[CS-FSLUG] GNU believers

[Don Parris]

It's also important to understand the philosophy behind GPL'ed
software.  It is designed to guarantee the _user's_ freedom.  It also
bears in mind a scriptural point - namely that in putting others
first, we actually take care of ourselves as well.  RMS is an ironic
icon in that, unlike much of the rest of our society, which is
dominated by the "me" mentality, he seeks to benefit the whole
society.  Hence, if the whole society benefits, so does he.

That applies to everyone who develops using the GPL.  That is, in
fact, the very strength of the GPL.  If we allow ourselves to get lost
in the commercialism and the "me" mentality, we have lost sight of the
cross.

I've talked to numerous people - police officers, teachers,
executives, etc.  We live in the "me" generation.  Indeed, some of the
Christian music of our day reflects - at least in the lyrics - the
notion that we need to refocus our attention on God, and lose self. 
"The Heart of Worship" is the example that comes to mind.  I realize
that's a bit off course, but it points to the fact that so many of us
focus on "me" right here, right now.

Don



On Wed, 1 Sep 2004 18:10:14 -0500, Aaron Patrick Lehmann
<lehmanap at cs.purdue.edu> wrote:
> On Tue, Aug 31, 2004 at 09:00:25PM -0500, Timothy R. Butler wrote:
> > >
> > >Thus is my point.  I have no trouble with someone taking my code and
> > >making a
> > >derivative closed-source version.  I fail to see the "freedom" in a
> > >liscense
> > >that takes away choices from developers.
> >
> >       Which is why it is good there is the BSD license. On the other hand,
> >       I would not release my code under a license that allows the code to be
> > taken an not returned. I don't want someone to beat me at my own game,
> > is it were, by taking my code, going proprietary and then feeding off
> > my improvements to crush support for my open code base.
> >
> >       I'm not saying the GPL is right for everyone, but I think it is
> >       still unfair to call it viral. It doesn't infect your code, it only adds it
> > terms onto what you do when you are simply expanding *my* code.
> 
> I'm using the word "viral" in its technical sense.  In other words, it tends to
> spread.  I'm not using it aas an insult.  Possibly I was unclear about this.
> 
> Aaron Lehmann
> --
> Sometimes you stay the course;
> Sometimes the course stays you.
> 
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-- 
DC Parris GNU Evangelist
http://matheteuo.org/
gnumathetes at gmail.com
Free software is like God's love - 
you can share it with anyone anywhere anytime!