Re: [fsf-community-team] Introduction

[Simon Bridge]

On Mon, 2009-12-14 at 08:40 +1100, Matthew Davidson wrote:
> Hi,

> My introduction to free software came about by needing a free-as-in-beer 
> programming language (I settled on Perl), and while avoiding work one 
> day I read the copy of the GPL - specifically the preamble - that came 
> with it. I was literally thrown back in my chair by the world-changing 
> implications of that text.
> 
Oh yeah it's on eye opener all right.
Have you seen:
http://www.cybersource.com.au/cyber/about/comparing_the_gpl_to_eula.pdf

I had already been using a similar license for years before I came
across this one - which is better written.

> By virtue of being the only person who turns up to every meeting, I'm 
> seen as a leader of the unfortunately named http://clublinux.org.au 

Though you could write is thus:

cl*u*bli*n*ux.or*g*.au

in otherwords - with "gnu" in different color :)


> While I am sympathetic to RMS's opinions on the inadvisability of use of 
> third-party services in place of your own software, being both a 
> provider of and user of such services, I'm forced to recognise that 
> there is often a need for them which is impractical to satisfy by wholly 
> user-owned solutions.
> 
Have you seen:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/digital-inclusion-in-freedom.html

It is possible to run SaaS without sacrificing your users freedoms.

> All else being equal, it is preferable to own your own infrastructure, 
> but all else is rarely equal. For instance, due to public policy in my 
> country which dictates that network connectivity should be priced as a 
> luxury commodity rather than a public utility, it makes much more sense 
> for the data transferred a crow-flying distance of perhaps a few 
> kilometers between my clients and their clients on the east coast of 
> Australia to be routed through a hosting service in Seattle.
> 
I hear you on that. Kiwiland is similar.

Though hosting your stuff elsewhere is not the same as creating it
there. i.e. do your actual computing at home.

When I learned web design and site maintenance one of the first rules
was that I keep a copy of my site locally.

> I could go on, and in fact I already have, at interminable length, but 
> instead I'll take a few deep breaths, think happy thoughts, and respond 
> to the following:
> 
>      * Excerpt: Richard Stallman started the FSF in order to promote
> open source software like the Linux operating system, as an
> alternative to expensive software like Windows.
> 
> The problem that Richard Stallman set out to address in the 1980's was 
> not that some software was expensive, but that copyright was being used 
> to impose restrictions on the ways people could use software.

Way too long - your audience just went to sleep. (Oh - a few seem to
find it entertaining...)

In fact I think your response here is actually longer than RMSs usual
one :)


>      * Excerpt: Now with cloud computing and web-based applications,
> even Linux users can use the same software as everyone else, through
> their browsers. With other popular programs like Skype and Adobe Flash
> producing Linux versions, the Linux desktop may finally be catching
> on!
> 
> The significant benefits of using a free software operating system like 
> GNU/Linux lie not in the range of software available to run on it, but 
> the freedom you have to customise, improve, and share these programs, 
> provided they are free software.
> 
> Giving up these freedoms is never a good thing - not even if you have 
> the convenience of doing so via your web browser.
> 
> There are free software equivalents of almost any popular proprietary 
> software you are likely to use (http://directory.fsf.org). Some free 
> software projects require support in software development, or even just 
> promotion, in order to be seen as viable replacements for some popular 
> proprietary programs. We encourage you to support projects such as those 
> on the FSF High Priority Free Software Projects list 
> (http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority.html), rather than surrendering 
> your freedom to support proprietary software vendors.

Hurray! A nice 1-2-3 from the ozzie.

> 
>      * Excerpt: When combined with the other chapters that include
> statutory damages, search and seizure powers for border guards,
> anti-camcording rules, and mandatory disclosure of personal
> information requirements, it is clear that there is no bigger
> intellectual property issue today than the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
> Agreement being negotiated behind closed doors this week in Korea.
> 
> While the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is a serious issue, it 
> cannot be said to be an "intellectual property" issue, at least if you 
> want to think in a clear and unbiased way about it.

Cool.

> Congratulations to anybody who managed to read this far.

Good on yer mate :)