I think your view of the issue is rather obtuse and uninformed if you're trying to say that software license doesn't matter. Like it or not, most of us live in a society where various intellectual property laws hold sway.
The point of Free software is not strictly how good or bad it is, but what you are allowed to do with it from a legal perspective. Those of us who truly believe in Free software probably think it to be quite sinister that it would be illegal to modify or redistribute software. Our primary concern are social benefits.
Your primary concern is private benefit--use whatever is convenient, you say. This helps you get the job done right now, but proprietary software may spell out more long term complications for you in the future (ie end of support, forced upgrades, cost of relicensing, etc). Also, by using proprietary software, you're not strengthening the community; it's not imperative that you do that, but Free software advocates certainly prefer it.
What the article is concerned with is pointing out a similarities between Stallman's philosophy and the catholic viewpoint. This is an interesting comparison because both have similar concerns for humanity and have definite stands on ethics. Both try to provide moral guidance and have a broad and diverse following.
Lesbians and people with false teeth intrinsically serve no such purpose. For sociological purposes, it might be interesting to study Free software in those communities, but I doubt anything interesting would turn up.
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Re:Amazing
Posted by: eatinglemur on April 17, 2006 03:52 AMThe point of Free software is not strictly how good or bad it is, but what you are allowed to do with it from a legal perspective. Those of us who truly believe in Free software probably think it to be quite sinister that it would be illegal to modify or redistribute software. Our primary concern are social benefits.
Your primary concern is private benefit--use whatever is convenient, you say. This helps you get the job done right now, but proprietary software may spell out more long term complications for you in the future (ie end of support, forced upgrades, cost of relicensing, etc). Also, by using proprietary software, you're not strengthening the community; it's not imperative that you do that, but Free software advocates certainly prefer it.
What the article is concerned with is pointing out a similarities between Stallman's philosophy and the catholic viewpoint. This is an interesting comparison because both have similar concerns for humanity and have definite stands on ethics. Both try to provide moral guidance and have a broad and diverse following.
Lesbians and people with false teeth intrinsically serve no such purpose. For sociological purposes, it might be interesting to study Free software in those communities, but I doubt anything interesting would turn up.
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