Re: [gentoo-amd64] Re: Dual Head

["Boyd Stephen Smith Jr." <bss03@volumehost.net>]

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On Thursday 13 July 2006 08:50, "Mark Knecht" <markknecht@gmail.com> wrote 
about 'Re: [gentoo-amd64] Re: Dual Head':
> On 7/13/06, Duncan <1i5t5.duncan@cox.net> wrote:
> <SNIP>
>  slaveryware
> <SNIP>
>  freedomware
> <SNIP>
>
> Must we use such charged language around here?

Duncan's had this discussion with a number of people, I'm sure.  I seem to 
remember this list (or another gentoo list) having a small sub-thread 
about it.  Actually, it got me thinking and, now, among company that 
understands the sentiment I use the same terminology along with 
smatterings of "too bad I can't use <that> in the free world".

I choose not to use it on the list or most other setting, because it rubs 
some people wrong, particularly the word "slaveryware" [1].  Generally, 
this is because people see it as making light of slavery.  I don't; EULAs 
and the vast majority of software licenses in use today *do* take away 
your rights and attempt to put you in shackles so you can't get away.  
It's unfortunate that people see this as acceptable, but then again there 
were hundreds of years of human history in which slavery was seen as 
acceptable.

Then again, I'm pretty far "out there" even among my friends.  Just as 
selling yourself into slavery was made illegal, I do see a time when Rule 
of Law will prevent one from giving/trading/selling away their software 
freedoms.  I do hope that there are some allowances made from the 
artistic/creative aspects of source code (and software in general).

In any case, Duncan's not going to change.  If you are offended I encourage 
you to take up the issue with Duncan off-list.  If that will/does not 
satisfy you, you will probably need to just killfile Duncan and hope "such 
charged language" doesn't get quoted too often.

-- 
"If there's one thing we've established over the years,
it's that the vast majority of our users don't have the slightest
clue what's best for them in terms of package stability."
-- Gentoo Developer Ciaran McCreesh

[1] "Freedomware" is usually less of an issue since it's really just a 
alternate shortening of "Free/Libre, Open-Source Software" 
normally "F/LOSS".  Personally I like "freedomware" because it helps 
emphasize what Stallman, GNU, and the FSF provide with their software: 
freedom.

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