> > [A] Software which Debian distributes which is completely free will > > remain completely free.
On Tue, Jan 27, 2004 at 10:37:20AM -0600, Chad Walstrom wrote: > First of all, I need to apologize for my earlier statement in a related > thread that you should generically substitute the use of word "that" for > "which". They are distinctly different beasts. Google turned up a few > grammatical advice sites[1,2,3] for clarifying the usage. In any case, > the statement [A] is VERY wrong. The use of "which" v.s. "that" > revolves around the idea of restrictive and non-restrictive clauses. > Use "which" to introduce non-restrictive clauses[2,3]. In the case of > statement [A], you are introducing essential information. It is a > restrictive clause, therefore requiring the use of "that". There's some kind of problem with other software remaining completely free? > [A] Software that Debian distributes is completely free and will remain > completely free. > > Just because the software exists on the archive doesn't mean it IS > Debian. What helps define Debian is the Free Software as described by > the DFSG, thus why this type of statement is in the Social Contract. I think the whole "is Debian" line of logic is bogus. Debian is people who put together OS distributions. Also, "Debian is the collection of .deb files distributed by Debian" is a fairly nonsensical statement. > > New: "We promise to keep the free software of the Debian System > > Distributions completely free." > > Ambiguous use of "free" to define the word "free". No -- defining the word "free" in the context of the social contract is the job of the DFSG. That's pretty basic. > It is also a misdirection of purpose. It has changed from distributing > free software to guaranteeing the "freeness" of free software, which > in my honest opinion is a job for EFI not Debian. It's got flaws, but not that flaw. It's a statement about us not replacing free software we distribute with non-free software. > As I have demonstrated, this proposal falls flat of anything called > rational thought. Debian, by definition, is a distribution. Debian, by definition, is a project. Debian is also an adjective used to describe the output of that project (as well as its inner workings). > > We will continue to support free software, and non-free software, just > > as we always have. > > We know this is your agenda, although you claimed earlier in this post > that your proposal would exclude it. I'm not sure what you're talking about here -- can you provide a reference? Thanks, -- Raul
