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by geofft 3517 days ago
> Utter nonsense. Being part of GNU doesn't imply agreeing with every word Stallman utters on any topic.

Of course it doesn't. But associating yourself with GNU is, very straightforwardly, associating yourself with Stallman. What is the advantage of doing so?

If there is such an advantage, then yeah, I think it's totally fair to dissociate yourself from his political views. But it seems to me like joining GNU is solely a political statement and a sign of agreement with Stallman's views on morality (since he frames free software / computing freedom as a moral issue). I don't know why anyone would want to make that statement unless they actually want to be associated with his political and moral views. That's all I'm asking. Is there another reason to associate yourself with GNU?

1 comments

> But it seems to me like joining GNU is solely a political statement and a sign of agreement with Stallman's views on morality (since he frames free software / computing freedom as a moral issue).

GNU's views on software. Stallman's just the figurehead for these. I don't care what his opinions are outside of this, nevermind agree or disagree.

> Is there another reason to associate yourself with GNU?

As I said, I can't think of any in the first place. But I'm still glad GNU and FSF do exist, and that their views are so extreme.

If they weren't, then a much softer position would be called extreme instead. The world would be worse for it.