Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing • Hacker News Board

Re: Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing

#111

Post by gioele » Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 9:21 AM UTC

fleitz wrote: post #91

joshAg wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I firmly refuse to install non-free software or tolerate its installed presence on my computer or on computers set up for me. "However, if I am visiting somewhere and the machines available nearby happen to contain non-free software, through no doing of mine, I don't refuse to touch them. I will use them briefly for tasks such as browsing. This limited usage doesn't give my assent to the software's license, or make…

And exactly what does he pay bank fees for if not for the bank to setup ATMs and such to enable him access to his cash. He could keep his cash under his mattress, but chooses not to instead of just admitting cash under a mattress is too inconvenient and that he's rather pay his bank to setup ATMs with non-free software for his benefit. Skype is an exception but the PSTN is not? This is intellectual BS to the highest…

> Skype is an exception but the PSTN is not?

You, as an individual, can choose to run and use Skype or an alternative communication system. You, as an individual, do not have the chance to force your telco to change to another communication system.

You cannot force your waiter to eat meat neither not to eat meat, but that does not prevent you from being a strict vegan and yet being served by that waiter.

Re: Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing

#112

Post by route66 » Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 9:26 AM UTC

fleitz wrote: post #100

ktizo wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

oh noes! we are doomed! Run for the hills, we might get a better view. (yes, you are no doubt correct. I do still view him as an unusual type of rare bearded canary that has decided to take up residence in the coal mine through some form of altruistic bloody-mindedness) [edit] Plus, whatever you may think of him, he is bloody smart.

He may have a high IQ but I wouldn't call him smart. If he was that smart people would be using his system instead of Gates and Jobs system. Gates and Jobs are smart, he's a loud mouth with a PhD. Listening to RMS talk about Windows and iOS is like listening to Tenenbaum lecture Torvalds on how monolithic kernels are a thing of the past. His system fails to fundamentally solve problems people actually have. I'm sure…

I do not understand your need to call him an self-centered pretentious asshole. I think these kind of needless qualifications only reflect back on you and add nothing whatsoever to the discussion. If the very mentioning of RMS put you so much in rage that you cannot even spell Tanenbaum correctly, what exactly do you want to communicate? fleitz is lecturing RMS exactly on what?

Without the efforts of the GNU people the world would be a place of much less choice and freedom in computing. That the majority of people is served better by a spreadsheet is a non-sequitur. The world is probably even served better by something else than software.

Re: Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing

#113

Post by fleitz » Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 9:28 AM UTC

gioele wrote: post #111

fleitz wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And exactly what does he pay bank fees for if not for the bank to setup ATMs and such to enable him access to his cash. He could keep his cash under his mattress, but chooses not to instead of just admitting cash under a mattress is too inconvenient and that he's rather pay his bank to setup ATMs with non-free software for his benefit. Skype is an exception but the PSTN is not? This is intellectual BS to the highest…

> Skype is an exception but the PSTN is not? You, as an individual, can choose to run and use Skype or an alternative communication system. You, as an individual, do not have the chance to force your telco to change to another communication system. You cannot force your waiter to eat meat neither not to eat meat, but that does not prevent you from being a strict vegan and yet being served by that waiter.

No, but you as an individual don't have to pay your telco money. RMS could opt out of having a telephone number and simply use whatever horrid communication system has a GNU license, just like he does with Skype.

No I can't force my waiter to not eat meat, but when someone says they are vegan and then orders a meal that involves fossil fuel or animal fertilizer to grow and transport those vegetables they look like pretentious assholes to anyone who knows how the world works. When vegans start avoiding pavement and stop living in ancient animal habitats I'll start listening to their arguments about animal welfare.

Same with RMS, when he stops using non-free software I'll start caring what he thinks about free software. Until then he comes off like an ass. Just like the mormons who knock on my door talking about a message of love and then spread a message of hate to any man who wants to marry a man.

"I'm a Christian, unless you're gay" "I'm a free software advocate, unless I want to travel by air, or withdraw money from a bank" "I'm a vegan, unless the killing of the animal is one step removed"

It's all the same pretention and I don't want any part of it. For the most part I don't even care if people hold those mutually exclusive points of view, I just don't want to hear about it. I know lots of FSF advocates, vegans and Christians who simply shut up about it, I'm hoping that RMS simply becomes one of those people.

