misc, Richard: As someone from a relatively outside perspective, I find this thread puzzling. My feelings have swung from one side to the other as the thread has surged on. I just don't know the players well enough to draw a firm conclusion.
The nub of the perceived slight is this: RMS can't endorse OpenBSD /at all/ over what turns out to be a very small point of principle. But I feel any impartial observer would conclude that OpenBSD has a clearly articulated open source policy, and goes to great lengths to adhere to it. In thinking back, a key point for me is that RMS never out-and-out said he was /seeking/ to endorse OpenBSD. If RMS *is* seeking to endorse OpenBSD, then his message might be 'Of all the OS distros I don't approve, I find yours to be the freest. If you would but cast this mote out of your eye, we could advance free software'. If that is close to what he means, he has just been rather clumsy and undiplomatic in his approach, or he has a talent for saying things in controversial ways in order to draw attention to his words. But if he is *not* looking to endorse OpenBSD, then it is hard to not draw the conclusion that he is a clever provocateur, and the OpenBSD list has shown a lot of forbearance in tolerating him for as long as they did before the flames got really hot. So, I ask you respectfully, Richard: what is your intent in making your original comments, and starting this thread? That would be the deciding factor for me. -Ken
