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Behind the Doors of the Free Software Foundation

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the what-would-you-say-ya-do-here dept.

Linux.com has an interesting look at the inner workings of the Free Software Foundation (FSF). "The purpose of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) is probably obvious from its name -- but what does promoting free software mean in terms of everyday activity? Examining the roles of the organization shows how complex the FSF's advocacy role has become. It also reveals the range of services available to the free software community, and helps to explain how such a small group has had such a major influence on computer technology. As a 501(c)3 charity in the United States, the FSF is run by a board of directors. The current board includes FSF founder and president Richard M. Stallman and long-term member Henry Poole, but, in the last few years, new faces have appeared on the board."

14 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. FSF has doors? by El_Muerte_TDS · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's not really "open" if you ask me.

    1. Re:FSF has doors? by dvh.tosomja · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's "open" even with doors, unless it has windows.

  2. Re:Stallman pushed to the sidelines by larry+bagina · · Score: 2, Funny

    The book was typeset using proprietary closed source software.

    --
    Do you even lift?

    These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

  3. Behind the DOORS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are you sure the FSF has DOORS?

    I'd imagined the FSF as a sort of a Tepee or maybe a Mongolian Yurt, with maybe a flap or something.

    Never anything as solid and 'non-open' as a door.

    1. Re:Behind the DOORS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Tepee sounds about right. No Gates, no Windows, Apache inside...

  4. Free as in... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The purpose of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) is probably obvious from its name -- but what does promoting free software mean in terms of everyday activity?

    I think they have something to do with free beer or speech.
    Free something. I can't remember. It's Friday and I've been drinking.

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    1. Re:Free as in... by TheRaven64 · · Score: 5, Funny
      The line 'free as in speech, not free as in beer' always struck me as some very poor marketing, for two reasons:
      1. Lots of people will argue against free speech in certain cases (e.g. slander and libel), but very few people would argue against free beer.
      2. After a few pints of free beer, free (although possibly slightly slurred) speech is pretty much guaranteed.
      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  5. Steve.....Steve.... by BitterOldGUy · · Score: 5, Funny
    Steve...Steve...Steve...Steve...calm down, please. Put that chair down. Ok? It's a nice rainy day here, it's a beautiful campus, and we're THE rulers of the World. No problemo.

    I know, I know, Stallman has the "moral high ground", a full head of hair, and everything, but what does it matter? You're filthy rich and he's a peasant selling GNU toys and t-shirts on the internet.

    It's OK. Shhhh, sshhhh, it's OK...sh......

    Lullaby, Lullaby, Lullaby,...shhh...

  6. Re:Thanks! by kingduct · · Score: 2, Funny

    "As a user of Free Software for about 10 years now I would just like to say that I really appreciate the efforts of the FSF. No matter how much RMS is bashed and doubted he sticks to his ethics and invariably the projections he makes seem to come true to at least some extent."

    Ditto!
    Thanks

  7. Re:Thanks! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ""As a user of Free Software for about 10 years now I would just like to say that I really appreciate the efforts of the FSF. No matter how much RMS is bashed and doubted he sticks to his ethics and invariably the projections he makes seem to come true to at least some extent."

    Ditto!

    Thanks"

    Yeah!

  8. Re:Stallman pushed to the sidelines by larry+bagina · · Score: 5, Funny

    Those that can, fuck. Those that can't, write a text editor.

    --
    Do you even lift?

    These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

  9. Re:Thanks! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Stallman's cause is NOT open source. It is free software. Open Source is about a development methodology, Fre Software is about freedom.

    "Giving the Linus Torvalds Award to the Free Software Foundation is sort of like giving the Han Solo Award to the Rebel Fleet."

    RMS

  10. Behind the doors of the FSF... by dangitman · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... you are eaten by a Grue.

    --
    ... and then they built the supercollider.
  11. Re:Stallman pushed to the sidelines by TehZorroness · · Score: 2, Funny

    How many test editors have you written?