Reforming the free software message [LWN.net]

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DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 20, 2023 8:24 UTC (Tue) by ddevault (subscriber, #99589)
In reply to: DeVault: Reforming the free software message by coriordan
Parent article: DeVault: Reforming the free software message


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DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 20, 2023 11:08 UTC (Tue) by farnz (subscriber, #17727) [Link] (1 responses)

Can I just add one more problem to the list? RMS is 70. It's now reasonably likely that in the next 10 years, he'll reach a point where he can't do a good handover of leadership to a new person, let alone offer leadership himself, and virtually guaranteed that this will happen in the next 30. All it takes is one of the many horrible diseases that become more likely with age damaging his mind, and he's out of the picture - be it a stroke, dementia or worse.

If you do the handover from RMS to a new leader now, RMS can be there as Emeritus President with full honours, treated as a special case because he's the founder of the FSF, and whoever takes over can use RMS as a source of wisdom and expertise for as long as RMS is willing and able to take part in the Free Software movement (hopefully for a very long time!).

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 20, 2023 12:19 UTC (Tue) by coriordan (guest, #7544) [Link]

This is true.

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 20, 2023 12:27 UTC (Tue) by Wol (subscriber, #4433) [Link]

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 20, 2023 17:10 UTC (Tue) by rgmoore (✭ supporter ✭, #75) [Link]

The FSF treats RMS as "too big to fail", he is such an important creep that we cannot remove him. This is not okay.

More generally, even if RMS had no personality problems, he is still a mortal human being who is 70 years old. The FSF has a serious bus problem. They need to cultivate future leaders, including giving those people an important role with the freedom to do their own thing and make their own mistakes. I just don't see that happening. I suspect that's a big reason they wound up bringing RMS back; they didn't have anyone ready to take over. That doesn't speak well to their long-term health as an organization.

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 4:13 UTC (Wed) by saraht (guest, #165715) [Link] (1 responses)

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 7:45 UTC (Wed) by mjg59 (subscriber, #23239) [Link]

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 7:55 UTC (Wed) by marcH (subscriber, #57642) [Link]

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 8:18 UTC (Wed) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link] (14 responses)

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 8:21 UTC (Wed) by ddevault (subscriber, #99589) [Link] (12 responses)

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 8:39 UTC (Wed) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link] (11 responses)

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 8:48 UTC (Wed) by mjg59 (subscriber, #23239) [Link] (4 responses)

That is a pretty fucking awful example! Attempting to coerce someone into a relationship with you when there's also a power dynamic involved is abusive behaviour that should absolutely disqualify anyone from being in a leadership position.

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 8:52 UTC (Wed) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link] (3 responses)

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 10:56 UTC (Wed) by coriordan (guest, #7544) [Link] (2 responses)

Hang on a sec, 27-year-old Richard said something at the end of a meal. In 1980, before GNU or FSF. And he apologised.

https://stallmansupport.org/debunking-false-accusations-against-richard-stallman.html#suicide

He's 70 now. This isn't in the category of errors that marks someone as a bad person for life. Has no one here said anything wrong in the past 43 years?

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Aug 1, 2023 13:29 UTC (Tue) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link] (1 responses)

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Aug 1, 2023 13:42 UTC (Tue) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link]

And that is a very useful page you've linked to. Very interesting, wow in fact. So the bed was a lie too? Those throwing around these smears should be ashamed.

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 9:07 UTC (Wed) by ddevault (subscriber, #99589) [Link] (5 responses)

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 9:49 UTC (Wed) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link] (4 responses)

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 9:51 UTC (Wed) by ddevault (subscriber, #99589) [Link] (3 responses)

One woman's experience is not all women's experiences. Will you only believe stories of problematic behavior if you hear them directly from the victim?

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 10:08 UTC (Wed) by Wol (subscriber, #4433) [Link] (1 responses)

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 10:13 UTC (Wed) by ddevault (subscriber, #99589) [Link]

Okay: what of it?

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 11:13 UTC (Wed) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link]

DeVault: Reforming the free software message

Posted Jun 21, 2023 8:30 UTC (Wed) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link]