At that rate, we should all just use lojban.
> From: [email protected] > Subject: libreplanet-discuss Digest, Vol 72, Issue 2 > To: [email protected] > Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2016 18:48:11 -0500 > > Send libreplanet-discuss mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of libreplanet-discuss digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: libreplanet-discuss Digest, Vol 72, Issue 1 (Johnny Merrill) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2016 13:27:24 -0800 > From: Johnny Merrill <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [libreplanet-discuss] libreplanet-discuss Digest, Vol 72, > Issue 1 > Message-ID: > <CAEFPwg5Go-B-em2Y1eMYtPo-ccV=crehurqtfu8_u5b6qpv...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > We need to migrate from nouns, verbs, and conjunctions to objects, > attributes, and operators. > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iewwk1j4I3o > > On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 1:18 PM, <[email protected] > > wrote: > > > Send libreplanet-discuss mailing list submissions to > > [email protected] > > > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > > https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > > [email protected] > > > > You can reach the person managing the list at > > [email protected] > > > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > > than "Re: Contents of libreplanet-discuss digest..." > > > > > > Today's Topics: > > > > 1. Re: libreplanet-discuss Digest, Vol 71, Issue 6 (Charley Quinton) > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > Message: 1 > > Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2016 15:18:47 -0600 > > From: Charley Quinton <[email protected]> > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: [libreplanet-discuss] libreplanet-discuss Digest, Vol 71, > > Issue 6 > > Message-ID: > > < > > cajxlmtiest4o6v7k6w1nbazb2wm_80bt67ylgxhtgk5ldvo...@mail.gmail.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > > > Are you reading my mind, my document here -> > > > > https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MVB1RDkeS4Gh0eRtYhYPXFDK8I2ejcRyXi6ujtJPnH4/ > > or simply listening to common sense, Fabio? I agree whole-heartedly. See my > > user page at LibrePlanet. > > > > On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 11:00 AM, < > > [email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Send libreplanet-discuss mailing list submissions to > > > [email protected] > > > > > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > > > > > https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss > > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > > > [email protected] > > > > > > You can reach the person managing the list at > > > [email protected] > > > > > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > > > than "Re: Contents of libreplanet-discuss digest..." > > > > > > > > > Today's Topics: > > > > > > 1. Teaching programming and free software to those who can > > > listen (and everybody else, too) (Fabio Pesari) > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > Message: 1 > > > Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2016 16:39:19 +0100 > > > From: Fabio Pesari <[email protected]> > > > To: [email protected] > > > Subject: [libreplanet-discuss] Teaching programming and free software > > > to those who can listen (and everybody else, too) > > > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > > > > > tl;dr: The free software community should teach as many people as it > > > can about programming and free software. The best that can > > > happen is that those people contribute to free software, and the > > > worst is that they become aware of free software and learn how > > > computers work, which might encourage them to reject nonfree > > > software even if they don't end up becoming developers. Win-win. > > > > > > There are many courses nowadays which aim to teach programming > > > (especially in schools) at zero cost, but those are usually funded by > > > corporations who develop proprietary software and want to promote their > > > own agendas and walled gardens, as well as lower the wages of > > > future programmers (which goes against their purposes, since it will > > > inevitably encourage independent crowdfunding). > > > > > > The free software community should do its best to make sure that when > > > people are taught about programming, there isn't any bias toward > > > proprietary technologies, and that free software is taught as an > > > essential concept (like free speech) rather than something optional > > > (like "open source"), with an emphasis on copyleft (otherwise, we'd > > > be doing those companies a favor). > > > > > > It would be ideal to teach free software and programming directly in > > > schools, but we all know that won't happen anytime soon for a number of > > > reasons, so I thought perhaps we could offer people some > > > *zero cost courses which ideally, should be recognized as valid > > > certifications* (can the FSF or FSFE help there, I wonder)? > > > > > > Here's some people who might benefit from it, and that should be > > > especially targeted (since they are snubbed by all of society): > > > > > > 1. Poor, unemployed people [Easy] > > > > > > These are sad times. A lot of (especially young) people are > > > committing suicide (or crimes, see point 3) due to unemployment (and > > > its consequences, like the impossibility to start a family, > > > homelessness, mental illness, addiction and debt) and automation is > > > only going to reduce the number of available jobs in the future > > > (except programmers, until they get replaced by AIs). > > > > > > Even if a Basic Income is implemented globally, those people would > > > still have a lot of free time on their hands and depend completely > > > on their government, which might hurt their dignity as well as > > > require them to be "good citizens" and accept every potential future > > > law in order to be eligible for the BI, some of which could force > > > them to use proprietary software (since most countries are > > > considering to ban encryption without backdoors, even if it's just > > > mathematics, and it's hard to enforce such a ban unless proprietary > > > software is also enforced; it isn't hard to imagine a world in which > > > developing or even using free software requires explicit > > > authorization, and only corporations and the government are granted > > > it - even if such a regime would last very shortly). > > > > > > Teaching programming to these people can help them find a job in one > > > of the few fields that won't be affected by automation anytime soon, > > > and contributing to free software can offer them a chance to build > > > their portfolios and CVs. > > > > > > If they want to keep contributing to free software after they find a > > > job, good for them (and us); if they don't, at least they will know > > > about free software, which is more than you can say about most > > > people who work in IT nowadays (who are all about "open source", > > > which often just means writing the same programs over and over in > > > JavaScript using Sublime Text on Mac OS