I very rarely write about my professional and personal life because some people try to contact my boss, hoping to cause me trouble (since 2005), and things I write about my personal life are likely to be misframed and mischaracterised to smear me, respectively. So I generally don't say much about my daily routines here (I opened up a bit in 2017 in this interview). I try to focus on the issues, leaving little room for personal attacks.

"I try to focus on the issues, leaving little room for personal attacks."The same is true for my wife, who rarely divulges personal details online; we don't use Facebook or anything like it and I last updated LinkedIn with work-related information some time back in 2006 (when a colleague convinced me to create an account there).

So anyway, don't expect me to open up too much. It's bad enough that some British university decided to intimidate someone who wanted to participate in Techrights by basically defaming me, based on distortion of things from 15 years ago. All I will say is that my remote work history is very long. In 2000 or 2001 I started working in the dormitories, offering technical support for computers (I had acquired experience as a teenager) and I could do so within the Halls of Residence without having some truly central office. In 2007 when I stopped much of my practical Ph.D. work (including thesis) I started working more and more from home. In 2010 I was allowed to work as a postdoc as a mostly but not entirely remote worker (with occasional visits to the department, either once a week or several times a year). That went on until 2012 and in 2011 I already started working from home, offering Free software support services -- again having to only visit the company's office a few times a year. In recent years I barely even visit the office anymore. I last went there a year ago (signing some papers) and this was probably the only time in about 3 years. I know that remote work is very much possible. I've done it in one form or another for nearly 2 decades.

"Proprietary software companies have long used "happy faces" marketing and "windmills" BS in brochure about their Clown Computing or whatever buzzword clueless, nontechnical decision-making suits happen to fancy that month/year, based on magazines composed and collated by other clueless, nontechnical publishers."One thing that has always been clear to me is that clients' perception of the workforce (are they supervised and are they trained?) played a big role in that old assumption that people need to come inward and produce outward from glass-and-metal cages which are neither welcoming nor respectful of basic human dignity. People over your shoulder causing additional stress won't improve productivity, especially in jobs that require concentration and minimal interruption/interference (such as debugging of code).

Proprietary software companies have long used "happy faces" marketing and "windmills" BS in brochure about their Clown Computing or whatever buzzword clueless, nontechnical decision-making suits happen to fancy that month/year, based on magazines composed and collated by other clueless, nontechnical publishers.

I say, to hell with those buzzwords and hype waves; enough with your stupid marketing, which is only a drain on companies' budget (not to mention lawyers and sometimes even accountants). For companies to become and remain competitive they need to be lean and not mean. Respect workers, don't bully them (neither physically nor mentally; the two things are related because diet, health and mood are closely connected). Focus on technical work; it is the heart and soul of technical companies, which is what most if not all Free software firms are. Proprietary software has long relied on lies, aggressive marketing, sometimes even bribery (there are special teams if not departments dedicated to just that).

"I still believe that society as well as workplaces will become more humane when Free software is the de facto standard everywhere; it's not only about Freedom (libre) of code but also the Freedom of workers."Now that many people are either forced to work from home or stay home (unemployed) the subject is worth bringing up. We need to leave behind us the nonsensical burden which not only harms the environment but also manifests itself in the form of telemarketing, overstressed workers, and workers who contract flu or pneumonia while commuting or eating next to a colleague they neither like nor really need to interact with. I'm not an introvert. I'm not extrovert either. But I am very practical and I know that a 4-hour trip to the office is rarely necessary, not to mention the carbon footprint.

I still believe that society as well as workplaces will become more humane when Free software is the de facto standard everywhere; it's not only about Freedom (libre) of code but also the Freedom of workers. There's definitely a connection between those things. All the code I've ever worked on is Free software (it's against my principles to keep code secret) and each time I worked from 9 to 5 (not much in my adult life, unlike teenage years) I got a taste of what most people are compelled to go through on a daily basis. This is about as sustainable for personal health as it is for the economy itself. The economy isn't doing too well, is it? Well, maybe it's time to rethink how we work. Just my 50 pence...

"Proprietary software types like to assess people's value based on their perceived wealth, i.e. what kind of things they've bought and collected -- in the same way many assess the quality or value of a company based on the looks of its office, the furnishing, where it is based (the more expensive, the better?) and so on, spurring a culture of over-consumption and over-spending."Can I take the train journey to the office with 50 pence? The last time I purchased tickets to travel the rail fare was literally twice that of a flight. Time for Richard Branson and the likes of him to declare bankruptcy and time for public transport too... to be rethought. I last owned a car almost 2 decades ago. I can cycle to most places and save myself maintenance headaches (and fees) associated with car ownership. But that perhaps is a topic for another day and a different post. Yes, people who can drive and choose not to own a car aren't inferior. Proprietary software types like to assess people's value based on their perceived wealth, i.e. what kind of things they've bought and collected -- in the same way many assess the quality or value of a company based on the looks of its office, the furnishing, where it is based (the more expensive, the better?) and so on, spurring a culture of over-consumption and over-spending.

"Do you have a lawyer?"

"Oh, glad you asked! We have a whole in-house department of them!"

Now, how about that for corporate productivity? ⬆