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RMS on SCO, Distributions, DRM

Letter writes "Open for Business has an interview with GNU founder and free software zealot Richard M. Stallman (RMS) discussing the SCO situation, the single RMS-approved free Linux distribution and DRM in the Linux kernel. RMS also describes non-free software as a 'predatory social system that keeps people in a state of domination and division.'"

19 of 711 comments (clear)

  1. Stereotype by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Here is a picture of RMS

    http://www.linuxbourg.ch/rms/conference.jpg

    Looks like your typical fat, lazy, bearded unix admin to me.

    1. Re:Stereotype by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I am very sorry, this is completely off-topic, but HOW can his hands/fingers bend that way/that much? Just take a look at the picture!

      This is not a joke - I was genuinely amazed.

  2. Does this guy ever shut up!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Who really gives a flying hurd what he says?

  3. Dying of math and graphics by Faust7 · · Score: 2, Funny

    RMS: A non-free program is a predatory social system that keeps people in a state of domination and division, and uses the spoils to dominate more.

    Yeah, I know Mathematica and Lightwave sure keep me subdued in their jaws. It's all I can do to think freely.

    *can't... roll... eyes... hard enough*

  4. Sounds communist! by notque · · Score: 4, Funny

    RMS also describes non-free software as a 'predatory social system that keeps people in a state of domination and division

    So anything not free is a predatory social system that keeps people in a state of domination and division?

    My MP3 addiction finally has a flag bearer.

    --
    http://use.perl.org
  5. Re:zealot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It's settled, then. RMS is a Jew who hates Italians.

    GNU/Linux will henceforth be known as JEW/Linux.

  6. "www.linex.org could not be found" by brassman · · Score: 3, Funny

    Apparently they're only one year old, too. Happy first anniversary slashdotting, amigos.

    --
    "Ain't no right way to do a wrong thing."
  7. The interview is down... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    The interview is down, Slashdotted. Here's the original text of the interview:


    Q: So, let's get the ball rolling here. How is the state of Linux in your --

    A: That's GNU/Linux.

    Q: OK, and uh, Richard, how is GNU/Linux doing as a whole, given the current --

    A: That's GNU/Richard.

    ... and it went on like that for a while... at one point RMS apparently flails around on the floor in some sort of seisure-like movement shouting "GNU GNU GNU" for two and a half minutes on end.
  8. Slashdot effect... by MoobY · · Score: 4, Funny

    Open for business is now officially closed for business.

    --
    --- Sigmentation Fault - Comments Dumped
  9. Strong beliefs are okay... by squarooticus · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...when they are followed by consistent action.

    I find his stance re: Debian rather amusing in light of the fact that, when I was a grad student there, I caught him on the third floor of MIT LCS in 1998 playing Master of Orion at one of the Mac's in the hallway. Not that I think there's anything wrong with that---I play loads of non-free games and use one non-free application once a year (tax prep software)---but I'm surprised he's not having an ulcer from the contradiction. :)

    Cheers,
    Kyle

    --
    [ home ]
  10. Re:RMS disses Debian? by stevey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thankfully if you want to be reminded of the error of your ways you can install the Virtual RMS package - which will send you mail if ever you install non-free software!.

  11. It had to be said by McAddress · · Score: 2, Funny
    This will kill my Karma, but ...

    The article should read:

    Letter writes "Open for Business has an interview with GNU founder and GNU/free software GNU/zealot GNU/Richard M. GNU/Stallman (GNU/RMS) discussing the GNU/SCO situation, the single GNU/RMS-approved GNU/free GNU/Linux distribution and DRM in the Linux kernel. GNU/RMS also describes non-GNU/free software as a 'predatory social system that keeps people in a state of domination and division.'"

  12. No comments about emacs? by Michael+Iatrou · · Score: 5, Funny
    $ links -dump http://www.ofb.biz/modules.php\?name\=News\&file\= article\&sid\=260 | grep -i emacs | wc -l
    0
    He must be ill or something...
  13. Ambiguity, or double standards? by Ambush · · Score: 2, Funny
    It could be beneficial or harmful--only time will tell. Ximian was once a good example of a successful free software company, but that changed in 2002 when Ximian introduced a non-free product. (I won't say what it does, because I don't want to promote a non-free program.)

    Whoops, maybe he shouldn't have previously mentioned both Windows and StarOffice in the same interview. I'm now vaguely motivated to go and purchase both. Thanks Richard.

    --
    There are 10 kinds of people; those who know ternary, those who don't, and those now hunting for a dictionary.
  14. My First GNU/Post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I first used GNU/Unix and C in 1978. I rediscovered GNU/Unix in 1987. I have administered GNU/BSD,
    GNU/Ultrix, GNU/HP/UX, GNU/SunOS 4.x, GNU/SunOS 5.x and more flavours of GNU/Linux than I can
    remember although I started out using GNU/SLS with kernel 0.9.x.
    GNU/Linux has progressed so much in such a relatively short amount of time that I am in awe at
    where it is today.

    To GNU/gentoo. Then I remembered someone on cola mentioning a new distro named GNU/gentoo.

    Once this stage has been reached GNU/gentoo is as easy to maintain as any GNU/Linux distro I know.

    There is excellent documentation on the GNU/gentoo website. There is an excellent GNU/document
    describing the USE variable which should be read before installing GNU/gentoo.

    Apart from everything being compiled from source so that it is optimised for your hardware and the
    USE variable to tailor the type of system you want, GNU/gentoo has another little gem. This is the
    GNU/gentoo init system. It is based on the excellent GNU/SYSV init system but enhances it and
    makes GNU/gentoo a class apart from any other GNU/*nix system I have administered. To be brief,
    GNU/gentoo init GNU/scripts allow you to specify GNU/dependencies. There is no need to GNU/worry
    about S script numbering as in GNU/SYSV or where GNU/you place the startup code in GNU/BSD type
    GNU/init scripts (I'm referring to GNU/BSD 4.3 here. I don't GNU/know if the free GNU/BSD's have
    changed GNU/things).

    To summarise: GNU/gentoo is a very special GNU/Linux distro. It may not GNU/be for the the
    GNU/Linux GNU/neophyte (I'm sure GNU/someone posted to GNU/cola recently that GNU/gentoo was their
    first GNU/Linux GNU/install) although if GNU/you read the GNU/docs and GNU/understand what is
    going on GNU/gentoo is an excellent GNU/distro.

    GNU/Support GNU/is GNU/excellent GNU/via GNU/the GNU/gentoo GNU/forums GNU/and GNU/mailing
    GNU/lists.

  15. GNU/LinEx by sinserve · · Score: 2, Funny

    RMS: When I recommend a GNU/Linux distribution, I choose based on ethical considerations. Today I would recommend GNU/LinEx, the distribution prepared by the government of Extremadura ..

    I, for one, welcome our new Free Software using Extramaduran overlords.

    Seriously, WHOTF are these guys?

  16. Re:zealot? by hawkstone · · Score: 4, Funny

    the majority of the hecklers I've seen here on Slashdot have never contributed a line of open-source code in their lives

    While I understand your point, I find this statement a little amusing. It's like saying "the majority of people heckling Manson have never killed a single person in their lives."

  17. Linux has always had DRM of a sort by SIGBUS · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's called file permissions. Of course, it isn't the Hollywood-wet-dream type of DRM...

    --
    Oh, no! You have walked into the slavering fangs of a lurking grue!
  18. Re:su with wheel group by nutznboltz · · Score: 2, Funny