Don't listen to Bill Gates. The open-source movement isn't communism.

Slate ^ | Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005 | Adam L. Penenberg

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

This month, SAP's Shai Agassi referred to open-source software as "intellectual property socialism." In January, Bill Gates suggested that free-software developers are communists. A few years earlier, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer called the open-source operating system Linux "a cancer."

[rzeznikj at stout]

Stallman is a whacko leftist despite your constant defenses of him and his legal team, who wants all software to be free, no patents, and taxes charged instead.

That's FSF. There is a subtle difference between it and the Open-Source community. Enough differences exist, but the biggest one is the philosophies of Gratis vs. Libre. FSF & generally (though not always) favors all software being both gratis--free as in beer and libre (free as in freedom). OSS isn't too concerned with gratis (though a good deal of OSS software is gratis), but with libre.

In simple English, FSF usually wants all software to be free as in beer. OSS generally deals more with software being free as in freedom. Open-source software grants you more rights, and reinforces the principle that you as the user should be able to choose software for your needs--and if necessary, study the source code, improve it, and release it such that more people can benefit.

All of this is designed of course to coexist with proprietary software. The result of this coexistence is innovation--which I have no doubt you benefit from.

However, not only do you equate FSF with OSS, you also imply (with great paranoia, I might add) that OSS

He's so far out left his mantra is called "The GNU Manifesto", his gimmick is called "copyleft" verses normal "copyright", yet 75% of all open source uses his license, and the direct result is free software from the US being legally given to each and every despote regime on the planet.

This is getting old. You've brought this non-issue up several times, only for FLAMING DEATH, myself, and others to completely refute your statement.

You can rant against me all you want, in protection of this fruitcake, but it only puts you in his same class. Funny thing is you probably take that as a compliment, LOL.

No, what's funny is you keep posting such gibberish and expecting us to lock into your viewpoint.

After all, the definition of insanity is to continually do something and expect a different result each time.

[FLAMING DEATH]

"The analogy is close enough, and if you want to take it literal then infinite copies of your house reduce it's value to practical zero."

And how is that undesirable to me as a consumer?

"Stallman is a whacko leftist despite your constant defenses of him and his legal team, who wants all software to be free, no patents, and taxes charged instead. He's so far out left his mantra is called "The GNU Manifesto", his gimmick is called "copyleft" verses normal "copyright", yet 75% of all open source uses his license, and the direct result is free software from the US being legally given to each and every despote regime on the planet."

Yeah, Stallman leftist whacko communist blah blah blah blah, etc. We get it already. BTW, they don't get any of my money. I only hog their bandwidth, legally.

"You can rant against me all you want, in protection of this fruitcake, but it only puts you in his same class. Funny thing is you probably take that as a compliment, LOL."

Everyone here knows who the fruitcake is.

[Golden Eagle]

That's FSF.

Obviously I know who they are, and have been following them since before you probably even knew they existed. 75% of all "open source" is released under their license, so while you continually attempt to deny any link between the two, it's always going to fail, just as it did, again.

All of this is designed of course to coexist with proprietary software.

Isn't this lie of yours getting old, even to you? How many times do I have to link the FSF/GNU sites where they list their "ultimate goal" is quote "to make proprietary software obsolete". Let me guess, you still can't follow a link, something about your Dad's computer.

[Golden Eagle]

Everyone here knows who the fruitcake is.

Most everyone. Some of you seem to worship that nutcase. Did you see in Forbes yesterday where he compared proprietary software to slavery? I see you nodding yes, LMAO.

[FLAMING DEATH]

I've noticed that when you get REALLY paranoid, all you can do is link to pictures.

The Vista delay must be pushing you to hysterics.

[FLAMING DEATH]

Excuse me, did you say "lie"?

