"But we're only as good as our intelligence. That's something we can never forget, and in this case our intelligence has always been lacking. If it were perfect, we'd never have outbreaks of disease or terrorism."
I'd argue that this has not so much to do with perfect intelligence, as it has with conformity OR compassion, tolerance and always striving for the common good when you have diversity. "Perfect intelligence" would here mean like an ant-colony, but we're not an ant colony! Our diversity is what makes it a challenge to be human in the first place. Take that away, and we're not humans any longer. The freedom to commit a crime or mistake, is more valuable than you think.
The problem you describe is even more contaminating than just breeding. Groups of genes can be transmitted between bacteria, virii and hosts in lots of different ways. However, that nature itself is playing with genetic experiments out in the wild IS reassuring. Because maybe it's not that bad, even though our activities WILL alter nature in more profound ways than ever?
The largest problem is perhaps that we alter the course of evolution so that some species get totally unbalanced. This will probably strike back at agriculture itself, more land will be useless and more trees need to be cut down. For example, the genes for super-growth and pesticide-resistance could just as well be transmitted to non-crop plants.
Someone already mentioned Monsanto v. Schmeiser. I'll just add that genes can be transmitted from species to species with germ and virii-interactions. So basically, a "patented gene" can be copied from one field to another in lots of different (but statistically less probable) ways. This is just another corporate (silly humans) attempt to restrain freedom of information, which is The underlying principle of development in our universe.
LABEL1:
...
LABEL2:
...
LABEL3:
...
GO FROM LABEL1 TO LABEL2
GO FROM LABEL1 TO LABEL3
As you can see, this simple but powerful idiom supports threads too!
(Btw, the idea of "go from" was indeed from Intercal's "come from", a much-recommended language I couldn't remember the name of. Thread-support has been suggested in that area before.)
That's an outright lie! Mozilla is not slow at all. Why on my 1.5 GHz Cryotech Athlon with 2Gb RAM and overclocked to 1.98 Ghz I notice no difference than any other browser. If you were a techie like me, you wouldn't fall for stupid adverts from Intel that says Pentium III will make your internet faster! That's impossible. Just remember to run the nightbuilds and you'll be allright.
(Posted anonymously because I'm scared about losing my karma point.)
I'm aware that you weren't talking about nuclear power, but it's just not that much different in my eyes.
I agree with you there. As in all campaigns, both camps go to either extreme to gain public "votes".
My stance on it all is that I'm generally sick and tired of reading in the news about this and that leakage in people's backyard. Both from farmerlands, factories and nuclear reactors. I think very many people agree with me on this, that we don't TRUST it to be run properly. Neither do we TRUST these people to tell us when something goes wrong, or how much of the money gets into their pockets. The long history of cover-up is just overwhelming. It's not an accident when it's covered-up, it's a crime. Whatever statistics or figures get thrown out of some scientists' ass, is just a means to gain votes, or indistinguishable from such, therefore meaningless.
Also, I'd say people generally have a lot to learn before we can peacefully coexist in space. So why bother supporting space-travel before people get a bit more englightened and can clean up their act here at home? Isn't it a TINY tad unfair that while people die of AIDS and starvation like flies, the rich ones use billions of dollars on a romantic dream? Isn't it a bit troubling that the most important profession in our society, teaching, is also one of the most undervalued? That children are taking their own lives on unprecendented rate? Nobody really believes in politics anymore, even though it's probably even more important than teaching?
Sure, space travel can/will have a deep impact on scientific and technological development. However, that'll just bring us closer to self-destruction than anything else as long as we ignore other ways of development.
So, just because you know stuff others don't, you "fuck things up"? Just for being curious and explorative? There's a big difference, but of course ignorant people wants to stay ignorant so they can feel safe and comfortable. Never mind that ignorant people are easy to abuse without them even knowing it. They'd like to push down other people, than improve themselves.
Not that _I_ think that's the issue here. More likely pressure from parents to be perfect above all. As far as I could read from other links, he changed his grades. "Why do you think he did that?", people should ask. But again, they just want to stay ignorant and rave about what _they_ think is important.
Btw, when a kid choses suicide over prison, something is terribly wrong.
