Modifying and Writing One's Own Computer Programs is Not a Crime (or: Google Proves That Stallman Was Right)
As we've already put it yesterday, even several times in one day*, we see lots of positive mentions of Richard Stallman this week and also last week (since Wednesday or thereabout). Many people recognise he was right. Why now?
Well, even the pro-Linux and pro-Android people now recognise that Dr. Stallman had the vision regarding crackdowns not only on reverse-engineering but also writing one's own programs and modifying existing ones. Google indirectly calls that "sideloading", as it prevents running these in practices akin to TiVoisation above the kernel, just like Apple did (GAFAM in general wants to exercise control over all your computing; it's about controlling behaviour and minds).
Not too long ago (by RMS standards), a year before the FSF was created, there was this historic event which was "first conference [called "The Hackers Conference" which attracted] roughly 150 attendees [and] included Steve Wozniak, Ted Nelson, Richard Stallman, John Draper, Richard Greenblatt, Robert Woodhead, and Bob Wallace..."
Many people who attended are dead already.
There are some videos of this event online (we made our own copies and shared some in past years). Dr. Stallman shows up in these a few times. He explained that his own role and his goal was (still is) to protect the freedoms of computer users. Remember this was 41 years ago!
We're generally gratified to see so many positive mentions of him (some are quoted in our IRC network this week). Dr. Stallman is personally attacked and persecuted not because of his behaviour or politics; it's just that some people either envy him or get all worked up (upset) over his views on technical matters. Remember that when you see people slagging him off. What are their true motivations? Who pays them? █
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* I literally got out of bed not once but twice, then went downstairs to write my thoughts about this. I thought it was too important to "sleep over", so I took down notes.