This was a very bad move by the Linux foundation. They should get new lawyers. Linux development should probably be moved outside of wartime/unstable jurisdictions like the US.
Several Russian developers lose kernel maintainership status
221–230 of 314 posts
Re: Several Russian developers lose kernel maintainership status
#222Earlier quoted context omitted.
> innocent citizens Do you not think that at least 50% of all people in Russia would vote for Putin or his affiliates (even if the elections weren't falsified)? Therefore most people in Russia are certainly not innocent.
We don't know and can't know that, there hasn't been a single election without major falsifications since about 2004. I personally don't know anyone who voted for him, but I don't keep many ties to the "lowest classes". If your image of the Russian society is based solely on US left-wing media, then it has even less resemblance to reality.
Even (pseudo)opposition polls generally show that most people support Putin? Yes I understand that polls in such a society might not be particularly meaningful. But I'm not even saying that most Russians actively support the government, implicit support (i.e. being unwilling to risk anything to change the status quo) is almost as good.
> "lowest classes"
I find it hard to believe that there aren't plenty of people who are middle class and above who support the regime. After all Russia's economy is almost entirely based on raw resources extraction and (now) military related industries.
> If your image of the Russian society is based solely on US left-wing media
And yours is based on Kremlin propaganda channels and media sources? See what I did there? Both assumptions are equally valid/invalid and neither contributes anything to a meaningful discussion besides immediately shutting down the possibility of one existing.
Re: Several Russian developers lose kernel maintainership status
#223Earlier quoted context omitted.
It would only work if the specific government agency/actor could successfully conceal such actions from the rest of the government agencies, courts, media etc. etc. No such safety checks exist in Russia or other pseudo-fascist states. If the Russian government is blackmailing you your are certainly screwed. In US.. well it depends but you could quite easily bring down the people doing this to you with yourself if you…
> In US.. well it depends but you could quite easily bring down the people doing this to you with yourself I personally don't see much difference between "going down" and "going down together with other people". At least for myself and my family. I'm screwed anyway.
It has more to do with shifting the cost/incentives for the other side which would reduce the likelihood of you ending up in such a position.
Re: Several Russian developers lose kernel maintainership status
#224Earlier quoted context omitted.
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The Russian government could compel pretty much anyone in Russia to do anything with minimal actual cost to it. Governments in US and other democratic states would be risking a lot more if if other government agencies, courts, media etc. figure that out. Therefore as long as they are somewhat rational they are less likely to engage in something like that.
And who has paid any cost after Snowden's revelations?
Re: Several Russian developers lose kernel maintainership status
#225Earlier quoted context omitted.
That assumes the common folk can put pressure on their leaders, which is usually not the case for countries targeted by sanctions from the US, which usually have autocratic or otherwise authoritarian governments.
History is full of violent revolutions against autocratic governments. We should inflict maximum pain on the Russian populace. Be as cruel as possible. Keep the pressure on. Eventually it might pay off. And even if it doesn't work, it serves as an object lesson to other countries on the consequences of opposing US policies.
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Re: Several Russian developers lose kernel maintainership status
#226Earlier quoted context omitted.
It helps to think of these people as essentially Mao's Red Guards. They are (I hope) still very young and as a result very absolutist in their thinking. They are fanatical about their country being the best because they haven't seen or experienced much else. And they get a sense of power from belonging to what they think is the group of the People Who Are Always Right. Mao's Red Guards. Because these ducks quack like…
We need literature, fiction or non-fiction, which can illustrate some historical thought fallacies that have lead well-intentioned humans into destruction empowered by self-righteousness. Bonus for testimonials by humans who have recovered from this civilizational anti-pattern.
Opening scene of the 3 Body Problem tv-series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3giTYRttoRQ
Re: Several Russian developers lose kernel maintainership status
#227Earlier quoted context omitted.
History is full of violent revolutions against autocratic governments. We should inflict maximum pain on the Russian populace. Be as cruel as possible. Keep the pressure on. Eventually it might pay off. And even if it doesn't work, it serves as an object lesson to other countries on the consequences of opposing US policies.
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If that is truly the case: either people in Russia are unable to construct logical chains and understand why certain things are happening (and in that case one should seriously question their ability to contribute meaningful code). OR, they do understand the reasons but choose to support their leader's actions (in which case them having privileges in the project is a major security risk). Which one is it?
Re: Several Russian developers lose kernel maintainership status
#228Re: Several Russian developers lose kernel maintainership status
#229Earlier quoted context omitted.
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If that is truly the case: either people in Russia are unable to construct logical chains and understand why certain things are happening (and in that case one should seriously question their ability to contribute meaningful code). OR, they do understand the reasons but choose to support their leader's actions (in which case them having privileges in the project is a major security risk). Which one is it?
People in Russia weren't born three years ago and can remember things.
When the US illegally invaded and devastated Iraq in 2003 under the fake pretense of WMD weapons, no sanctions against the US from the other Western countries followed. And of course the US didn't sanction itself and the American people reelected the president who started that war instead of surrendering him to the International Criminal Court.
So, if one constructs a logical chain from that, invading a country doesn't lead to any punishment, neither internationally nor domestically.