It's time to talk about post-RMS Free Software

[mjg59]

Richard Stallman has once again managed to demonstrate incredible insensitivity[1]. There's an argument that in a pure technical universe this is irrelevant and we should instead only consider what he does in free software[2], but free software isn't a purely technical topic - the GNU Manifesto is nakedly political, and while free software may result in better technical outcomes it is fundamentally focused on individual freedom and will compromise on technical excellence if otherwise the result would be any compromise on those freedoms. And in a political movement, there is no way that we can ignore the behaviour and beliefs of that movement's leader. Stallman is driving away our natural allies. It's inappropriate for him to continue as the figurehead for free software.

But I'm not calling for Stallman to be replaced. If the history of social movements has taught us anything, it's that tying a movement to a single individual is a recipe for disaster. The FSF needs a president, but there's no need for that person to be a leader - instead, we need to foster an environment where any member of the community can feel empowered to speak up about the importance of free software. A decentralised movement about returning freedoms to individuals can't also be about elevating a single individual to near-magical status. Heroes will always end up letting us down. We fix that by removing the need for heroes in the first place, not attempting to find increasingly perfect heroes.

Stallman was never going to save us. We need to take responsibility for saving ourselves. Let's talk about how we do that.

[1] There will doubtless be people who will leap to his defense with the assertion that he's neurodivergent and all of these cases are consequences of that.

(A) I am unaware of a formal diagnosis of that, and I am unqualified to make one myself. I suspect that basically everyone making that argument is similarly unqualified.
(B) I've spent a lot of time working with him to help him understand why various positions he holds are harmful. I've reached the conclusion that it's not that he's unable to understand, he's just unwilling to change his mind.

[2] This argument is, obviously, bullshit

Comments

[andrewducker]

Two comments from autistic people:
https://twitter.com/mykola/status/1172601585429614592
and
https://twitter.com/HickeyWriter/status/1172674056828661764

I need a better understanding

[(Anonymous)]

You say he holds positions that are harmful. What are they? I often read his political notes and have not found anything objectionable.

I am not pick a fight here, I am trying to understand your position.

[valdikss]

I read [1] Vice news article [2] and I'm confused. I'm confused because Stallman is correct, while almost everybody say he's not, and even write posts such as [1] and yours, mjg59.

I just don't understand the drama.

1. Richard Stallman pointed out that the word "rape" is improperly used, because sex with minors is not always rape, it could be with consent. The other person in the mailing list pointed that the law of Virgin Island defines "rape" as every sexual contact with minors, so in this case "rape" is used correctly (by this person words).

2. Richard also pointed that "sexual assault" term is vague and also could be used improperly.

That's it? Why is this the topic for discussion, then? And why does it have something with FSF? Am I missing something that prevents me to understand the situation, maybe it's much deeper?
I may be biased because here in Russia, the youth use funny stickers with Masha Babko, the child porn star, and the phrases like "PM me CP" is considered funny and are widely used.


[2] https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ne8b47/two-researchers-resign-in-protest-over-mit-media-labs-ties-to-jeffrey-epstein

How to move on

[jackhill]

I, too, am ready for post-rms free software. However, I'm not sure what we need to do to get there. Do we need to lobby the FSF for a change in leadership? Is it "simply" a change in mindset? Should we stop referencing essays authored by rms?

Some GNU projects, like Guix, seem to do the right things by having a strong code of conduct, participating in Outreachy, and having maintainers who actively support these activities. Is it okay to participate in such projects?

[classical_liberal]

Stallman accomplishes more in one week than you ever will in your life. Go back to Evergreen State and mind your pronouns some more.

What RMS thinks

[(Anonymous)]

It's useful to read what RMS actually writes:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-jul-oct.html

[(Anonymous)]

Look Matthew, I know you already said this about RMS before. But tell me, what is the solution? You know very well that a "president" wouldn't work for the FSF. In truth, it would be a committee mandate. And we know how well those things work, specially in technological environments. Either everyone agrees or no one does anything. And then people start picking sides, and tearing each other over political stuff. And nothing is done. What I mean is, if there isn't a RMS in the FSF, is there _actually_ someone who can be that person to foster that environment you speak of, or is it that just a bunch of buzzwords? Because face it - at the end of the day, no one wants to be RMS. That's how we got where we are today. No one wants the responsibility of being a "leader" of this movement. You may argue that this "president" may foster this environment of empowerment and tolerance, and I'm pretty sure this all makes sense inside your head. But how do we turn that into reality? Because I'm sure there isn't anyone who can do both what you said and hold the reins of the situation, ie. not letting people tear each other apart in a committee mandate.

