Re: The basic fact about the free software movement and the problem, the solution

[B]

BORING!

Why the need for the flame bait?

This cross-posted discussion is ancient, and not even entertaining anymore.
Can someone start a thread about something intriguing, like some group that
will actually write some Linux apps that are easy to install, use and do
something other than geeky stuff?  Don't get me wrong, I like the geeky
stuff, but would like to see something that will replace Windows on my
wife's laptop, my kids' PC and that my 60 year old mom can use, and I don't
have to provide obligatory support for.


Blaze and the Blazettes



"Snuffelluffogus" <darkred@myway.com> wrote in message
5f063e31.0406160934.64267be9@posting.google.com">news:5f063e31.0406160934.64267be9@posting.google.com...
> The basic fact about the free software movement is that it is
> split into two camps --
>
> 1. The libertarians, who are excessively pro-business and
> in particular pro-corporate, who often have corporate jobs
> and often proclaim free software is a free ride for business
> interests, therefore good. The libertarians are responsible
> for adding numerous business- and government-friendly packages to Linux.
> Libertarians are enthusiastic about making Linux competitive with
> Windows to the point of making it look-and-feel almost identical.
> The motto of a libertarian is "might makes right" or the equally
> ugly phrase "one dollar one vote". Libertarians would argue
> endlessly against a public license that prohibits
> large firms from using free software.
>
> and
>
> 2. The anarchists, who want to tear down big business because
> it's a frankenstain monster that abuses workers, consumers,
> and governments and who thus prefer small firms, if any firms
> at all. Anarchists are more likely to talk about how free software
> empowers individuals and they would never, as a rule, use M$ software.
> Anarchists are just as like to use the command line as X Windows.
> The motto of an anarchist might be "watch David slay Goliath".
> Anarchists would not mind seeing a public license that prohibits
> large firms from using the software.
>
> The problem is that it is the libertarians who are winning
> the struggle for control of Linux, and because the general public
> naturally will view the libertarians as the weaker-willed
> and less virtuous of the two camps, since nobody loves someone
> who caves into the bully (big  business), or who represents the bully.
> And this is a loss for Linux. Linux is no longer the David against Goliath
> but seems to be Goliath's sidekick. Thus the public has less and less
> inclination to use Linux and free software as time goes by.
>
> The solution to this problem is to dump the GPL and instead
> use a non-corporate license that specifically prohibits companies
> over perhaps 5 people from using the software, on pain of
> lawsuit. To ensure compliance, software should be written with
> a kind of pinger that accesses a server ; if the ping comes from
> a known-to-be-corporate site e.g. sun.com, then the server software
> tells the program to shut down.