Everyone here knows that GE is one of the biggest liars around. Here's proof:

Here, he complains that Cedega's not free: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1591595/posts?page=115#115

and then, mocks another user for suggesting that Cedega be free: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1591595/posts?page=134#134

then complains that Linux is free: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1530486/posts?page=40#40

and here he is, recommending free Solaris: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1490554/posts?page=21#21

Here he is, criticizing Linux because it doesn't run Windows apps: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1591595/posts?q=1&&page=101#115

and copping out when challenged about Windows inability to run Linux apps: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1591595/posts?page=118#118

Here he is, recommending Solaris, which doesn't run Windows apps: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1490554/posts?page=21#21

...and Apple, which doesn't either: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1573697/posts?page=9#9


Here, he's criticizing others for namecalling: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1584107/posts?page=29#29

And here he is, namecalling: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583531/posts?page=61#61


Here's where he refers to Dell "systems": http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1585665/posts?page=35#35

Then denies his own words: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1585665/posts?page=137#137

then blames me for it all, saying I should have reminded him of his own words: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1585665/posts?page=165#165


Then, here's where he makes more false accusations of ME: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?page=90#90

and here's where I ask him to prove I said the things he accused me of: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?page=92#92

And refuses to provide a link to MY posts (he just linked to my history instead): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?page=95#95

And fails again to prove what he says: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?page=99#99

And yet again, repeating the accusations, but failing to provide proof: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?page=122#122

And now, where his "proof" is something I didn't even post: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=125#125

and where he has the nerve to ask another poster to back up what they say with specific examples, despite the fact that he refused to do so for me: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=255#255

and here is where he demands that yet someone ELSE provide a link to prove what THEY said: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1568848/posts?page=68#68

and here is where he claims he will admit mistakes, despite the fact that he hasn't admitted this one: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592494/posts?page=43#43


Here he is claiming that Red Hat has a couple of hundred Linux kernel developers: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1527263/posts?page=49#49

And here he is claiming no one knows how many kernel developers work for Red Hat: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1527263/posts?page=77#77

and yet, he denies that he said hundreds, yet again (21st paragraph): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=131#131

And here he is getting nailed for it yet again:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=132#132

and again: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=137#137

and claiming that I never proved that he was wrong about the number of kernel developers at Red Hat: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=134#134



Here's where he hijacked the Open Source Ping List, and the ensuing discussion: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1571222/posts?page=8#8


Here he is ridiculing another poster for using bold fonts to make a point: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1493462/posts?page=130#130

And here he is using bold fonts to make a point: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=106#106


Here he is defending Microsoft's contributions to Planned Parenthood: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1492595/posts?page=22#22

Here is a Linux thread with only one post by GE (notice how pleasant and peaceful): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1500664/posts?q=1&&page=1

Here is a Linux thread where GE stayed and trolled (well beyond 280 posts, totally off the topic. No insults before he showed up, as with many of his threads. He has stated multiple times that he was leaving, yet he keeps posting, because he's a last word freak): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1592292/posts?q=1&&page=1#1


Here he is saying that he's leaving the thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=127#127

and here he is, many days and over 100 posts later, still posting: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?q=1&&page=281#284

[FLAMING DEATH]

I don't care what everyone else does. At one time, Madonna had a #1 song, and I still didn't listen to it.

[Golden Eagle]

Thanks for linking those so everyone can see your religous devotion to protecting communists like Stallman from being exposed.

[Golden Eagle]

I posted the pic so people could see your cult leader in person. Now bow down like usual.

[FLAMING DEATH]

"I posted the pic so people could see your cult leader in person. Now bow down like usual."

Yep, the Vista delay is hitting you really hard. Poor kid.

[Golden Eagle]

Vista? I could care less. What I obviously care about is shutting down communism and socialism, which is why you follow me around condstantly and launch your laughable attempts at insults.

[antiRepublicrat]

You are paying quite a premium for the name and I don't see how they can continue doing it with the new Intel architectures.

Depending on what you're looking for, prices can even be lower.

