Richard Stallman

locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">you have 2 hours to post questions</div>So I'm going to see a talk by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman" target="_blank">Richard Stallman</a> today. I can't think of anything intelligent or worthwhile to ask him so I figured I'd see if anyone had any burning questions. I don't know if there's going to be a Q&A session, but it's supposed to be a small crowd to I'm guessing there will be.
Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome

Comments

  • Dirty_Harry_PotterDirty_Harry_Potter Join Date: 2002-11-21 Member: 9500Members
    <a href="http://www.xkcd.com/225/" target="_blank">Does he keep a katana under his bed?</a>
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    How does free software work in a capitalist society, in the long run? Are the two even compatible, if free software was taken to it's extreme?
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    Whoops, time's up.

    I'd've asked if his beard really did grant him extra-ordinary Unix powers.

    --Scythe--
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • juicejuice Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12886Members, Constellation
    Stallman is the man. See his magic beard in action <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V44bYL0udQ0" target="_blank">here.</a>
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • DrfuzzyDrfuzzy FEW... MORE.... INCHES... Join Date: 2003-09-21 Member: 21094Members
    Ask him where he got that rockin beard and haircut haha
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    And the EU member countries and the US slip ever closer to becoming police states. Charming.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    edited March 2009
    <!--quoteo(post=1703820:date=Mar 31 2009, 03:58 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Mar 31 2009, 03:58 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1703820"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->How does free software work in a capitalist society, in the long run? Are the two even compatible, if free software was taken to it's extreme?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    He touched on this briefly, the talk was at a law school so it was actually more about copyright than free software. The way I see it is it actually works much better, just the business models are different. I'm going to assume you actually know what free(as in speech) software is and just provide some examples.

    Awesome Free Software Programmer writes a great application and distributes the source code with it. Everyone starts using and it becomes a defacto standard and demand for people who know how to use/modify the application is high. Now Some Organization comes along and says "This software is great, but we also want it to do X". Awesome Free Software Programmer says "I wrote this software, and I can make it to X in 1/10th the time of anyone else."

    The other more direct way would be the web service business model which is all ready a proven concept.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1703848:date=Mar 31 2009, 07:39 PM:name=locallyunscene)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(locallyunscene @ Mar 31 2009, 07:39 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1703848"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->He touched on this briefly, the talk was at a law school so it was actually more about copyright than free software. The way I see it is it actually works much better, just the business models are different. I'm going to assume you actually know what free(as in speech) software is and just provide some examples.

    Awesome Free Software Programmer writes a great application and distributes the source code with it. Everyone starts using and it becomes a defacto standard and demand for people who know how to use/modify the application is high. Now Some Organization comes along and says "This software is great, but we also want it to do X". Awesome Free Software Programmer says "I wrote this software, and I can make it to X in 1/10th the time of anyone else."

    The other more direct way would be the web service business model which is all ready a proven concept.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    But the web service business model assumes that a majority of our services won't be done via the web or programs for quite a while- and as we're beginning to see, we may not be very far from having the only a few businesses not be entirely web-based. When Mint.com can do your taxes, why have a preparer? When the world has e-paper on nearly every device, why get paper? Or CDs/DVDs/Blu-Rays? Hell, the entire field of accounting could cease to exist. Economists suddenly are made useless by their own algorithms. Medicine even would become nothing more than a home test and showing up to get it fixed. Truly only the tangible products matter at that point- and that's where I see this breaking down. And the thing is, it seems closer and closer every time you look.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1703951:date=Apr 2 2009, 05:59 AM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Apr 2 2009, 05:59 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1703951"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Medicine even would become nothing more than a home test and showing up to get it fixed.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I wouldn't be too concerned about this particular one. In our lifetimes, maybe. But not anytime soon.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • DrfuzzyDrfuzzy FEW... MORE.... INCHES... Join Date: 2003-09-21 Member: 21094Members
    edited April 2009
    Usually these free software programs that you guys speak of have terms, commercial users must usually pay, and thats where they make their money. Its also nice so you can edit code to your own needs.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    If it's free software, meaning that it is licensed under one of the free software licenses, then you CAN'T make people pay for it. That would be a breach of the license agreement. Sure, you can refuse to distribute your software unless you get paid for it, but whoever you sell it to gets not only that copy but also the complete source code and the permission to modify and redistribute it. There's simply no point in trying to sell free software because within relatively short time somebody will put it on the net for free (read: legally, not warez).
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1703951:date=Apr 1 2009, 10:59 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Apr 1 2009, 10:59 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1703951"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->But the web service business model assumes that a majority of our services won't be done via the web or programs for quite a while- and as we're beginning to see, we may not be very far from having the only a few businesses not be entirely web-based. When Mint.com can do your taxes, why have a preparer? When the world has e-paper on nearly every device, why get paper? Or CDs/DVDs/Blu-Rays? Hell, the entire field of accounting could cease to exist. Economists suddenly are made useless by their own algorithms. Medicine even would become nothing more than a home test and showing up to get it fixed. Truly only the tangible products matter at that point- and that's where I see this breaking down. And the thing is, it seems closer and closer every time you look.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/47079.html" target="_blank">OnLive</a> is exciting.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • PhlashPhlash Join Date: 2008-02-18 Member: 63674Members, Constellation
    This is what I think of when I think of Richard Stallman

    <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sJUDx7iEJw&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sJUDx7iEJw...feature=related</a>
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1704232:date=Apr 5 2009, 05:03 AM:name=DiscoZombie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DiscoZombie @ Apr 5 2009, 05:03 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1704232"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/47079.html" target="_blank">OnLive</a> is exciting.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/gdc-why-onlive-cant-possibly-work-article" target="_blank">i r crshn ur dreemz</a>
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1704377:date=Apr 7 2009, 03:33 PM:name=Phlash)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Phlash @ Apr 7 2009, 03:33 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1704377"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->This is what I think of when I think of Richard Stallman

    <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sJUDx7iEJw&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sJUDx7iEJw...feature=related</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    So idealistic, pedantic, impenetrable, and uncongenial to the common user? Fair enough. Doesn't make him wrong though.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
Sign In or Register to comment.