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An open letter in support of RMS being reinstated by the FSF

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Re: An open letter in support of RMS being reinstated by the FSF

#101
post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is a lot of words That's your response? "too long, didn't read"? Well, good job, I guess, here's your participation trophy. > The fact that many people in open source don't care about Stallman's defence of eugenics says a lot. No, it actually says nothing at all. That's the whole point, which you may have understood if you bothered to actually read. RMS's views on random subjects is just idle thoughts of a ran…

The point is that maybe you should stop doing a theoretical defense in 1000 words and head over to stallman.org and read up on the words you're defending first. It's really not that hard.

I know the words. The whole point is - for the third time - is not that those words aren't as bad as the Woko Haram on Twitter tries to present it, though this is also true. The point is even if they were what they claim, it still wouldn't be a reason for ruining somebody's life, because the whole concept of "people like that" is complete and utter bullshit. People are complex. Somehow most people people by now get that reducing somebody to their gender, or disability, or condition, or skin color, or ethnicity, or some other single trait is wrong. But it's still hard to get how reducing somebody to one single random statement - made years ago at that - is wrong. I am still not sure if it's performative obtuseness or geniune psychological blockage.

Re: An open letter in support of RMS being reinstated by the FSF

#102
post #90

I do love to see people come out with a public statement that says "We believe that a guy who, in public meetings, representing his organization, picks toe cheese from between his toes and consumes it in front of people, is absolutely the right leader for us! We believe that a guy who showers once or twice per year is the best public face for us. Out of all the billions of people on Earth, he's the one!" Takes guts t…

That's it? Bad hygiene and awkward attempts at romancing women? Truly, a devil incarnate.

You don't need to be literally Satan to be a less than ideal for certain positions, especially when they involve represeting a movement or organisation.

Re: An open letter in support of RMS being reinstated by the FSF

#103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> political correctness has silenced important discussions our society needs to have It would be interesting to know what are these "important discussions". > 58% of Americans believe the political climate prevents them from sharing their own political beliefs I don't think it literally prevents them, more like it makes them scared to share their political beliefs for fear of being called out when those are not "acce…

It's pretty much the same thing for people that say things like all guns should be banned. (This is not a stance I support BTW). But who knows in ten years the opposite reaction might be true.

This is something I hadn't considered at all. As a non-US citizen the idea that all guns should be banned isn't that unacceptable to me in the slightest.

Re: An open letter in support of RMS being reinstated by the FSF

#104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's rare that a comment floats on the line so perfectly - I don't even have a suspicion about whether you are mocking the parent for being dramatic/self-pitying, or if you are being sarcastic in a critique of those who are being accused of censorship.

So I succeeded in my purpose to mock everybody? But really, I think that we are not far from the "grand upvote disclosure" day where by some strange leak all upvotes in the internet will become public. Then people will start to be fired for having upvoted the wrong comment 20 years ago. This will be recursive, of course: if you ever upvoted a comment written by a wrong person, you become a wrong person as well. And s…

Downvoted you just to be sure! :) (not really)

Re: An open letter in support of RMS being reinstated by the FSF

#105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have never gotten more upvotes so quickly but the only comments are by people who felt comfortable because they disagree. That says something

This will not last! The day of the judgement, those of us who voted for your comment will be disclosed, and we will be duly punished for our wrongthink.

That's already the case on reddit to some extent, you can be banned for upvoting content.

From their announcement on the subject:

"""

Today, we’re making an update to address this gap: Users who consistently upvote policy-breaking content within quarantined communities will receive automated warnings, followed by further consequences like a temporary or permanent suspension. We hope this will encourage healthier behavior across these communities.

"""

Re: An open letter in support of RMS being reinstated by the FSF

#107
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it hard to support a guy that says stuff like this: "There is a perverse movement among women to think that they should carry fetuses with Downs' syndrome to term, rather than abort them and try again. ... Next, people will take thalidomide to demonstrate how they can love babies born without limbs." - RMS

He is saying what most people are thinking. How many people really do want to have a child with Down syndrome if it can be avoided?

It's an intensely person decision, and no one needs someone like RMS spouting on about what they should do. Once he's no longer involved with leading FSF/GNU he can blather along as much as he likes.

This is the cherry on the top: "Next, people will take thalidomide to demonstrate how they can love babies born without limbs."

I'm sure all the victims of thalidomide with be pleased at this mockery.

FSF doesn't need a chode like RMS.

Re: An open letter in support of RMS being reinstated by the FSF

#108
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, it means supporting the exclusion of every person that feels alienated by Stallman's behavior and publicly stated views. For as long as Stallman's alive. Irrespective of any moral or ethical concerns, keeping Stallman doesn't seem very pragmatic and forward-looking for an organization that is hurting for young blood anyway. A leader should be able to recognize when he's driving people away, and act accordingly.

This might be an unpopular opionion, but anyone who feels that Stallmans antics make him unfit for leading the FSF is also not someone I want have any say in that organizsation. It shows a lack of ability to discern between message and messanger, as well as private and professional opinion. He is the single most consistent arbiter of open source, clinging to views we all here admire; With such a dedication that it is…

Opinions like your are what has kept FSF stuck in 1990s obscurity. Enjoy alienating people and remaining irrelevant while everyone else moves on.

Re: An open letter in support of RMS being reinstated by the FSF

#109
post #71
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Does "support RMS being on the FSF board for life" mean supporting him on everything he says Of course not. I just say that I understand if people would not like no associate with him.

My opinion is that such people are stupid. I can understand people that disagree with RMS on his free-software philosophy, or views on software development, or management style, or his personal quirks or whatever and not wanting to work with him - fine, freedom of association, it's yours to choose. That's valid and understandable. Making a choice because of a random opinion voiced once - which is completely immateria…

"When people tell you who they are, listen."

We choose to disassociate open source from anything to do with RMS and FSF.

Re: An open letter in support of RMS being reinstated by the FSF

#110
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My opinion is that such people are stupid. I can understand people that disagree with RMS on his free-software philosophy, or views on software development, or management style, or his personal quirks or whatever and not wanting to work with him - fine, freedom of association, it's yours to choose. That's valid and understandable. Making a choice because of a random opinion voiced once - which is completely immateria…

"When people tell you who they are, listen." We choose to disassociate open source from anything to do with RMS and FSF.

Well, you told who you are, then. Virtue signalling is more important to you than the work done by the open source community and the FSF, and you'd gladly destroy the latter for a chance of the former. OK, listened.
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