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2006 - The Year the FSF Reached Out

Posted by Zonk on from the hugs-from-a-penguin dept.

nanday writes "Linux.com is running a story about how the Free Software Foundation has transformed itself into an activist organization in the past year. From the story: 'At the start of 2006, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) was largely inward-looking, focused on the GNU Project and high-level strategic concerns such as licensing. Now, without abandoning these issues, the FSF had transformed into an openly activist organization, reaching out to its supporters and encouraging their participation in civic campaigns often designed to enlist non-hackers in their causes. Yet what happened seems to bemuse even FSF employees.'" Linux.com and Slashdot are both owned by OSTG.

30 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. Transformation by jesboat · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It is an interesting transformation, and one that took people by storm. I can't help but wonder if this doesn't introduce a conflict of interest between the anti-DRM stuff and supporting GNU in the future.

    1. Re:Transformation by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 4, Insightful
      It is an interesting transformation, and one that took people by storm.

      Are you on drugs? The FSF took people by storm? What people would these be? The choir?

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  2. It's about time... by jaymzter · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've often wondered why the FSF hasn't reached out to the mainstream community before. The ideas and restrictions behind Treacherous Computing, DRM, and the Copyright Raiders should be enough to raise the hackles of any conservatives and libertarians out there. Until mainstream activists realized the dangers pointed out by RMS this will remain an uphill battle.

    As an aside, if the common public are pirates, maybe we should refer to the **AAs as Vikings or Raiders or something. Successively stealing our rights and enforcing their business models..

    --
    If thou see a fair woman pay court to her, for thus thou wilt obtain love
    1. Re:It's about time... by 0racle · · Score: 2, Insightful
      I've often wondered why the FSF hasn't reached out to the mainstream community before
      Because most people do not care about what the FSF cares about.
      --
      "I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
    2. Re:It's about time... by Erwos · · Score: 2, Insightful

      What you don't get, apparently, is that this concern doesn't rank very high on the average person's radar compared to other stuff, like _crime_, _taxes_, and other such issues. It's like the "Save the *small rare bird* Foundation" - there's a bunch of folks who care, but they're absolutely dwarfed by those who don't. Why should your cause be at the top of the list, or anywhere in the vicinity?

      --
      Plausible conjecture should not be misrepresented as proof positive.
    3. Re:It's about time... by daviddennis · · Score: 4, Insightful

      ... because most people don't understand what the FSF cares about, and it's likely they never will.

      For most people, you shove a DVD into a DVD player and if it works, that's all they need.

      Most of the people who do care are on Slashdot, and so it's easy to think of it as a huge bunch of folks, but I'd say about 1% of the population uses file sharing networks and maybe 2% of the population actually sees the problems with DRM. Now, that's a huge number of people, and a large percentage of the number of people interested in owning music or movies, so it's important to both producers and consumers of entertainment. But it's never going to be the dominant issue for more than a tiny handful of people.

      It's not enough to swing an election, so with politicla issues the RIAA has a huge advantage, and from what I can see, they use it ruthlessly.

      I think the FSF did a very nice job with BadVista.org . The site's very well done. But I think they will mainly be preaching to the choir.

      D

    4. Re:It's about time... by Karzz1 · · Score: 3, Informative

      What you don't get, apparently, is that this concern doesn't rank very high on the average person's radar compared to other stuff, like _crime_, _taxes_, and other such issues. It's like the "Save the *small rare bird* Foundation" - there's a bunch of folks who care, but they're absolutely dwarfed by those who don't.

      That is quite a jump you just made there. I realize fully that there are more pressing matters in the eyes of most people (myself included). However, unlike the "Save the *small rare bird* Foundation" you mention, these are rights that people will miss once they have been stripped away. Other than a select few, almost no one will miss the birds (yes it is a tragedy, but really, how does it affect the average persons life?).

