Richard M. Stallman resigns

Post by sigzero » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 1:53 PM UTC

SolaceQuantum wrote: post #529

kelnos wrote: post #478

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can we please stop excusing bad behavior with some form of "oh because autism"? It's an insult to the many, many neuro-atypical people who don't say shitty, stupid things online, who don't act creepy around women, who don't have a sign on their MIT office that says "Knight for Justice (Also: Hot Ladies)", who don't have a gross mattress in their office where they encourage people to lie topless, who don't try to pres…

Can you link to sources regarding Stallmans behavior towards women? It’s not that I don’t believe you but because I tried to google “Richard Stallman suicide threat” and couldn’t come up with anything... I do want to believe you, but I can’t propagate information without evidence.

Post by haspok » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 1:54 PM UTC

smallmancontrov wrote: post #591

marble-drink wrote: post #505

I'm so relieved to find that at least on hacker news people can still evaluate this situation with reason. Out there it's a witch hunt and Stallman is now a witch. RMS is a great man but sadly has difficulties communicating with the wider world. This has been true of many great minds throughout history. It's sad to see it happen to one of my own heroes but I believe history will do him justice if we continue to fight…

I'm far from certain RMS's only offense was difficulty communicating, but the "evolution" of his statements as they traveled through the media was terrifying to witness. Stallman: > the most plausible scenario is that she presented herself to him as entirely willing. Selam G. > [Stallman] says that an enslaved child could, somehow, be “entirely willing”. VICE: > Stallman insists that the “most plausible scenario” is…

Post by dfxm12 » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 1:55 PM UTC

tortasaur wrote: post #667

dfxm12 wrote: post #635

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who jumped straight to the punishment phase? What punishment was doled out? "Removed outright" from what? MIT? RMS chose to step down himself. That was his decision. Even if you think MIT told him to, that would ultimately be MIT's decision, not the work of some "mob". Furthermore, stepping down from MIT is not destruction you're playing it up as being. People have done similar (and of course, worse!) things and, aft…

>Even if you think MIT told him to, that would ultimately be MIT's decision, not the work of some "mob". The mob pressured MIT and the FSF to remove him from his positions. It's ultimately their decision, sure, in the same way that it's ultimately up to a local business owner whether they purchase a "protection plan" from the nice salesmen with the baseball bats. >RMS doesn't need us to feel bad for him. He's still f…

Post by gus_massa » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 1:56 PM UTC

nabla9 wrote: post #431

bubblethink wrote: post #411

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>But RMS is de facto leader and public figure in movement that is also political What does this mean ? He is a leader of an organisation related to software freedom (or more pedantically, the choice of licences used for software). How is it relevant ? All you are saying is, "Famous people can't talk like that".

There are multiple issues here: * General principle that people in influential positions have less protections and should have more scrutiny than average John Doe. Celebrities and influential people have less legal privacy protections. * People are free to speak as individuals, but they may not be free to speak while they have public position in the organization. Elected members of the organization like FSF don't hav…

Post by lostjohnny » Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 1:57 PM UTC

pjc50 wrote: post #455

dexen wrote: post #447

Just as much as RMS was right[1], ESR was right[2]. The "cancel culture" is harming the free software movement by practicing human version of Microsoft's EEE[3]. The cancel culture enters the community, establishes interests groups, and starts knocking down prominent contributors. The demands are backed by angry crowds on social media rather than by contributions. It's time for us to defend each other, and to hold co…

RMS's defences of unacceptable behaviour are also a contribution. They're a negative contribution, and they contribute to driving away other contributors. Linus eventually realised that his abuse of contributors was a negative contribution and agreed to change. RMS has .. not got to that point.