Have it occured to anyone that perhaps _nobody_ should be put in prison together with a bunch of violent criminals and drug-addicts. The worst will always prevail over the weaker, so over there you've got yourself a nice little school for bringing up thieves, murderers, rapists and una-bombers. The mind-set that prison should be a pure revenge from society is medieval and only enhances the problems. Often, the guards are bought and paid for and therefore just as crooked and perverted as the inmates themselves. I know crime-victims want the inmates to suffer, but in the long run it will only creates more victims and prolong the suffering.
I'm not arguing with you, mind you. Perhaps you agree.
"While it is generally agreed that Columbus was not the first European to discover America, he was the first to generate any kind of commercial interest to be there."
If you can equate 'commercial interest' with war, pillaging and slavery then I guess I can agree with you.:-)
What when you don't really know the risks? Do you really think nuclear fascilities never dump their stuff out in the rivers? We've just had one such incident here in Norway, and we don't even have any powerplants! How about all the invisible changes due to radioactive clouds from Chernobyl spreading over most of Europe. When thinking about space, don't think about the Apollo moon-safari. Think Challenger.
Btw, people talking about taking risks, mainly it's just talk. They want OTHERS to take the risk, cough up the dough and eat the pollution.
Vaccines ARE the cure. When you portrait the problem artificially to your body simply enough, it'll generate the right anti-bodies. It's natural, only it's artificial. Confusing? The truth is always confusing and paradoxial. Doesn't make it more evil though. It's just science.
While you could be funny, if you just weren't ignorant, do YOU know what is essential in the process of programming? Can you make a verbose list of what is essential, what is not and why, without any snide remarks. "Essential" is perhaps a bit misleading, since it's like claiming to be the facit. However, it's a reason they call it "Extreme".
Here's a translation of your "funny" phrases:
"When to buy, and when to sell which stocks."
"How to jump off a bridge safely with a bungee-cord"
"How to safely transport lethal scissors by foot"
If you reread the quoted sentence, you'll understand that you have oversimplified it and that there are more ways to do it.
XP is not primarily about how to structure your programs, or how to "write good code". Instead it focuses on the process of software engineering. How to use your time best, make test cases so you can safely change your code and catch unexpected side-effects, how to learn and solve tasks better in pairs, etc, etc.
Btw, it's silly how a stupid comment based on ONE LINE in the/. header gets to be scored 5. I remember last time I was modded up, I was ashamed of having written such crap and wished I could delete the post. Tells alot about what is mainstream here on/.
You only have copyright on what you've made yourself, that is, your modifications. GPL doesn't give away copyright, the owner of the original source still have copyright to the code. The GPL only allows and specifies how people can distribute the program. Plus that I don't think it's revocable, but the owners can rerelease the code under different licenses.
To those who clearly didn't understand this (I was just about to make an identical post;-)
Obviously there is no community of trust, or honor for that matter.
- Steeltoe
Re:Typical cheesy psychobabble.
on
Hi-Tech Repo Man
·
· Score: 1
I agree that I might be playing with semantics, if Everything is what was meant. However, the word "framework" and the way it is used to define and limit is not a word I would use for Everything. It is too limiting, typical of us humans, we want to define everything around us so that we think we understand it. If the universe is infinite in every way (hypothetically speaking at least), "framework" is just not a good word. Additionally, I and many others can't use "everything" to mean what we really mean by that word, since very many have limited that word in their minds as well. It's no use to use the correct words, when people don't relate to them equally. So we use other words/semantics to be better understood.
However, it's not really a difference in semantics or definitions. It's a difference in attitude: one is looking at the world with authority of opinion, "for something to exist I must see it", the other is (trying) humbly looking at the world as something that always will give you a surprise at the next corner, and that there might be more than what we currently see.
Btw, it's an interesting coincidence that you begin talking about "clinging" philosophies. I've just been robbed of my bicycle (30 mins ago) while I was shopping for a Robert Jordan book. Now I really feel the bittersweet taste of my own words as I read my posts. It really sucks to lose stuff you know;-)
So, as I write this, I have strong feelings of torn attachments myself. It doesn't make me very happy. I guess I could stop clinging (dealing with that now), but you're right I could start clinging to something else then. However, that is not a failure in my opinion. Because I see it as another step on the ladder.
Btw, to understand the "clinging" philosophies, you shouldn't look at it so totally and generally. It's not about not caring for other people or value them. It's about not trying to imprison your fellow human beings in unhealthy relationships. For example, it's not healthy for an adult to be completely dependant on another (with exceptions for disabled people of course). It might be an interesting and valuable experience, but not healthy in the framework;-) of that relationship or for longer periods of time. It is healthy though, when people learn from it.
