🚀 go-pugleaf

/ gnu.misc.discuss / amanda@visix.com (Amanda Walker) / Dec  4, 1990 /
> Jacob Gore writes:
> >All LPF members and supporters are (or at least should be)
> >calling for the boycott.  (They should certainly all be participating in
> >the boycott.)
>
> This is beginning to sound like a party line, an attitude which I find
> distasteful. 

I guess I deserve that for generalizing.

> if participating in this boycott has become in effect 
> a condition for membership,

I doubt that it is
>                             I cannot in good conscience join the LPF.  As
> much as I agree with most of their goals, I do not agree that the boycott
> (as I understand it) is an appropriate way to achieve them.

It didn't occur to me that an LPF member would be against it.  All major
LPF policies are voted upon by its members.

> my
> reasons for opposing the boycott are mainly pragmatic.  I do not believe
> that, put bluntly, a bunch of altruists refusing to buy or port software
> to Apple's machines is going to make any difference in Apple's legal
> stance.

Probably not.  But it may influence others who are contemplating the same
business strategy.

> I think that people's energy can be far better 
> spent on efforts that provide more leverage, such as:
>
>  - Providing expert testimony in the numerous stupid lawsuits.
>  - Lobbying Congress and state legislatures to overhaul software
>    copyright law. 
>  - Mounting publicity campaigns, such as editorial material and outright
>    advertisement.

Of course.  The boycott does not preclude us from doing any of these.  But
here on Usenet and Gnusnet, the boycott strikes more nerves with the
readers.  And speaking for myself, I can tell you that I haven't spent much
energy boycotting Apple, Ashton-Tate, Lotus and Xerox (actually, it may
have saved me some energy:-).  What's the problem?

> A boycott just makes us look silly.

Ah.  There it is.  It seems to me that the main reason you're hesitant to
join the LPF is that you seem to consider it embarassing.  (Not trying to
put words into your fingers, but that's the impression I get.)

> So do shrill declamations of what is and is not "Politically Correct."

You read more into my statement than I placed there.  I was simply trying
to answer the question, "Whose boycott is it?".  LPF is the organization
calling for the boycott.  FSF is one developer participating in the boycott.

Jacob
--
Jacob Gore		Jacob@Gore.Com			boulder!gore!jacob