4 ms·
I think the issue here is that you've misunderstood the politics of these kinds of "resignations". In the public mind (even if not in reality) when someone "re
by undecisive 6y ago
I think the issue here is that you've misunderstood the politics of these kinds of "resignations".
In the public mind (even if not in reality) when someone "resigns" because of "past comments", they have either been given an ultimatum - "Jump or be pushed" - or they are experiencing intrusions into their personal life (or there is behaviour from the community that makes this person believe these intrusions are imminent)
My understanding at the time was that it was the former - there were murmurings of possible action against him, and whether it was to avoid harm to the FSF or risk the public damage to his reputation I have no idea, but he decided to gracefully step aside.
So yes, officially you may be correct - but especially with someone like RMS, it is highly unlikely that he just chose to resign because he previously made comments that people didn't like. RMS is very used to making controversial statements and weathering the storm, I find it unlikely (though not impossible) that this was just one storm he couldn't weather - and much more likely that he chose the path of least damage, to himself or his cause or his legacy.
- 1000units 6y agoIt's somewhat incredible this guy went through six articles but couldn't find the actual resignation, which is very short and settles the question very clearly. How do we explain this? To the FSF board, I hereby resign as president of the Free Software Foundation and from its board of directors. I am doing this due to pressure on the Foundation and me over a series of misunderstandings and mischaracterizations of what I have said. Richard Stallman edit. Downvoters: You never belonged here. You're the reason this place is garbage now. Don't you dare follow me to the next place. You stay on HN now. When the time comes even you can recognize only utter ruins, I'm not letting you in. You deserve what you make.
- cmeacham98 6y agoI decided not to link it because it provides no context to what those things "I have said" are (and several of those news articles quote or link it themselves). News articles from around the time provide said context.
- 1000units 6y agoYour comments are a vicious and bigoted attack on autistic people, and you deserve to be cancelled. I am giving you the option to resign willingly before I contact your employer and all entities they do business with. Thanks.
- cmeacham98 6y agoEven if he really ""resigned"" rather than resigned, I think we both agree the cause was his comments about the Epstein situation, not a "MeToo/racism witch hunt" that I've seen no evidence to support.
- 1000units 6y agoI would have liked to personally drive a cattlerod through Epstein's brain, and yet I don't think there was anything wrong with Stallman's comments. How do you square that? Maybe you have not properly characterized the situation.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]