[dqybh]

>Having said that, I think the compromises the "Open Source" community has given to commercial companies like Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Oracle have done much much much more harm to the community and goals than " Stallman acolytes" ever have.

So what? First, when you develop software you get to choose the best licence for you. Open source means that big companies can use your software. If you open the source under a permissive licence then it's because you wanted that to happen and didn't expect anything in exchange.

Second, users have the choice of what software they run, and they aren't going the way of Stallman acolytes. Why? Well, we all have our reasons.

But all in all everybody wins.

[syshum]

I guess that depends on your definition of "wins" which I am sure differs greatly from mine.

>Second, users have the choice of what software they run, and they aren't going the way of Stallman acolytes. Why?

yes they do have a choice, as it is given they are manipulated by marketing and ignorance of the topic. As recent as 2017 survey's showed most people (like 80% of the population) where still classified as technologically illiterate. Companies with m/billions of dollars for marketing generally win the consumer race, it has nothing to do with the technology.

>So what?

Do I really need to lay out all the issues that have already resulted from the undue influence of google has over the IETF and W3C, or the issues Orcale has caused due to their influence over java and their lawsuits against google, or Entire history of Microsoft and their anti-competitive practices?

Do I need to layout the dystopia that is on the horizon?

[nvrspyx]

> Do I need to layout the dystopia that is on the horizon?

Yes. Not because I disagree, but because I’m not seeing it as potentially being a part of that 80%

[fartcannon]

For starters, consider that Stallman, and his kind set the goal posts far enough away that the field we get to play on is very large. Without them, there wouldnt be a field or anything to play with. We would be paying a subscription to watch it at home and it would probably have commercials.

[addicted]

This is a great point. Stallman and the FSF have an extremely positive impact merely by widening the Overton window.