Re: non-DFSG section and CD distributers
> Glad to oblige. The definition is long, and unlike dogma, has
> multiple meaning, and shades of meanings. Something like the DFSG is
> needed to qualify it to make clear exactly what you mean. There are
> 44 meaning (please persevere to the end, there is more after the
> definition, and if I spent the time to write it, you can at least
> read it)
> ______________________________________________________________________
> free:
> 1. enjoying personal rights or liberty, as one not in slavery
> 2. pertaining to or reserved for those who enjoy personal liberty
> 3. existing under, characterized by, or possessing civil and
> political liberties that are, as a rule, constitutionally
> guaranteed by representative government.
> 4. enjoying political independence, as a people or a country not
> under foreign rule.
> 5. exempt from external authority, interference, restriction, etc.,
> as a person, the will, thought, choice, action, etc; independent;
> unfettered
> 6. able to do something at will; at liberty;
> * 7. not subject to special regulations, restrictions, duties, etc
> 8. not literal, as a translation, adaptation, or the like
> 9. not subject to rules, set forms, etc.
> 10. clear of obstructions or obstacles, as a road, corridor, etc.
> 11. not occupied or in use
> 12. exempt or released from something specified that controls,
> restrains, burdens, etc. (usually followed by from or of)
> 13. having immunity or being safe (usually followed by from)
> 14. uncombined chemically
> *15. that may be used by or is open to all
> 16. engaged in by all present; genral (free fight, for example)
> 17. unimpeded, as motion or movement; easy, firm, or swift
> 18. loose, not held fast; unattached
> 19. not joined to or in contact with something else;
> 20. acting without self restraint or reserve
> 21. frank and open; unconstrained; unceremonious, or familiar
> 22. unrestrained by decency; loose or licentious
> 23. ready in giving; liberal; lavish
> 24. given readily or in profusion; unstinted
> *25. given without consideration of a return, as a gift
> -26. provided without, or not subject to, a charge or payment
> 27. at liberty to enter and enjoy at will (usually followed by of)
> 28. easily worked, as stone, land, etc
> 29. [Nautical] (of a wind) nearly on the quarter, so that a sailing
> vessel may sail free.
> 30. [Phonetical] (of a vowel) actuated in an open syllable (as
> opposed to checked)
> 31. traveling without power; under no force except that of gravity or
> inertia
> 32. [Math] (of a vector) having specified magnitude and direction but
> no specified initial point.
> 33. *free and clear* [Law] without any encumberance, as a lien or
> mortgage.
> 34. *free and easy*
> a) unrestrained; casual; informal
> b) excessively or inappropriately casual; presumptuous
> 35. *set free* to release, liberate, free.
> 36. *with a free hand* fenerously; freely; openhandedly
> 37. in a free manner; freely
> -38. without cost or charge
> 39. [Nautical] away from the wind so that the vessel need not be
> close-hauled
> 40. *make free with*
> a) to use as one's own; help oneself to
> b) to treat with too much familiarity; to take liberties with.
> 41. to make free; set at liberty; release from bondage, imprisonment,
> or restraint.
> 42. to exempt or deliver (usually followed by from)
> 43. to relieve or rid (usually followed by of)
> 44. to disengage (usually followed by from or of)
> *45. The DFSG ;-)
> ______________________________________________________________________
38. without cost or charge
This is not the definition of free I subscribe to in this topic, just that
which is observed by our new users, etc. And a lot of the rest of the world
in relation to software.
> >> Yes, of course. The material is still there when needed, but we do
> >> not have to promote it.
>
> Paul> Invalid -- some of the software is perfectly good software whose
> Paul> authors are just as softwarily ethical as those of some of our
> Paul> favorite DFSG authors.
>
> Free or not free makes no value judgement on software, or on
> how ethical the authors are.
Sounds this way in the DFSG, to an extent.
> Leland> I think there is a fear that non-DFSG software may become
> Leland> popular, and threaten the existence of "truly free" software.
> >> Believe me, it is not stuff in non free we have to be scared about
> >> then. Guess what is the wrold's most popular OS?
>
> Paul> Then why are we so pointlessly negative towards our non-free
> Paul> branch?
>
> Because we wish to promote the free parts ;-)
And this is somehow needing to be mutually exclusive topics?
> Paul> They _are_ words, not the ten commandments. Not the word of
> Paul> God. Just a bunch of rules made up a qyite a while ago, not
> Paul> really ratified (and I've heard the story hear...), of which the
> Paul> group has changed since then...
> It was voted upon by the whole developer community, and passed
> 70-2 (and one of the opponents thought the DFSG was not free
> enough). How else can it be ratified, pray?
Let's leave the "it _was_ ratified" topic behind. I know that! Ammendment is
just a different thing...
And besides that point, four monthes is a long time in the Linux world.
-----
Brought to you by the letters E and K and the number 9.
Paul J. Thompson <thomppj@thomppj.student.okstate.edu>
<http://thomppj.student.okstate.edu/~thomppj/>
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