ESR: 'We Don't Need the GPL Anymore' (O'ReillyNet) [LWN.net]

ESR: 'We Don't Need the GPL Anymore' (O'ReillyNet)

Posted Jul 2, 2005 20:36 UTC (Sat) by peace (guest, #10016)
Parent article: ESR: 'We Don't Need the GPL Anymore' (O'ReillyNet)

Bruce Perens mad a quip above about maybe not needing ESR anymore. What this whole episode has made me wounder is if we need Open Source anymore. I have always been torn between the ease of communicating the concepts of Open Source and the more awkward conversation that generaly ensues around Free Software.

Observing the the rif raf that seems to be jumping on the Open Source bandwagon has made me question whether the Open Source "movement" has the central value structure that is needed to ward off evil in the face of temptation. I have no such doubts about the FSF.

I have also had the pleasure of seeing RMS speak a few times, the last time at the Boston Social Forum. He is dedicated and clear thinking and most importaintly entirely without showmanship and spin. Open Source lately seems to be getting cought up in the glitter and lime lights.

Ranting aside, Open Sourcers have done a ton of great things for Free software and the world at large. No doubt, major props. However, ESR's statements are indicative of a rot that could confuse the value of user Freedom with the concept of a development model. This would be a terrible thing.

Kind Regards

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ESR: 'We Don't Need the GPL Anymore' (O'ReillyNet)

Posted Jul 2, 2005 21:37 UTC (Sat) by sbergman27 (subscriber, #10767) [Link]

While I think that RMS has a showmanship of his own, I have to agree that Eric has totally flown the coup this time. Could he have done *anything* that was more damaging to his position? It's a shame. I guess he thinks of himself as a leader. Well, it will be interesting to see what kind of spin he puts on this after he realizes what a mistake it was.

As I said in my previous post, I believe in the efficacy of the "Open Source" label. People just don't really care about "Freedom". Not when their wallets are involved.

But you can't toss freedom down the toilet and still retain the essence of the movement.

If I were the umpire, I'd say:

RMS: +1
ESR: -1

ESR: 'We Don't Need the GPL Anymore' (O'ReillyNet)

Posted Jul 7, 2005 14:14 UTC (Thu) by nix (subscriber, #2304) [Link]

totally flown the coup

What a lovely eggcorn.

ESR: 'We Don't Need the GPL Anymore' (O'ReillyNet)

Posted Jul 8, 2005 0:20 UTC (Fri) by sbergman27 (subscriber, #10767) [Link]

Eek. Your write. Funny thing is, I could half staired at the paige for an our and not scene the error, despite the fact that tin years ago I would half spotted it immediately. I had two look it up. Oddly, constant exposure to the internet seems two half caused me two actually loose sum spelling accuracy.

A few months ago, I wrote to the editor of an India based magazine to point out the misspelling of the word "lose" as "loose". The answer I got back was interesting. He was surprised that we spelled it that way here in the US. "Loose" is simply the standard spelling in that part of the world, according to the editor.