[ILUG] RMS & GNU/Linux

[Robert Elliott]

Quoth Breathnach, Proinnsias (Dublin) on Thu, May 23, 2002 at 11:24:06AM +0100:
> [CS]hould we register gnu-linux.ie ?
> 
> Some small amount of PHP to replace images / words / links as necessary
> where the domain was gnu-linux.ie instead of linux.ie ?
> 
> P
> <g style="evil dictator">

And then refuse to answer questions of anyone who uses a non-free shell? Pah.
I use linux. Not guhnoo slash linux.
I wouldn't say that RMS was full of gnu/shite, but... no, wait. I *would*.

Besides, if you register gnu-linux, you'd only upset him for calling it gnu
hyphen linux.

One thing I've noticed about a) RMS' original page and b) the various replies:
his ludicrous assumption that we all agree with him that all software should
be free, and that the only people who disagree work for microsoft.

If I ever write a program that I think the world might find useful, I'll
release it under the GPL. But *not* because I feel morally obliged to do so,
most definitely not because to do otherwise would be immoral. Because it's
polite.

I'm happy using proprietary software; not because I'm apolitical on teh
subject, and am casually damning us all to servitude. I think free software is
a good idea, and applaud anyone - even RMS - who writes it. But I'm not going
to refuse to play Manic Miner on a spectrum emulator because the sourse isn't
available. I'm not going to refuse to use a touch-screen at an airport unless
there's a 'print off the source code' button. And I'm *certainly* not going to
be part of a crusade that considers the BSD license to be an egregious attack
on our civil liberties.

Damn. I was planning on staying out of this thread.
Ah well.

|Robert Elliott           | 10 let a$ ="just another BASIC hacker"           |
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