OT: Revolution Vs Reform

[Guy Baruch]

I think rms and the FSF guys are revolutionaries, while OS guys are reformers.


A revolutionary look at the defects of the current system (in this case, potential
exploit of proprietary software in terms of human freedom ) and decides to
destroy and rebuild (in this case, abolish _ALL_ proprietary information filters).

A reformer sees the same issues, but also sees the value in the current system
(or the high cost of revolution) and decides to change the system from within.
Thus, OS guys try to write open software not just because open standards are
better technically, but because of ideology. They, however, do not want to throw
away all the great human effort spent on proprietary software R&D . But fix
the system where it needs it the most.


which one is preferable ? it's a matter of a person's temper as well as views.
In some cases the system is so bad, the "potential difference" so great, that a revolution must happen no matter what your temper is.


is this such an extreme case ?


I'm not convinced that this is the case. I think proposed DRaconian Measures
have little chance of succeeding, in the long run. And that even if education
does not immediately bear fruit, non-US political powers will stop the legistlation,
patenting and hardware-related madness in the short term, after which the
djin's out of the bottle.

furthermore, I believe proprietary devellopment has its' merits, when functioning
as a moderated organ of society and not as an unchecked cancer.


so I tend to back the reformers on this one ...

--
-- regards

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+ Guy Baruch , Plasma Laboratory, Weizmann Institue.
+ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
+ phone: 972-8-934-2211
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They hang the man and flog the woman
That steal the goose from off the common,
But let the greater villain loose
That steals the common from the goose.

-- English folk poem, circa 1764
http://bostonreview.mit.edu/BR27.3/bollier.html



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