On Thu, 18 Oct 2007 03:07:22 +0530, Unknown unknown@unknown.invalid said:
On 10/18/07, Manoj Srivastava srivasta@debian.org wrote:
On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:25:18 +0530, Unknown unknown@unknown.invalid said:
Ahem, coming to the point, shouldn't we rather channelise our energies towards making *all* these prominent platforms work together seamlessly, at least pointing to ways to achieve that objective?
No. I am not going to spend any energy supporting, or promoting non-free software or non-free platforms. Your mileage may of course
What do you think is wrong with doing that?
Because I think that closed software prevents the standing on shoulder of giants thing. Most research is freely available -- and is used by other people in their own research, as long as proper citations are included. This means that everyone is not stuck reinventing the wheel -- imagine if all research were based on stuff already old and in textbooks.
Free software is like that -- and closed software prevents the synergistic improvements possible when code and ideas flow freely.
vary; but my goals are closely related to freedom of software long-term, not short term expediency.
As far as goals are concerned, we concur!
Closed systems, while trampling of freedoms of the user, might well work withing parameters. That in no way means I am going to spend any effort supporting them, or trying to interact with them.
That said, you're treating FOSS as hardcore religion, and religion today, sir, is mostly *used* for all the wrong reasons!
Rubbish. I have solid, pragmatic reasons behind my opinions -- not superstitious dogma. Just because passion enters ito the picture does not mean that the rationale is not sound -- you are jumping to conclusions.
I am not opposing other people doing what they want; I just strongly reject that that is what people in a free software related forum should be working towards.
Definitely not _promoting_ non-free software! But yes being able to interact with them or their output formats gives me, as a Linux user, some added advantage, some more power and *freedom* for sure!
I beg to differ. Snorting cocaine also gives a short term feeling of energy and creativity, but is detrimental in the long run. Conspiring with software hoarders, who hoard software and knowledge for profit, and buying the cool-aid, is not of any long term utility.
manoj