5 ms·

> He's been banned from multiple free software conferences that I've visited for his behavior; the first one of such was 7 years ago. Could you name at least c

> He's been banned from multiple free software conferences that I've visited for his behavior; the first one of such was 7 years ago. Could you name at least couple of those conferences he was banned from? Preferably with surrounding circumstances?

jlokier 7y ago
I can't answer that question. But this HN comment does a good job of describing events at a recentish conference, although not a banning: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21186822 Although I'm a big fan of RMS's deeper works (as will be obvious from my other comment), it's easy to imagine him (or to be honest, anyone insufficiently skilled at public speaking) making terribly misguided (at best) "jokes" and the like about how few women there are in tech and implying something about finding sex and girlfriends etc., and these being understood in some literal way as actual requests for sex (probably incorrectly). Just like the poor-taste sexist humour in the lower-scoring comments on Slashdot, only carried into the public, verbal arena, where it's a really bad idea, and indeed, alienating and oppressive. That sort of thing could get a person banned at a conference these days. (It would have been treated as humorous banter a few decades ago, and I find myself imagining that's when RMS learned his trade.) But usually there's some kind of escalation process, where people are told to stop doing it, and, if necessary, have it explained to them what is unacceptable and why.
- javagram 7y ago
  Interesting to see the latest replies to the linked comment debunk it using video. People’s memories are slippery indeed!
  - teddyh 7y ago
    People don’t have memories, as such. People have opinions about what their memories ought to be. Then they construct false memories as needed. Note: I am describing everyone, not just “other people”.
  - throwanem 7y ago
    "Debunk" is a pretty strong word. If you haven't, you might want to look over the more recent replies.
    - javagram 7y ago
      Looking at it, I don’t see anything to change what I said. The person replied and doesn’t deny that they didn’t accurately state the words RMS said, just argues that what he actually said in the video is still bad since it’s a joke about sex, even though the words are opposite of what they claimed. BTW, agreed sex jokes or talks should not have place in a technical conversation or conference. But I find misrepresenting comments to be questionable, and people criticizing others should at least spend the time to watch the video and transcribe the words correctly rather than misstate things.

jlokier 7y ago

I can't answer that question. But this HN comment does a good job of describing events at a recentish conference, although not a banning: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21186822 Although I'm a big fan of RMS's deeper works (as will be obvious from my other comment), it's easy to imagine him (or to be honest, anyone insufficiently skilled at public speaking) making terribly misguided (at best) "jokes" and the like about how few women there are in tech and implying something about finding sex and girlfriends etc., and these being understood in some literal way as actual requests for sex (probably incorrectly). Just like the poor-taste sexist humour in the lower-scoring comments on Slashdot, only carried into the public, verbal arena, where it's a really bad idea, and indeed, alienating and oppressive. That sort of thing could get a person banned at a conference these days. (It would have been treated as humorous banter a few decades ago, and I find myself imagining that's when RMS learned his trade.) But usually there's some kind of escalation process, where people are told to stop doing it, and, if necessary, have it explained to them what is unacceptable and why.

javagram 7y ago
Interesting to see the latest replies to the linked comment debunk it using video. People’s memories are slippery indeed!
- teddyh 7y ago
  People don’t have memories, as such. People have opinions about what their memories ought to be. Then they construct false memories as needed. Note: I am describing everyone, not just “other people”.
- throwanem 7y ago
  "Debunk" is a pretty strong word. If you haven't, you might want to look over the more recent replies.
  - javagram 7y ago
    Looking at it, I don’t see anything to change what I said. The person replied and doesn’t deny that they didn’t accurately state the words RMS said, just argues that what he actually said in the video is still bad since it’s a joke about sex, even though the words are opposite of what they claimed. BTW, agreed sex jokes or talks should not have place in a technical conversation or conference. But I find misrepresenting comments to be questionable, and people criticizing others should at least spend the time to watch the video and transcribe the words correctly rather than misstate things.