Which programs are "real"?

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Article #354

#354

From: Richard Stallman
Date: Thu, 03 Sep 1992 00:31

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It is a shame that some people believe a proprietary program is more
real because it is proprietary.  The reason it is a shame is that this
prejudice impedes the use and progress of free software.

When we consider actualities rather than prejudices, a free program is
more real than a proprietary one.  You can fix the free program when
it is broken, or adapt it to your needs.  By contrast, the proprietary
program is typically a black box that you cannot change.  And since
you cannot share it, its reality is limited to a kind of solipsistic
isolation.

While we cannot eliminate the prejudice in favor of less real programs
simply by willing it away, we can refrain from helping to perpetuate
the prejudice, by being careful not to endorse it.  This is a useful
thing to do.

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Newsgroups: gnu.gcc.help
Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!sparky!uunet!cis.ohio-state.edu!gnu.ai.mit.edu!rms
From: rms@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Richard Stallman)
Subject: Which programs are "real"?
Message-ID: <9209030831.AA24161@mole.gnu.ai.mit.edu>
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Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 00:31:44 GMT
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