am I missing something? Surely it's the people who decide what missions they're going to fly that have "ownership" of the "program". Who cares where the vehicles are made.
I think the "extremist" part of RMS' view is that he refuses to talk to people who don't use the same words as him. Kinda like when you talk to a PETA loon and ask why they think animals should be treated more ethically and they start flothing at the mouth declaring that HUMANS ARE ANIMALS TOO!!! Someone has asked them a question and given them a chance to put their message across and they've just blown it cause they feel it is more important to redefine the lexicon.
No matter how important your message is, being a prick and ignoring social graces is not the way to get it across.
How's that for an argument? Let's look at the list of A, B and C shall we?
(1) immature kids who wouldn't pass a real civics class if they were ever put in one
I can be as immature as the next guy, but I'm certainly not a kid, and I'm not sure if they teach "not being a prick" in civics class.
(2) people who don't understand the real issues and how fundamental they are
As a member of FSF, and having read just about everything on the subject of Free Software and been a part of this community for over 10 years I think I know the issues and how fundamental they are. I just don't think being a prick is the way to get them across to people.
(3) shills or trolls or other people with an anti-freedom agenda.
Is it a shill to ask RMS to not insult people when he's trying to talk to them about Free Software? Is it a troll to suggest that maybe putting on a suit and combing your hair is a good way to meet with business people or policy makers?
See, these three arguments do not even being to defend the enigma of RMS.
Ya know, the people who used to speak for the Open Source movement (ESR, John Parens, etc) don't actually do much more talking anymore. As far as they're concerned they've done what the Open Source movement was supposed to do: open the door so people can learn the Free Software message. But, as it turns out, even when the door is open, RMS can't deliver the message. Thankfully there are new members of the Open Source movement who are putting forward the Free Software message themselves. So every single time RMS says he's not a part of the Open Source movement he is really saying something, and it's not what he thinks he is saying. Every time I hear him ramble on about the Open Source dedication to a distributed development model and how the Open Source movement doesn't care about ethics or freedom I have to hang my head and shed a little tear, because that's not the case anymore. There's more people in the Open Source movement who care about ethics and freedom and actually manage to get this message across to others than there is in any other movement. So whenever I hear RMS talk about how he's not part of the Open Source movement I interpret it as many young people do, he's saying: I'm not one of you. I'm not a part of your community. One day RMS is going to wake up and realize that no-one is part of his community because he's alienated himself from everyone, including the people who share his message and want to tell it to others.
As opposed to the current form of NASA spending: whicher congressman has the most "pull" gets the contract for his buddy who happens to live in his district, who then overcharges up wazoo.
I know it's hard for people to understand this, but spacecraft are not monolithic. You can design a space capsule and then launch it on any launcher that has a standard profile. Kinda like being about to run an application on any operating system, oh wait, no, hang on. Kinda like being able to use any razorblade in your razor. Ok, not a good example either. I know, kinda like being able to use any kind of tires on your car! Yes, that'll do.
And then what? Those people are going to want more than what they have and will start consuming resources. You can't just give people food and medicine and leave them to their devices. The end result of this kind of mindless bleeding heart philantropy is war.
It's really nice that you think that walking on the moon again is more important than children in 3rd world countries eating.
What are you going to do? Make the 3rd world as affluent as the first? How's that going to work? There's a limited number of resources on our planet and we're beyond the point where everyone can have an equal share. But here's a crazy idea. There's plenty of resources out in space.. let's go get those, but don't make the 3rd world as affluent as the first world before you do, otherwise we'll never get out there, we'll just destroy ourselves down here fighting over scraps.
Maybe it's the fact that chimps can do all that and more. It's just not all that exciting to have another sentient species to hang around with. Consider that although both chimps and dolphins are sentient, they're not necessarily interested in the same kind of things as humans are. Compare that to just about any "alien intelligence" that has appeared on Star Trek.
Does anyone actually think the "net cafe" is going to be a mainstay of our society?
I already carry a usb drive on my keyring. So do a lot of other people. My iPod can also store files, etc. Isn't it more plausible that people will soon run virtual machines off their (possibly wireless) portable storage devices?
Needing net to access your files, what a great idea.
if you can't find it then it doesn't have one, by definition of "find". What if it wasn't actually a dog? Then you've disproved the theory that all cats have tails. Typically you'd then modify your theory to have an exception and continue on with you belief.. for example, all cats have tails except the bobtail family of cats.
I didn't suggest he was. I said that the people who don't need to try end up being the best programmers. Those who are always working their hardest end up as go-getter managers who don't need to code.
They're two totally different things. If I tell you all cats have tails you can bring me as many cats with tails as you like and it will not prove that all cats have tails. You can bring me a cat without a tail and it will prove that not all cats have tails, but it still won't prove that all cats have tails. Nothing can prove that all cats have tails. That's science buddy.
They're all managers now and don't use any of the skills they learnt at university. The people who coasted through and never really cared how well they did got the best grades and are some of the best programmers I know. So don't sweat it, there's plenty of middle management jobs to go around.
Slashdot Mirror
am I missing something? Surely it's the people who decide what missions they're going to fly that have "ownership" of the "program". Who cares where the vehicles are made.
but might an original design in the 21st century be better
Last time I checked the laws of Physics hadn't changed.
I think the "extremist" part of RMS' view is that he refuses to talk to people who don't use the same words as him. Kinda like when you talk to a PETA loon and ask why they think animals should be treated more ethically and they start flothing at the mouth declaring that HUMANS ARE ANIMALS TOO!!! Someone has asked them a question and given them a chance to put their message across and they've just blown it cause they feel it is more important to redefine the lexicon.
