On 26 Oct 2002, Sayamindu Dasgupta wrote: > > What are your feelings if some sort of wording w/ equal billing could be > > worked out? > > if the open source people are willing to listen to the occasional "It's > GNU/Linux dammit!!!" from me while preaching their philosophy, it's ok > ;)
I tried to have a conversation about this with RMS earlier this month when we met in person <http://weblog.flora.org/article.php3?story_id=253> I happen to believe that while the software is the same, that when you think of "communities of interest" and motivations for participation, there is a difference between "Linux" and "GNU/Linux", and "Open Source" and "Free Software". These aren't just different words to refer to the same thing, but different groups of people. People like RMS and myself are not really part of the "Linux" community, or the "Open Source" community, but part of the "Free Software" community that supports the GNU project and uses GNU/Linux. To avoid constant arguments with my neighbors in relatively-close communities, I also use the term "Linux" and "Open Source" where it is appropriate, but mention that these are not terms I personally identify with. For RMS, he appears to see the Open Source community as a group subverting the goals of Free Software by specifically avoiding (or even publicly disagreeing with) the work to make all software free. I agree with him when it comes to the moral and economic questions around proprietary software, but I don't agree where it relates to Open Source. These communites don't have the same goals, but for the most part our work is compatible. The infighting only risks confusing people, which ends up helping our common opposition (Software Manufacturing). --- Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/> See http://weblog.flora.ca/ for announcements, activities, and opinions Speaking in Toronto: Copyright or Wrong? http://www.rabble.ca/rumble/ ALERT! ISP Licensing! http://weblog.flora.org/article.php3?story_id=273 -- To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the body "unsubscribe ilug-cal" and an empty subject line. FAQ: http://www.ilug-cal.org/help/faq_list.html
