Re: General Resolution: Removing non-free

[Alex Romosan <romosan@adonis.lbl.gov>]

"Eric Gillespie, Jr." <epg@pobox.com> writes:

> I don't know if those of us in the new-maintainer queue count,
> but if we do, i'm willing to be listed as a sponsor.
> 
> I agree completely that non-free is no longer compatible with
> Debian's goals. Netscape is the only non-free software i still
> use, and with each nightly build of Mozilla i come closer to
> having a completely free system.
> 

i thought that the goal was to provide a technically superior
distribution which can be used by as many people as possible. not
everybody uses debian on their home toy box for web surfing. i guess
you don't use java (or any of the other programs in non-free), but
some of us do (and we don't have a choice). when i started using
debian some five years ago it was because (amongst other reasons), as
the social contract states:

   4. Our Priorities are Our Users and Free Software
                         ^^^^^^^^^

over the years the users have been marginalized and the emphasis has
been put more and more on free software. so when you remove free
software also make sure to remove all references to giving priorities
to users. you don't! all you care about is your own stupid perception
of life and nothing else. the users be damned. and if your are such a
free software zealot, then why the fuck do you use netscape? is it
because you have no choice, or is it because you are a little
hypocrite (or both)? you can't have your cake and eat it too.

if you don't want to use non-free software, then don't use it but
please don't tell me how to live my life. i'll make my choices, and if
this resolution passes i guess it will be time for me to leave the
project and find another distribution to use. too bad because i really
liked debian.

> -- 
> Eric Gillespie, Jr. <*> epg@pobox.com
> 
> "With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. However, this is not
>  necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
>  going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as
>  they fly overhead."
>  --RFC 1925

was this supposed to be a reflection of what you are attempting to do
with debian by removing non-free?

--alex--

-- 
| I believe the moment is at hand when, by a paranoiac and active |
|  advance of the mind, it will be possible (simultaneously with  |
|  automatism and other passive states) to systematize confusion  |
|  and thus to help to discredit completely the world of reality. |