4 ms·

We've all heard of the bus factor. Software project isn't a one-man show. There's no shortage of brilliant pioneers handing the baton to someone else or just

We've all heard of the bus factor. Software project isn't a one-man show. There's no shortage of brilliant pioneers handing the baton to someone else or just sliding into obscurity for any number of reasons (e.g., got bored, found another passion, started a new project, gone off the rail, etc.). People no longer care about ESR's opinions, and that's OK. There's no reason FSF should need Stallman's continued presence - it's a software advocacy group, not a cult. I just find it frustrating that Stallman is considered beyond reproach, because he wrote something great decades ago, when his contribution in the past 20 years or so was hardly irreplaceable. Almost makes me wonder if he's being held as champion because he is an asshole who can't talk to women without creeping them out.

mvzvm 6y ago
Agreed 150%. I think a lot of older generation engineers like him because he is an asshole, and says things to women that they, in turn, feel. I think the sun is setting on the old, rude, archetype of engineer that cannot tolerate those different from them.
cblconfederate 6y ago
Not everyone is dispensable. I doubt there would be true free software without him. We need militant people to push towards that direction and there are not many
- lasagnaphil 6y ago
  It’s not the problem about being dispensable, it’s just that regardless of the hard work Stallman did over the past decades, it’s becoming harder and harder to justify his presence when many other contributors are losing faith the org because of him (such as the 33 people who signed a joint statement on the GNU project: https://guix.gnu.org/blog/2019/joint-statement-on-the-gnu-project/ https://guix.gnu.org/blog/2019/joint-statement-on-the-gnu-pr...). Stallman should at least have apologized over some of his awkward and potentially offending behavior over the years and do some self-retrospection (which is what Linus did, and as a result has much higher ground than Stallman, since even if he still might think the drama was overblown it still shows that he cares and emphasizes others to a certain degree.) But it seems that none of that is done even at a superficial level, so I expect FSF would significantly lose more trust among developers after Stallman’s revival. (Note that HN isn’t the only place to measure overall dev opinion...)
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
pseudalopex 6y ago
Your point works better without the last sentence.

mvzvm 6y ago

Agreed 150%. I think a lot of older generation engineers like him because he is an asshole, and says things to women that they, in turn, feel. I think the sun is setting on the old, rude, archetype of engineer that cannot tolerate those different from them.

cblconfederate 6y ago

Not everyone is dispensable. I doubt there would be true free software without him. We need militant people to push towards that direction and there are not many

lasagnaphil 6y ago
It’s not the problem about being dispensable, it’s just that regardless of the hard work Stallman did over the past decades, it’s becoming harder and harder to justify his presence when many other contributors are losing faith the org because of him (such as the 33 people who signed a joint statement on the GNU project: https://guix.gnu.org/blog/2019/joint-statement-on-the-gnu-project/ https://guix.gnu.org/blog/2019/joint-statement-on-the-gnu-pr...). Stallman should at least have apologized over some of his awkward and potentially offending behavior over the years and do some self-retrospection (which is what Linus did, and as a result has much higher ground than Stallman, since even if he still might think the drama was overblown it still shows that he cares and emphasizes others to a certain degree.) But it seems that none of that is done even at a superficial level, so I expect FSF would significantly lose more trust among developers after Stallman’s revival. (Note that HN isn’t the only place to measure overall dev opinion...)
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

pseudalopex 6y ago

Your point works better without the last sentence.