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Questions Continue About The KDE League

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-to-read dept.

OrangeSpyderMan writes "Here is a further piece by Dennis E. Powell ("DEP"), the other is an editorial, submitted simply by "staff". They make interesting reading, and add a lot of info to the story previously reported Of particular insterest is an apparent clarification of the tax status of the league, which, if anything, serves to complicate a little further the true role of the league, as the editorial goes on to explain. Basically the "staff" appear to wonder if it wouldn't have been more productive to give the $170,000 that the League appears to have collected (or be owed) directly to the KDE project."

11 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. Sad by e8johan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It is sad that the KDE project has to be associated with such business practice. I feel that this can bring down the credibility for the project, which is not only bad for KDE, but for the entire open source movement.

  2. Black Eye.... by Tsali · · Score: 4, Interesting

    People might misread this and think lump KDE with this corporation. Not good.

    Fortunately, I don't think this will hit the mainstream media for a number of reasons - a) $170,000 is nothing compared to other companies and b) KDE/Gnome are largely unknown by the common Windows-using public.

    Hopefully this will just be an ugly incident that gets resolved and forgotten.

    It sounds like the KDE league needs to fess up and give back to the community.

    --
    This space for rent.
  3. IANAL by CaptainAlbert · · Score: 5, Funny

    Every article like this I read makes me happier and happier that IANAL. Can you image having to deal with that kind of stuff every day? Eeeeew. It's worse than Prolog! >:-o

    If I ever *do* become a lawyer for some reason, someone please put me out of my misery?

    --
    These sigs are more interesting tha
  4. Andreas Pour of the League Responded by BRock97 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just for the record, Andreas Pour has responded to DEP's article with an email that was posted over on Linuxtoday.com. The response can be found here. At least, that is the only place I have read it....

    --

    Bryan R.
    The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, or $12.50 as seen on eBay.....
  5. Re:Deps original article re: KDE, Israel + Palesti by 10Ghz · · Score: 5, Offtopic

    The thread where dep realized KDE-developers are nazis and anti-semites? It's right here:

    http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=kde-cafe&m=10177 05 43814143&w=2

    Basically, few KDE-developers disagree with some of Israels policies regarding the Palestinians. But that does not make them in to nazis.

    I espesially like this quote (by dep himself):

    "it is always ironic to see german nationals, like members of AA who fall off the wagon from time to time, come out foursquare against genocide -- as if everyone *except* them has committed it -- unless the situation involves a new attempt to exterminate those who germany tried and failed to exterminate."

    http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=kde-cafe&m=10178 43 86718225&w=2

    Gee dep, that sure is mature of you...

    In short, deps problem with KDE-project is this: He's annoyed because few KDE-developers dared to disagree with Israel on a off-topic mailinglist. he's also annoyed when those same developers didn't want to get down on all fours and kiss USA's ass.

    --
    Lesbian Nazi Hookers Abducted by UFOs and Forced Into Weight Loss Programs - -all next week on Town Talk.
  6. Re:How did they get the money? by Ctrl-Z · · Score: 4, Interesting


    Did you actually read the article?

    Oh, wait, this is Slashdot.

    They don't actually have $170 000. That was their budget for last year. The story that is linked is about their reinstatement as a corporation, and then rambles all over the map talking about money and non-profit vs. not-for-profit, and some pondering on what exactly the KDE League has done for KDE e.V.

    I'm a little bit confused about why they are using such old data in a current story.

    --
    www.timcoleman.com is a total waste of your time. Never go there.
  7. But then the League... by tshoppa · · Score: 5, Funny
    Basically the "staff" appear to wonder if it wouldn't have been more productive to give the $170,000 that the League appears to have collected (or be owed) directly to the KDE project."

    But then the League wouldn't have that cool metallic headquarters downtown headquarters from which they fight crime.

    Oh, wait, that was the Justice League.

  8. Nice move, dep by back_pages · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I previously had no experience with LinuxandMain. This fiasco has firmly convinced me that the site is a sensationalist gossip haven. I will certainly laugh whenever anyone uses the site or its contributors as a reference.

    Somehow, I think this was not the type of publicity LinuxandMain wanted to stir up. Unfortunately for them, the damage is done. I really couldn't care if the KDE League has been less than admirable in their business practices. The unprofessional hack job that LinuxandMain has done on this story is the only thing I'm going to remember about it.

    Flamebait? Sure, maybe. Maybe I'm just offering a clue to anyone over at LinuxandMain that the potential audience for a Linux website is slightly more critical and clever than the average tabloid reader. Edward Said was right. The media is self-serving and self-perpetuating, but that doesn't mean that smart people won't see through it.

    1. Re:Nice move, dep by back_pages · · Score: 4, Interesting
      But I'm not a KDE enthusiast. I used Gnome exclusively until I installed RH8.0, at which point I switched to KDE just to see how it had changed since I used it last. It's not bad, but to be honest, I'd just as soon use Gnome if KDE annoyed me twice.

      I couldn't really care about the KDE League, and it's quite possible that LinuxandMain have a perfectly valid point. But hey, maybe some KKK members had some really good economic policies. If you're going to reach an audience and expect to be taken seriously, you're going to have a tough time if it appears that extreme political views are your motivation. That's exactly how this scenario looks at this point.

      If MSNBC ran a story about KDE League's finances, I'd think, "Sure, they might be biased toward Microsoft for business reasons, but the story might check out." Instead, we get LinuxandMain, a few mailing list posts, and I'm left thinking that LinuxandMain have some extreme middle east political agenda against the KDE League.

      To be blunt, I'd rather hear Microsoft blast the KDE League because I expect them to. The bias is a result of the market. I distrust anybody who blasts anything software related potentially because of the political opinions of the members. I distrust Diskeeper because it is developed strictly by Scientologists; I distrust LinuxandMain's articles because of the political undercurrent.

      And if LinuxandMain is proud of this publicity, and stands behind this guy, it reflects on the whole organization.

  9. soon to come on linux and main by imr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    1/ what did ximian do with the 15 millions $ ?
    2/ gnome developper heard to dislike the color "black" (to use on an icon) - probably KKK member.
    3/ usage of windowmaker linked with active trolling group - undercover anarcho-terrorrists?
    4/ creator of enlightenment drop his project - probably to escape fbi.
    5/ linux and main just bought by unknkown megacorp of redmond . soon to be renamed.

  10. Re:Deps original article re: KDE, Israel + Palesti by Nailer · · Score: 4, Informative

    Judging by the constant up and down moderation of that comment as either underrated or offtopic, perhaps some context is in order: that article, which alleges that many KDE project members are somehow antisemitic for not supporting Israel, is why Andreas Pour won't speak to Linux and Main an specifically Denis E Powell - he believes DEP has a clear agenda against the project simply because some of its members don't agree with his political views.