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German Linux Community Boycotting LinuxTag
em8chel writes "LinuxTag, Germany's major fair for Linux and Free Software, is facing a massive boycott from open source enthusiasts in the country this year. Although the event doesn't open for a week, the community is voicing their anger and disappointment on various forums about this year's LinuxTag running under the auspices of Wolfgang Schaeuble, the conservative Minister of Interior, whose positions on issues of interest to the community are controversial to say the very least. Due to online protests and calls for a boycott, the organizer of LinuxTag has released a statement (German version, serviceable Google translation), holding that the politician's policies and political views have nothing to do with supporting free software, adding that if the community boycotts LinuxTag, it's the open source software that will be hit the hardest, and that Schaeuble probably won't even notice."
I went ahead and read about this guy and his party. My first thought was "hey, he doesn't seem to bad".
My second thought was, "Oh wait, I'm in America, I've been desensitized."
I'd rather not have any software monitor me, but if I was going to have a piece of software monitor me I'd rather I was able to check out its source and see exactly what is being monitored that just have a black box and have to take the word of the authors.
// MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
If you don't like his policies, just vote next time.
What for? His predecessor from the other side of the political spectrum, Otto Schily, was just as bad as Wolfgang Schaeuble.
In theory, you're right, but in the prevalent climate of fear since 9/11 and the massive shift away from civil rights towards security, monitoring, using confessions extracted through torture by foreign governments, ethnic profiling ("Rasterfahndung")... there ain't much you can do about it anyway. The only party in Germany that's quite skeptical of all this was the FDP (they had a minister who resigned over this when they were still in power; though it was before 9/11), but even they finally caved in to the security doctrine and are just paying dishonest lip service w.r.t. civil rights.
So voting yes, but there's no real political alternative to pick from. Boycotting LinuxTag is the only way for some people to show that they disapprove of all this. It's not LinuxTag's fault however, just an unfortunate mishap and PR fiasco.
cpghost at Cordula's Web.
Actually, you just gave me an idea...
What about making a game out of it?
Avoid the Moron, it should be called.
Post lookouts for him; then, when he arrives, make sure there's nobody within 10 metres from him.
When he approaches a stand, everyone clears; who cannot clear, hides.
Hell, put up "Closed due to moron proximity" signs on stands when he approaches.
And make sure it's all recorded.
Ignore this signature. By order.
I don't want to show up on such an event. I am visiting LinuxTag ever year. I always come with my car: 1000 km in one way. But I love it. It used to be first class event.
This year, I wont come. People say, "don't be disturbed by this shithead". Behave as normally. But this wont go for me. When something stinks, then it stinks. You can wear very nice shoes, good trouses and beutifull tie. But when your shirt stinks, you feel miserablly.
And this guy stinks.
TFA: Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble, Federal Minister of the Interior, took over the patronage over the LinuxTag 2007. After publication of this message we received many reactions, also among them some, which analyze the positions of the Federal Minister critically about "electronic monitoring" and "citizen rights".We welcome explicitly a critical argument with these topics, do not see these however not in the direct focus of our meeting. The goal of the LinuxTag registered association is it to promote free software. This goal is very important to us and our main objective.
You are joking. "electronic monitoring" and "citizen rights" have nothing to do with open source on LinuxTag ??? I will not show up on this event !
The LinuxTag registered association holds the opinion that by the consistent employment by suitor software in the public administration a large contribution for the transparency of the administrative action could be created. And for this the respective Federal Minister of the Interior is an important partner, without which successes would not have been possible in the past.
Linux tag has been successfull also without the goverment
That could possibly be acceptable if police hackers would need a proper warrant, the number of infilitrations was very low, the general public would get to know about these numbers and last but not least the observed subject would be informed afterwards. Experience with telephone wiretapping in Germany tells us that none of these democratic requirements are taken seriously.
Additionally, there are reserveations against the software that would be used as it is sure to open security holes for other malware.
This is basically what Wolfgang Schaeuble stands for among the German linux community and I can absolutely understand that many fellow nerds do not want to support a LinuxTag in any way that is somehow associated with Schaeuble. I for one don't welcome our new trojan dropping overlord.
On se Internetz nobody noes your German.