2 ms·

This comment implies that only white men have ever played a major part in the free software ethos, which is incorrect and offensive.

by bo1024 4y ago

roenxi 4y ago
The FSF is based in Boston, US. Something like 75% of US programmers are male, around 65% white and a further ~20% Asian [0]. If we want the best advocate, assuming they hire somewhat locally, there is a 75% chance that candidate is male, and an 80% chance they are white or Asian. The FSF movement already struggles to make up numbers of people who actually care about freedom, it can't afford to be picky adding extra requirements on who it is searching for. Maybe the best person is any weird combination of traits, but the post is pretending the FSF has a luxury that it does not. The original post is not calling for what is best for the Free Software movement, or a sober approach to figuring out what is best. They want to use the FSF as a vehicle for political goals not related to freedom. And besides, the FSF doesn't appoint leaders. Leaders appoint themselves. The FSF didn't come along and found Stallman. [0] https://www.zippia.com/programmer-jobs/demographics/ https://www.zippia.com/programmer-jobs/demographics/
- 542458 4y ago
  I don’t think being a Boston resident is a requirement. I believe some of the board members are already non-local (Henry Poole lives in California as far as I can tell, Odile Bénassy lives in France).
surgical_fire 4y ago
That's not really how I read it. Many characteristics would be necessary to lead FSF. Gender, sexuality ot race are not important in this context. By all means, if a person with the meaningful characteristics to lead belong to your preferred minority groups, that's awesome! But looking for a minority group first and the desired characteristics later definitely seems to be a roundabout way to push an agenda.

2 ms·

This comment implies that only white men have ever played a major part in the free software ethos, which is incorrect and offensive.

by bo1024 4y ago

This comment implies that only white men have ever played a major part in the free software ethos, which is incorrect and offensive.

roenxi 4y ago
The FSF is based in Boston, US. Something like 75% of US programmers are male, around 65% white and a further ~20% Asian [0]. If we want the best advocate, assuming they hire somewhat locally, there is a 75% chance that candidate is male, and an 80% chance they are white or Asian. The FSF movement already struggles to make up numbers of people who actually care about freedom, it can't afford to be picky adding extra requirements on who it is searching for. Maybe the best person is any weird combination of traits, but the post is pretending the FSF has a luxury that it does not. The original post is not calling for what is best for the Free Software movement, or a sober approach to figuring out what is best. They want to use the FSF as a vehicle for political goals not related to freedom. And besides, the FSF doesn't appoint leaders. Leaders appoint themselves. The FSF didn't come along and found Stallman. [0] https://www.zippia.com/programmer-jobs/demographics/ https://www.zippia.com/programmer-jobs/demographics/
- 542458 4y ago
  I don’t think being a Boston resident is a requirement. I believe some of the board members are already non-local (Henry Poole lives in California as far as I can tell, Odile Bénassy lives in France).
surgical_fire 4y ago
That's not really how I read it. Many characteristics would be necessary to lead FSF. Gender, sexuality ot race are not important in this context. By all means, if a person with the meaningful characteristics to lead belong to your preferred minority groups, that's awesome! But looking for a minority group first and the desired characteristics later definitely seems to be a roundabout way to push an agenda.