      The problem, as I see it, is that the large media companies have intentionally convoluted and obfuscated the issues so that the average person no longer understands what is really at stake - hence my use of the term "complacency". It is far easier to pretend that nothing is happening than to educate oneself on the issues at hand. Are these issues as important as many other issues, such as taxes or crime as you mentioned? Probably not in most peoples eyes. However that does not mean that we should simply ignore these issues simply because there are other more pressing matters to deal with first. This is where I applaud the FSF. They are raising awareness of these issues.

      "Why should your cause be at the top of the list, or anywhere in the vicinity?"

      I don't believe I suggested that this take precedence over all other issues or that it is "my cause"; I merely implied that it is an issue worthy of consideration.

      --
      Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master.
    5. Re:It's about time... by TheRaven64 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Most of the people who do care are on Slashdot, and so it's easy to think of it as a huge bunch of folks, but I'd say about 1% of the population uses file sharing networks I think you'd be way off here. Take a look at the people the RIAA is suing; how many of them post on Slashdot, do you think? In my experience, it tends to be my non-geek friends who are more aware of which filesharing network is the place to get which kind of content. Using most of them doesn't require any technical knowledge, just a broadband connection. Mostly, it spreads because someone says 'hey, I found this way to get free songs' and installs it on all of their friends computers. They may have no understanding of the technology, or the legality, but they are still using the systems.
      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    6. Re:It's about time... by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 3, Informative
      I think the FSF did a very nice job with BadVista.org

      I'm not so sure. The first thing that happens is that you get redirected - so right away a curious but casual visitor thinks that either he's done something wrong or the site's not yet ready. Then, when (and if) he figures out that this weird .fsf.org is the right place, he's swamped with too much text that all looks the same. There's no single part that catches his eye and says "read me first, this is the idea. Then maybe if you like that then look at the rest of this stuff." Instead he says "I'm not reading all this crap. I'll come back when they're organized." and closes the window.

      It needs to be much, much simpler. Then once the basic ideas are conveyed the more complex parts can be explored. The casual reader will not be motivated until he's drawn in. You can't just throw a big pile of stuff at him and say "Here's all the info you need. Just wade through it all and figure it out."

    7. Re:It's about time... by jbn-o · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It's only "likely they never will" if those educated about software freedom believe they cannot talk to everyday computer users and therefore never try. I've done this work in person, on the radio, and online and I've learned that people are receptive to learning about social solidarity, ethics, and preserving freedom. In fact, it takes an inordinate amount of effort on the part of proprietors to convince people not to pay attention to issues of social solidarity in software including DRM, proprietary software, and patents. People don't take kindly to being restricted them doing something they want their computer to do. What proprietors do is constant education as well; people won't naturally separate themselves from one another and keep each other from working together. Proprietors know that people have to be taught to behave this way and endorse this mode of behavior in their everyday lives. You won't get where you want to go, politically, by giving up.

      I encourage everyone to help teach others about software freedom and reject notions that others won't understand you. It's incredibly rewarding to connect with people on a level where you share and work together.

      --
      Digital Citizen
    8. Re:It's about time... by daviddennis · · Score: 2, Informative

      You are right. I did not express myself clearly, and I apologise for that.

      Here's what I meant to say, broken down a little better.

      * Sure, almost everyone buys/rents a movie or two every year.
      * But the fanatics, who buy/rent/go to a movie or two every month, or even every week, are maybe 10% of the population, and they amount to 80% or more of the profits.
      * If you take the top 1-2% of the total population, then, who used to buy half the movies and now just download them, you're at about 20% of their core customers, and that can really hurt.

      So although 1-2% of the population is not a big percentage by number of people, it turns out to be a very high percentage of actual sales.

      Did that make help?

      D

    9. Re:It's about time... by dangitman · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I've often wondered why the FSF hasn't reached out to the mainstream community before.