I think many are beginning to realize that true love isn't one trying to tie you up, but let you freely do what you desire. Everything with modifications according to common sense and who you currently are though.
"First he's an analyst. That doesn't mean he's an investor."
You're right. Analysts are the excact opposite of investors. When they recommend buying, they sell and vica versa.;*)
- Steeltoe
Re:Typical cheesy psychobabble.
on
Hi-Tech Repo Man
·
· Score: 1
If you reread the post, I think you'll find that he didn't mention not doing anything. His point was not to become a perfect human vegetable. In fact you can do whatever you like to do, own whatever you like to own and be with whomever you like to be with. Just avoid becoming disappointed when it ALL fails, get rid of expectations because they make you unhappy. If you know the bible, I think it was Job that lost everything he had: job, house, family, health, etc. It was a lesson from God. The whole point is to see desire for what it truly is, an endless chase while you are never truly happy. It's about reclaiming peace in your mind, balance in your life, freedom from endless worries, expectations, speculations and desires. Remember when you were a kid; you didn't constantly worry about this and that.. As Jesus said, it's about becoming like that kid again. And No, I didn't say we should all start acting like kids.;)
The reason you see all this as pathetic, is because you only see it in light of psychology and science. You speak of higher things, without really defining what those are to you. Lastly you indirectly state that you don't strive for what is beyond your current framework, which is the very definition for stagnation in this world. This is excactly the kind of barrier spirituality is meant to break.
Lastly: No, I'm not religious. I don't like authority that much.;)
That is true, but of no concern to the parents involved. In order to "fix" overpopulation, you'd have to fix many of the other human-made problems still growing: birth-control, poverty, famine, war, illiteracy and bad governments. I'm almost inclined to include communism just to troll, but I won't. I'm sure I lost the Usenet argument though I don't mind.;-)
Thanks a bunch. Now I know. Wow. I didn't think a spade could be all that! At last I can continue my online existance; being told what to know from a book, what to believe from science and what to do from the movies. Thanks again, I strayed a while there but no reason to eliminate me yet. I'm perfectly normal now.
Very well put! I believe the reason people overuse metaphors is because we like to keep things simple, confining our minds to areas we are familiar with. We don't like complexity and we certainly love to generalize everthing! We absolutely *loathe* to call a spade for a spade and confront it though.
We don't even know what a spade *is*. A spade does not have a colour, shape, weight, temperature or any labels we'd like to put on it. It's just a *thing*. Everything we think we know about it, is in our minds. It scares the shits out of us when we *really* start to think about what really may be around us. Movies like The Matrix and Poltergeist should be enough proof of that. Our mind automatically shuts down when encountering too much shifting in perspective though. If you've had a feeling of "macro-perspective", you know what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about a movie screen.
Generalization can be a great tool to understand reality, but it's never accurate. Truth is that truth is in the eye of the beholder. And to discuss that we must be willing to confront and share what we actually *mean*. Not just reiterate metaphors to commonly accepted "truths", where we may feel like we have some "authority", as you put it. I would call it "comfort zone".
Again, great post! It really started me thinking and viewing the world in a bit different perspective..
so maybe I'm a rocket scientists after all?;-) I found this on the page listing categories of software:
Non-copylefted free software comes from the author with permission to redistribute and modify, and also to add additional restrictions to it.
If a program is free but not copylefted, then some copies or modified versions may not be free at all. A software company can compile the program, with or without modifications, and distribute the executable file as a proprietary software product.
The X Window System illustrates this. The X Consortium releases X11 with distribution terms that make it non-copylefted free software. If you wish, you can get a copy which has those distribution terms and is free. However, there are non-free versions as well, and there are popular workstations and PC graphics boards for which non-free versions are the only ones that work. If you are using this hardware, X11 is not free software for you.
My mistake was probably to read things too generally: By applying the rules recursively, which it does not explicitly state. My apologies for confused readers. This is one of the reasons I'm never going to be a lawyer, not in any lifetime. I'm just too general.;-)
Slashdot Mirror
"But we're only as good as our intelligence. That's something we can never forget, and in this case our intelligence has always been lacking. If it were perfect, we'd never have outbreaks of disease or terrorism."
