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

[Tomeu Vizoso]

On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 15:35, Walter Bender<walter.bender at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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.

Maybe our friendly FSF sysadmins would know?

Regards,

Tomeu

> -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
>>> > _______________________________________________
>>> > Sugar-devel mailing list
>>> > Sugar-devel at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>> > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/sugar-devel
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Walter Bender
>>> Sugar Labs
>>> http://www.sugarlabs.org
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Sugar-devel mailing list
>>> Sugar-devel at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/sugar-devel
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Caroline Meeks
>> Solution Grove
>> Caroline at SolutionGrove.com
>>
>> 617-500-3488 - Office
>> 505-213-3268 - Fax
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Walter Bender
> Sugar Labs
> http://www.sugarlabs.org
>



-- 
«Sugar Labs is anyone who participates in improving and using Sugar.
What Sugar Labs does is determined by the participants.» - David
Farning