Richard Stallman resigns from the FSF

I've always strongly disagreed with Stallman's opinions on, probably, nearly everything not related to Free Software. At the same time, I've always respected his opinions and work related to Free Software. I think we would be much poorer, in the contexts of technology and Free Software, were it not for him.

I think there is more going on in this story than meets the eye. These purges are like a form of gamesmanship, a means to political and personal gain. They only have power because certain people cede it to them, because certain other people see an opportunity to direct the court of public opinion.

It will be interesting to see how these play out in the bigger picture. It seems to me that either these neo-Puritans[0] will purge themselves out of existence, or society will fracture into parallel societies.

0: Although the Puritans had a concept of repentance, for these, there is no means for propitiation.