Re: Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing

#114

Post by b1daly » Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 9:36 AM UTC

mixmastamyk wrote: post #105

Every time an rms article comes up trolls come out of the woodwork to rally about what a kook he is and all "the horrible things" he's done. "Why the nerve, living a life different than I would choose!? IT MUST BE STOPPED." Snooze. I've been reading this fear-mongering regularly since '97. Why is he so threatening? It's not like you have to share a studio apartment with the guy. Have any complainers contributed 1/10t…

He's a total conformist! It's just that the ideals he wishes everyone would conform to are solely his own.

Re: Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing

#115

Post by throwaway64 » Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 9:37 AM UTC

heidar wrote: post #94

jp_sc wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He doesn't own a cell phone at all. "Stanlin's dream" he calls them. http://www.geekosystem.com/richard-stallman-cell-phones-stal...

I listened to a talk he gave a few years ago and he started by going "Please turn off your global tracking devices." or something of that sort. People laughed but come to think of it, I don't think he was only joking.

because its 100% true

Re: Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing

#116

Post by borism » Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 9:38 AM UTC

gbog wrote: post #76

mrtron wrote: post #21

I think it is really tough for younger people to realize that technology can be seen as a highly dangerous in different forms. Instead of trashing his principles, perhaps try to see the motivation behind them. I respect anyone who establishes their own code and adheres firmly to it. RMS meets this criteria. He is also very open and honest about his views which I find refreshing. I also think that this type of boycott…

> I respect anyone who establishes their own code and adheres firmly to it. You shouldn't. I'm sure there are many despicable people who did so on the wrong principles. You need to add that those principles are compatible with yours.

So if "their" principles are compatible with ones equally "wrong" principles, then both of them are somehow right?

Re: Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing

#117

Post by pbhjpbhj » Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 9:38 AM UTC

>This site is maitained in a very simple way. //

Emacs does have spellcheckng though, doesn't it.

Re: Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing

#118

Post by SamColes » Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 9:44 AM UTC

endlessvoid94 wrote: post #106

> However, since around 1992 I have worked mainly on free software activism, which means I am too busy to do much programming. As a result, I have not had time or occasion to learn newer languages such as Perl, Python, PHP or Ruby. I'm sorry. What does this mean? What does he spend his time doing?

He tours the world giving talks and speeches.

Re: Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing

#119

Post by kamaal » Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 9:47 AM UTC

The attitude in this difficult to understand.

RMS is different, and it takes guys like him to do something different. Its like Steve Jobs. His attitude is different. Its difficult to understand that unless you are somebody like RMS himself.

Sometimes this level of eccentricity and madness is needed if you are out on a lofty mission. You can question why Gandhi had to wear clothes and live the lifestyle of peasant. Or why Linus Torvalds has a bloated ego, Or why Steve Jobs behaved the way he did. These are all eccentric personalities in their own and they won't part with what they are.

You will never see their energy wear off, or they running out of passion doing something. In their own eccentric style, they are what they are because they are unique.

That is what sets them apart from most of us. There is very little difference between genius and insanity.

Re: Richard Stallman: How I do my Computing

#120

Post by b1daly » Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 9:50 AM UTC

ktizo wrote: post #2

I view Richard Stallman's attitude to this as though he has set himself up as some kind of social/technological guinea-pig for the general public good. Yes, he is fanatical in several senses, especially nasal and botanical, by all accounts ( read Stallman does Dallas: http://stallman.org/articles/texas.html ). But the day that Stallman cannot get on the internet, without compromising his own set of restrictions, is t…

But this idea of having dominion over any computational object (or really any object) is a fantasy. Are you going generate your own electricity riding your generator bike (powered by veggies from your garden) as you code?

That's where I think his ideals go off the rails, their totality beyond common sense. FOSS of various flavors is cool. Of course it's not really free though. It's created by people in the context of an advanced technological society which has numerous components, many necessary, for it's existence.