      The grammatical construction of your statement implies that you believe that the FSF is reaching out to the mainstream community now. Problem is, they aren't. They are just pulling retarded publicity stunts that do not resonate with the mainstream. It would be nice if they decided to "reach out," but their actions this year indicate the opposite - they just want to further wall themselves off into an enclave.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  3. Thank you FSF by JayTech · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Thank you Free Software Foundation,

    You guys have helped spread the dream of free access, open source and non-proprietary software to the everyday consumer. You've dared to speak out against the media & industry giants in your quest to unmask the truth of rights-stripping DRM. Keep fighting the good fight, we are behind you 100%.

    1. Re:Thank you FSF by grcumb · · Score: 4, Informative

      You guys have helped spread the dream of free access, open source and non-proprietary software to the everyday consumer. No, they haven't. Very few people have moved to open source systems...

      You've got a typo there. Let me fix it for you:

      "Very few people are aware that they have moved to open source systems, such as the Internet and its services, all of which are, philosophically if not literally, part of the Free world that Richard Stallman envisioned lo, these many years ago."

      ...and very few have any desire to, or even knowledge of what they are.

      The first won't happen without the second. The FSF has done a bang-up job educating developers and other geeks, to the extent that the de facto choice these days for developers is between Microsoft and GNU GPL systems and applications. There are other options, but these two dominate.

      Now the FSF seem to believe that, the first battle being won, they've got to reach out to the general public - or should that be GNU/General Public - and continue the fight there. Given your points about general awareness, I think the decision is a wise one. Way to go, FSF!

      --
      Crumb's Corollary: Never bring a knife to a bun fight.
    2. Re:Thank you FSF by wrook · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Sigh... That's my point. It doesn't. Yet. The point behind fighting DRM is to make sure that doesn't happen. I could care less whether or not *any particular device* has DRM. What I care about is making sure the public doesn't accept DRM as "the cost of doing business". Because once all the popular media falls under DRM, it will be a short technological tweak to ensuring that only certain groups get a voice in the media.

      Again, look at the gaming industry. Try to release anything to the general public on one of the current generation machines without somebody else's permission. In the US, and very rapidly many other countries, it is not possible without breaking the law (and actually extremely difficult even if you don't care about the law). This is the case because people don't care. I hope they don't care because they don't understand the possible implications to their lives.

      Why is this important? Because the cost of freedom is continuous vigilance. However, if the popular media controls our access to information, then we can not longer be vigilant. A relatively small number of people will control the way we are able to see the world. And they can shape it into anything they want.

  4. Re:like me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    For those like me who have heard of the Free Software Foundation, but are not sure who or what they are:


    God, has Slashdot really fallen this far?
  5. Re:Activist Companies by FunWithKnives · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Dude, the FSF is a (duh) non-profit organization that was founded by Richard Stallman. Its only purpose, per fsf.org:

    The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Boston, MA, USA. We rely on support from individuals like you to carry out our worldwide mission to preserve, protect and promote the freedom to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer software, and to defend the rights of all free software users.

    So, were you just trolling, or were you genuinely confused about what the FSF does?
    --
    "We may face a scorched and lifeless earth, but they're accountable to their shareholders first."
  6. Re:like me by WilliamSChips · · Score: 4, Funny

    For those like me who have heard of the Wikipedia, but are not sure who or what they are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia

    --
    Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.
  7. I wonder by Brandybuck · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If they weren't an activist organization until this year, what the heck were they the previous twenty four years?

    --
    Don't blame me, I didn't vote for either of them!
    1. Re:I wonder by bfields · · Score: 5, Insightful
      If they weren't an activist organization until this year, what the heck were they the previous twenty four years?

      I think they were concentrated much more on supporting free software development directly.

      That's less of a priority now, I suppose (for the happy reason that lots of other people are spending money on development), so they're concentrating more on politics--something the various companies funding developers may not be able to do.

  8. Re:like me by Dunbal · · Score: 2, Informative

    Next you'll be revealing to the world the identity of those perenially mysterious acronyms, GNU, RMS and GPL.

    For those who didn't know: GNU, RMS, and GPL.

