[Sugar-devel] [IAEP] FSF attitude to xo and sugar

[Walter Bender]

On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 9:07 AM, Caroline Meeks<solutiongrove at gmail.com> wrote:
> Is the author local to Boston? Maybe we should take him over to the GPA and
> show him a room full of Windows machines all running open software.  Perhaps
> seeing it for himself will
> help, the authors certainly seem to care about what kids are using for their education.

I don't know who wrote it, but there is a large FSF community in
Boston, so let's try to arrange it.

-walter

> On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 9:02 AM, Walter Bender <walter.bender at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 8:57 AM, Tomeu Vizoso<tomeu at sugarlabs.org> wrote:
>> > On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 14:08, Bill Kerr<billkerr at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 7:18 PM, Bert Freudenberg
>> >> <bert at freudenbergs.de>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> On 28.08.2009, at 11:33, Bill Kerr wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> > n Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 7:20 AM, Walter Bender
>> >>> > <walter.bender at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>> >> === Sugar Digest ===
>> >>> >> 4. The recent FSF campaign condemning the use of Windows 7 in
>> >>> >> education (See http://windows7sins.org/) imputes OLPC in complicity
>> >>> >> with Microsoft. It is disappointing that the FSF is not making any
>> >>> >> constructive arguments in favor of free software alternatives to
>> >>> >> Windows such as Sugar on GNU/Linux, which is currently shipped on
>> >>> >> every machine distributed by OLPC.
>> >>> >
>> >>> > http://windows7sins.org/#1
>> >>> > When I first saw it I interpreted that page as contrasting the xo as
>> >>> > a positive alternative to Windows (and still think that is a valid
>> >>> > interpretation)
>> >>> >
>> >>> > When I read what walter wrote above later I was shocked to realise
>> >>> > that it could indeed be interpreted the way walter has, as well
>> >>> >
>> >>> > On revisiting I can't see any clarifying text there
>> >>>
>> >>> You need to click the "Learn more" link next to the XO picture.
>> >>>
>> >>> Citing from that concoction:
>> >>>
>> >>> "As a result, it is expected that the main effect of the OLPC project
>> >>> -- if it succeeds -- will be to turn millions of children into
>> >>> Microsoft dependents. That is a negative effect, to the point where
>> >>> the world would be better off if the OLPC project had never existed.
>> >>> The project tragically became yet another example of Microsoft
>> >>> exerting its control to ends harmful to society's freedom."
>> >>>
>> >>> It's tragic how they undermine their allies' efforts in their blind
>> >>> zealousness.
>> >>
>> >> I see it now, thanks Bert. I agree, it's far too zealous and purist. I
>> >> agree
>> >> with Luke too.
>> >> ( I did click on that link before but it sometimes seems to just reload
>> >> the
>> >> same page)
>> >> I do give the FSF an annual donation so I'll write to them and
>> >> complain. I
>> >> thought the over zealousness came more from some FSF supporters than
>> >> the
>> >> leadership but perhaps I was wrong.
>> >
>> > What I think is bad about the campaign is that they say that the OLPC
>> > project is a vector for Microsoft when the truth is that it's being a
>> > great vector for free software, regardless of what their leaders wish
>> > or have said in the past.
>> >
>> > From reading the FSF campaign, people are supposed to think that
>> > Microsoft is evil and OLPC bowed to their pressure and abandoned their
>> > principles. This, I think can have much less impact that if people
>> > learned that they can help us so more children have a great learning
>> > experience with free software.
>> >
>> > So I wouldn't ask FSF to stop bashing MS, I would ask them to
>> > publicize those projects that can have a big impact on their mission.
>>
>> That is the point I was trying to make. I don't really care what FSF
>> does re Microsoft, but they are missing out on an opportunity to
>> promote a learning project that is aligned with FLOSS by ignoring
>> Sugar.
>>
>> -walter
>>
>> > Regards,
>> >
>> > Tomeu
>> >
>> > --
>> > «Sugar Labs is anyone who participates in improving and using Sugar.
>> > What Sugar Labs does is determined by the participants.» - David
>> > Farning
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Walter Bender
>> Sugar Labs
>> http://www.sugarlabs.org
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>
>
>
> --
> Caroline Meeks
> Solution Grove
> Caroline at SolutionGrove.com
>
> 617-500-3488 - Office
> 505-213-3268 - Fax
>



-- 
Walter Bender
Sugar Labs
http://www.sugarlabs.org