Re: New maintainer

[David Kastrup <dak@gnu.org>]

Andreas Röhler <andreas.roehler@online.de> writes:

> Am 03.10.2015 um 21:26 schrieb John Wiegley:
>>>>>>> David Kastrup <dak@gnu.org> writes:
>>
>>> The whole point of GNU is the non-acceptance of software denying the
>>> users the fundamental software freedoms. This constitutes a moral
>>> judgment and as such is indistinguishable from "demonizing
>>> opponents" or at the very least damning their actions.

>> Then I respectfully withdraw myself as a candidate for
>> maintainer. Damning by implication is one thing; setting out to
>> defame other organizations in order to make one's own appear the
>> standard of virtue is something else entirely,

And not at all what I have been saying.

>> and I do not wish to be associated with such methods.
>>
>> Thanks to all for their supporting words and encouragement, and to
>> the FSF for having this frank and open discussion with me on the
>> issues that matter.
>
> Don't think a moral is 'indistinguishable from demonizing opponents",
> as David writes. That's a misguided pseudo-religous approach. Also
> AFAIK it's not the declared FSF policy.

<URL:https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html>

    Since 1983, the Free Software Movement has campaigned for computer
    users' freedom—for users to control the software they use, rather
    than vice versa. When a program respects users' freedom and
    community, we call it “free software.”

    We also sometimes call it “libre software” to emphasize that we're
    talking about liberty, not price. Some proprietary (nonfree)
    programs, such as Photoshop, are very expensive; others, such as
    Flash Player, are available gratis—but that's a minor detail. Either
    way, they give the program's developer power over the users, power
    that no one should have.

    Those two nonfree programs have something else in common: they are
    both malware. That is, both have functionalities designed to
    mistreat the user. Proprietary software nowadays is often malware
    because the developers' power corrupts them.

    With free software, the users control the program, both individually
    and collectively. So they control what their computers do (assuming
    those computers are loyal and do what the users' programs tell them
    to do).

    With proprietary software, the program controls the users, and some
    other entity (the developer or “owner”) controls the program. So the
    proprietary program gives its developer power over its users. That
    is unjust in itself, and tempts the developer to mistreat the users
    in other ways.

I don't think that I am wide off the mark with regard to the statement
I actually made rather than John's interpretation of it.

-- 
David Kastrup