MESSAGE
| DATE | 2004-01-15 |
| FROM | Adam Kosmin
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Re: ogg tutorial
|
Hi Thomas,
I couldn't agree more and think that the page is a fine addition to the
site. There is one problem that I see:
"We, FedoraNEWS.ORG, do not responsible for any damage..."
should be:
"We, FedoraNEWS.ORG, are not responsible for any damage..."
Now if I can step back for a second, can I ask you to elaborate on the
motives that prompted you to publish this disclaimer? You mentioned
press. What's going on?
Furthermore, I can't help but think that my initial rant may have
contributed to you feeling the need to defend your freedom of speech. On
that note, I'd just like to say that you are 100% correct and that I
never had any intention of challenging you on that.
However, I do stand by my position when I suggest that it is immoral to
advocate the use of non-Free software on a platform who's stated goal is
to "build the Operating System exclusively from Open Source software".
Yes, you are well within your right to exercise free speech, but it is
my opinion that this kind of advocacy does damage to the Free and Open
Source movements. I will use the example of free speech to make my
point.
Obviously, you value the power of free speech. Think about how much
you'd value this freedom if you were never educated on it's benefits.
Can free speech be effective if only applied under certain conditions?
Would you protect your freedom of speech? Obviously you will (as shown
by the topic of this email). The reason you'll defend it goes back to
the fact that you are aware of it.
We are actually touching on the fine line between Open Source and Free
Software. Open Source (OS) does not educate it's users as to the
importance of the freedoms provided by the GPL. Instead, it sells the
benefits (side effects) of the OS development model (the end product is
more secure, more functional, less expensive). These side effects are
actually irrelevant and here's why: What if Microsoft ends up creating a
product that is more secure, more functional, and gives it away at no
cost? Should we endorse it? According to the values that are recognized
by subscribers of the OS philosophy, it would make perfect sense to use
Microsoft's latest widget. That's the flaw with the OS sales pitch.
Subscribers of the Free Software (FS) philosophy, are conscious to the
fact that freedom is goal #1 (think back to freedom of speech). The
imaginary widget from Microsoft may be more secure, less expensive, and
more functional, but it is not good enough because it is not free (as in
speech) and therefore, damages to our society's ability to collaborate,
innovate, and protect our privacy.
FedoraNews.org is in a position of great power considering the fact that
thousands of people read your "writing on the wall" on a daily basis.
Like our buddy Spidey has said "With great power comes great
responsibility", you have a responsibility to use your power to help
people to the best of your ability. Going back to the issue of free
speech, you are within your right but listen to what you're preaching.
Please consider the effects, not just the fact that you have the right
to say it.
Thank you,
Adam Kosmin
Thomas Chung (tchung-at-fedoranews.org) wrote:
" Hi Adam,
"
" I've decided to post this page since we're getting so much attention from the
" press and I want them to know we're simply exercising our rights.
"
" http://fedoranews.org/about/right.shtml
"
" Also notice the disclaimer at the bottom of every pages.
"
" "FedoraNEWS.ORG is not sponsored by Red Hat, Inc.
" Red Hat, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this site."
"
" What do you think? I want to hear your opinion.
" --
" Thomas Chung
" FedoraNEWS.ORG (http://fedoranews.org)
" "..where you can free your knowledge for your free community!"
"
"
" ---------- Original Message -----------
" From: Adam Kosmin
" To: Thomas Chung
" Sent: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 18:00:16 -0500
" Subject: Re: ogg tutorial
"
" > Thomas,
" >
" > I really wasn't trying to "get you". I just happened to notice it and
" > got upset. Thoughts of newbie users turning their beautiful Linux boxes
" > into the equivalent of Windows 9x were swarming through my head. I'm
" > actually quite sure that this happens more than I care to admit but I'd
" > feel better about blaming it on their stupidity rather than
" > documentation provided by the Linux community.
" >
" > Thanks so much for correcting the problem :))
" >
" > Adam Kosmin
"
--
"Yes, Your Honor. Now, where we are so far, in at least my
line of reasoning, is I want to walk the Court through enough of our
complaint to help the Court understand that IBM clearly did contribute a
lot of the Unix-related information into Linux. We just don't know what
it is."
-- Kevin McBride SCO vs. IBM 12/05/03
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