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Embarrassing story time. I once introduced Richard Stallman to a fellow grad student in Japan like this (in Japanese): "He is the creator of GNU. You know, as

Embarrassing story time. I once introduced Richard Stallman to a fellow grad student in Japan like this (in Japanese): "He is the creator of GNU. You know, as in gnuplot." Stallman understood what I said and immediately corrected me: "gnuplot is not a part of GNU".

Blikkentrekker 5y ago
Stallman speaks English, French, Spanish, and “somewhat flawed” Indonesian. — certainly he could not understand the difference in Japanese between that and saying that the two are unrelated?
- hikarudo 5y ago
  He probably just understood "gnuplot", and was used to the confusion.
  - Blikkentrekker 5y ago
    That is what I inferred, but it seems a bit ungentlemanly to jump to that conclusion after merely picking “GNU” and “gnuplot” up in a sentence and nothing more, which is what most likely happened.
    - afarrell 5y ago
      But its reasonable to: 1. Conclude that its 90% likely to be what happened. 2. Not burden someone by asking a question you don’t need the answer to. 3. Disclaim credit for work you don’t lead.
      - Blikkentrekker 5y ago
        I submit that adding "In case you just said gnuplot is part of GNU,” in front of it is not too long, and far less præsumptive.
        smoothdeveloper 5y ago
        In context of adding burden of having someone to translate for you in Japanese, the statement he made seems good enough and to the point. Maybe you are far too pre-assumtpive that there was any ill effect, or even ill intent, in the statement being made, especially if the same fact is accounted for in gnuplot FAQ.
        _flux 5y ago
        I mean what other reason would there be a reason to bring up gnuplot, if not for it's assumed connection to GNU? I guess "GNU, but gnuplot is not GNU" could be one, but perhaps at that hectic moment RMS didn't consider that option!
        atatatat 5y ago
        > "In case you just said gnuplot is part of GNU,” in front of it is not too long No longer than, say, adding GNU/to the front of GNU/Linux.
    - klyrs 5y ago
      Of all the things I've heard RMS accused of, being "gentlemanly" has never been on the list
      - CRConrad 5y ago
        Perhaps it's only fair, then, that it's pointed out when he actually seems to have been?
- postit 5y ago
  It’s still a surprise to me that no journalist had the guts to go after Stallman trips to Indonesia.
  - simongr3dal 5y ago
    I'm not really familiar with Stallman, beyond knowing he wrote some software and has opinions on software freedoms. What is implied in "trips to indonesia" and why would this be interesting news?
    - overkalix 5y ago
      I'm pretty sure he's suggesting that sex tourism is the reason RS visits/has visited Indonesia.
      - neurostimulant 5y ago
        Which is weird because Indonesia is not known for sex tourism. Westerners do not come to Indonesia for sex as there are other sex tourism friendly countries out there. Middle-easterners might come to Indonesia for sex by exploiting a legal loophole (contract marriages), but it's a very minor operation compared to other more legitimate tourism activities. It is a major source of sex trafficking though.
  - dvfjsdhgfv 5y ago
    It's still a surprise to me when I read a purely mean comment on HN.
  - GordonS 5y ago
    That's a ludicrous leap to make. Indonesia is a big and varied country, with some delightful food, amazing scenery and incredible historical sites (e.g. borobudur). Other than anything else, I think your rather vile comment says more about you than Stallman or any other visitor to Indonesia. The kind of very thinly veiled accusation you are making has a habit of sticking - it might be wise before making comments like this if you first imagine how you would feel if someone made a baseless accusation like this about you.
- GuB-42 5y ago
  You can have a very low level of understanding in a language, as in no more than a few hours of experience, and understand what people are talking about. You don't get the details or have the most basic conversation, but you can piece together the few words you understand. It is a cautionary tale: never assume that because someone doesn't speak your language, he won't get it if you are bad mouthing him. Here "blah blah, Stallman, blah GNU blah blah gnuplot" is enough for some not skilled in blah to understand what is going on.
m463 5y ago
That sounds exactly like him. I'm not sure if this is obvious from the gnuplot.info web page - not only is gnuplot not gnu (new), it is also not GNU (gnu project) "Despite its name, this software is not part of the GNU Project." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnuplot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnuplot

