Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on December 18, 2003 12:06 AM
I think the phrase Free Software needs to be replaced with Freedom Software. The term 'Free Software' as we use it is our biggest enemy with those outside the software world (read: people who make business-type decisions), and we're bringing it on ourselves by sticking to it like an elite group. The term Freedom Software conveys the freedoms granted under the GPL much more clearly than the term Free Software.
People currently use the phrase 'free software' to denote something obtained from download.com or similar site, thus, they brush off everything associated with the phrase 'Free Software' without questioning it. It's a losing battle that cannot be won given the crappiness of stuff on such sites. Use the term 'Freedom Software' and they'll start asking questions. Microsoft already has plenty of FUD out on the term 'Free Software,' let's see them try that with the term Freedom Software!
(as for something on-topic: I think someone should take OOo and put in a box for $50-$100 and thus meet the requirement districts have that it must be shrink-wrapped. Likewise for other products.)
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problem with the words 'Free Software'
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on December 18, 2003 12:06 AMPeople currently use the phrase 'free software' to denote something obtained from download.com or similar site, thus, they brush off everything associated with the phrase 'Free Software' without questioning it. It's a losing battle that cannot be won given the crappiness of stuff on such sites. Use the term 'Freedom Software' and they'll start asking questions. Microsoft already has plenty of FUD out on the term 'Free Software,' let's see them try that with the term Freedom Software!
(as for something on-topic: I think someone should take OOo and put in a box for $50-$100 and thus meet the requirement districts have that it must be shrink-wrapped. Likewise for other products.)
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