I've contributed to and created free software since the late 1980s, but I've never participated in the social side like FSF or Linux conferences.
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I've contributed to and created free software since the late 1980s, but I've never participated in the social side like FSF or Linux conferences.
Reading the Stallman Report has removed any lingering regrets that I might have missed out on something.
Were conference attendees really OK with stuff like RMS's recurring "Emacs Virgin" sketches? They didn't all just walk out in disgust?
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@david_megginson I went to SCALE a couple times (20-ish years ago) and I'm pretty sure RMS was not there. I learned a lot of new things and met a bunch of great people. We showed a 747 flight sim with full cockpit mockup that was largely based on FlightGear. These days I kinda have had my fill of conferences and travel. But yeah, how do people like RMS exist in positions of leadership and respect for so long? No one is perfect, but some people are just awful. Leadership demands integrity. But then we are all still full of contraditions. I have a retired fire fighter captain friend from HS that will tell you all the right things about leadership in a personal context ... and then turn around and go vote for guess who. So ... ?????
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@david_megginson
I don't have time to read and fact check the complete Report but AFAIK it's nothing but old stories. Even back then people argued he should step back and that's a valid point you can choose your side.Never seen RMS live but the Free Software movement is more than just RMS. RMS did define the four freedoms and these are still good. We should stick to them and not changing them by e.g. restricting the use on specific purposes. There would be no chance for a ethical consensus.
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@streetcoder wrote
I don't have time to read ...
Yeah, I guessed.
This isn't about the principle of free software; this is about the willingness of a community to shelter and enable toxic behaviour at an institutional level.
We see this with all personality cults, whether they involve free software, electric car manufacturers, or politics. As soon as we start engaging in "Big Man" worship, the rests follows its disgusting-but-inevitable path.
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@clolsonus Yes, as I mentioned in another reply, there's little difference between building a personality cult around RMS or Linus and building a personality cult around Elon or Donald.
Personality cults are broken by design, because they free the "Big Man" from the social norms and peer censure that are needed for society to function.
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𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓪𝓽𝓱【ツ】☮(📍🇬🇧)replied to David Megginson last edited by
the answer is peer to peer everything.
embrace value networks.
make them visible.
we are in the data.
it can replace personality cults.
we are more.
we are stronger.
we dont need them 🥰 -
David Megginsonreplied to 𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓪𝓽𝓱【ツ】☮(📍🇬🇧) last edited by
@serapath That can work. It's a specific implementation of a more-general principle: stop fetishising so-called "geniuses" by giving them credit for the work of hundreds or thousands of others. Focus on collective/collaborative work rather than "great men."
The best open-source maintainers are not BDFLs basking in public adulation; they're quiet, caring, competent managers who focus on supporting the project's contributors.
(The same applies to managers in the workplace.)
