Re: [fsf-community-team] What's in a name............

[Holmes Wilson]

A few thoughts on this: I've had pretty good luck explaining the idea of 
free software to people, and I think we'll all get better at it with 
practice.

Also, I'm 100% certain that we won't be able to decide on a new name for 
free software that we can all agree on, on this list for several reasons :)

So let's focus on explaining what it is.  Add your favorite explanation 
to the wiki:
http://groups.fsf.org/wiki/Short_explanations_of_free_software

A meta point: whenever we feel like there are ideas that need 
organizing-- ideas that require lots of writing--start a wiki page, and 
send out a link to it.  When you get something you like, send it back to 
the larger group for comments.

-Holmes


On 12/14/09 11:50 AM, Diego Trujillo wrote:
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I have also had problems when explaining free software to people (even
> in spanish where free (as in freedom) is 'libre' and free (as in free
> beer) is 'gratis'). The most recent example is when I was invited to
> contribute to a free software project and one of my friends said to me
> "well you start producing free but one day you'll get paid for non-free
> software." Even after explaining the price-liberty diference he couldn't
> quite grasp it.
>
> This has led me to think that maybe another word should subsitute the
> 'free' in free software (don't hate me for this) and I think
> freedom-software is not a bad option. In my opinion the word freedom
> carries the same conotation as the word free in this context. In the end
> what we are trying to defend is user freedom so any word that can
> reflect this whithout being ambiguous is (again, in my opinion) is
> alright to use.
>
> If anyone greatly disagrees with me I am compleatly open for critique.
>
> 2009/12/12 Charlie <address@hidden
> <mailto:address@hidden>>
>
>     Hello Everyone,
>
>     The explanation of Free Software has always been a bit difficult to
>     explain, being that people think immediately of free as in beer, as it
>     not needing to be paid for and therefore inferior. After all, most
>     people think that if something can be given away it has no value, not
>     realising the person who buys or is given the thing puts the value upon
>     it, won't pay more than it's worth to them, and values highly what
>     serves them best even if donated.
>
>     Naturally having discussed the philosophy of Free Software with my
>     partner so that she gets, what I hope, is a good and accurate grasp of
>     the meaning and philosophy of it, tends to refer to it as Freedom
>     Software whenever she explains the programs I use. Freedom also has two
>     major definitions, but in a modern country where people mostly think
>     about their own situation, think they are free, and depending on the
>     person using the term, it appears to be better understood. Or possibly
>     because everyone is a fighter for freedom at heart. I'm a bit radical
>     and off the wall, so I don't engage that terminology till a certain
>     amount of explanation has pioneered its use in the discussion.
>     Otherwise the use of the term Freedom Software might be
>     misconstrued. :-)
>
>     Be well,
>     Charlie
>     --
>     Registered Linux User:- 329524
>     .....................................................
>
>     I say, break the law.............Henry David Thoreau
>
>     .....................................................
>
>     Debian GNU/Linux - just the best way to create magic
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Diego Trujillo
>
> http://debraye5.blogspot.com