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Richard Stallman Proclaims Don't Follow Linus Torvalds
StonyandCher writes "Here is an interview with Richard Stallman about a range of free software topics including GPLv3 and comment on the Microsoft patent issue. Stallman has a go at Linus Torvalds even suggesting that if people want to keep their freedom they better not follow Torvalds.
From the interview 'Stallman: The fact that Torvalds says "open source" instead of "free software" shows where he is coming from. I wrote the GNU GPL to defend freedom for all users of all versions of a program. I developed version 3 to do that job better and protect against new threats. Torvalds says he rejects this goal; that's probably why he doesn't appreciate GPL version 3. I respect his right to express his views, even though I think they are foolish. However, if you don't want to lose your freedom, you had better not follow him.'"
Unfortunately, a large fraction of the world seem to disavow the fact that Stallman's efforts provided Torvalds with much of the opportunity on which he was able to capitalize.
"Like, oh I dunno, SELF PROMOTION, or some trifle like that."
FYP
I've found that a great many of the people who criticize and dismiss RMS are often people who make extensive use of GNU tools -- I think it's worth taking a moment every now and again to consider what kind of FOSS world we'd have right now if it weren't for RMS and his mates.
I didn't realize that by using his tools, I'm obligated to agree with everything he says.
RMS has gotten sufficient accolades for writing some software, and providing a structure for open source software -- in the past. Lately, he hasn't done a hell of a lot except irritate people.
Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
Well, Stallman is using the George W. Bush definition of freedom... where "freedom" means "free obey me and do what I say because I am right!" kind of freedom, not freedom as in the "do whatever you want" kind of freedom.
I am sure, like Dubya, Stallman is very commited to promoting his vision of "freedom", but reasonable people don't see a licence that is full of ideologicaly motivated restrictions as very "free".
I mean, this is a guy who thinks that helping the secret police convert to Linux in a country where you need a government licence to send email, and authorities call the Internet "the great disease of 21st century", is somehow a victory for "Freedom".
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10611
Sorry, but I don't need any of Stallman's brand of "freedom", thanks.
"Stallman doesn't care about any of that, per se:"
Stallman is pretty clear he doesn't care about anything else AT ALL--and if YOU do, you're stupid, doomed to slavery or both. This does not win him a vastly growing pool of allies. But, he doesn't care about that either, because those people aren't RMS clones and who would want to associate with anyone but RMS or an exact copy? Only stupid, doomed, enslaved fools, that's who.
There's a fine line between single-minded yet reasoned devotion to an idea and just being a fanatical loon. I sense lately that RMS has irrecoverably fallen over the cliffs of insanity into the latter category.