I'd argue that this has not so much to do with perfect intelligence, as it has with conformity OR compassion, tolerance and always striving for the common good when you have diversity. "Perfect intelligence" would here mean like an ant-colony, but we're not an ant colony! Our diversity is what makes it a challenge to be human in the first place. Take that away, and we're not humans any longer. The freedom to commit a crime or mistake, is more valuable than you think.
- Steeltoe
The problem you describe is even more contaminating than just breeding. Groups of genes can be transmitted between bacteria, virii and hosts in lots of different ways. However, that nature itself is playing with genetic experiments out in the wild IS reassuring. Because maybe it's not that bad, even though our activities WILL alter nature in more profound ways than ever?
The largest problem is perhaps that we alter the course of evolution so that some species get totally unbalanced. This will probably strike back at agriculture itself, more land will be useless and more trees need to be cut down. For example, the genes for super-growth and pesticide-resistance could just as well be transmitted to non-crop plants.
- Steeltoe
Someone already mentioned Monsanto v. Schmeiser. I'll just add that genes can be transmitted from species to species with germ and virii-interactions. So basically, a "patented gene" can be copied from one field to another in lots of different (but statistically less probable) ways. This is just another corporate (silly humans) attempt to restrain freedom of information, which is The underlying principle of development in our universe.
- Steeltoe
I think we have a winner here!
LABEL1:
...
LABEL2:
...
LABEL3:
...
GO FROM LABEL1 TO LABEL2
GO FROM LABEL1 TO LABEL3
As you can see, this simple but powerful idiom supports threads too!
(Btw, the idea of "go from" was indeed from Intercal's "come from", a much-recommended language I couldn't remember the name of. Thread-support has been suggested in that area before.)
- Steeltoe
After reading the page (ouch, my head hurts), I'm surprised Perl doesn't support the GO-FROM-idiom yet. It'd help alot in obfuscating the code more:
/* jumps to all "go from LABEL1"s in the code here */
LABEL1:
.....
go from LABEL1
By using multiple GO-FROMs you can even make threads! It's powerful, intuitive and obfuscated. Just the right thing for Perl 7.
If you think "go from" is too elaborate, you could probably use ${LABEL1}-> instead. Unless that's taken of course.
- Steeltoe
That's an outright lie! Mozilla is not slow at all. Why on my 1.5 GHz Cryotech Athlon with 2Gb RAM and overclocked to 1.98 Ghz I notice no difference than any other browser. If you were a techie like me, you wouldn't fall for stupid adverts from Intel that says Pentium III will make your internet faster! That's impossible. Just remember to run the nightbuilds and you'll be allright.
(Posted anonymously because I'm scared about losing my karma point.)
- Steeltoe
I'm aware that you weren't talking about nuclear power, but it's just not that much different in my eyes.
I agree with you there. As in all campaigns, both camps go to either extreme to gain public "votes".
My stance on it all is that I'm generally sick and tired of reading in the news about this and that leakage in people's backyard. Both from farmerlands, factories and nuclear reactors. I think very many people agree with me on this, that we don't TRUST it to be run properly. Neither do we TRUST these people to tell us when something goes wrong, or how much of the money gets into their pockets. The long history of cover-up is just overwhelming. It's not an accident when it's covered-up, it's a crime. Whatever statistics or figures get thrown out of some scientists' ass, is just a means to gain votes, or indistinguishable from such, therefore meaningless.
Also, I'd say people generally have a lot to learn before we can peacefully coexist in space. So why bother supporting space-travel before people get a bit more englightened and can clean up their act here at home? Isn't it a TINY tad unfair that while people die of AIDS and starvation like flies, the rich ones use billions of dollars on a romantic dream? Isn't it a bit troubling that the most important profession in our society, teaching, is also one of the most undervalued? That children are taking their own lives on unprecendented rate? Nobody really believes in politics anymore, even though it's probably even more important than teaching?
Sure, space travel can/will have a deep impact on scientific and technological development. However, that'll just bring us closer to self-destruction than anything else as long as we ignore other ways of development.
- Steeltoe
So, just because you know stuff others don't, you "fuck things up"? Just for being curious and explorative? There's a big difference, but of course ignorant people wants to stay ignorant so they can feel safe and comfortable. Never mind that ignorant people are easy to abuse without them even knowing it. They'd like to push down other people, than improve themselves.
