4 ms·

Yet another reason why working with or talking to RMS is impossible. I think we can apply many of these arguments to Taxi cabs as well. Taxis run "non free" so

by netik 12y ago

Yet another reason why working with or talking to RMS is impossible. I think we can apply many of these arguments to Taxi cabs as well. Taxis run "non free" software to process credit cards. Taxi destinations can be subpoenaed by local LEO and the government, along with credit card receipts, just like Uber. Taxis are a regulated market, but the medallion market is largel unregulated and a near-monopoly. Taxi drivers complain they are underpaid and beholden to the medallion owners. And so on...

ot 12y ago
> Taxis run "non free" software to process credit cards. "I have a credit card, but I use it as rarely as possible. Effectively, only for airline tickets, car rental, and hotel checkin — because they demand identification anyway." https://stallman.org/rms-lifestyle.html https://stallman.org/rms-lifestyle.html
- kuschku 12y ago
  Yup, same for me. I don’t even have a credit card, and I only pay electronically for large payments or where identification would be done anyway. And it’s cheaper for the merchants as well, with cards they lose 3% of the income, some merchants even make losses with every card customer.
nhaehnle 12y ago
RMS has an extreme stance, but it's actually quite refreshing that he just puts it out there in an easily digestable form. Taxis run "non free" software to process credit cards. And I think RMS cares less about that. No doubt he will be unhappy about the taxi driver's/company's choice to run non-free software; however, regular taxi companies are willing to do business with free software users - Uber refuses to do so. That's a pretty significant difference. Taxi destinations can be subpoenaed by local LEO and the government, along with credit card receipts, just like Uber. Taxis can be paid in cash, unlike Uber. The medallion issues are oddities of a few (not even all!) cities particularly in the US. You are right to complain about them as that system is ridiculous; however, the comparison with Uber is unfair because Uber is trying to take over the world.
- netik 12y ago
  I worked for Stallman in the 90's. Given the choice, he will walk miles versus using a credit card. > Taxis can be paid in cash, unlike Uber. Ah, so soon you forget that Taxis must legally record pick up and drop off points for the police department and their drivers can be questioned by LEO.
  - dllthomas 12y ago
    You're saying there's no difference between reporting (pick up location, drop off location) and reporting (pick up location, drop off location, identity)?

by netik 12y ago

ot 12y ago

> Taxis run "non free" software to process credit cards. "I have a credit card, but I use it as rarely as possible. Effectively, only for airline tickets, car rental, and hotel checkin — because they demand identification anyway." https://stallman.org/rms-lifestyle.html https://stallman.org/rms-lifestyle.html

kuschku 12y ago
Yup, same for me. I don’t even have a credit card, and I only pay electronically for large payments or where identification would be done anyway. And it’s cheaper for the merchants as well, with cards they lose 3% of the income, some merchants even make losses with every card customer.

nhaehnle 12y ago

RMS has an extreme stance, but it's actually quite refreshing that he just puts it out there in an easily digestable form. Taxis run "non free" software to process credit cards. And I think RMS cares less about that. No doubt he will be unhappy about the taxi driver's/company's choice to run non-free software; however, regular taxi companies are willing to do business with free software users - Uber refuses to do so. That's a pretty significant difference. Taxi destinations can be subpoenaed by local LEO and the government, along with credit card receipts, just like Uber. Taxis can be paid in cash, unlike Uber. The medallion issues are oddities of a few (not even all!) cities particularly in the US. You are right to complain about them as that system is ridiculous; however, the comparison with Uber is unfair because Uber is trying to take over the world.

netik 12y ago
I worked for Stallman in the 90's. Given the choice, he will walk miles versus using a credit card. > Taxis can be paid in cash, unlike Uber. Ah, so soon you forget that Taxis must legally record pick up and drop off points for the police department and their drivers can be questioned by LEO.
- dllthomas 12y ago
  You're saying there's no difference between reporting (pick up location, drop off location) and reporting (pick up location, drop off location, identity)?