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A Critique of the Open Letter Calling for the Removal of RMS

meribold.org

1–10 of 274 posts

Re: A Critique of the Open Letter Calling for the Removal of RMS

#3
post #2

This is a refreshing, level-headed text, signed by the real name of its individual author. It is not intended to stir the mob but as a kind path towards understanding; I like it.

It's a bit calmer than other defenses. The attack letter is an attack but because it's vicious and misleading doesn't mean all criticism becomes invalid. But it is the mob. Damned if you do and dammed if you dont.

(Don't be surprised if HN users flag this submission however because I think they don't seem anything new)

Re: A Critique of the Open Letter Calling for the Removal of RMS

#7

Ok I’m missing a key part of this: Why should I care about this recurring drama? Is the leadership of the FSF even important? I’ve gone my whole life without needing to follow board composition of the FSF.

Following on from that, what does the FSF even do now other than making cringe infographics and some weird animated series about proprietary software being supervillains?

Re: A Critique of the Open Letter Calling for the Removal of RMS

#8
You know what I think is the craziest thing about this whole saga: Stallman’s email just accepts, as fact, that Minsky had sex with an underage girl. With one accusation and a dead defendant, why would anyone make this assumption without further corroboration? Did Stallman know it was true or was he just assuming it was?

Re: A Critique of the Open Letter Calling for the Removal of RMS

#9
RMS is a terrible spokesperson for free software. I wish the FSF could just fire him and move on.

How do I know he's a terrible spokesperson? Because we're talking about him and not about free software. It's that simple.

I want the FSF to focus on free software and I want the discourse around the FSF to be about free software. Not RMS.

Re: A Critique of the Open Letter Calling for the Removal of RMS

#10

Ok I’m missing a key part of this: Why should I care about this recurring drama? Is the leadership of the FSF even important? I’ve gone my whole life without needing to follow board composition of the FSF.

Having a party on your “side” of an opinion spectrum that is very extreme — like the FSF under Stallman - is important for maintaining the Overton window of acceptability where you want it. If you want the minimum wage raised to $10, Bernie Sanders arguing for $15, and bringing people into that worldview, helps you. Such has been the FSF for open source especially in its nascent days with corporate interests still thinking they could kill it.
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