Depoliticizing open source

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The only way to depoliticize it

is to take the economics out of it (sorry but the word "deeconomize" just looks too weird).

I gravitate to GPL software not so much for RMS-type political reasons, but because it give better bang for your buck. Yes, the fact that most of it is "free as in beer" helps, but even if I did have to pay the cost for a boxed CD set of SuSE rather than do a free FTP install it would still be more bang for the buck than Windows is to me. People who prefer Windows obviously think MS does give them value for their buck, and if that's how they feel, then I'm ok with their decision.

But the reason I am ok with it is because I do not have an economic interest in what other people's choice is. People like John Carroll do, which explains why they get so politically motivated (many on the open source side of the fence do the same thing, so John does not stand alone). It also explains why they make unsupported statements about the opposition, then do not offer a proper counterarguement if someone points out the flaws in their statements, but rather they ignore that person's key points and repeat their original arguement with a bit more fervor. That is exactly how many political pundits act (both Republican and Democratic).

Posted by: Michael Kelly   Posted on: 05/05/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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