On Fri, 14 Jul 2023 14:49:30 -0400 Ruben wrote:
> Recommendations are precisely that, recommendations. Each project can
> still draw the line where they see fit. The FSDG also have requirements
> ("a free disto *must* not..."), but this is not the case at hand.
scummvm is not that case - i agree - but that was unprovoked tangent -
the original (actionable) discussion was derailed by people who do not regularly
participate on the list, or who regularly do the work of auditing and liberating
software - yet that tangent discussion proved to be damaging to the reputation
of the work-group, which only demonstrates the severe lack of rigor and
discipline caused by the FSF's absence
the original topic was "are the games libre?" - if they are not libre, then the
line is clearly drawn in the FSDG, as it is written - distros must not
distribute non-free software - i have zero concern for scummvm - it is libre,
and has libre use-cases, therefore it is acceptable per the FSDG
On Fri, 14 Jul 2023 14:49:30 -0400 Ruben wrote:
> As the work-group can't issue any rulings, there can't be such
> imperative. Distros can choose to follow the FSDG or not, and they can
> choose to discuss stuff here, but that is all.
i agree fully - if the work-group has no authority, and the FSF ignores
everything the work-group discusses, then sure, there is no imperative for
distros to do anything, including to follow the explicit guidelines - that is
exactly what we have now - but is that what we want?
if endorsed distros have the option _not_ to follow the FSDG, then what good is
the endorsement? - for distros, it is a meaningless trophy - for users, it is
misinformation at best
that does not sound like a badge that i would be proud to wear - im not
interested in vague recommendations and petty trophies - and i am definitely
not interested in doing work for people who will reject it, or have promised
out-of-hand to reject all such future work
i and others have been suggesting for years, both to the FSF and to RMS, to
give authority to the work-group - not because i prefer that, but because
it appears to be the only possible way to get _anything_ done
the FSF has paid such little attention to the FSDG in the past 5 years, that
they still have not accepted, rejected, nor so much as entertained the
suggestion - so i am suggesting it now publicly, for whatever good that may do