No matter how important your message is, being a prick and ignoring social graces is not the way to get it across.
How's that for an argument? Let's look at the list of A, B and C shall we?
(1) immature kids who wouldn't pass a real civics class if they were ever put in one
I can be as immature as the next guy, but I'm certainly not a kid, and I'm not sure if they teach "not being a prick" in civics class.
(2) people who don't understand the real issues and how fundamental they are
As a member of FSF, and having read just about everything on the subject of Free Software and been a part of this community for over 10 years I think I know the issues and how fundamental they are. I just don't think being a prick is the way to get them across to people.
(3) shills or trolls or other people with an anti-freedom agenda.
Is it a shill to ask RMS to not insult people when he's trying to talk to them about Free Software? Is it a troll to suggest that maybe putting on a suit and combing your hair is a good way to meet with business people or policy makers?
See, these three arguments do not even being to defend the enigma of RMS.
Ya know, the people who used to speak for the Open Source movement (ESR, John Parens, etc) don't actually do much more talking anymore. As far as they're concerned they've done what the Open Source movement was supposed to do: open the door so people can learn the Free Software message. But, as it turns out, even when the door is open, RMS can't deliver the message. Thankfully there are new members of the Open Source movement who are putting forward the Free Software message themselves. So every single time RMS says he's not a part of the Open Source movement he is really saying something, and it's not what he thinks he is saying. Every time I hear him ramble on about the Open Source dedication to a distributed development model and how the Open Source movement doesn't care about ethics or freedom I have to hang my head and shed a little tear, because that's not the case anymore. There's more people in the Open Source movement who care about ethics and freedom and actually manage to get this message across to others than there is in any other movement. So whenever I hear RMS talk about how he's not part of the Open Source movement I interpret it as many young people do, he's saying: I'm not one of you. I'm not a part of your community. One day RMS is going to wake up and realize that no-one is part of his community because he's alienated himself from everyone, including the people who share his message and want to tell it to others.
Anyone know where can I get this GNU Flash player that rocks? Anyone know where I can get a GNU Flash editor?
Thanks.
As opposed to the current form of NASA spending: whicher congressman has the most "pull" gets the contract for his buddy who happens to live in his district, who then overcharges up wazoo.
Sentient really aint that hard to meet. "it feels pain" is typically sufficient for sentience.
I know it's hard for people to understand this, but spacecraft are not monolithic. You can design a space capsule and then launch it on any launcher that has a standard profile. Kinda like being about to run an application on any operating system, oh wait, no, hang on. Kinda like being able to use any razorblade in your razor. Ok, not a good example either. I know, kinda like being able to use any kind of tires on your car! Yes, that'll do.
As opposed to lining the pockets of a corrupt domestic government?
No, you just gotta solve the real problem.
And then what? Those people are going to want more than what they have and will start consuming resources. You can't just give people food and medicine and leave them to their devices. The end result of this kind of mindless bleeding heart philantropy is war.
It's really nice that you think that walking on the moon again is more important than children in 3rd world countries eating.
What are you going to do? Make the 3rd world as affluent as the first? How's that going to work? There's a limited number of resources on our planet and we're beyond the point where everyone can have an equal share. But here's a crazy idea. There's plenty of resources out in space.. let's go get those, but don't make the 3rd world as affluent as the first world before you do, otherwise we'll never get out there, we'll just destroy ourselves down here fighting over scraps.
It stands to be completely unusable for ordinary users. It can't even save downloads to the desktop anymore.
Maybe it's the fact that chimps can do all that and more. It's just not all that exciting to have another sentient species to hang around with. Consider that although both chimps and dolphins are sentient, they're not necessarily interested in the same kind of things as humans are. Compare that to just about any "alien intelligence" that has appeared on Star Trek.
it is an extension of the same 'needs' that drive everyone to believe they must own a car and must own a house and must own this or that
Like the tragedy of the commons?
Does anyone actually think the "net cafe" is going to be a mainstay of our society?
I already carry a usb drive on my keyring. So do a lot of other people. My iPod can also store files, etc. Isn't it more plausible that people will soon run virtual machines off their (possibly wireless) portable storage devices?
Needing net to access your files, what a great idea.
You make that sound like a bad thing.
I've always been this kind of guy.. so now it's gone mainstream? Great!
Simple: don't. I'm happy to see a few people die, including myself, if it will protect freedom. You should be too.
if you can't find it then it doesn't have one, by definition of "find". What if it wasn't actually a dog? Then you've disproved the theory that all cats have tails. Typically you'd then modify your theory to have an exception and continue on with you belief.. for example, all cats have tails except the bobtail family of cats.
I didn't suggest he was. I said that the people who don't need to try end up being the best programmers. Those who are always working their hardest end up as go-getter managers who don't need to code.
No shit. Is this your first week using FireFox or what?
They're two totally different things. If I tell you all cats have tails you can bring me as many cats with tails as you like and it will not prove that all cats have tails. You can bring me a cat without a tail and it will prove that not all cats have tails, but it still won't prove that all cats have tails. Nothing can prove that all cats have tails. That's science buddy.
They're all managers now and don't use any of the skills they learnt at university. The people who coasted through and never really cared how well they did got the best grades and are some of the best programmers I know. So don't sweat it, there's plenty of middle management jobs to go around.
Rights are not privileges granted by governments. Jesus. What do they teach you people.