Re: Linux... OK but definitely second best

[Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org>]

At 12:06 AM 7/28/98 -0400, Robin wrote:
 
>Read the piece in Forbes about free software. 

I have.

>And note that
>Richard Stallings has nothing to do with Linux. 

Er, that's StallMAN.

Actually, he CLAIMS credit for Linux. See

http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html

in which Richard says that Linux should be called "GNU/Linux"
or "the GNU system."

>He's a nice
>man, I'm sure, but I don't think he's all that happy with
>the pure anarchy of Linux development.

I dunno about that either. Richard certainly has some views
that one might classify as anarchistic.

>Of course, none of the govvies and other "I know what's best
>for you" people like Linux. The mentality that tries to
>*make* people wear motorcycle helmets, stop smoking, give up
>their guns, go to a particular church, stop making
>fast-cornering rear-engine cars because some people are too
>stupid to drive them correctly, etc. is notably intolerant
>of true freedom. 

Of course, the Free Software Foundation "knows what's best for you"
too. And makes no bones about saying so. (See

http://www.fsf.org

and you'll see what I mean.) All software MUST be "free," you see, but
we (the FSF) don't define "free" as being truly free, but "free" in the 
way WE want, which isn't free.

This makes some of us quite uncomfortable with THEM, too.

--Brett