MESSAGE
| DATE | 2004-01-17 |
| FROM | Adam Kosmin
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] leeches=$(diff Free_Software Open_Source)
|
NYLXS,
I am starting to notice a trend and I am not happy about it. For lack of
a better name, I'll just have some fun and call it the "Steve Milo
mentality". Rather than allowing ourselves to be disillusioned by the
growing number of people who are incorporating the use of non
proprietary software into their daily lives, we need to take an honest
look at their motives and if necessary, be willing to admit that most of
these people are nothing more than leeches who could care less about the
most important aspect of the Free Software movement: Freedom.
Let's refresh our memory as to what I mean when I refer to freedom:
* The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
* The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to
your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for
this.
* The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your
neighbor (freedom 2).
* The freedom to improve the program, and release your
improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits
(freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
Sadly, this "new blood" has been sold on the philosophy of the Open
Source campaign which was created in order to sell the byproducts of the
Free Software development model. As many of us already know, the Open
Source movement goes out of its way to avoid educating its followers on
the sociological benefits offered by Free Software, but instead, sells
its audience on functionality, security, and lower costs. This "free as
in beer" sales pitch is creating more and more people who claim to
support our cause but who in fact, are really just interested in getting
something for nothing.
I think Steve's earlier comment makes my point:
"Actually, more functional is much more than good enough, if the better
more secure product is available from Microsoft then by all means it
should be used."
Anyone sharing such a ridiculous point of view obviously does not
understand the underlying motives that went behind the creation of the
GPL and yet, we have more and more of these people calling themselves
"supporters" every day. If I were to apply this to a war, I'd say this
is like having an army of 10,000 soldiers armed with rubber bands up
against an army of 100 armed with machine guns and grenades.
Since these people obviously don't understand the GPL or the Free
Software movement which created it, how can we expect them to defend it?
Simple answer: They won't and we would be fools to think otherwise.
People like this are too focused on satisfying their own selfish
interests. Here's another great comment by Steve which illustrates my
point:
"Microsoft broke federal laws, they arent bound by the GPL in any form
or fashion. MS also has questionable business practices. If they were
to make a better product than GNU/Linux then I would go out and buy
it.."
So there you have it. These people wouldn't hesitate to finance a
company who's business model is built upon destroying everything that
the GPL represents so long as their own self interests are met.
Obviously, there is much work to do. I am grateful for NYLXS' position
as a supporter of Free Software and am looking forward to participating
so we can continue to educate the masses on the goals of the movement.
Looking forward to the retreat...
Adam Kosmin
Ruben Safir (ruben-at-mrbrklyn.com) wrote:
"
" FOOOOD FIGHT
"
"
" this list has been dull ever since Marco resigned.
"
" Ruben
"
"
" On Fri, Jan 16, 2004 at 03:29:50PM +0000, psiegel-at-copper.net wrote:
" >
" > Gentlemen,
" >
" > Enough already. Disagreement is fine. Name calling is not, and,
" > certainly, threats have no place here.
" >
" > If you cannot behave responsibly, please take your argument off this
" > list.
" >
" > Peter
" >
" > Peter Siegel
" >
" >
" > ____________________________
" > NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
" > Fair Use -
" > because it's either fair use or useless....
" > NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
"
" --
" __________________________
" Brooklyn Linux Solutions
" __________________________
" DRM is THEFT - We are the STAKEHOLDERS http://fairuse.nylxs.com
"
" http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Consulting
" http://www.inns.net <-- Happy Clients
" http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development in Free Software
" http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/resources - Unpublished Archive or stories and articles from around the net
" http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/downtown.html - See the New Downtown Brooklyn....
"
" 1-718-382-0585
" ____________________________
" NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
" Fair Use -
" because it's either fair use or useless....
" NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
"
--
"Yes, Your Honor. Now, where we are so far, in at least my
line of reasoning, is I want to walk the Court through enough of our
complaint to help the Court understand that IBM clearly did contribute a
lot of the Unix-related information into Linux. We just don't know what
it is."
-- Kevin McBride SCO vs. IBM 12/05/03
____________________________
NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
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