Blikkentrekker 5y ago

Stallman speaks English, French, Spanish, and “somewhat flawed” Indonesian. — certainly he could not understand the difference in Japanese between that and saying that the two are unrelated?

hikarudo 5y ago
He probably just understood "gnuplot", and was used to the confusion.
- Blikkentrekker 5y ago
  That is what I inferred, but it seems a bit ungentlemanly to jump to that conclusion after merely picking “GNU” and “gnuplot” up in a sentence and nothing more, which is what most likely happened.
  - afarrell 5y ago
    But its reasonable to: 1. Conclude that its 90% likely to be what happened. 2. Not burden someone by asking a question you don’t need the answer to. 3. Disclaim credit for work you don’t lead.
    - Blikkentrekker 5y ago
      I submit that adding "In case you just said gnuplot is part of GNU,” in front of it is not too long, and far less præsumptive.
      - smoothdeveloper 5y ago
        In context of adding burden of having someone to translate for you in Japanese, the statement he made seems good enough and to the point. Maybe you are far too pre-assumtpive that there was any ill effect, or even ill intent, in the statement being made, especially if the same fact is accounted for in gnuplot FAQ.
      - _flux 5y ago
        I mean what other reason would there be a reason to bring up gnuplot, if not for it's assumed connection to GNU? I guess "GNU, but gnuplot is not GNU" could be one, but perhaps at that hectic moment RMS didn't consider that option!
      - atatatat 5y ago
        > "In case you just said gnuplot is part of GNU,” in front of it is not too long No longer than, say, adding GNU/to the front of GNU/Linux.
  - klyrs 5y ago
    Of all the things I've heard RMS accused of, being "gentlemanly" has never been on the list
    - CRConrad 5y ago
      Perhaps it's only fair, then, that it's pointed out when he actually seems to have been?
postit 5y ago
It’s still a surprise to me that no journalist had the guts to go after Stallman trips to Indonesia.
- simongr3dal 5y ago
  I'm not really familiar with Stallman, beyond knowing he wrote some software and has opinions on software freedoms. What is implied in "trips to indonesia" and why would this be interesting news?
  - overkalix 5y ago
    I'm pretty sure he's suggesting that sex tourism is the reason RS visits/has visited Indonesia.
    - neurostimulant 5y ago
      Which is weird because Indonesia is not known for sex tourism. Westerners do not come to Indonesia for sex as there are other sex tourism friendly countries out there. Middle-easterners might come to Indonesia for sex by exploiting a legal loophole (contract marriages), but it's a very minor operation compared to other more legitimate tourism activities. It is a major source of sex trafficking though.
- dvfjsdhgfv 5y ago
  It's still a surprise to me when I read a purely mean comment on HN.
- GordonS 5y ago
  That's a ludicrous leap to make. Indonesia is a big and varied country, with some delightful food, amazing scenery and incredible historical sites (e.g. borobudur). Other than anything else, I think your rather vile comment says more about you than Stallman or any other visitor to Indonesia. The kind of very thinly veiled accusation you are making has a habit of sticking - it might be wise before making comments like this if you first imagine how you would feel if someone made a baseless accusation like this about you.
GuB-42 5y ago
You can have a very low level of understanding in a language, as in no more than a few hours of experience, and understand what people are talking about. You don't get the details or have the most basic conversation, but you can piece together the few words you understand. It is a cautionary tale: never assume that because someone doesn't speak your language, he won't get it if you are bad mouthing him. Here "blah blah, Stallman, blah GNU blah blah gnuplot" is enough for some not skilled in blah to understand what is going on.

m463 5y ago

That sounds exactly like him. I'm not sure if this is obvious from the gnuplot.info web page - not only is gnuplot not gnu (new), it is also not GNU (gnu project) "Despite its name, this software is not part of the GNU Project." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnuplot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnuplot