[pp.int.general] Why Free Software misses the point

[Radosław Nadstawny]

On Thu, 13 May 2010 22:01:40 +0200
Boris Turovskiy <tourovski at gmail.com> wrote:

> On 13.05.2010 21:51, Radosław Nadstawny wrote:
> > Who is "the user"?
> The user is the guy who doesn't know a CPU from a motherboard and
> just wants to have their computer up and running.

So it's only a limited subset of all users. And why do you want to
consider only this particular group's interests and not any other's?

> 
> >> Like many other idealists you struggle for someone other's needs
> >> which you define in a way that suits you. The user wants
> >> functionality, not "autonomy" in the way you state it.
> >>
> >>      
> > Look at yourself. It is you who defines others' needs in a way that
> > suits you.
> >    
> I don't define anyone's needs - I just don't want others to do it for 
> me. When you say "the freedom to modify a program is an essential 
> freedom [for everybody]", you define others' needs; when I say "the 
> freedom to modify a program menas shit to a great lot of people", I 
> don't define anything, I just negate your statement.

Well, if we allowed this "great lot of people" to make key decisions
about everyone's freedom, we would end up pretty screwed. The only
thing your "great lot of people" cares about is convenience. Often they
don't really know what they're sacrificing in the name of it.

> >    
> >>> What are your personal goals?
> >>>        
> >> My goal (for the matter at hand) is for the Pirates Parties not to
> >> become the political arm of Mr. Stallman's obscure philosophical
> >> ideas.
> >>      
> > Do you feel threatened?
> >    
> Yes, because many people consider adjoining the FSF's ideas an
> important goal, often to the detriment of original Pirate goals (see
> the discussion on copyright duration).

I, on the other hand, feel threatened that corporate greed will do it's
best to prevent free software from being developed and freely
distributed. It's in corporations' interest to eliminate the
competition, and they're constantly trying, by forcing things like
software patents and whatnot into legislation.

Let's make it clear - I have no intention of protecting people from the
consequences of their own choices. If someone chooses proprietary
software, I'm fine with it, as everyone should have the choice. I just
don't want to allow corporations to take away the freedom that free
software gives, from those who are enjoying it.

> 
> Best regards,
> Boris