I always knew it was bad, but never this bad. The #RMS resignation from #FSF seems to have shaken loose all the conspiracy theorists and devotees. Its mailing lists and forums are full of them, still distracting from the public charitable interest of the non-profit.
So many blinded by hero worship that they don't realize the viral poison said hero had on the #FreeSoftware movement. The immaturity of these folks is arguably the biggest blocker of software freedom from widespread adoption.
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@downey I'm glad we have other orgs like Software Freedom Conservancy. That kind of diversity is important in times like this. But by the same token, I also hope FSF can recover.
@jamey
Hear hear
@downey I can't boost these toots since a bunch of people are hit hard by Stallman's awful rhetoric and you didn't add content warnings to let them decide whether they're able to think about him right now⦠but I like the way you described the current situation.
@downey
When a member of a community gets attacked by media lying on his statements for the sake of the news (and you know this!), I expect that community to stand united and defend him. You guys instead exploited the situation and forced him to resign. Your hypocrisy is beyond limit and you would deserve way more backfire than what you are receiving.
@shiba Valuing the future of the movement over a founder who abused people for decades is hardly hypocrisy. But I appreciate the example you've provided by demonstrating the troubling reactions I highlighted above.
@downey I'm not an example of an opinion you don't like, I tell the facts the way they happened. You can call it whatever noble purpose makes you still feel like good guys, but facts tell you backstabbed a member of your own movement in time of need. And that's not an opinion.
@shiba I didn't say you were demonstrating "an example of an opinion [I] don't like". Rather, that mounting such defeneses sacrifice the long-term success of the movement in the name of rushing to the defense of an individual who caused that movement great harm over the years.
Stallman's decades of unprofessional abusive behavior to many over the years (including me) caused countless scores to be excluded from the software freedom movement. I'm proud to support those people taking it back.
@downey the ends justify the means. I couldn't sleep at night, good for you if you can even be proud of it.
@shiba Absoultely: There's finally a chance for the software freedom movement to catch hold in the world!
@wyatwerp
Not true. People have been demanding he step down literally for years due to his unprofessional abusive behavior. Standing up for those harmed is not "political correctness", it's called being a kind thoughtful human being.
@downey certainly is exposing the underbelly of free software that so many find hostile.
Regardless of current events, fsf needed new leadership. RMS being a popelike figure wasnt good, and he was absolutist to the point of paralysis. Hoping free software can be bigger and bolder
@fancycade
Several folks have rightly pointed out that different phases in the evolution of a movement need different types of leadership. It's clear there was a need for what he offered, but the times have changed and the FS movement can't keep its head in the sand and expect to succeed in spreading its values.
@downey This is exactly what I have been ranting about since his resignation! These people don't understand the damage they're doing to the movement they claim to love!
@downey Many of us knew these folks existed. My experiences with them have included the following:
1. Being called a "bad soldier" for not supporting some action RMS wanted to do during a protest.
2. Seeing someone from the above mentioned group on TV as part of a study on cults
3. I talked about some problematic stuff by the SFLC and was called a Microsoft shill and other such names
(...)
4. One Free Software supporter I met in the early 2000s told me that he went into the phone book and cold called people to talk to them about Free Software
5. Another Free Software supporter I met in DC told me he called offices of Congresspeople and told them they should switch to Linux
These kinds of actions don't progress our movement forward. I pointed out the problematic behavior to RMS who said that he was glad they existed because they made him seem more moderate.
@emacsen @downey Ouch :-/ I contributed to Trisquel for a few months this year. Decided to leave as, like with the FSF, the visible public discussion is often full of extreme views, conspiracy theories, and is extremely unwelcoming to people who donβt share the same thoughts. The people doing the work on the project are friendly, and pleasant to interact with - but they are few, and the hostility of the forum is certainly reducing uptake and involvement.
The same tactics are why #OpenSource temporarily pulled ahead in support, but fortunately greater forces are at play that can even overcome the damage done by #Stallman's behavior.
Chernobyl's nuclear mess wasn't cleaned up quickly, and neither will be the #FSF. Fortunately, #SoftwareFreedom is larger and stronger than the organization.
I am still holding out hope for the org, but my hope in the movement is far more certain.
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#FreeSoftware #RMS #Stallman