Not that _I_ think that's the issue here. More likely pressure from parents to be perfect above all. As far as I could read from other links, he changed his grades. "Why do you think he did that?", people should ask. But again, they just want to stay ignorant and rave about what _they_ think is important.
Btw, when a kid choses suicide over prison, something is terribly wrong.
- Steeltoe
Haha, nice flame. I doubt you even bothered to check out the story.
- Steeltoe
Have it occured to anyone that perhaps _nobody_ should be put in prison together with a bunch of violent criminals and drug-addicts. The worst will always prevail over the weaker, so over there you've got yourself a nice little school for bringing up thieves, murderers, rapists and una-bombers. The mind-set that prison should be a pure revenge from society is medieval and only enhances the problems. Often, the guards are bought and paid for and therefore just as crooked and perverted as the inmates themselves. I know crime-victims want the inmates to suffer, but in the long run it will only creates more victims and prolong the suffering.
I'm not arguing with you, mind you. Perhaps you agree.
- Steeltoe
"While it is generally agreed that Columbus was not the first European to discover America, he was the first to generate any kind of commercial interest to be there."
:-)
If you can equate 'commercial interest' with war, pillaging and slavery then I guess I can agree with you.
- Steeltoe
What when you don't really know the risks? Do you really think nuclear fascilities never dump their stuff out in the rivers? We've just had one such incident here in Norway, and we don't even have any powerplants! How about all the invisible changes due to radioactive clouds from Chernobyl spreading over most of Europe. When thinking about space, don't think about the Apollo moon-safari. Think Challenger.
Btw, people talking about taking risks, mainly it's just talk. They want OTHERS to take the risk, cough up the dough and eat the pollution.
- Steeltoe
Vaccines ARE the cure. When you portrait the problem artificially to your body simply enough, it'll generate the right anti-bodies. It's natural, only it's artificial. Confusing? The truth is always confusing and paradoxial. Doesn't make it more evil though. It's just science.
- Steeltoe
While you could be funny, if you just weren't ignorant, do YOU know what is essential in the process of programming? Can you make a verbose list of what is essential, what is not and why, without any snide remarks. "Essential" is perhaps a bit misleading, since it's like claiming to be the facit. However, it's a reason they call it "Extreme".
Here's a translation of your "funny" phrases:
"When to buy, and when to sell which stocks."
"How to jump off a bridge safely with a bungee-cord"
"How to safely transport lethal scissors by foot"
If you reread the quoted sentence, you'll understand that you have oversimplified it and that there are more ways to do it.
- Steeltoe
XP is not primarily about how to structure your programs, or how to "write good code". Instead it focuses on the process of software engineering. How to use your time best, make test cases so you can safely change your code and catch unexpected side-effects, how to learn and solve tasks better in pairs, etc, etc.
/. header gets to be scored 5. I remember last time I was modded up, I was ashamed of having written such crap and wished I could delete the post. Tells alot about what is mainstream here on /.
Btw, it's silly how a stupid comment based on ONE LINE in the
- Steeltoe
You only have copyright on what you've made yourself, that is, your modifications. GPL doesn't give away copyright, the owner of the original source still have copyright to the code. The GPL only allows and specifies how people can distribute the program. Plus that I don't think it's revocable, but the owners can rerelease the code under different licenses.
- Steeltoe
To those who clearly didn't understand this (I was just about to make an identical post ;-)
Obviously there is no community of trust, or honor for that matter.
- Steeltoe
I agree that I might be playing with semantics, if Everything is what was meant. However, the word "framework" and the way it is used to define and limit is not a word I would use for Everything. It is too limiting, typical of us humans, we want to define everything around us so that we think we understand it. If the universe is infinite in every way (hypothetically speaking at least), "framework" is just not a good word. Additionally, I and many others can't use "everything" to mean what we really mean by that word, since very many have limited that word in their minds as well. It's no use to use the correct words, when people don't relate to them equally. So we use other words/semantics to be better understood.
;-)
;-) of that relationship or for longer periods of time. It is healthy though, when people learn from it.
However, it's not really a difference in semantics or definitions. It's a difference in attitude: one is looking at the world with authority of opinion, "for something to exist I must see it", the other is (trying) humbly looking at the world as something that always will give you a surprise at the next corner, and that there might be more than what we currently see.
