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In Defense of Richard Stallman

geoff.greer.fm

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Re: In Defense of Richard Stallman

#51
As an observer from the outside i have to say, that i am as an "privileged white male" will pay much attention to what i will say in the future. This is my conclusion about what happened here and happened to Linus.

The feeling that you have to be super sensitive will close more doors then before - prove me wrong.

Re: In Defense of Richard Stallman

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not an isolated incident. There are multiple documented cases of him behaving like a creep and spouting "controversial" statements.

Name them please? The "creep" incidents, that is.

Here's a thread: https://mobile.twitter.com/_sagesharp_/status/11736371384133...

Re: In Defense of Richard Stallman

#53

> They focused on his tone deaf communication style and awkward demeanor. They spoke of behavior from decades ago and pointed out the fact that he had a mattress in his office. It wasn't just awkward demeanor. He actively made women feel unwelcome in the workplace and behaved unprofessionally over and over again. > He held his positions at MIT, GNU, and the FSF for over thirty years, and in that time nobody accused h…

"actively made women feel unwelcome" therefore he should be internet lynch mobbed with the same fervor that's reserved for high profile criminals? Do I get my own internet lynch mob next time someone makes me feel unwelcome or acts unprofessionally?

Re: In Defense of Richard Stallman

#55
post #3

He might’ve been an influential figure, but he’s still a creep. Just because someone made something once doesn’t mean we should turn a blind eye towards them.

Many brilliant people developed earlier unusual if not antisocial behaviour as a result of being estranged and often derided by others because of them being smarter. Or should we really dismiss all technical work by Leonardo Da Vinci because it was later revealed that he was a pedophile?

Stallman did nothing like that, he just made some comments everyone should avoid in today's new middle ages, yet he is treated like a criminal. He failed to realize there are snipers out there, possibly paid ones, waiting for the six lines that could make an argument for hanging him, and he gave them those six lines: that's his only fault.

The FOSS community will have to watch very closely who is going to benefit from his departure.

Re: In Defense of Richard Stallman

#56

> They focused on his tone deaf communication style and awkward demeanor. They spoke of behavior from decades ago and pointed out the fact that he had a mattress in his office. It wasn't just awkward demeanor. He actively made women feel unwelcome in the workplace and behaved unprofessionally over and over again. > He held his positions at MIT, GNU, and the FSF for over thirty years, and in that time nobody accused h…

>It wasn't just awkward demeanor. He actively made women feel unwelcome in the workplace and behaved unprofessionally over and over again.

Can you please cite your sources for this claim?

Re: In Defense of Richard Stallman

#57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What’s most disturbing about this is how many of my friends and peers support Stallman’s removal. At first it was because they took the false accusations at face value. When I pointed out that these accusations were lies, they supported Stallman’s removal for other reasons. They focused on his tone deaf communication style and awkward demeanor. They spoke of behavior from decades ago and pointed out the fact that h…

the problem is a combination of being socially clueless but also being entirely unable to change because asking rms to change will escalate into an endless discussion about principles where he was always justified, no matter the topic, so people stopped trying at some point and went for plant defense[1] instead. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Richard_Stallman/Archive_...

I believe the point of the article is that the personality that is resistant to change may be useful when this person believes in an idea (free software, privacy, etc). When they are confronted about the idea they will also not be willing to change. Then the ideas can develop themselves to become reality. Of course when this rigidity comes to social behavior this may be an issue.

To go a bit philosophical: I wonder if we can truly be rigid in some aspects and flexible in others. I guess this can be taught.

Re: In Defense of Richard Stallman

#60

The article says you don't get the free software movement without RMS. What about BSD?

FWIW, I am more on the side of the FSF than BSD on freedom issues, as I value way, way more user freedom than developer freedom.

Developer freedom… I guess you could consider that quite elitist, if you think about it (freedom for the ‰ or ‱).

More to your point, I have seen a lot less outreach on software freedom from BSD than from rms.

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