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Ask Alan Cox, Activist

Posted by Roblimo on from the fighting-the-good-fight dept.

Alan Cox is one of the world's most famous Linux kernel hackers. Lately he's been speaking out quite a bit on issues like copyright law, software patents, and the future of Linux, and has generally become a bit more politically active, at least in the public eye, than he was in the past. Slashdot interviewed Alan back in 1999. Lots of things have changed since then, but our interview procedure hasn't; one question per post, we send 10 of the highest-moderated ones to Alan, and post his answers verbatim as soon as he gets them back to us.

20 of 265 comments (clear)

  1. HAHAHAHA i don't think so by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    that's Third Post mofo

  2. MODERATORS! MOD THIS UP! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Truly an insightful question, my friend.

  3. Clash of the Titans by PhysicsGenius · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    In the world of scientific research, openness reigns supreme. At least that's how it appears and over the long-haul that's correct. However, in day to day work and while a discovery is being published, the researchers involved are very secretive and hesitant to reveal anything at all, least of all any software models they've created of the processes they are studying.

    That's why we at the lab have had to reluctantly shy away from the GPL and instead use a Microsoft-style EULA that forbids anyone from disassembling, reverse-engineering, etc the software we submit for peer review because there's nothing we can do to stem the viral nature of the GPL from overtaking everything we've worked so hard for.

  4. Re:The desktop, applications, and Courtney by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    1. The only way that will happen would be if we could roll back the clock to the time of the Communists.

    2. Linux? A viable desktop alternative? Hit me up with some of that weed.

    3. Linux, and all the applications available for it, suck. Period.

    4. Isn't she a woman? I am afraid of women.

    Sincerely,
    Anal Cocks

  5. ERROR by bleckywelcky · · Score: 0, Offtopic


    Slashdot ERROR #3829
    Post contains multiple questions.

  6. Crush activism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Activism == communism == evil

  7. Another unrelated question... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Now BE HONEST. This question is for all the young studs that want to be linux kernal coders...

    When was the last time you got laid? Are you still a virgin?


    MODERATORS - this is a joke, have a laugh

    1. Re:Another unrelated question... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      laid? is that anything like raid.

  8. Re:Do you have any other interests? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    how can you tell the diffrence between him and other harly driving long beards :-/

  9. Re:Vodak's First Question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    As far as that is concerned, I think there is only one conclusion:

    "We of the ya-ya priesthood!"

    "YA-YA"

    "YAAAAAA-YAAAAAAAA"

    And with that, I say farwell, it sure was swell, fall down a well. We sniff some grass, and go to pass, a lot of gas, out of our ass.

  10. Re:GPL and BSD et al by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    You sir, are a nimrod. You can "intergrate" all of these with proprietary software.

  11. LOL by tps12 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Holy shit that's funny. That's an awesome trick. Hehe. Rock on, dude.

    --

    Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
  12. Be Honest by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    What do you really think of Natalie Portman?

    Did you look for Kirsten Dunst's nipple?

  13. Re:Copyright Laws and the Public by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    New mod comment (-1, Karma Whore)

  14. Re:Kernel Trees by wizkid · · Score: 0, Offtopic


    I ARE AN ENGINEEER - GOOD SPELING IS KNOT A
    REQIRMENT!

    I suspect Everyone here knows I meant the DMCA. So I'm a bit dyslexic!

    --
    I take no responsibility for what I say. Even though I'm never wrong :)
  15. W00! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Yet another way to r00t a linux box!

  16. umm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    she is going to see it growing all along. that would only work if he showed up out of the blue one day with a beard.

  17. That icon looks like by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    a big black penis held by a big gay computer geek. What gives?

  18. Re:Beards? by DeadSea · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    Beard - Slang term for a woman who helps a gay man to convince others he is straight by going with him to social functions as his "date."
    Examples: "He brought a woman with him to the office party, but I think that she was just his beard."

    So all you have to do is hide that you are gay and your wife becomes your beard.

  19. Everything in moderation by wfrp01 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Have you read the Moderator Guidelines yet?

    --

    --Lawrence Lessig for Congress!