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Yes everybody agrees that his manners suck. But that is not what FSF or Stallman is about. The key question is of whether he is right about practical implicatio

Yes everybody agrees that his manners suck. But that is not what FSF or Stallman is about. The key question is of whether he is right about practical implications of sharing or not sharing, which mostly he is. He is not only obnoxious and unlikeable person in history that sports a true genius. So let people who are capable of understanding what he is saying and also have the ability to translate to masses do their work. That might be you - so go ahead and don't pay any attention to RMS if you don't want to. However you might want to calibrate yourself on RMS once and awhile :). He is a human being and an exceptional one at that. And saying: Richard be like this or Richard be like that, accomplishes nothing. It's like telling a rose not to grow thorns.

kelnos 16y ago
The key question is of whether he is right about practical implications of sharing or not sharing, which mostly he is. Sure, I'll buy that, but I still believe he's a terrible spokesperson for the FSF and (intentionally or otherwise) for free/open source software as a whole. He's not persuasive to anyone but people who already agree with him, and he tends to come off as arrogant and condescending. And as much as I don't want to "judge a book by its cover," many people do, and let's face it: the man looks like a maladjusted hippie most of the time, which I don't think many people relate to anymore. Any way you try to spin it, that's not a good way to evoke sympathy for your cause. But yet we're kinda stuck with him. However you might want to calibrate yourself on RMS once and awhile :). Haha, I really like how you put that, and you're very right. I was a little afraid that I might come off similar to RMS in my original post, (incorrectly) implying that I'd already made up my mind and wasn't interested in hearing others' opinions. But yes, it's always good to check in now and then. He is a human being and an exceptional one at that. And saying: Richard be like this or Richard be like that, accomplishes nothing. It's like telling a rose not to grow thorns. Yeah, I know, but I wish the FSF could... "manage" him a bit better, and perhaps promote as their spokesperson someone more likable and able to talk to people without alienating them.

kelnos 16y ago

The key question is of whether he is right about practical implications of sharing or not sharing, which mostly he is. Sure, I'll buy that, but I still believe he's a terrible spokesperson for the FSF and (intentionally or otherwise) for free/open source software as a whole. He's not persuasive to anyone but people who already agree with him, and he tends to come off as arrogant and condescending. And as much as I don't want to "judge a book by its cover," many people do, and let's face it: the man looks like a maladjusted hippie most of the time, which I don't think many people relate to anymore. Any way you try to spin it, that's not a good way to evoke sympathy for your cause. But yet we're kinda stuck with him. However you might want to calibrate yourself on RMS once and awhile :). Haha, I really like how you put that, and you're very right. I was a little afraid that I might come off similar to RMS in my original post, (incorrectly) implying that I'd already made up my mind and wasn't interested in hearing others' opinions. But yes, it's always good to check in now and then. He is a human being and an exceptional one at that. And saying: Richard be like this or Richard be like that, accomplishes nothing. It's like telling a rose not to grow thorns. Yeah, I know, but I wish the FSF could... "manage" him a bit better, and perhaps promote as their spokesperson someone more likable and able to talk to people without alienating them.