MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-02-06 |
| FROM | David Sugar
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Re: eGovOS conference in D.C.; I'm not attending that
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While I agree it is unfortunate that the meaning of freedom in Free Software
has been watered down and the importance of freedom sometimes ignored by
people who proclaim "Open Source" for it's mear utility and efficiency, I do
not appose attending so called "Open Source" events for that reason alone.
Sometimes there are people who use the term and simply do not understand the
implications, and certainly there are many people today who advocate "Open
Source" rather than Free Software who are neither hostile to software freedom
nor have goals that are all that different from ours. We should not divide
ourselves over that alone.
That being said, Derek is quite correct that one of my objections to eGovOS is
that it lends false credence and legitimacy to the idea that "shared source"
is somehow a valid and morally equivilent form of "Open Source" or that there
is only a competitve points to consider and distinguish free and propretary
software. Do we conclude that there is a moral equivillence between freedom
in western democracies and the old soviet system?
On Thursday 06 February 2003 16:38, Derek Neighbors wrote:
> David Sugar said:
> > I recall that I originally had offered to help with a gnue presentation
> > at eGovOS this year. For a number of reasons, and contrary to previous
> > plans, after reviewing the circumstances of the eGovOS event, I have
> > chosen this afternoon not to attend this year's eGovOS conference in
> > mid-march after all. I think Derek may well guess some of my reasons
> > for making this decision. Instead, I am considering extending my visit
> > to Prague next month by several mire days, especially if it would help
> > enable further discussions with their government and the Czech free
> > software community in promoting the development and adoption of free
> > software in the public sector by the Czech national government. I may
> > also try to see some of thier city.
>
> I was going to email RMS and what was up with this conference as he at one
> time seemed to have a relationship with Tony Stanco, but figured best to
> leave well enough alone.
>
> I fully agree that the event should be boycotted by GNUe and anyone else
> that is sick of seeing Free Software slowly being eroded into "Open
> Source" software and further watered down to "Shared Source" software,
> that negates the whole purpose of being of Free Software to begin with.
>
> It is a shame as the conference is a good idea, but sadly I think poor
> judgement is being exercised. :(
>
> -derek
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