[nophunphil]

> I can't help but feel there must some better venue for such messaging.

I would argue that this has been an effective avenue for messaging/protest. You’re responding to it on this very board - that means you’re thinking about it.

Another angle: would such free protest be allowed if the developers of Notepad++ were based in China or Russia? I seriously doubt it.

[iamnothere]

Typically when I see such messaging in an out of place venue it nudges me slightly against both the message and the venue pushing the message. This occurs regardless of whether I agree with the message. I feel the same way as when I see an ad: this does not belong here.

I don’t think I am the only one who has this reaction. People who do this should consider if it’s actually helping their cause. If not it’s just feelgood signaling, or possibly even counterproductive.

[throw5543e4f]

Same, especially if I see they have a double standard.

[joejoe638]

Based on arrest of protesters in UK, US, and recent laws passed in Australia; it is fair to say that Notepad++’s freedom to protest would depend on who and what they are protesting.

[nophunphil]

I would have been interested in debating the content of your reply if your account had not been created 1 hour ago.

So what about protesting the Russian invasion of Ukraine seems objectionable to you?

> it is fair to say that Notepad++’s freedom to protest would depend on who and what they are protesting.

What? In the US, UK, and Australia, the right to protest (i.e. of speech) does not depend on what’s being protested in the way you’re implying.

[abdelhousni]

Just try to protest decades long ethnical cleansing and war of occupation occurring in Palestine in the USA of the UK, for example, like some students and people did in good conscience. You're a tad idealizing the limits of freedom of speech in the western countries.

[handedness]

Whether people talk about something isn't a measure of success, it's whether it changes public sentiment.

He who politicizes everything politicizes nothing.

[p_ing]

> I would argue that this has been an effective avenue for messaging/protest. You’re responding to it on this very board - that means you’re thinking about it.

I think about a lot of things I do absolutely nothing about (or with).

Thinking about whatever messaging is here is like saying "thoughts and prayers". It means shit all nothing. The messaging was a waste of my time and your time. It was an ad for a product you'll never purchase.

[nophunphil]

I don’t see it as a waste of my time. I am not in the habit of seeing conflicts in which innocent people die as a “waste of my time”. The idea that my time is somehow more valuable than another person’s is narcissistic.

[p_ing]

Yet more "thoughts and prayers" rhetoric. If you want to actually be engaged, go do something directly for those people. Until that point, it's simply thoughts and prayers.

[kvemkon]

> would such free protest be allowed if the developers of Notepad++ were based in

- US arguing for independence of any of the States for whatever reasons?

- Spain for Catalonia?

- France for Basque?

and many more just in Europe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_separatist_move...

[nophunphil]

Not pertinent. My point is more in reference to the ancestor comment with respect to Ukraine and Taiwan:

> Yeah, Notepad++ is known for political messaging in their updates. Taiwan, Ukraine, etc.

If you’re calling Ukraine in particular a “separatist movement”, I don’t think we can have a productive conversation.

[kvemkon]

I'm referring to (if we would continue with the list):

- Ukraine for Donbas

Which is so much weaker than all others. There are Ukrainians, Russians, Chinese, Tibetans. But there is no such ethnicity as People of Donbas.

OTOH in a democratic state you're still have the right to demonstrate peacefully for whatever you want, even if it doesn't make much sense. But would you allowed to demonstrate in Ukraine for Donbas independence if they are considered separatists according to the law?

[FormerBandmate]

You can totally say Texas should be independent. A lot of Texans have.

You can’t be against the Ukraine war in Russia because Putin is an evil dictator

[kvemkon]

> You can totally say ...

"Say" in the sense of demonstrate peacefully for this? Then I'm impressed. If someone else can confirm this? Is this because of USA being a federal union? Before Ukraine declared independence, there were voices to make Ukraine a federal state, so that people in the West part of Ukraine can live their way of life and people living 1600 km (!) away in the East and Southern parts would be not much affected from that and vice versa. Voices for the unitary state were stronger because of stability of the state. Would be interesting to see some documentary "what if", whether a federal state would be more stable against pulling from the west (Europe, US) and the east (Russia).

[lII1lIlI11ll]

> Is this because of USA being a federal union? Before Ukraine declared independence, there were voices to make Ukraine a federal state, so that people in the West part of Ukraine can live their way of life and people living 1600 km (!) away in the East and Southern parts would be not much affected from that and vice versa.

You are falling for Russian propaganda about evil western-Ukrainian nazis attempting to enslave peaceful-Russian-speaking-peoples-of-Donbass-or-whatever who were just minding their own business ("way of life"). As a Russian-speaking Ukrainian neither do I want Putin to protect me (apparently by looting my apartment and raping my girlfriend or in whichever way he is trying to do it these days), nor do absolute majority of population of, say, Kharkiv, Odesa or Kherson.

> Voices for the unitary state were stronger because of stability of the state. Would be interesting to see some documentary "what if", whether a federal state would be more stable against pulling from the west (Europe, US) and the east (Russia).

As a Ukrainian I find that idea quite laughable. It is not really possible for a part of federal union (say a state of USA or a Swiss canton) to join NATO and for other part to "decide" to become a Russian-occupied quasi-state like Belarus. Same goes for a part of it joining EU while some other part decides it wants to be part of EAEU Customs Union. State's foreign affairs are still decided by some central government.

Also, you can research how great "deciding on their own way of life" works in Russian Federation. You could start with first and second Chechen Wars.

[kvemkon]

> You can’t be against the Ukraine war in Russia

I was glad after discovering [1]. In one of the videos the interviewer explains, why he was not arrested. The channel is for English-speaking auditory outside of Russia. It was enough to "close eyes" for some openly expressed critiques. Though it was painfully to listen to some people who were not against the war.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/@1420channel/videos

[leosarev]

I'm writing this comment from Russia, St. Petersburg, and yes, you can be against the Ukraine war in Russia.

[sunaookami]

Always hiliarious when westerners think they know how life works in Russia, China, etc because they heard from it on TV.

[wiseowise]

Of course it’s all propaganda, comrade, you can openly protest against the ~~war~~ SMO. Don’t forget your Z insignia, though.

[sunaookami]

Proving me right I see.

[nophunphil]

Educate me then. The mental image I have from researching the topic seems contrary to what you’re saying.

[leosarev]

Safe and socially acceptable: "war is bad and I wish it will end sooner". "We should be friends with Ukraine and/or West". "Putin was not right to start a war". "I want that Putin resigns and/or voted out"

Safe for regular person, but socially risky: "We should surrender and pay reparations" "This war is totally Putin'a fault" "Putin is corrupt dictator" "Zelensky is a good guy"

Could in theory lead to a fine and/or losing job, but mostly safe: "I support Navalny", donation to ACF or some kind of western-affiliated NGO.

Could lead to a fine and/or prison time, when it done in social media or on the square: "Slava Ukraine", Butcha fakes, Let's willingly donate to Ukraine war effort, etc

[nophunphil]

Thank you. This is helpful.