On Thu, 18 Oct 2007 03:07:22 +0530, Unknown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> On 10/18/07, Manoj Srivastava <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:25:18 +0530, Unknown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> said:
>>
>> > Ahem, coming to the point, shouldn't we rather channelise our
>> > energies towards making *all* these prominent platforms work
>> > together seamlessly, at least pointing to ways to achieve that
>> > objective?
>>
>> No. I am not going to spend any energy supporting, or promoting
>> non-free software or non-free platforms. Your mileage may of course
> What do you think is wrong with doing that?
Because I think that closed software prevents the standing on
shoulder of giants thing. Most research is freely available -- and is
used by other people in their own research, as long as proper citations
are included. This means that everyone is not stuck reinventing the
wheel -- imagine if all research were based on stuff already old and in
textbooks.
Free software is like that -- and closed software prevents the
synergistic improvements possible when code and ideas flow freely.
>> vary; but my goals are closely related to freedom of software
>> long-term, not short term expediency.
> As far as goals are concerned, we concur!
>> Closed systems, while trampling of freedoms of the user, might well
>> work withing parameters. That in no way means I am going to spend
>> any effort supporting them, or trying to interact with them.
> That said, you're treating FOSS as hardcore religion, and religion
> today, sir, is mostly *used* for all the wrong reasons!
Rubbish. I have solid, pragmatic reasons behind my opinions --
not superstitious dogma. Just because passion enters ito the picture
does not mean that the rationale is not sound -- you are jumping to
conclusions.
>>
>> I am not opposing other people doing what they want; I just strongly
>> reject that that is what people in a free software related forum
>> should be working towards.
> Definitely not _promoting_ non-free software! But yes being able to
> interact with them or their output formats gives me, as a Linux user,
> some added advantage, some more power and *freedom* for sure!
I beg to differ. Snorting cocaine also gives a short term
feeling of energy and creativity, but is detrimental in the long run.
Conspiring with software hoarders, who hoard software and knowledge for
profit, and buying the cool-aid, is not of any long term utility.
manoj
--
QOTD: "The elder gods went to Suggoth and all I got was this lousy
T-shirt."
Manoj Srivastava <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <http://www.golden-gryphon.com/>
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