On 3 January 2011 15:14, Italo Vignoli <italo.vign...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 1/3/11 7:38 AM, Johannes A. Bodwing wrote: > > Where can I read it? Is it in the next decade manifesto? >> > > http://listarchives.documentfoundation.org/www/announce/msg00016.html > > > And they are not equal. That's my problem with it at the moment. >> I don't really understand how this democratic-meritocratic principle >> works. And what you explain below with Microsoft, for me it is not >> meritocratic or democratic that's an ethical aspect. >> > > Democracy means that everyone has the potential to contribute, Democracy simply means representation of the people (community). Even established democracies don't have referendums on every issue. Party political systems mean that there are real limits to what any individual can contribute. I can't go and contribute directly to new legislation other than by saying what I think and hope it will influence someone. That is not really much different from a FOSS project. > meritocracy means that contribution are judged by the community for their > value, continuity, quality, etcetera. Which is what voters do at election time with the records and manifestos of politicians in a democracy. Of course "meritocracy" often become a political argument - even with software. > There are some principles though, and one of them is that contributions > have to be constructive (FOR) and not destructive (AGAINST). Compare with "In the national interest" > Asking to avoid writing support for OOXML in order to bash Microsoft is > meaningless. > Not meaningless but perhaps political rather than rational - but hey life is a peculiar mixture of rational and political perspectives. > > Educating users about ethics related to Microsoft, OOXML and open standards > is not a task for export filters. In general I think this polarisation of meritocracy/democracy in FOSS is a myth. FOSS happens because there is freedom of speech which is an important tenant in any democracy. In the end some people make decisions and if they get them badly wrong enough often enough the "demos" votes with its feet. That is exactly what happened with OOo and LO. So while on this issue I'm in favour of writing OOXML after hearing the arguments, these discussions are important even though someone is going to be disappointed. Let's just accept that rather than muddying the waters with the democracy meritocracy myths. > -- > Italo Vignoli - The Document Foundation > E-mail: italo.vign...@documentfoundation.org > Mobile +39.348.5653829 - VoIP: +39.02.320621813 > Skype: italovignoli - GTalk: italo.vign...@gmail.com > > -- > Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to > discuss+h...@documentfoundation.org<discuss%2bh...@documentfoundation.org> > Archive: http://listarchives.documentfoundation.org/www/discuss/ > *** All posts to this list are publicly archived for eternity *** > > -- Ian Ofqual Accredited IT Qualifications The Schools ITQ www.theINGOTs.org +44 (0)1827 305940 You have received this email from the following company: The Learning Machine Limited, Reg Office, 36 Ashby Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 8AQ. Reg No: 05560797, Registered in England and Wales. -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to discuss+h...@documentfoundation.org Archive: http://listarchives.documentfoundation.org/www/discuss/ *** All posts to this list are publicly archived for eternity ***
