On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 2:06 AM, Simon Bridge
<address@hidden> wrote:
This got posted on the NZLUG lists... lock and load:
> The average bloke doesn't give a monkeys about libre.
The average person does not fully understand the ramifications
and consequences behind free/open software. I am willing
to wager that they would care if they were properly informed
For too long open source zealots have been pushing the libre side, when really the four
freedoms mainly apply to the freedom of programmers.
Not entirely true, many people benefit from the success of a program
not just the programmer, take for instance OpenSSH or the Apache Web server
(to name but a few examples)
these are real applications that many people reap benefits from directly:
students, sysadmins, consultants, security specialist and even Internauts.
If programmers are free to program than people are free to share these
programs and thus contribute to providing better applications for all.
It is in our nature to want to share something especially
when that certain something is good. For as long as I can remember
computer users have found ways to share software with other users
and big companies have tried (unsuccessfully) to hinder this
sharing of applications. Open/Free software just seems far more
natural.
After reading a recent blog i now follow the belief that we should be pushing the
merits of the individual programs: compiz to teens, OO.o export to PDF to
whoever needs that ability, AdBlock Plus on Firefox to all internet
users, LAMP stacks for the web, Opera and SVG for the web (especially
gradient curved corner backgrounds){Firefox won't do CSS SVG}, 500 top
supercomputer stats to big business and SELinux (which was started by
the USA NSA) to security conscious companies.
Yes, indeed lets push the merits of individual applications, but let us not
forget that these applications are made possible by Open Source programmers
and developers and users that provide useful feedback and are willing to
'chip in' to make each one of these applications better.
Remember that Open/Free Software gives you the freedom this pick and
choose what best suits your needs, its the whole point of it.