Live data from Hacker News

Mozilla, Tor Join Calls to Oust Richard Stallman from Free Software Foundation

fastcompany.com

31–40 of 253 posts

Re: Mozilla, Tor Join Calls to Oust Richard Stallman from Free Software Foundation

#31
post #10

Comments in this thread represent what’s wrong with the industry. The article references sexual harassment, the commenters care about market share. Did you know it’s important to hold people accountable more, the more power they have? It’s one thing if you disagree, but making it about “winners” and “losers” and not about victims is how we ended up creating toxic workplaces.

the sexual harassment was asking women at conferences on dates

Re: Mozilla, Tor Join Calls to Oust Richard Stallman from Free Software Foundation

#32
post #10

Comments in this thread represent what’s wrong with the industry. The article references sexual harassment, the commenters care about market share. Did you know it’s important to hold people accountable more, the more power they have? It’s one thing if you disagree, but making it about “winners” and “losers” and not about victims is how we ended up creating toxic workplaces.

>The article references sexual harassment, the commenters care about market share.

Alleged sexual harassment. Granted I don't know the whole story, but it doesn't seem like there has been anything more than accusations. I don't think its right to fire someone based on heresay. Once he is proven to have crossed the lines, then I'm all for holding him accountable. Until then, I think people should keep the pitchfork in the shed.

Also I'm not defending his commentary, but people are entitled to their own opinions.

Re: Mozilla, Tor Join Calls to Oust Richard Stallman from Free Software Foundation

#35
post #8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really: https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share Firefox is irrelevant. Which explains why they support things like this. If you can't win by building better software you can win by bullying anyone else who does.

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share Last I checked, ~4% is greater than Edit: It seemed pretty clear to me that, in the context of web browser usage , wmf was referring to GNU/Linux desktop usage, not server usage.

Linux is the server/embedded/supercomputer OS. It is "relevant". I'm not sure RMS had much to do with that.

Posting from Firefox on Linux, ~4% does not make something "relevant".

Re: Mozilla, Tor Join Calls to Oust Richard Stallman from Free Software Foundation

#36
post #22

What did Stallman do specifically? Why is it always so hard to find out what someone actually said or did when they are being cancelled?

Stallman seems to have a history of being manipulative and sexually harassing women. https://selamjie.medium.com/remove-richard-stallman-appendix... He also has some troubling views that at best make him an inappropriate spokesperson. https://rms-open-letter.github.io/appendix

Here's a satirization of the open letter: https://ultralux97.medium.com/stallman-must-be-removed-a3061...

Re: Mozilla, Tor Join Calls to Oust Richard Stallman from Free Software Foundation

#37
post #8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really: https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share Firefox is irrelevant. Which explains why they support things like this. If you can't win by building better software you can win by bullying anyone else who does.

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share Last I checked, ~4% is greater than Edit: It seemed pretty clear to me that, in the context of web browser usage , wmf was referring to GNU/Linux desktop usage, not server usage.

You're looking at market share among consumers. Check server marketshare and come back.

Re: Mozilla, Tor Join Calls to Oust Richard Stallman from Free Software Foundation

#38

Glad to see that Mozilla refuses to tolerate neurodiversity. Socially awkward people deserve to be permanently ostracized from society, am I right? I'm proud to use a web browser developed by people who offer no quarter to autists, schizos, and the rest of them loonies; if they wanted inclusion, they should just stop being mentally unwell - it's all in their heads, after all! Thank you, Mitchell Baker, very cool. (/s…

This is ableist nonsense.

First, nobody is ostracizing Stallman for being socially awkward. He is being ostracized for sexual harassment.

Second, neurodiversity and social awkwardness don't excuse you being an asshole, from being a bully, or from being a danger. I think most people, whether neurodiverse or not, understand that.

Finally, does he have an autism diagnosis? Just like with the recent tragic Atlanta shooting, we as a society have to stop excusing monsters by inventing autism diagnoses for them. The responsible thing to do, if Stallman were autistic, would be to seek treatment for autism. Entirely separately, like every person, he needs to learn to not sexually harass women.

Re: Mozilla, Tor Join Calls to Oust Richard Stallman from Free Software Foundation

#39
I'm trying to weigh this very carefully and it's hard to get a complete picture (which is part of the problem,) but I think the thing that rubs me most the wrong way is the general flimsiness of the arguments against RMS.

It's very clear that he has words and actions in the past that must be addressed and atoned for (and perhaps has) -- but it is not at all clear to me that these words and ideas justify removing the guy that essentially started all of this, without further discussion or investigation.

Re: Mozilla, Tor Join Calls to Oust Richard Stallman from Free Software Foundation

#40
post #16

I want to like Firefox. It is at least a tolerable alternative to Chrome. But the Mozilla foundation just taints it. Every time they come out with one of their sanctimonious PR releases they make me want to have less to do with them. I think they've completely lost their focus. I end up bouncing between Chrome, Firefox, and Brave. Brave makes me the happiest, but it's a minor player, and I'm worried about it's long-t…

Well, to me personally this might be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back. Time to ditch Firefox and switch to Brave for good.
Post reply on HN