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Ditto. Stallman is an enormously interesting figure in the history of software development. But who really cares how he reads his email or books his speaking en
by flomo 15y ago
Ditto. Stallman is an enormously interesting figure in the history of software development. But who really cares how he reads his email or books his speaking engagements? (And the less one knows about his personal life is probably for the better.)
- billpatrianakos 15y agoWell that was my initial thought but to be fair those things certainly can be interesting if you're a fan of his. That said, this is really nothing new. I've read this same list many times and it's actually been linked here several times. The difference is just that in its other incarnations it was in plain text form or some other variation of the same HTML list. Then there's the fact that it really is just a self-righteous sounding list. Like if I said "I'm browsing HN on my iPad because I find it convenient for reading and I can smoke cigarettes in my garage while I carry it around". Those ridiculous details are the kind of thing you find in his lists. And of course no one is going to go all plain-text when using a computer but the way Stallman makes it sound seems like he's saying he's superior to us because he's cool enough to not need all those fancy GUI dealies. So what?
- kunj2aan 15y ago>Stallman makes it sound seems like he's saying he's superior to us because he's cool enough to not need all those fancy GUI dealies I think you are completely missing his point. He is not claiming to be superior because he uses those tools, he thinks his freedoms are not restricted by them.
- ajross 15y agoI count three of you now who cared enough to post here mocking him.
- billpatrianakos 15y agoNot mocking. Definitely being a little sarcastic. But why do we have to get into a holy war over Stallman. You know as well as I do that what I said is true but unfortunately Stallman's cult following absolutely must punish anyone who points out the obvious. So I said what I needed to. I was actually being sincere, not trying to outright mock him for the sake of mocking him.
- ajross 15y agoLike most people, I find Stallman strange. His methods are quirky, and his language grating. He alienates his allies more often than his enemies. He picks fights at the wrong times. He stands behind principle in circumstances where it clearly hurts his cause. But... he's right. Almost always, he's right. He's made a 40 year career now of being right: often decades before the rest of us figure it out. That's enough for me to cut him as much slack as he wants. Nattering detractors like you have been around for almost as long as he has. I used to be one 15 years ago (when, damn it, I was sure he was going to tank the coming open source revolution; except he didn't, and he was right). He just draws that kind of attention.
- Czarnian 15y agoSerious question. What exactly is he right about?
- aurelianito 15y agoI don't know what the grand-parent was talking about, but if you want to read something that he foresaw before everybody (AFAIK) check the Right to Read essay (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html)
- rimantas 15y agoSo, what is he right about?
- aurelianito 15y agoAbout the increasing restrictions on the tools needed to program generated by the attempt to restrict what you can do with an electronic device. He foresaw the kind of restrictions that appeared both in the iPhone and the german legislation.
- ktizo 15y ago
- flomo 15y agoI'm not at all clear on how I mocked Stallman. But since you brought it up, the man has some very well documented personal eccentricities, beyond his choice in laptops. I'm sure anyone who would be interested in his email-reading procedures are equally interested in those other things too.
- pyre 15y agoDown-voted. There's no need for comments like this: I'm sure anyone who would be interested in his email-reading procedures are equally interested in those other things too. Your attempt to passive-aggressively insult people that like content that you obviously don't want to see on HN is not welcome here. Many people enjoy reading about the computing experience of 'tech famous' people, or else this site wouldn't exist: http://usesthis.com/ http://usesthis.com/