On 24/06/2011, at 8:58 AM, [email protected] wrote: > Where to start?? > > I have to agree with Erik De here (thanks for clarifying the real ground on > which the argument stands, Erik.) and will extend the argument too. > > This article reminds me that there are 'Alan Jones' types all around the > world and in all kinds of media and it generally cheapens the field. > > They take something, extract a small part and then blow it out of proportion, > decontexualise it, hide the history and political elements to their claims > and all along position themselves as the voice of reason and balance. Jones > is a classic example of this type of "journalism" and this article appears to > be a classic example of that type of "journalism" as well. > > For a great many people, GNU/Linux is an expression of a particular form of > ethics. If you fail to generally accept those ethics then it's no surprise > that swapping backwards and forwards between OSs would be seen as a > reasonable thing to do. > > I can't say that I adhere to the same level of commitment that RMS has, but I > at least aim in the same direction. > > To summarise my machine - it all works brilliantly well for multi-media > editing (of a not particularly simple level) and I can hunt around for the > best hardware at the best prices. > > It would appear to me that if you GNU/Linux fits your ethical position on the > world then OSs which do not meet the same ethical standards would not be > something you would consider for the great majority (if any) of your needs. > > As someone who considers the general GNU/Linux ethical argument (as espoused > by RMS) I'm not in a position to merely swap when the whim takes me as it > would mean going counter to an ethical position I accept as being a part of > my own. > > Speaking personally, I'd rather contribute to an OS which has a > community-orientation (not which has a *community* which is kept like serfs), > which is made available to the world as freely as possible and which attempts > to maintain my freedom of choice, access, use and ownership.
Patrick I agree but I wonder if the ethical argument does not transend reality ... To what extent do most users *know* that they are using linux? /proc /sys /dev/shm lmsensors come to mind, the rest is GNU or GPL. I've had people - say my mother in law - using a desktop machine, here, completely oblivious to linux powering their way. I bought an iMac to run linux, linux ran terribly on it! I am now running OSX with my normal compliment of GNU/GPL apps and my desktop looks very similar to the dozen linux-only machines. EG years of frustration with evolution and kmail are quelled by this mailer, whose single vice is the bluddy-picture (I think it is gone now). I'm too old to stand in the rain with a placard, I just want it to work (tm), Not that I can't or don't admire those who do stand in the rain James-- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
