●● IRC: #techbytes @ Techrights IRC Network: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 ●● ● Sep 12 [03:12] *Moocher5254 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) [03:31] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [03:32] *MinceR gives voice to Moocher5254 [03:34] *Moocher5254 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) [03:45] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [03:49] *MinceR gives voice to Moocher5254 [03:49] *Moocher5254 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) ● Sep 12 [04:11] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [04:15] *Moocher5254 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) [04:16] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [04:17] *MinceR gives voice to Moocher5254 [04:46] *Moocher5254 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) [04:46] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [04:55] *Moocher5254 has quit (Quit: No Ping reply in 210 seconds.) [04:57] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes ● Sep 12 [05:07] *Noisytoot has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) [05:15] *Noisytoot (~noisytoot@tkbibjhmbkvb8.irc) has joined #techbytes ● Sep 12 [06:29] *Moocher5254 has quit (Quit: No Ping reply in 180 seconds.) [06:31] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [06:37] *Moocher5254 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) [06:39] schestowitz "/join_sublin" [06:39] schestowitz "I have changed the title from "Truth Social as an example of the [06:39] schestowitz limits of free software." [06:39] schestowitz Abe Indoria wrote: [06:39] schestowitz > > I understand the limits of free software. One problem I identify is [06:39] schestowitz > > that some people use free software not because they value freedom, but [06:39] schestowitz > > simply because it is economical to do so. [06:39] schestowitz > Why is this a 'problem?' [06:39] schestowitz Simply preferring free software for its economy is not a problem. [06:39] schestowitz Exploiting free software for its economy will lead to problems. Those [06:39] schestowitz who take economy too far consider gratitude a waste. Whenever I see [06:39] schestowitz lack of gratitude, I sense a problem. [06:39] schestowitz 1. I recall the days before Linux when only GNU software was [06:39] schestowitz available. GNU tools were better than those that came bundled with a [06:39] schestowitz Sun workstation. We respected the authors of GNU software. [06:39] schestowitz When Linux appeared, it was promoted to the general public with a [06:39] schestowitz catchy phrase: "It all started with one e-mail." I found this highly [06:39] schestowitz problematic. What does "all" mean? If it is "all of the kernel" then [06:39] schestowitz it's okay. However, the term "Linux" was commonly used to refer to [06:39] schestowitz the entire OS. For most people "all" meant "all of the operating [06:39] schestowitz system." Spreading a slogan like this discouraged users from thinking [06:39] schestowitz about the engineers who worked on vital components in an earlier [06:39] schestowitz phase. Ever since, telling people the real development history has [06:39] schestowitz been an uphill struggle. [06:39] schestowitz I believe that this was a deliberate campaign to discourage people [06:39] schestowitz from feeling and expressing gratitude. It is manifest in persistent [06:39] schestowitz opposition toward usage of the term "GNU/Linux." Conversely, those [06:39] schestowitz who say "Linux OS" often believe that Linus Torvalds wrote the entire [06:39] schestowitz OS, or at least laid down the foundations upon which his supporters [06:39] schestowitz built. Yet, those with such misguided belief may be better than those [06:39] schestowitz who don't care. [06:39] schestowitz In general, understanding of a useful tool or skill or a fair social [06:39] schestowitz institution is accompanied by respect toward the people who toiled to [06:39] schestowitz bring it into existence. [06:39] schestowitz 2. Four years ago Richard Stallman was harshly criticized for allegedly [06:39] schestowitz defending Jeffrey Epstein. Lack of understanding and respect toward [06:39] schestowitz Stallman made the campaign possible. To defend Stallman, one often [06:39] schestowitz has to start with: "Please visit the site stallmansupport.org and read [06:39] schestowitz 'Who is Richard Stallman?'" To those who agree that he has made [06:39] schestowitz contributions toward a fair and just society we can say: "It is rude [06:39] schestowitz to treat him this way. Please do not be misled by fabrications." [06:39] schestowitz Unfortunately it is difficult to request a prudent