rms@AI.MIT.EDU (Richard Stallman) (11/25/90)
It is true that some people will use non-GNU software instead
of GNU software. But the non-GNU software is not as good (for
example, it isn't free).
What a load of rubbish... There is *plenty* of
"non-GNU" software out there that is worth paying money for, and worth
using.
He is entitled to his opinion, but he would have done better to work
out its implications before posting it. If he doesn't want to use GNU
software anyway, then the boycott doesn't affect him. I know that
there are people who don't care about GNU software or the GNU project.
(I wouldn't expect them to want to argue about FSF policies either,
but life is full of surprises.)
A boycott by software developers has an effect by not supporting
certain software. Some users will like this software and some will
prefer the alternatives. Those users who prefer alternatives are not
affected by the boycott. Thus, when working out what kinds of effect
the boycott has, we need only consider the users who do consider the
other alternatives not as good.
Missing GNU software on my Mac has not made it more than 5% less
attractive.
5% sounds pretty effective for just one developer. But certainly it
isn't enough. We need other developers (and individual programmers)
to join the boycott. It sounds like just a handful of others equally
effective would be enough to make Apple really hurt.
there are also plenty of good companies, with conscientious
workers... who all make the Mac a nice machine to use.
They should stop doing this. If the management is as conscientious as
the workers, they will stop, for the same reason that the FSF did:
because Apple threatens their freedom too.
This is the reason that so many developers of proprietary software
have joined the League for Programming Freedom (around 400 members
now, only a few of whom advocate free software). The League urges all
developers to start boycotting Apple and stop making the Mac a nice
machine (technically) to use.
Here we have someone saying that the FSF participation is silly
because the other developers won't boycott. However, the same person
will probably turn around and tell the others the same sort of thing.
If people listen to him, they will feel alone and powerless. Well,
they are powerless alone, but they don't have to be powerless
together in the League for Programming Freedom. (For info on the
LPF, send mail to league@prep.ai.mit.edu.)
To get things moving, some people need to disregard this specious
argument and start doing the right thing. We have to do this without
being sure whether others will follow--because, if we don't, they
won't have the chance.
There is another reason why the FSF participates in the boycott. It
is that I believe we should act as we wish everyone to act.
I suspect that if I were to stop FSF participation in the boycott, the
same people who now criticize this participation would say I was
failing to practice what I preach. If you close your eyes, can't you
just see their words? Well, any stigma will do to beat a person who
won't accept the dogma.