X and releasing them without > > > any licensing info on Github). > > > > > > 2. Retired people [Medium] > > > > > > Retired people have a lot of time on their hands and they often > > > are treated as if they are useless or unable to keep up with the > > > younger generations, but I don't think that's true, and many of them > > > are lonely and abandoned by their own families and would greatly > > > benefit from the warmth of the free software community, as well as > > > the sense of purpose that contributing to free software can offer > > > (or maybe, just a nice hobby, or a side job because pensions are > > > too low, especially now that many adults have to live with their > > > parents due to unemployment, see point 1). > > > > > > The way old people are ignored and put aside in our technological > > > world is cold and dehumanizing, and only free software can offer them > > > a chance to participate (because, willing or not, even old people > > > will be forced to interact with technology at some point). > > > > > > I spent a lot of time with old people in my life and I know they > > > like to feel useful (or rather, helpful), just like everybody else. > > > I'm Italian and in my country, old women who can't chew their own > > > food will spend many hours preparing it for others, even when they > > > are close to death, and feel happy and fulfilled when they see > > > someone eat and enjoy it, even strangers. > > > > > > I think giving old people a second chance to participate in society > > > is great, and that they have a lot of wisdom and perspective to offer > > > that most of us don't have (especially when it comes to > > > accessibility, UI and UX. If a granny can understand something, > > > it means it's done properly). > > > > > > Plus, there are tons of old people who used to work in software > > > development, it's just a matter of getting them into free > > > software. People in retirement age include Larry Wall, who just > > > helped create Perl 6, Ken Thompson & Rob Pike, co-creators of Go, > > > Bjarne Stroustrup, who's making C++ better than ever and of course, > > > RMS. I'm sure there's someone like them out there, maybe someone > > > who's worked as a researcher or a C64 developer for many years and > > > who can outcode even the leetest of us, and has never heard of free > > > software but would jump on it if given the chance. > > > > > > 3. Prisoners [Hard] > > > > > > This can sound controversial - who would use a program > > > knowing that it was written by a criminal? > > > > > > Ignoring the fact that authors can legally use a pseudonym, that > > > I don't know anything about who wrote the programs I use daily, > > > that a lot of people are arrested for nonviolent (often > > > drug-related) offences and that some of them committed crimes due to > > > hopelessness (see point 1), people have no issue listening to > > > popular music or watching Hollywood films or mainstream sports, so > > > I don't expect them to react differently to software. > > > > > > Some people who've been arrested are sincerely sorry for what > > > they've done, are quietly paying their dues and would like to > > > contribute back to society and to be offered a chance to reintegrate > > > for when (if) they get out. > > > (No need to mention those who are innocent or have been arrested > > > under ridiculous charges, like free software developer Bassel > > > Khartabil - I'm pretty sure that if he's alive, he'd rather write > > > some free code than not. Please never forget about him, it could > > > have been anyone who posts here!) > > > > > > Prisoners can already write books and record albums in some > > > countries; there's no rational reason a prisoner shouldn't develop > > > free software and even without access to the Internet, they still can > > > write code that can be reviewed (for hidden messages) and submitted > > > by authorities on their behalf, using a pseudonym if necessary. > > > > > > There are plenty of prisoners who can already program and most of > > > the others would benefit from learning this trade, as they will > > > likely be poor and unemployed when they get out (point 1), and even > > > worse, with a criminal record. Why not give them a chance to have a > > > better future, so that they are less likely to repeat their mistakes > > > when they get out? > > > > > > Even if someone has been given a life sentence (the "hidden death > > > penalty"), free software could give them another shot at life, > > > something purposeful to look forward to and a chance to share > > > something with the outside world, to redeem themselves and leave > > > behind some good memories of them. > > > > > > Prison should aim to rehabilitate people, and free software can do > > > that by teaching its altruistic values. > > > > > > Teaching programming to as many people as possible, in general, can > > > only be helpful for the purpose of spreading free software. Let's say > > > you teach programming to 1000 people - even if all of them find a job > > > developing proprietary software (unlikely), the chance that at least > > > one of them (but realistically, more) will develop or promote free > > > software in their spare time and/or as part of their job is pretty high > > > compared to the chance people who haven't been taught the same have. > > > > > > Of course, free software needs more than programmers. Designers and > > > people who can spread the word (some would call it "marketing") are > > > actually a bigger necessity right now - as we have plenty of free > > > replacements for proprietary programs but nobody is using them, like > > > Tox or GNU/Linux itself - but the idea is that spreading free software > > > awareness to the largest number of people possible will naturally also > > > bring in some who have those skills. > > > > > > What do you think? Any programmers willing to share their knowledge with > > > everybody else? > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > libreplanet-discuss mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss > > > > > > > > > End of libreplanet-discuss Digest, Vol 71, Issue 6 > > > ************************************************** > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > [image: --] > > > > Charley Quinton > > [image: http://]about.me/charley.quinton > > <http://about.me/charley.quinton> > > -------------- next part -------------- > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > > URL: < > > http://lists.libreplanet.org/archive/html/libreplanet-discuss/attachments/20160201/ac25c2d4/attachment.html > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > libreplanet-discuss mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss > > > > > > End of libreplanet-discuss Digest, Vol 72, Issue 1 > > ************************************************** > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.libreplanet.org/archive/html/libreplanet-discuss/attachments/20160201/21b22a13/attachment.html> > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > libreplanet-discuss mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss > > > End of libreplanet-discuss Digest, Vol 72, Issue 2 > **************************************************
