3 ms·

"I firmly refuse to install non-free software or tolerate its installed presence on my computer or on computers set up for me. "However, if I am visiting somew

by joshAg 15y ago

"I firmly refuse to install non-free software or tolerate its installed presence on my computer or on computers set up for me. "However, if I am visiting somewhere and the machines available nearby happen to contain non-free software, through no doing of mine, I don't refuse to touch them. I will use them briefly for tasks such as browsing. This limited usage doesn't give my assent to the software's license, or make me responsible its being present in the computer, or make me the possessor of a copy of it, so I don't see an ethical obligation to refrain from this. Of course, I explain why they should migrate the machines to free software, but I don't push them hard, because that would be counterproductive. "Likewise, I don't need to worry about what software is in a kiosk, pay phone, or ATM that I am using. I hope their owners migrate them to free software, for their sake, but there's no need for me to refuse to touch them until then. (I do consider what those machines and their owners might do with my personal data, but that's a different issue. My response to that issue is to minimize those activities which give them any data about me.) "That reasoning is based on the fact that I was not responsible for setting up those machines, or for how that was done. By contrast, if I were to ask or lead someone to set up a computer for me to use, that would make me ethically responsible for its software load. In such a case I insist on free software, just as if the machine were mine. "Skype is another kind of exception. Using Skype to talk with someone else who is using Skype is encouraging the other to use nonfree software. So I won't use it under any circumstances." source: http://stallman.org/stallman-computing.html http://stallman.org/stallman-computing.html

fleitz 15y ago
And exactly what does he pay bank fees for if not for the bank to setup ATMs and such to enable him access to his cash. He could keep his cash under his mattress, but chooses not to instead of just admitting cash under a mattress is too inconvenient and that he's rather pay his bank to setup ATMs with non-free software for his benefit. Skype is an exception but the PSTN is not? This is intellectual BS to the highest degree for RMS to maintain his hoity toity attitude instead of just admitting that it's too inconvenient for even RMS to live the life that RMS preaches. RMS uses A LOT of non-free software by choice when he could choose not too. Whatever RMS does is pro-freedom, but when I run OS X I'm supporting fascism. It's a bunch of holier than thou (for christ sakes the guy thinks he's St. Ignutious) assholes making up rules so they can pretend they're better than the rest of us. When you point out how they don't really give a shit about the principles which they shove down your throat they then make exceptions miles wide to avoid looking like the pretentious assholes they are.
- gioele 15y ago
  > Skype is an exception but the PSTN is not? You, as an individual, can choose to run and use Skype or an alternative communication system. You, as an individual, do not have the chance to force your telco to change to another communication system. You cannot force your waiter to eat meat neither not to eat meat, but that does not prevent you from being a strict vegan and yet being served by that waiter.
  - fleitz 15y ago
    No, but you as an individual don't have to pay your telco money. RMS could opt out of having a telephone number and simply use whatever horrid communication system has a GNU license, just like he does with Skype. No I can't force my waiter to not eat meat, but when someone says they are vegan and then orders a meal that involves fossil fuel or animal fertilizer to grow and transport those vegetables they look like pretentious assholes to anyone who knows how the world works. When vegans start avoiding pavement and stop living in ancient animal habitats I'll start listening to their arguments about animal welfare. Same with RMS, when he stops using non-free software I'll start caring what he thinks about free software. Until then he comes off like an ass. Just like the mormons who knock on my door talking about a message of love and then spread a message of hate to any man who wants to marry a man. "I'm a Christian, unless you're gay" "I'm a free software advocate, unless I want to travel by air, or withdraw money from a bank" "I'm a vegan, unless the killing of the animal is one step removed" It's all the same pretention and I don't want any part of it. For the most part I don't even care if people hold those mutually exclusive points of view, I just don't want to hear about it. I know lots of FSF advocates, vegans and Christians who simply shut up about it, I'm hoping that RMS simply becomes one of those people.
- corkill 15y ago
  "supporting fascism." Yet every time my POS license restricted windows PC crashes I feel good. Because Bill Gates is giving billions to charity and working on wiping diseases off entire continents.
  - prodigal_erik 15y ago

by joshAg 15y ago

fleitz 15y ago

And exactly what does he pay bank fees for if not for the bank to setup ATMs and such to enable him access to his cash. He could keep his cash under his mattress, but chooses not to instead of just admitting cash under a mattress is too inconvenient and that he's rather pay his bank to setup ATMs with non-free software for his benefit. Skype is an exception but the PSTN is not? This is intellectual BS to the highest degree for RMS to maintain his hoity toity attitude instead of just admitting that it's too inconvenient for even RMS to live the life that RMS preaches. RMS uses A LOT of non-free software by choice when he could choose not too. Whatever RMS does is pro-freedom, but when I run OS X I'm supporting fascism. It's a bunch of holier than thou (for christ sakes the guy thinks he's St. Ignutious) assholes making up rules so they can pretend they're better than the rest of us. When you point out how they don't really give a shit about the principles which they shove down your throat they then make exceptions miles wide to avoid looking like the pretentious assholes they are.

gioele 15y ago
> Skype is an exception but the PSTN is not? You, as an individual, can choose to run and use Skype or an alternative communication system. You, as an individual, do not have the chance to force your telco to change to another communication system. You cannot force your waiter to eat meat neither not to eat meat, but that does not prevent you from being a strict vegan and yet being served by that waiter.
- fleitz 15y ago
  No, but you as an individual don't have to pay your telco money. RMS could opt out of having a telephone number and simply use whatever horrid communication system has a GNU license, just like he does with Skype. No I can't force my waiter to not eat meat, but when someone says they are vegan and then orders a meal that involves fossil fuel or animal fertilizer to grow and transport those vegetables they look like pretentious assholes to anyone who knows how the world works. When vegans start avoiding pavement and stop living in ancient animal habitats I'll start listening to their arguments about animal welfare. Same with RMS, when he stops using non-free software I'll start caring what he thinks about free software. Until then he comes off like an ass. Just like the mormons who knock on my door talking about a message of love and then spread a message of hate to any man who wants to marry a man. "I'm a Christian, unless you're gay" "I'm a free software advocate, unless I want to travel by air, or withdraw money from a bank" "I'm a vegan, unless the killing of the animal is one step removed" It's all the same pretention and I don't want any part of it. For the most part I don't even care if people hold those mutually exclusive points of view, I just don't want to hear about it. I know lots of FSF advocates, vegans and Christians who simply shut up about it, I'm hoping that RMS simply becomes one of those people.
corkill 15y ago
"supporting fascism." Yet every time my POS license restricted windows PC crashes I feel good. Because Bill Gates is giving billions to charity and working on wiping diseases off entire continents.
- prodigal_erik 15y ago