Richard M. Stallman resigns • Hacker News Board

Re: Richard M. Stallman resigns

#21

Post by jbarciauskas » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:40 AM UTC

aazaa wrote: post #14

I've seen some online cheering Stallman's resignation from MIT. I suspect they'll also be cheering about this resignation as well. But this is nothing to cheer about. Regardless of what low regard the man might be held as a person, he's being persecuted for having expressing ideas, demanding proof of claims, advocating for objective standards, and asking questions. These are all hallmarks of scientific inquiry. It se…

Demanding the same standard of evidence we demand in court and science to disrupt human power structures helps those with power retain it and use it against those who have less power.

Also what he said is fully public, so I don't understand what you, or he, is objecting to.

Re: Richard M. Stallman resigns

#22

Post by johnny22 » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:40 AM UTC

coconut_crab wrote: post #12

The Internet doesn't forget, so everyone can be branded mysogynist/mysandry/pedophile/etc.. just by making mistakes or having taken quotes out of context. People have limited attention and the media profits on showing the ugliness of others. This is not how it should be but I don't know how to fix that...

it's not out of context. you can read his own posts.

Re: Richard M. Stallman resigns

#23

Post by fiblye » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:41 AM UTC

aurelian15 wrote: post #3

More information on‒what I guess‒is the relevant backstory (RMS making reprehensible statements related to the Epstein scandal) can be found (among other places) in this blog post [1] by Matthew Garrett (original source referenced in the post is [2]). [1] https://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/52587.html [2] https://medium.com/@selamie/remove-richard-stallman-fec6ec21...

>Again, this mailing list has undergraduate students on it. It is likely some of them are “18 years old or 17”.

What a horribly asinine point. If you’re an undergraduate student and unable to deal with uncomfortable opinions, you are too immature to be a university student. The further infantilization of college students, and worse, college staff, never ceases to amaze me.

Re: Richard M. Stallman resigns

#24

Post by RHSeeger » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:41 AM UTC

aurelian15 wrote: post #3

More information on‒what I guess‒is the relevant backstory (RMS making reprehensible statements related to the Epstein scandal) can be found (among other places) in this blog post [1] by Matthew Garrett (original source referenced in the post is [2]). [1] https://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/52587.html [2] https://medium.com/@selamie/remove-richard-stallman-fec6ec21...

That second one was an off the deep end rant.

1. It totally ignores the fact that it's possible to be highly respectable for some things and not for other things. Stallman has always been a jerk, but he's also always been trying to fight the good fight. Washington had slaves, that doesn't mean we should hate him.

2. You don't get to call out people for indicating that men are better at some things, and then point out that women are better at some things. Either you're allowed to believe in differences based on sex or you aren't.

I've never been a big fan of Stallman because I think he's a little to far into the realm of zealot. However, he is good for society as a whole because, in general, he's fighting for the right things. I don't think it's right to condemn him, throw the baby out with the bath water, because he's an idiot about some things.

Re: Richard M. Stallman resigns

#25

Post by LeoPanthera » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:41 AM UTC

Mirror, since the site is having problems: http://archive.is/h48kp

Re: Richard M. Stallman resigns

#26

Post by martinky24 » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:41 AM UTC

aazaa wrote: post #14

I've seen some online cheering Stallman's resignation from MIT. I suspect they'll also be cheering about this resignation as well. But this is nothing to cheer about. Regardless of what low regard the man might be held as a person, he's being persecuted for having expressing ideas, demanding proof of claims, advocating for objective standards, and asking questions. These are all hallmarks of scientific inquiry. It se…

I'm sorry, did you read his blog post? It was disgusting. He was trying to argue the subtleties of child rape. There are no subtleties. Minor's cannot consent.

Re: Richard M. Stallman resigns

#27

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:42 AM UTC

martinky24 wrote: post #19

His comments were disgusting. There's no room for misunderstanding here. If you have sex with an underage sex slave, it is assault. Inarguable. But he tried to argue that. Good riddance.

[deleted]

Re: Richard M. Stallman resigns

#28

Post by jdub » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:42 AM UTC

Knowing how stubborn and aloof Richard tends to be, it is a huge surprise that this has happened at all, let alone so quickly. I can only imagine there was an immense amount of pressure from the board, partner projects, and sponsors.

Re: Richard M. Stallman resigns

#29

Post by AviationAtom » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:42 AM UTC

I have no doubt there will be one of these incidents where the mob mentality that is out for blood leads to catastrophic consequences. I have a hunch that perhaps then people will approach these situations with at least a bit of caution. The guy messed up, but it does not change his contributions. When is his punishment going to be seemed sufficient?

Re: Richard M. Stallman resigns

#30

Post by martinky24 » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:42 AM UTC

johnny22 wrote: post #22

coconut_crab wrote: post #12

The Internet doesn't forget, so everyone can be branded mysogynist/mysandry/pedophile/etc.. just by making mistakes or having taken quotes out of context. People have limited attention and the media profits on showing the ugliness of others. This is not how it should be but I don't know how to fix that...

it's not out of context. you can read his own posts.

Yeah, his comments were absolutely disgusting. People here are acting like the media is railroading him. No, he was quite literally defending child rape.