From: Paul J Collins (sneakums at domain zork.net)
Date: Sat 24 Feb 2001 - 01:22:27 GMT
>>>>> "JPL" == John P Looney <john at domain antefacto.com> writes:
JPL> On Sat, Feb 24, 2001 at 12:51:11AM +0000, Paul J Collins mentioned:
JC> FUD.
>> No, it is not FUD. Do you even know what FUD is? It is fact, perhaps
>> harshly stated.
JPL> No, FUD can be lies also. Exaggerations, hype and vapourware.
Yes, I know what FUD is. That third sentence of mine was in reference
to my original statement.
>> I consider all proprietary software a restriction on my
>> freedom. Can you show me a proprietary software company that
>> is not out to make money?
JPL> Making money does not reduce your freedom. You are only denied freedom
JPL> when you are locked into using it. Yes, there is the detrimental network
JPL> effect that the bonus you get from software is less when you have a
JPL> smaller community - but that's due to the non-members of that community,
JPL> as opposed to the focal point of the non-members.
I'm not talking about *commercial* software, I am talking about
*proprietary* software. I am perfectly happy for companies to package
and sell free software. Some people like the feel of a box, and the
new smell of the manuals and CD envelopes. They like the couple of
month's support, and the fact that the money they paid for their free
software is going to help the free software community by fnding more
free software.
>> Well, so what? The less proprietary software that's dumped on
>> users of free operating systems, the happier I am.
JPL> A lot of people make money from said proprietary
JPL> software. They aren't going to give that up, just to make you
JPL> happy any time soon.
I don't expect them to. But they need not expect me to give them
money for proprietary software anytime soon. There will always be
different lines of business for people to make cash at. If the whole
market for proprietary software disappeared tomorrow, no-one would
starve.
-- Starving artists queue here.
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