5 ms·

"but are appalled that RMS was reappointed to the board" That's the problem. RMS did never harass a woman in his entire life; he may have expressed comments th

"but are appalled that RMS was reappointed to the board" That's the problem. RMS did never harass a woman in his entire life; he may have expressed comments that today, especially in the post #metoo era, appear as inconvenient, but that's it; does he deserve to be painted like he was a sexual assaulter (which he is not, has never been, not even close) by multiple sides at the same time? Why all that negative press? Doesn't this raise some warning flags? The reason looks very clear to me: he is stubbornly inflexible in his concept of what Free Software means, which is an extremely good thing; he kept the helm straight no matter the external pressure to stop, where others would have sold themselves and the community for 30 pieces of silver. There are huge interests in "killing" him publicly, which would mean destroying the Free Software movement, sell out the Foundation and giving full powers to whomever has to gain big money from that. Just follow the money trail.

tibbetts 6y ago
RMS never harassed women? Have you spent any time around MIT or other RMS haunts? Dude was well established as a serial harasser. When I was a grad student in 2002 it was common knowledge that he was afraid of spider plants and many women at LCS had spider plants in their offices to keep him away.
- ianai 6y ago
  Is there any easy catalog of these harassments somewhere? Preferably outside of social media-I can’t view the stuff.
  - properdine 6y ago
    I would say this is a pretty good run-down - https://selamjie.medium.com/remove-richard-stallman-appendix-a-a7e41e784f88 https://selamjie.medium.com/remove-richard-stallman-appendix... .
- radmuzom 6y ago
  As someone who is fat and socially awkward, I am generally greeted with scorn if I smile at an attractive woman. But that does not mean I want to harass or assault them. It does not also mean I don’t have the right to smile - if you are uncomfortable with my smile, the problem is with you, not me.
  - ianai 6y ago
    I couldn’t agree more! If we’re not careful we could have anyone unattractive being chronically labeled a harasser for innocuous social behavior. I’ve experienced it myself. I don’t want to live in a world where simply being unattractive makes someone less than human. That’s clearly a form of violent prejudice.
  - sudosysgen 6y ago
    The allegations aren't smiling, it was asking women to have sex (including parading a bed in his office) repeatedly, in an academic environment. That's a bit more. Then there was the email sent to the CSAIL mailing list that talked about how one shouldn't assume a minor (that was provided by epstein) wasn't willing to have sex.
    - radmuzom 6y ago
      > Asking women to have sex Not one women including the "evidence" gathered in the original Medium posts mention that. Actual examples they do mention are quite common for socially inept individuals. > Parading a bed For a long time, Stallman lived in his office. I have known other academics who preferred to do the same. Again, not one person has come forward and said that Stallman ever invited them to that bed. > how one shouldn't assume a minor (that was provided by epstein) wasn't willing to have sex He did not say that at all. Re-read the emails again. Hint, he uses the word "presented" which completely changes the meaning of the sentence. For someone precise like Stallman, every word matters. Anyway, I have read the emails multiple times now and his only message was to reconsider all the facts first given the serious allegation of "sexual assault" on Minsky. Just because the media has twisted it does not make them true.
- taylodl 6y ago
  > Dude was well established as a serial harasser You've made the claim, now back it up - otherwise you're spreading hearsay.
- account42 6y ago
  > When I was a grad student in 2002 it was common knowledge You should always question what is "common knowledge" especially when it comes to emotional issues where prejudice is rampant.
- craigsmansion 6y ago
  > it was common knowledge that he was afraid of spider plants "p.s.: In the closet-sized "office" Bushnell, McGrath, and I shared for a time we did have some spider plants as part of a running silly joke. They did not actually scare RMS away OF COURSE" -- Thomas Lord. Please note the capitalised "OF COURSE" and reflect on the veracity of your "common knowledge".
- DreamScatter 6y ago
  Sounds like nasty gossip, did anyone actually verify any of this?

tibbetts 6y ago

RMS never harassed women? Have you spent any time around MIT or other RMS haunts? Dude was well established as a serial harasser. When I was a grad student in 2002 it was common knowledge that he was afraid of spider plants and many women at LCS had spider plants in their offices to keep him away.

ianai 6y ago
Is there any easy catalog of these harassments somewhere? Preferably outside of social media-I can’t view the stuff.
- properdine 6y ago
  I would say this is a pretty good run-down - https://selamjie.medium.com/remove-richard-stallman-appendix-a-a7e41e784f88 https://selamjie.medium.com/remove-richard-stallman-appendix... .
radmuzom 6y ago
As someone who is fat and socially awkward, I am generally greeted with scorn if I smile at an attractive woman. But that does not mean I want to harass or assault them. It does not also mean I don’t have the right to smile - if you are uncomfortable with my smile, the problem is with you, not me.
- ianai 6y ago
  I couldn’t agree more! If we’re not careful we could have anyone unattractive being chronically labeled a harasser for innocuous social behavior. I’ve experienced it myself. I don’t want to live in a world where simply being unattractive makes someone less than human. That’s clearly a form of violent prejudice.
- sudosysgen 6y ago
  The allegations aren't smiling, it was asking women to have sex (including parading a bed in his office) repeatedly, in an academic environment. That's a bit more. Then there was the email sent to the CSAIL mailing list that talked about how one shouldn't assume a minor (that was provided by epstein) wasn't willing to have sex.
  - radmuzom 6y ago
    > Asking women to have sex Not one women including the "evidence" gathered in the original Medium posts mention that. Actual examples they do mention are quite common for socially inept individuals. > Parading a bed For a long time, Stallman lived in his office. I have known other academics who preferred to do the same. Again, not one person has come forward and said that Stallman ever invited them to that bed. > how one shouldn't assume a minor (that was provided by epstein) wasn't willing to have sex He did not say that at all. Re-read the emails again. Hint, he uses the word "presented" which completely changes the meaning of the sentence. For someone precise like Stallman, every word matters. Anyway, I have read the emails multiple times now and his only message was to reconsider all the facts first given the serious allegation of "sexual assault" on Minsky. Just because the media has twisted it does not make them true.
taylodl 6y ago
> Dude was well established as a serial harasser You've made the claim, now back it up - otherwise you're spreading hearsay.
account42 6y ago
> When I was a grad student in 2002 it was common knowledge You should always question what is "common knowledge" especially when it comes to emotional issues where prejudice is rampant.
craigsmansion 6y ago
> it was common knowledge that he was afraid of spider plants "p.s.: In the closet-sized "office" Bushnell, McGrath, and I shared for a time we did have some spider plants as part of a running silly joke. They did not actually scare RMS away OF COURSE" -- Thomas Lord. Please note the capitalised "OF COURSE" and reflect on the veracity of your "common knowledge".
DreamScatter 6y ago
Sounds like nasty gossip, did anyone actually verify any of this?