On Tue, 8 Oct 2002, Sayan Chakraborti wrote:

> Free vs. Open - Well its always better when its free.....

  I think he meant "Free Software" vs "Open Source", which are both
different than "Freeware" (IE: software offered at rs. 0).  The word
"free" simply sucks in English because it is too vague.

  I am part of the Free Software movement, but hate the term.  It confuses 
the heck out of people.  I just had meetings with Government of Canada 
MP's today and yesterday and both days the word 'free' caused confusion.

  Open Source isn't the same, and doesn't convey the meaning I want to 
convey.  This isn't about engineering proficiency or scientific peer 
review to me - it is about freedom, the public good, and public policy.

>  linux vs. gnu/linux - of course its GNU/Linux.

  I'm currently in an email debate with RMS on this.

  For those who support the goals of the GNU project, it is GNU/Linux.  
For those who oppose the goals of the GNU project, and there are those who 
use Linux, just call it Linux.

  It is a very heated argument, and one I wish would go away.  RMS won't
let it go - while I believe in the 'giving credit where it is due', he is
antagonizing a community (those willing to use GPL'd software, but who
don't support Free Software from a philosophical point of view) that isn't
going to just go away.

---
 Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
 See http://weblog.flora.ca/ for announcements, activities, and opinions
 Speaking next in Montreal:  "Open Source vs Free Software"
 http://weblog.flora.ca/article.php3?story_id=253


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