ethical waters and it should be no surprise he caught a backlash. He also should not be surprised that he gets a lot of opposition for promoting free software ... so, supposedly, he should not promote free software either?

zaphirplane 7y ago

Rms is an extreme proponent of freedom, the GNU software aspect is part of his larger beliefs. While not a follower most of what I hear is him talking from a freedom angle. Censorship limits his freedom I can’t comment on the rest of your point because again you talk about the horror of the crime and it’s not clear what of what he said or did you find abhorrent

malvosenior 7y ago
I said exactly what I find abhorrent. He should not have addressed this topic at all.