Free software means that the users have the "FREEDOM" to run, edit, contribute to, and share the software...regardless of who they are or what their purpose ...

A group of people including Drew DeVault are trying to cancel RMS again, basing their claims on ancient misinterpreted quotes. Stallman may be controversial, but these activists are just acid for the entire Free Software movement.

  • alyaza [they/she]@beehaw.orgM
    34·
    18 days ago

    the only reason this is being kept up and locked and not deleted is to make it clear where Beehaw stands on Richard Stallman, which is: stop defending him, he is an awful person and he completely deserves to be put over the fire for his words and actions.

  • Naich@lemmings.world
    28·
    18 days ago

    He has said some fucked up shit to be fair. You can’t deny the amazing efforts he’s put into Free software, but as a person he’s pretty dubious and not a great figurehead for the movement. Basically, thanks for all you have done, but ewwww…

  • Masterkraft0r@discuss.tchncs.de
    52·
    18 days ago

    this is the attack on stallman

    seems prett damning to me

    also i’m going to let devault himself rebut this

    also no: stallman being under attack for credible accusations and even non-retracted public statements is not an “attack on free software” but a much needed clean up. call it a refactoring of legacy assets, if you want.

    • Nate Cox@programming.devEnglish
      33·
      18 days ago

      The cult of Stallman continues to baffle me. The man is venom in the veins of the free software community and people just adore him.

      I love the ideals of the free software movement but RMS is so toxic that I won’t associate myself with it while he’s tolerated.

      • Sub_dermal@beehaw.org
        12·
        18 days ago

        A lot of the ‘debunking’ here is very poor, it assumes Stallman’s innocence at every junction, argues that Stallman’s word is more important than his actions, fails to engage with the full complexity of arguments against him, and more than once uses “but he’s tender hearted, so he can’t be bad” as an argument.

        Certainly not “rational and objective” like it claims.

    • Sub_dermal@beehaw.org
      8·
      18 days ago

      RMS is a huge figure head and representative of free software, so it matters what he says and does.

      I have seen no-one argue that everything RMS has said is bunk because of this, personally I think he has had some good ideas, sure; but that doesn’t mean I just ignore everything else because “its politics and not free Software related”.

      Free Software is in itself political, maybe the links between RMS’s words and actions, and Free Software are not direct or even close - but separating “politics” and Free Software just seems like burying your head in the sand.