Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

Posted Sep 27, 2006 0:10 UTC (Wed) by robilad (guest, #27163)
In reply to: Why Torvalds is sitting out the GPLv3 process (Linux.com) by smoogen
Parent article: Why Torvalds is sitting out the GPLv3 process (Linux.com)

"Please try to be polite, respectful, and informative, and to provide a useful subject line." ;)

While I wouldn't put my hand into the fire for either Linus or the FSF, as far as I can see from his recent posts, Linus is no more trustworthy than the FSF in this (very funny, actually) spectacle.

* He uses the same tactics that he accuses the FSF of to persuade his audience: wiesel-wording, FUD, misinformation.

* His 'posse' threatens to fork FSF's projects over licensing issues, just in the way how he accuses the FSF to threaten to fork his kernel over licensing issues.

* He uses the 'put up or shut up' i.e. 'write your own kernel' argument when it comes to discussing the weak points of his argumentation. That's the same argument as 'you don't have to use GPLv3 licensed software, write your own'.

* He tolerates a non-transparent process for the sake of getting the outcome he wants (kernel devs position/poll on GPLv3 == GPLv3 draft committees)

* Assumes to speak for a movement (Open Source vs. Free Software).

* FSF zealots! vs. Most of our users don't believe in freedom.

etc.

If someone believes that a particular side has the higher moral ground in this, I congratulate them for being able to find it. I can't find much, so far.

Nevertheless, I find this all highly amusing, and I bet I'm not the only one. In the spirit of ELER and lonelygirl15, if this goes on for a few more weeks, I think I should start a DRM-free, CC-licensed, 'linusv3' video blog featuring sock puppets on YouTube and commercially exploit it. I'm sure the small-children-eating GPLv3 license draft '2' sock will be a big hit on CafePress. ;)

---

to post comments