FSF actions vs purposes

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2 total messages Started by Richard Stallman Thu, 07 Jan 1993 11:48

#1607

Author: Richard Stallman
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1993 11:48

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From time to time, people accuse the FSF of being dishonest or
hypocritical.  These people generally misunderstand what the FSF is
doing or its aims or reasons; what they criticize doesn't match the
FSF.

We try hard to tell people what we are doing and why.  We published
the GNU Manfesto at the very beginning, and we include it with every
copy of Emacs.  We explain our aims in the GNU's Bulletin, which we
publish on paper and on the net twice a year.

But many users seem to find out about GNU software without reading
these things, and they formulate an inaccurate idea of what we stand
for.

Eventually they discover facts that don't jibe with this idea, and
they may then conclude that we are false to "our own" principles.  Of
course, our real principles are something else, but they don't realize
that.  Sometimes inaccurate facts come into the process as well.

It is a shame if people have misunderstandings about what GNU stands
for--even if the result is that they think they agree.  To help
prevent this, I plan to write a few messages addressing philosophical
issues, and have them posted from time to time.

Re: FSF actions vs purposes

#1624

Author: mathew
Date: Fri, 08 Jan 1993 13:15

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rms@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Richard Stallman) writes:
> But many users seem to find out about GNU software without reading
> these things, and they formulate an inaccurate idea of what we stand
> for.
> 
> Eventually they discover facts that don't jibe with this idea, and
> they may then conclude that we are false to "our own" principles.  Of
> course, our real principles are something else, but they don't realize
> that.

It seems to me that you're admitting that the term "Free Software" as used by
GNU misleads people.

> It is a shame if people have misunderstandings about what GNU stands
> for--even if the result is that they think they agree.  To help
> prevent this, I plan to write a few messages addressing philosophical
> issues, and have them posted from time to time.

To help prevent it, why don't you give the FSF an honest name which people
can't be misled by?


mathew

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