🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1991Nov17.151222.21312@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu> huntley@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (Haydn Huntley) writes:

   In article <9111162058.AA24432@mole.gnu.ai.mit.edu> rms@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Richard Stallman) writes:

   For the sake of brevity, I'll summarise a few of the things RMS wrote
   which I disagree with.  

   1) RMS says that the FSF is a small, weak organization, and Apple is a
   big, strong organization.  He argues that only the strong can punish
   the weak, not vice-versa, therefore the FSF isn't 'punishing' Apple!

   I'm sorry, this line of reasoning doesn't hold water!  To punish means
   to hurt someone.  The FSF is capable of hurting others, just as Apple
   and Microsoft are.  I wish that the FSF didn't have hurting and
   punishing other organizations as one of its main goals!

Punishment usually conotes some sort of penalty in retribution for some
offence. Thus it may involve hurting someone, but it is not equivalent
to it. You correctly distinguish the two in your last sentence above.

   2) RMS says that, "Fairness is a requirement we place on the
   strong--not on the weak."  He goes on to argue that the FSF doesn't
   need to be fair in deciding to punish different organizations.

   Again, I cannot agree with this.  One should be fair and just!  It
   does not matter who is in a position of strength, nor the details of
   how the different parties can hurt one another.

I would say that the boycott on the Apple is Just but not Fair. I think
to be Just *and* practical is better than being Just, Fair, and impractical.

For the sake of brevity, I'll summarise a few of the things HH wrote
which I disagree with.  

   1) He says that the LPF and FSF and RMS are a bunch of stupid
      ignoramuses that don't read the right kind of publications, news
      sources.

Its what you get for paraphrasing unfairly and unjustly with the intent to
punish. :-)

   2) He goes on carping about a whole lot of issues
      that are unrelated to the topic at hand.

Again.


--

---
Dietrich Kappe
kap1@icarus.spc.uchicago.edu
Center for Population Economics