approach to the [06:39] schestowitz common man who feels: "I don't see anything wrong in being sloppy and [06:39] schestowitz rude. This man deserves no better." [06:39] schestowitz 3. There is an abundance of information on computers and software. [06:39] schestowitz Much of it is composed by people with a stake in a particular product [06:39] schestowitz and propagated without much critical examination. I notice that the [06:39] schestowitz articles fit with one another poorly. One may read many of them only [06:39] schestowitz to end up bewildered. [06:39] schestowitz Indeed many people do not desire new information about information [06:39] schestowitz systems for this reason. As a result they know too little of the [06:39] schestowitz technology that shapes their daily lives. This makes them feel [06:39] schestowitz powerless. Some believe that major tech companies are exploiting [06:39] schestowitz their ignorance; this is not altogether false. Ignorance also has [06:39] schestowitz security implications. Sadly most people are not able to overcome [06:39] schestowitz such ignorance, in spite of the severity of the problems it invites. [06:39] schestowitz To overcome ignorance, one should keep in mind to be grateful during [06:39] schestowitz the inquiry. That way the pieces integrate better. In the end one [06:39] schestowitz gets to see the big picture. [06:39] schestowitz 4. It is possible to get people to understand technology better and [06:39] schestowitz respect Richard Stallman more in a single stroke. The key is gratitude. [06:39] schestowitz Tell people how the GNU project made replacements of UNIX programs [06:39] schestowitz one by one. This approach worked well because the Bell Labs researchers [06:39] schestowitz had done a great job in breaking up the OS into distinct units. When [06:39] schestowitz telling this story, I stress that we should thank the Bell Labs team. [06:39] schestowitz Stallman shows little gratitude toward Bell Labs; his primary concern [06:39] schestowitz is the non-free nature of original UNIX programs. I identify a [06:39] schestowitz weakness here which I believe has cost him and his followers dearly. [06:39] schestowitz 5. Gratitude also means gratitude toward people who read our messages [06:39] schestowitz in mailing lists and such, including this one. Some readers send [06:39] schestowitz responses, and it may contain criticism. Those who value gratitude [06:39] schestowitz appreciate criticism while those who don't turn hostile. [06:39] schestowitz Nobody has yet commented on the last paragraph of my opening message, [06:39] schestowitz in which I summarize classical Chinese philosophy. "Gratitude" (li) is [06:39] schestowitz a word that appears frequently in "The Analects of Confucius (Lun Yu)." [06:39] schestowitz According to Confucius, in the absence of gratitude, many things go [06:39] schestowitz awry. [06:39] schestowitz I give several examples above. Confucius taught me where to look. [06:39] schestowitz In Japan or China, instead of writing in detail like this, sometimes I [06:39] schestowitz can just quote a phrase from "The Analects" and it will satisfy most [06:39] schestowitz people. This is not appropriate here where we have people with [06:39] schestowitz various cultural backgrounds. [06:39] schestowitz Even in East Asia, few people look for solutions for social issues [06:39] schestowitz surrounding modern technology in the teachings of Confucius who is [06:39] schestowitz widely considered to be a conservative philosopher. Not infrequently [06:39] schestowitz people are astonished when I demonstrate that his teachings resonate [06:39] schestowitz with the doctrine of free software. [06:39] schestowitz Thank you for reading. [06:39] schestowitz " [06:39] schestowitz https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/libreplanet-discuss/2023-09/msg00012.html [06:39] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [06:42] -TechBytesBot/#techbytes-lists.gnu.org | On gratitude and free software [06:43] *Moocher5254 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) ● Sep 12 [07:00] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [07:12] *Moocher5254 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) [07:17] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [07:24] *Moocher5254 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) [07:29] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [07:32] *Moocher5254 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) [07:43] *Moocher5254 (~quassel@m2yeyj6igtuh6.irc) has joined #techbytes [07:47] *Moocher5254 has quit (Quit: No Ping reply in 180 seconds.) 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