Ubuntu already does most of the "convenient" stuff, so there is no need for another "convenient" GNU/Linux distribution. What is need now is the truly Free distribution. I guess Tryggvi has got the point already, so we can go easy on the newcomer ;)
David Fu -- firecat server-side javascript webserver http://firecat.nihonsoft.org http://blog.netbeans.jp/roller/page/fchoong > Tryggvi Bj�gvinsson wrote: >> >> Don't get me wrong. I was not trying to make any excuses. > > I think we are miscommunicating and it is you who are getting me > wrong. I grasped your point completely, IMHO. > >> I am grateful that everyone has the possibility of using a >> completely free operating system. But, IMO freedom should not be >> restricting. > > Recently Ciaran O'Riordan posted a link to transcript he made of RMS's > speech in Zagreb last year. To cite by memory: > > "To be able to choose between proprietary programs is to be able to > choose your master. Freedom means having no master." > > I can't think of a way how software freedom can be restricting. It > restricts the others from restricting the rest of the society (well, > if it is copylefted); that's deliberate and a good thing. > >> I don't mind people using non-free alternatives if there aren't any >> free ones. > > Well, I do mind just as I do mind selling your daughter in slavery > or intentionally crippling your son so that he gan beg more > successfully on the streets (this still happens in some parts of the > world). But using free or non-free software is a choice that everyone > makes for himself. > >> However, restricting people from using Adobe's Flash because Gnash isn't >> ready is wrong (in my opinion). > > I really don't understand what you mean by that. I am not controlling > your computer, nor I have even the slightest desire to do so, so how > am I restricting you? You can always install it if you want. Of > course, if a person uses it, I know what his values are. This is sad. > > I don't use Flash even at work, where 99% of the pages I have to visit > are entirely Flash based. My boss haven't fired me yet, and I'm still > using computers all of the time. > >> I was only trying to point out that before _all_ parts are free, I >> think people should be able to use non-free software (by using some >> other distro than gNewSense), until the free alternatives are ready. > > If you apply this way of thinking, we wouldn't have all the free > software that we have now. If people consider using non-free software > as an acceptable thing (when there is no free alternative), such an > alternative is unlikely to be ever developed. The "free alternative" > thing goes even further, as Linus Torvalds for example claimed that > there was no free alternative to BitKeeper and encouraged people to > use it for Linux development. > >> Sadly, I don't think many value their freedom more the newest cool >> proprietary gadget or piece of software. I would like to show them that >> freedom is better, but without saying: "Look at how much better it is! >> Btw, you'd have to get rid of your ipod, and flash, and graphics card, >> and wireless card, and your game-console, and etc." > > Educating people about software freedom is the most important thing. > You have to practice what you preach, otherwise there is no effect and > in fact you might become ridiculous in the eyes of the others. It's > freedom or death, there is no "middle" situation. > >> Here in Iceland, proprietary products have a stronghold on almost >> everything. > > Here in Bulgaria, proprietary software have a stronghold on absolutely > everything. > >> The ministry of education has even made a deal with Microsoft. > > Our government has made a mutlimillion deal with Microsoft, which was > prolonged for another 3 years recently. All our ministries, > government agencies, etc. use proprietary software and force the > citizen to use it if she wants to communicate by electronic means. > This is totally unacceptable. > >> We've come a long way and enabled those who value their freedom to use a >> completely free operating system. But I do believe we have another long >> way to go in educating the rest about why it is so valuable. I think it >> can be done by either allowing them to use proprietary products for the >> time being or (verbally) attacking the corporations and force them to >> free their software. Both actions are being taken, but I hope the latter >> will pay off. > > As I said, if you accept non-free software as a legitimate and morally > justified thing, even temporarily, the battle is lost in advance. > > > _______________________________________________ > gNewSense-users mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnewsense-users > _______________________________________________ gNewSense-users mailing list [email protected] http://lists.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnewsense-users
