From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.3 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,1efdd369be089610 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: 1025b4,1d8ab55e71d08f3d X-Google-Attributes: gid1025b4,public From: Ronald Cole Subject: Re: what DOES the GPL really say? Date: 1997/07/29 Message-ID: #1/1 X-Deja-AN: 260285533 Sender: ronald@devo.ridgenet.net References: <5ph4g5$sbs$1@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu> <5pim4l$5m3$1@news.nyu.edu> <5ptv7r$4e2$1@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu> <5pu5va$64o$1@news.nyu.edu> <5qdof6$iav$1@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu> <33D6FA2B.9B7@ix.netcom.com> Organization: RidgeNet - SLIP/PPP Internet, Ridgecrest, CA. (760) 371-3501 Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada,gnu.misc.discuss Date: 1997-07-29T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: Chris Morgan writes: > No, I don't think so, I think it is you who has the misunderstanding. Please, cite me to the relevant parts of the Manifesto that directly refute my "interpretation"! > You have to understand that when it comes to high-minded principles, > Richard has already "been there, done that". For the GNU project to > succeed, there has to be some pragmatism. If that includes some actions > that don't square with your interpretation of the manifesto, well so be > it. At MIT he tried the "free software for all, no restrictions, let's > just all get along" idea. It just doesn't work, so now this is something > different. The best explanation of this is given in Hackers by Steven > Levy - in fact RMS sometimes just refers to the book rather than try to > explain _again_. Sorry, I won't accept your conclusion that "[f]or the GNU project to succeed, there has to be some pragmatism" without supporting argument. And, yes, I've read "Hackers". Have you read "The Law" by Frederic Bastiat? > Have you considered the possibility that he doesn't owe an explanation > to anyone, especially not to people who after all this time question his > motives. He makes mistakes just like all of us, and the GPL is > necessarily imperfect, but your particular pronouncements are hardly > conducive to constructive debate on the matter. I'm not questioning his motives at all. If his Manifesto is still open to interpretation (albeit incorrect), then it probably needs yet-another clarification. > > In light of this statement from the Manifesto "the desire to > > be rewarded for one's creativity does not justify depriving the world > > in general of all or part of that creativity," I think he sold out on > > his principles. > > Well you're just flat out wrong. Well, which is it? You say he acquired a new set of "pragmatic" principles which rejects the idealistic principles layed out in the Manifesto in a previous paragraph and then take issue with me pointing it out? -- Forte International, P.O. Box 1412, Ridgecrest, CA 93556-1412 Ronald Cole Phone: (760) 499-9142 President, CEO Fax: (760) 499-9152 My PGP fingerprint: E9 A8 E3 68 61 88 EF 43 56 2B CE 3E E9 8F 3F 2B