          Take care, guy ;)

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  9. Funny, I agree'd with their tactics till this year by BigBuckHunter · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I agreed with most of the tactics of the FSF over the past few years. Then, I started seeing more an more propeganda (like their anti-vista site). I am still terribly troubled by the direction of the FSF and feel that my they no longer are working in my best interest. Just so we are on the same page, here are my opinions on the subjects they are dealing with.

    Vista: I do not wish to port my apps to, purchase, or deploy a leacy operating system.
    DRM: I do not wish to port my applications to legacy hardware platforms.
    Propritary Licenses: I do no wish to relicense my applications using legacy licenses.

    Notice the uber-troll passive aggresive use of the word "legacy". I hope other slashdotters here will pick up the word and add it to their everyday vocabulary when dealing with MS sales drones.

    BBH

  10. Re:Funny, I agree'd with their tactics till this y by westlake · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Notice the uber-troll passive aggresive use of the word "legacy". I hope other slashdotters here will pick up the word and add it to their everyday vocabulary

    Good lord.

    As if Geek-speak wasn't stupidly off-putting enough as it stands. Passive-aggressive indeed.

    Vista on the boss's quad core 64 bit system isn't going to look or perform like a legacy OS and it is the boss the sales drone gets to see.

  11. Re:The RIAA is a lot worse than the mafia by Millenniumman · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You're being ridiculous. The mafia kills people. The RIAA sues you for some money. If you don't want to be sued don't pirate music. If you don't want to deal with the RIAA at all, buy indie music, or none at all.

    --
    Stupidity is like nuclear power, it can be used for good or evil. And you don't want to get any on you.
  12. Re:like me by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 3, Informative
    This is Slashdot. As in "News for Nerds who Know What the Free Software Foundation Is." Next you'll be revealing to the world the identity of those perenially mysterious acronyms, GNU, RMS and GPL.

    It's not people are born knowing these things. The guy has a seven digit id. He's new to the site, and took the time to educate himself, and figured he might not be the only one who didn't know. And you give him shit for that.

  13. DRM now Vista by OurNewOverloard · · Score: 2, Insightful

    GO FSF!

    I have watched over the years as /. readers have bitched and moaned about DRM and M$, and for years nothing, nothing happens.

    FSF suddenly go for it, launch Defective by Design (they even do "protests" outside Apple stores!) and BOOM they get huge press coverage, and DRM now seems doomed, and everyone agrees.

    Now they have launched BadVista, huge press coverage, and suddenly everyone seems to "get it" that Vista is a DRM platform, and it will be a nightmare.

    More crappy activism like this please!

  14. They're the MAFIAA by tepples · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You've dared to speak out against the media & industry giants in your quest to unmask the truth of rights-stripping DRM. Ugh, dared to? They're not the mafia O RLY?

    anyone and everyone can say whatever they want whenever they want. Even where to get fair use tools for DVD-Video?
  15. Me too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    For those who are not sure who or what a tedious, bandwidth-wasting, sub-memetic wankfest is, please consult parent posts.

  16. Most users don't care by 16K+Ram+Pack · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Protesting about Vista and DRM won't do shit.

    Telling people they shouldn't buy HD-DVD and Blu-Ray and "you should prohibit them from your home and your life.". Do the FSF people get out from their myopic community at any time and meet some normal people? Most of them couldn't care less about free software rights. They buy a PC from Dell, they pop their DVD/HD-DVD in and it plays the movie. It does what they want.

    I have a lot of respect for Mark Shuttleworth because he actually has some understanding of the problem. That people want to do this stuff, and right now, Linux can't (or at least not without some rather grey legal areas). And his drive is to solve it, not pretend that you can make it go away or persuade people to restrict their lives for it.

    The FSF are insignificant, blind zealots working in their own little world, unable to see that sensible compromise in the short term may be necessary in the long term.

    The likes of Canonical are doing far more for free software than the FSF are.

  17. Re:Perhaps an unintended consequence... by rawtatoor · · Score: 2, Informative

    They need a backer, somebody like Google, for people to pay any attention to them. Kind of like this?