Open source -- non computer topics

From: James B. DiGriz <jbdigriz_at_dragonsweb.org>
Date: Sun May 5 16:25:17 2002

Sellam Ismail wrote:

> I do care. If he's supposed to be the spokesperson for the digital masses
> and therefore our saviour, it would help a great deal if he was at least
> presentable in a mainstream sense. Otherwise, he's unlikely to win any
> supporters where it unfortunately matters most, which is within the halls
> of our hypocritical government.
>

Let's dispense with the messianic crap. That's going off the rail, right
there. It's more like he's the champion of ideas and an architect of a
system it's in all our best interests to support, or at least
understand. Stallman publishes his reasoning and opinions publicly for
all to see. Maybe he doesn't care for the hero mantle (or yoke) that
those who constantly psychologize him keep trying to put on his
shoulders so they can criticize it. I'd probably run for my life, if I
was constantly hounded by people wanting some kind of emotional
reassurance, hand-holding, or attention from "the great man." Or I might
try to annoy people into leaving me the hell alone if they won't take
the time or trouble to do their homework.

You may be right that there are more effective or eloquent spokespersons
for open source in general. Eric Raymond does come immediately to mind.
  However, Stallman is clear, logical, and consistent, if idiosyncratic.

The FSF doesn't concern itself directly with issues that the EFF, say,
would take up, of course, nor should it. If worst comes to worst,
though, the GPL may be the last line of defense, and difficult to
dislodge without forcibly exposing the stacked deck of cards for what it
is, and rubbing people's faces in a truly disgusting mess.
> As much as I like a maverick, Stallman's tactics don't take into account
> that not everyone does. Even I realized that a long time ago, and have
> learn to adjust as appropriate.

No one's ever made a good case to me for ever considering hypocrisy or
many other of the political virtues to be appropriate to adjust to in
any way whatsoever. Only the reverse. Pretty sure that kind of thinking
had a big role in putting my father in an early grave, in fact. YMMV, as
they say.


jbdigriz
Received on Sun May 05 2002 - 16:25:17 BST