Stallman on the State of GNU/Linux (OfB)
Stallman on the State of GNU/Linux (OfB)
Posted Apr 1, 2005 13:33 UTC (Fri) by cpm (guest, #3554)In reply to: Stallman on the State of GNU/Linux (OfB) by petrus4
Parent article: Stallman on the State of GNU/Linux (OfB)
It's funny in these days when quite literally ALL things are permissable,
(as in, "If God is dead, then") The only /WRONG/ thing a person can do,
is be percieved as a hypocrite.
I've asked a few folks what a hypocrite is, not being too certain myself.
(I'm one of those who thinks that words have meanings, and that meme
shifts occur due to weak-mindedness and hype) and many folks seem to
think that a hypocrite is someone who espouses ideals they themselve
up to which, are unable to live. Strangely, this is the human condition.
And the root of the word actually implies something else. On the fun,
side, RMS fits, because a hypocrite is supposed to be godless, And
as we all know, RMS is an atheist ;) Further, as what is supposed to
be a result of Godlessness, a hypocrite is supposed to be profane
and polluted with crimes. I don't think RMS is either of those.
But the newspeak Hypocrite, is simply someone who espouses one
idea, but lives by another. Someone who says, "You should obey
the law" but still drives 56 in a 55, but this modern definition
is a hypocrite. The worst thing you can say in a world where Bill
Gates gets to be Man of the Year, is that someone is a hypocrite.
I suppose if one were to ever modify one's posistion on a point
taken at age six, by age 60, that person may very well be a hypocrite.
Enough on that one.
I personally like RMS, have exchanged a few emails with him over the years,
and he is now, and always has been welcome at my dinner table. I think
he's a pleasant sort. I don't agree with all he says, but so what?
I think he's got a great sense of humour, and a lot of folks miss
that. I never will understand the level of hatred leveled at him, and
in a previously unspoken way, has suspected a certain lack of humour
on some folks part as being at the root that hatred.
I've got a friend, college, et al, that I've know since he was
in high school, and I'm as old as his dad. We occasionally collaborate
on stuff, and basically stay in touch with what is happening, and have
for many years. He HATES rms. I don't. He cites many of the same reasons
as you as basis for hatred. I don't see that. Hatred is emotional,
disagreement is intellectual. There is something more to it than examples
express. I don't get it. I never have. I personally think he (my friend)
and you should calm the heck down. But in truth, it's just another one
of those things I just don't understand.
I've read a lot of rms, I use his software every day. I send him money
to keep up the good work. I don't agree with him on more than just a few
things, but I do think he is pushing for a culture and society that is
better than he personally is capable of emulating (hypocrite!) and I
support that. I do not think the world would the worse off if more
folks at least made a serious (as in compromising) attempt at pushing
the ethics ball a little further up Sisyphus's hill.
--me