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From: Phillip Frabott <nntp@fulltermprivacy.com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.advocacy
Subject: Re: GNOME/Freedesktop/redhat incompetent or malicious influence
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2024 14:05:51 -0400
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On 10/9/2024 10:43, Farley Flud wrote:
> On Wed, 9 Oct 2024 10:13:13 -0400, Phillip Frabott wrote:
> 
>>
>> One of the downsides of the FSF movement and GPL was the unintentional
>> directive that pure freedom would cause, the freedom to control others
>> and the freedom to push/force software. The FSF may not have intended
>> that to be the thing, but it's a freedom given under the 4 pillars.
>> That's why I have been vocal that the FSF needs to change some things,
>> but their ego and arrogance stops them from doing so. Sadly, I think the
>> FSF will not be around in the next 2 decades. Time will tell (and it
>> will be a shame if I'm right) but there is too many loopholes that allow
>> these large companies to take over. What used to protect users, now
>> protects businesses. But that's just my take.
>>
> 
> The Linux distros are also very much to blame as the majority will follow
> the trends without question.

100% this. I don't use distros, I compile my own sources and bring my 
own system up from M4 and bintools, up to the kernel and such. This is 
something I've always done from the beginning. I mean, we didn't have 
distros back then. I remember having been one of the few (lucky ones) 
that had access to a minix computer at home, and when I saw Torvalds 
Kernel and then found GNU shortly after I was hooked. Now I hear there's 
a website call LFS that people can use to learn how to source their own 
system now. People should learn to do it. It'd also stop the influences 
from distros. I'd love to see more of that.


> Only Gentoo offers true choice, as does the long-running Linux From
> Scratch.
I haven't looked into Gentoo but I've heard the same being said. A 
friend of mine on Matrix uses Gentoo and he talks about it being the 
only distro (in his mind) that is actually a truly free distro.
> 
> But it is not enough to just whine on Usenet.  One must get actively involved
> in the FSF and other FOSS projects and attempt to enforce the freedom
> concept.

Yes, and that's something I've been doing for a while now. But I've 
figured out in the process it's very hard to get anyone in the FSF (at 
least in the leadership) to change anything. We've had some good back 
and forth but it just doesn't seem to spark any interest in the people 
that have the power within the FSF. And there isn't enough people on 
this side of the fence yet to make those demands. But I'm still trying.

To clarify before my next statement I wish no ill-will towards Richard 
Stallman but I do feel like (sometimes) he is the blocker for some of 
the changes needed for the FSF to return to protecting users rights. I'm 
glad with the work he's done over the last 4 decades to get us here but 
I know that a lot of the leadership will do and not do anything without 
his green light. And I know he will remain involved until the day he 
leaves the earth (again, no ill-will to him at all.) I just wish there 
was more openness to change in the FSF leadership then what we have 
right now. But again, I'm just a small guy on the totem pole so... I do 
what I can and hopefully one day things can change for the better.

> I must admit that I am guilty in not taking this active approach.
> 
> However, from what I have experienced, taking a stand against the loss
> of freedom is likely to be a very uphill battle.
It totally is... But we can always try anyways.

-- 
Phillip Frabott
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- Adam: Is a void really a void if it returns?
- Jack: No, it's just nullspace at that point.
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