3 ms·

I guess when you make the distinction between open source and free software it can be that way. Free software is definitely an anti-capitalist movement. And, p

I guess when you make the distinction between open source and free software it can be that way. Free software is definitely an anti-capitalist movement. And, personally, I think although open source is useful to capitalists (it can give you an edge in terms of people's perception but also it can be seen as free labor) generally, open source benefits society as a whole and it would function all the same in any sort of economic system. So yeah, I mean, I kind of agree? But at what point would we be willing to say "air has always been in service of capitalists" or something.

xkekjrktllss 3y ago
The same goes for free software too. It may be "anti-capitalist" in sentiment, but it's just foolery as political practice. It's anarchist and cathartic at best. It is understandable that technologists could be inclined to convince themselves otherwise and it's understandable that capitalists profiting from it would parrot such nonsense, but that doesn't make it so. You can't do politics without doing politics.
jrm4 3y ago
Free software is emphatically not definitely an anti-capitalist movement; if it was it would say so. It's a pro-freedom movement; it may incidentally screw up business models in the name of protecting freedom, but doesn't say much about "capitalism" directly. (Hence my above comment about the problem with the word "capitalism?")
- blooalien 3y ago
  You're exactly right. Pro-freedom does not equal anti-capitalism. Matter of fact, the GNU licenses (among the more popular free software licenses) in no way prohibit making money off your (or someone else's) free software. They just specify certain terms under which the software can be used and / or shared. Beyond that, within the law, you can go ahead and make all the money you want with it, in any way that doesn't break any laws or license terms.

xkekjrktllss 3y ago

The same goes for free software too. It may be "anti-capitalist" in sentiment, but it's just foolery as political practice. It's anarchist and cathartic at best. It is understandable that technologists could be inclined to convince themselves otherwise and it's understandable that capitalists profiting from it would parrot such nonsense, but that doesn't make it so. You can't do politics without doing politics.

jrm4 3y ago

Free software is emphatically not definitely an anti-capitalist movement; if it was it would say so. It's a pro-freedom movement; it may incidentally screw up business models in the name of protecting freedom, but doesn't say much about "capitalism" directly. (Hence my above comment about the problem with the word "capitalism?")

blooalien 3y ago
You're exactly right. Pro-freedom does not equal anti-capitalism. Matter of fact, the GNU licenses (among the more popular free software licenses) in no way prohibit making money off your (or someone else's) free software. They just specify certain terms under which the software can be used and / or shared. Beyond that, within the law, you can go ahead and make all the money you want with it, in any way that doesn't break any laws or license terms.