Re: [gentoo-dev] License criteria for Gentoo

["Kevyn Shortell" <kevyn@mac.com>]

Do a package count, then go find out which ones are GNU.
You'd be surprised, how many aren't.Then go look at the GNU
web page, and see how many packages, Didn't used to be under
the GNU banner, and now are. Seems a little like Microsoft to me.

The issue is, if RMS puts those quiet little two lines in an email
at some point to every dist on the planet, in the hopes of making 
GNU seem a lot more important that it really is its not a small thing.
If you just add a small blurb in a email about something else, It looks 
like its an after-thought, and people don't take it as a direct request.
That's why people do this, very sneaky. Got to give him credit.

But ask around to other dists who have been approached by RMS, 
they all say the same thing regarding RMS and GNU.  

Yes, GNU is important. It is important enough to change the name? 
No. If  RMS truly wanted to evangelize the benefits of GNU, why 
isn't he trying to get more sites to have information about GNU on 
their site? Why is he trying to change the name of every dist on the 
planet? Because he thinks that having GNU in front of every name 
makes people think of GNU in a positive light. How many users 
actually KNOW what GNU is based off calling something 
GNU/Linux? Probably none. 

So why such a large push from RMS to do this? And yes it is a large 
push, When RMS hunts down a mailing list for dists and mails there, 
as opposed to posting an email to the people who run the dist, it is very
deliberate. It is about politics, and how RMS wants people to publicly 
validate GNU. We have. We use GNU's projects, we like them, but
to join the cult of GNU seems a little excessive. Think about it, at what
point does GNU become what they were founded to fight against?
I've heard for years people are considering a NGNU (Not GNU) project
just because of RMS's tactics. This says more about RMS and GNU 
than any webpage EVER could.

It's like any Ford small truck, The engine and transmission is made by 
Mazda. Does Mazda require Ford to call the truck a Mazda/Ford Ranger? 
No. That would be stupid. The truck can't run without those parts, but 
does Mazda care if they get credit? No they care that Ford and its customers
are happy, And if you were to open the hood, You'd notice the Mazda 
logo here and there on things. 

So if RMS truly wanted to further the GNU cause, he'd get distro's to 
provide more information on the dist page, about GNU, and the 
benefits, where users could go and read about why GNU was important. 
It's been mentioned to him in several forums, does he do it? No he keeps 
building the GNU empire and claims to be doing for the benefit of the 
community. 

So how does causing animosity and resentment benefit the community? 

It doesn't.

Kevyn

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Spider" <spider@gentoo.org>
To: <gentoo-dev@gentoo.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 12:53 PM
Subject: Re: [gentoo-dev] License criteria for Gentoo