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> What’s most disturbing about this is how many of my friends and peers support Stallman’s removal. At first it was because they took the false accusations at f
by toxicFork 7y ago
> What’s most disturbing about this is how many of my friends and peers support Stallman’s removal. At first it was because they took the false accusations at face value. When I pointed out that these accusations were lies, they supported Stallman’s removal for other reasons. They focused on his tone deaf communication style and awkward demeanor. They spoke of behavior from decades ago and pointed out the fact that he had a mattress in his office. (Apparently that’s where he often slept.) As far as I can tell, the worst allegations against Stallman involve him being a socially clueless aspie. He held his positions at MIT, GNU, and the FSF for over thirty years, and in that time nobody accused him of coercion, unwanted touching, or verbal harassment. If an occasional social gaffe or failed attempt at humor is all it takes to get thrown out on the street, nobody is safe.
- sascha_sl 7y agothe problem is a combination of being socially clueless but also being entirely unable to change because asking rms to change will escalate into an endless discussion about principles where he was always justified, no matter the topic, so people stopped trying at some point and went for plant defense[1] instead. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Richard_Stallman/Archive_8#Stallman's_plant-phobia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Richard_Stallman/Archive_...
- toxicFork 7y agoI believe the point of the article is that the personality that is resistant to change may be useful when this person believes in an idea (free software, privacy, etc). When they are confronted about the idea they will also not be willing to change. Then the ideas can develop themselves to become reality. Of course when this rigidity comes to social behavior this may be an issue. To go a bit philosophical: I wonder if we can truly be rigid in some aspects and flexible in others. I guess this can be taught.