On Friday 04 April 2008, Michael C wrote: > Hal Vaughan wrote: > > On Friday 04 April 2008, Michael C wrote: > >> Hal Vaughan wrote: > >>> On Friday 04 April 2008, Michael C wrote: > >>>> Ivan Savcic wrote: > >>>>> On Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 5:12 PM, Andrew Sackville-West > >>>>> > >>>>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >>>>>> I have a problem with this. Debian, in it's default install is > >>>>>> almost assuredly GNU free. And it has the additional freedom > >>>>>> of allowing the user to choose to use non-free software within > >>>>>> the structure of it's packaging system. IMO that is more free > >>>>>> than preventing people from using the software they want. > >>>>> > >>>>> I had exactly the same view on that. But RMS is obviously a > >>>>> purist, he dreams to banish all closed source from this world. > >>>>> Like Hal pointed out, RMS believes that there should be no > >>>>> freedom when it comes to choosing freedom itself. > >>>>> > >>>>> Ivan > >>>> > >>>> RMS is more of a hypocrite than anything else. He morally > >>>> objects to distros/*BSD variants with non-free applications in > >>>> their repositories/ports systems, on the grounds that this > >>>> implicitly advocates the use of non-free software, whilst > >>>> explicitly advocating GPL-licensed software for use in > >>>> conjunction with that ultimate proprietary platform, MS Windows: > >>>> http://www.gnu.org/software/for-windows.html > >>> > >>> I think what RMS objects to is anything that was not his idea > >>> first. > >>> > >>> Hal > >> > >> Honi soit qui mal y pense! > > > > Merde! > > > > Granted that's just my opinion, based on what I've read and less > > than 2 1/2 hours at one of his talks (including some time talking > > to him afterwards), so I could be way off base, but I did get the > > sense that his world definitely starts and ends with his own views > > -- and basically contains only his views. > > > >> The FSF's list curiously doesn't mention the GNU Foundation's > >> support for the Win32 port of emacs and gcc: > >> http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/windows/ntemacs.html > > > > I admire RMS and a lot of what he's done. I'm currently working on > > source for controlling an HD radio in C++ so I'm using gcc, based > > on his earlier version and he did write emacs (isn't that an OS or > > religion?). That doesn't mean that I think he carries things too > > far. > > > > But then again, maybe it's that blindness and need of his to go too > > far that has achieved what he has. > > > > Hal > > FWIW, I don't have any particular problem with the notion -- implicit > in Stallman's position -- that there's a set of positive political > freedoms which *morally* override the permissive freedom to install > proprietary software.
I see the point, but don't agree completely with it. There are what I consider sound reasons for closed source software and any person or company can always elect to not use it. > What concerns me is that Richard, in common with many people > half-seduced by their followers' portrayal of themselves as a > prophet/guru figure, has stopped listening to anyone outside of his > coterie of sycophants. I cannot disagree with that. Hal -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