• Mini: I don't know if anyone else makes such a small, low-power desktop to compare
• Core Duo laptop: cheaper than some, more expensive than others, but has more features and software than the cheaper ones
• iBook: Don't know, haven't looked
• PowerMac: Still competitive with other mid-range workstations. Does better against Intel than AMD.
• iMac: This one is iffy completely depending on the needs. It can't compete with a basic system plus a monitor, but it's the cheapest fairly-fast, easy-to-use all-in-one system loaded with software and features.
• XServe: Can't compete with a Linux 1U in power, but it does have very powerful and simplified management. It easily beats Windows due to OS X having unlimited clients vs. having to use CALs (OS X unlimited comes in much cheaper than 25-CAL 2003).
• XServe RAID: AFAIK the cheapest fully-redundant, multi-terabyte fibre channel RAID solution. Get a bunch of them, a couple of XServes, XSan, and you have a very cheap SAN solution. By "cheap" I mean easily going to $50K or more, but it's still a lot less than the competition.

Plus for all the home systems you get full OS X, not the injured XP Home Edition.

[antiRepublicrat]

Did you see in Forbes yesterday where he compared proprietary software to slavery?

Did you see in FR a while ago where you compared open source software to communism? I know, nutcases abound.

[antiRepublicrat]

Think of it another way: In OSS, the best software is the most successful -- it's a meritocracy. That is diametrically opposed to communist ideals.

In OSS, projects that are good will get more programming hours. The ones that suck, like most of the GPL software on SourceForge, or GNU/HURD, will die or limp along in obscurity due to lack of support (even though Stallman pushes HURD hard).

In the commercial world, a bad product can be pushed, and it will survive. For example, Windows never could have become dominant on its merits alone.

[antiRepublicrat]

Unless someone is watching over their sholder, they would write the sloppiest quick and dirty code possible

I can't agree with that. Paid programmers can take pride in good work just like with any other profession. Does the architect do a crappy job just because he's getting paid for it? Many OSS programmers also have day jobs as paid programmers, and I doubt getting paid suddenly makes their work quality take a nose dive.

[antiRepublicrat]

Do you give them the keys to your car, knowing full well they're just going to take it, repaint it, and sell it to someone else without a dime back to you?

Of course I would, if I still kept my car in the process and the thousands of dollars worth of tune-ups, improvements and repairs they do to the copies were magically applied back to my car. I think anyone would take that deal, which is equivalent to open source (at least GPL/MPL, the BSD you support would let them just copy my car and give nothing back to me).

Do you give everyone in your town the blueprints to your home's security system?

It depends. Do I trust my security company to have installed a good system, or would I like many other security experts to look over and improve it for free? Doesn't matter anyway, professional thieves already know how all the security systems work. Sticking a sign on your lawn that says "This house protected by XX Security" just tells thieves what range of systems they need to look for.

How about not just giving those things away to not just people you know, but people you know don't like you, and might even want to kill you if they got the chace?

Depends. Does the benefit to me outweigh the possible benefit my enemies may get? If I wrote a piece of free software, I wouldn't care if you used it.

[FLAMING DEATH]

Your spelling also goes downhill as you get more desperate.

[antiRepublicrat]

but Linux and open source ain't communism - nobody is FORCED to do anything. Nothing is seized, nobody is compelled. When ya get right down to it, mandates, force, compulsion, and confiscation are the trademarks of communism.

If you use Microsoft software, Microsoft can swoop down on you and force you to do a full accounting of every piece of their software on every system you have. If you refuse, they will ruin you with lawsuits.

If you use Microsoft or Oracle database servers, they will sue you simply for exercising your right to free speech in publishing tests you made with the software without their approval.

Let's see, the powers that be force you to work, the powers that be must approve what you publish ... sounds like communism to me.

[antiRepublicrat]

What I obviously care about is shutting down communism and socialism

Then don't buy anymore Microsoft products, thereby depriving Bill Gates of your money that he uses to support socialist organizations.

[Golden Eagle]

You guys are a total joke, trying to accuse the richest man in the world of being socialist, while constantly defending obvious socialists like Stallman. Only imbeciles could possibly fall for such a prank, not a chance I will.