Re: [Repo-criteria-discuss] Resolving the C2 question

[Zak Rogoff]

On 08/04/2016 02:38 PM, Richard Stallman wrote:
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> [[[ whether defending the US Constitution against all enemies,     ]]]
> [[[ foreign or domestic, requires you to follow Snowden's example. ]]]
> 
>   > The concern revolves around
>   > situations in which repos are compelled to discriminate against certain
>   > users by governments.
> 
> That's why we need this criterion.
> 
>   >  When they are truly compelled to do it, it doesn't
>   > seem like we should downscore repositories for discriminating/censoring
>   > content, right?
> 
> Yes, we must!  This is very important.
> 
> To raise the question of whether the repo operators are "compelled"
> is to misunderstand the purpose of these ratings.
> 
> We are judging the _conduct_ of the repository for how it affects the
> community.  Judging whether the operators are good people or bad
> people is not the purpose.  If the repo mistreats people, people
> should not put their programs there, because it will be bad for
> other people who want to access the programs' repositories.
> 
> There are plenty of repositories that _are not compelled_ to
> discriminate, and don't discriminate.  Developers should move code to
> those repos.
> 
> You shouldn't run a repo if you are forbidden to run it in a just way.
> Leave it to someone else who can do it justly.
> 
> This principle applies generally to all our moral standards because
> all our moral standards have to do with not mistreating others.  For
> instance, if you develop a program and distribute copies, you should
> make them free software, because otherwise you're subjugating users.
> What if you are compelled to make your software nonfree?  Then you
> should not develop any software -- let others do it who can do it
> justly.
> 
> It might be good to explain this point, so people understand our reasoning.
> 

Ok, I see what you mean. I do think that it would be good to offer more
rationale for the criteria. I wonder if an FAQ would be the best way to
do it.

-- 
Zak Rogoff // Campaigns Manager
Free Software Foundation

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