[Fsf-friends] FREEDOM, PHILOSOPHY and FREEDOM SOFTWARE

[Sankarshan Mukhopadhyay]

Arun,
You wrote:

>   Due to lack of time i didnt go through all the mails on this
topic.
> Quick scan gives me the feeling that it is being dragged
unnecessarily.

To some extent I agree with you. What began as a nice exposition soon
got lost.

> 2. We the users of free software should also take the responsibility
of
> helping people like Mr Rammanohar, where ever we can. It is not a
good
> idea from our part to say 'RTFM'. Lets try to help others, dont
forget
> that we are working for the freedom of sharing knowledge.
>

To this allow me to add that we need to be a trifle more 'visible'
vis-a-vis deployments and implementations. A quick scan of the
mainstream media (nationwide) reveals precious little appreciation of
'GNU/Linux' as opposed to 'Linux'.

[snipped]

> I can understand a person who is using non free software because
there
> is no alternative, while accepting that he is not doing the right
thing
> and trying to bring a change to his situation.
>

I think this is somewhat along the lines of what Frederick Noronha
wrote in his May 2004 column in LinuxForYou. We cannot change all the
people at the same time, but we do have to begin someplace. For a
start a lesser amount of 'RTFM' and a greater amount of sensitivity
could be a nice way to bring about Tarun's wish towards a 'majority'.

Regards
Sankarshan




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