Btw, it's an interesting coincidence that you begin talking about "clinging" philosophies. I've just been robbed of my bicycle (30 mins ago) while I was shopping for a Robert Jordan book. Now I really feel the bittersweet taste of my own words as I read my posts. It really sucks to lose stuff you know
So, as I write this, I have strong feelings of torn attachments myself. It doesn't make me very happy. I guess I could stop clinging (dealing with that now), but you're right I could start clinging to something else then. However, that is not a failure in my opinion. Because I see it as another step on the ladder.
Btw, to understand the "clinging" philosophies, you shouldn't look at it so totally and generally. It's not about not caring for other people or value them. It's about not trying to imprison your fellow human beings in unhealthy relationships. For example, it's not healthy for an adult to be completely dependant on another (with exceptions for disabled people of course). It might be an interesting and valuable experience, but not healthy in the framework
I think many are beginning to realize that true love isn't one trying to tie you up, but let you freely do what you desire. Everything with modifications according to common sense and who you currently are though.
- Steeltoe
"First he's an analyst. That doesn't mean he's an investor."
;*)
You're right. Analysts are the excact opposite of investors. When they recommend buying, they sell and vica versa.
- Steeltoe
If you reread the post, I think you'll find that he didn't mention not doing anything. His point was not to become a perfect human vegetable. In fact you can do whatever you like to do, own whatever you like to own and be with whomever you like to be with. Just avoid becoming disappointed when it ALL fails, get rid of expectations because they make you unhappy. If you know the bible, I think it was Job that lost everything he had: job, house, family, health, etc. It was a lesson from God. The whole point is to see desire for what it truly is, an endless chase while you are never truly happy. It's about reclaiming peace in your mind, balance in your life, freedom from endless worries, expectations, speculations and desires. Remember when you were a kid; you didn't constantly worry about this and that.. As Jesus said, it's about becoming like that kid again. And No, I didn't say we should all start acting like kids. ;)
;)
The reason you see all this as pathetic, is because you only see it in light of psychology and science. You speak of higher things, without really defining what those are to you. Lastly you indirectly state that you don't strive for what is beyond your current framework, which is the very definition for stagnation in this world. This is excactly the kind of barrier spirituality is meant to break.
Lastly: No, I'm not religious. I don't like authority that much.
- Steeltoe
- Steeltoe
Nice sarcasm there. d;-)
- Steeltoe
Thanks a bunch. Now I know. Wow. I didn't think a spade could be all that! At last I can continue my online existance; being told what to know from a book, what to believe from science and what to do from the movies. Thanks again, I strayed a while there but no reason to eliminate me yet. I'm perfectly normal now.
- Steeltoe
Very well put! I believe the reason people overuse metaphors is because we like to keep things simple, confining our minds to areas we are familiar with. We don't like complexity and we certainly love to generalize everthing! We absolutely *loathe* to call a spade for a spade and confront it though.
We don't even know what a spade *is*. A spade does not have a colour, shape, weight, temperature or any labels we'd like to put on it. It's just a *thing*. Everything we think we know about it, is in our minds. It scares the shits out of us when we *really* start to think about what really may be around us. Movies like The Matrix and Poltergeist should be enough proof of that. Our mind automatically shuts down when encountering too much shifting in perspective though. If you've had a feeling of "macro-perspective", you know what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about a movie screen.
Generalization can be a great tool to understand reality, but it's never accurate. Truth is that truth is in the eye of the beholder. And to discuss that we must be willing to confront and share what we actually *mean*. Not just reiterate metaphors to commonly accepted "truths", where we may feel like we have some "authority", as you put it. I would call it "comfort zone".
Again, great post! It really started me thinking and viewing the world in a bit different perspective..
- Steeltoe
Non-copylefted free software comes from the author with permission to redistribute and modify, and also to add additional restrictions to it.
If a program is free but not copylefted, then some copies or modified versions may not be free at all. A software company can compile the program, with or without modifications, and distribute the executable file as a proprietary software product.
The X Window System illustrates this. The X Consortium releases X11 with distribution terms that make it non-copylefted free software. If you wish, you can get a copy which has those distribution terms and is free. However, there are non-free versions as well, and there are popular workstations and PC graphics boards for which non-free versions are the only ones that work. If you are using this hardware, X11 is not free software for you.
My mistake was probably to read things too generally: By applying the rules recursively, which it does not explicitly state. My apologies for confused readers. This is one of the reasons I'm never going to be a lawyer, not in any lifetime. I'm just too general.
- Steeltoe