You're always at the vanguard of those calls for change, so I ask you - why not take responsability, just this once? You're an excellent agent provocateur - and agitator - but aside from getting in the news once every few months about some issue happenning on the community, you never follow through. I'm not laying the blame of this on you, I'm saying that you can very well take the first step to foster this environment you dream of, yourself. This is a big chance for change. RMS should go. But at least in the beginning, some has to take the reins of the situation. No one ousted RMS yet because no one wants to be in his place. Everyone wants change, but everyone also doesn't want to take responsibility for this change. It must always be _someone else_ that takes the opportunity, never me. "I'm sure others will take care of it" is what everyone is thinking right now.

So if you can't find in your heart to follow through at least this once, then this situation will just pass over and RMS will stay the "hero" of the FSF. Because at the crucial moment, no one wanted to take responsibility. And your dream of a "community of empowerment" will be just that. A dream. Words scattered to the winds.

[(Anonymous)]

Although I strongly disagree with positions Stallman has stated in the past, free software, as you said, is fundamentally focused on individual freedom, and Stallman's statements are constitutionally protected political advocacy.

Retaliation against him for making them, as I've heard some advocate, would be an absolutely terrible idea and a betrayal of the free software movement's principles, and it's hard for me to see how he could be "removed as a figurehead" or step down at president at this time without it looking like exactly that. (And a lot of the loudest critics of his statements here seem like anything but natural allies - we have Clinton-owned clickbait rags and Microsoft employees piling on ffs)

That said, he's 66 years old and I 100% agree with the broader points about the importance of decentralization and this movement needing to be bigger than its founder, it can't be a 1-person thing if it wants to survive him.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm sorry you disagree with his opinion.

I'm also sorry we now live in a world where people can't accept that others opinions on certain subjects diverge and feel that they should instead be punished and isolated for daring to open their mouths. How do we ever hope to build bridges across the giant rifts in our society today with these kinds of attitudes?

All together now: "I cast thee out!"

RMS needs a secretary

[(Anonymous)]

"it's not that he's unable to understand, he's just unwilling to change his mind" do you mean unable to change his mind about the positions themselves, or unable to change his mind about when and how to air them? If he can at least agree that yes in retrospect that might have been an unkind thing to say in that context (even if he still thinks it's technically correct), but no he can't promise not to do it again because he's not very good at spotting insensitivity before it happens, then perhaps all he needs is a good secretary. He can say "post this to the list for me" and the secretary can look at it and go "hold on, this one doesn't look very good". And if he really is neurodivergent (which does not excuse his views, but might affect his ability to stop himself expressing them inappropriately), then he really should get a professional diagnosis: there might even be public funds that could help pay the secretary, just as people with other types of disability can sometimes have assistants; these would be available only with a proper diagnosis, so can we recommend he gets professionally tested?

[lovingboth]

The mere fact that I am not at all surprised that he's done it again tells me he needs to go as a 'leader'.

1B - were you at all surprised at that?

[azimech]

Like I’ve stated on my Twitter account, speaking as an Autistic woman, the fact Ableism exists doesn’t erase the fact Sexism and Misogyny in disabled men, including Autistic ones, exists, and that using the Autisms excuse has become just another Boys Will Be Boys argument.

Stallman gets away with this shit because he’s a man, and how is the fact he’s been a well known creeper that women have been warned about in whisper networks FOR DECADES to avoid sexual harassment any different from NT ones?

Not to mention how disabled women are targeted more than abled for sexual abuse and harassment, but I don’t see that many people bringing THAT up. I do however notice the past decade or so when topics of sexual harassment by men get brought up, it’s framed in defense of men, as though all men are Autistic, women never are, and it’s just this innocent misunderstanding. Convenient.

[brooksmoses]

Update: https://www.fsf.org/news/richard-m-stallman-resigns

"On September 16, 2019, Richard M. Stallman, founder and president of the Free Software Foundation, resigned as president and from its board of directors. The board will be conducting a search for a new president, beginning immediately. Further details of the search will be published on fsf.org."

The mob

[(Anonymous)]

This seems to be happening more and more – people calling in the media and on social media for people to be sacked or forced to resign, because of something that they've said which is painted as highly offensive (and let's not try to steelman people or read them charitably or with careful attention to the context, let's just assume whatever the headline says they said is what they said.) And then, rather than standing up with courage to the media mob, people fold and give in to them.

I see what has happened to Stallman as just the latest instance of this disturbing cultural pattern.

The FSF should consider, that while Stallman's departure will please some, there will be others who will view it as injustice and another victory for the mob. This event doesn't increase the standing of the FSF in my eyes, it reduces it, and I'm sure I'm not the only person who sees things this way. (But, fearing the mob ourselves, we aren't going to put our names to our opinions.)

20 years late ?

[(Anonymous)]

Aren't you over 20 years late here ?

ESR has long advocated for doing without RMS:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/open-source.html

About the reason for this post mentioned in [1], reading it I see an angry person, clueless about who RMS is, misrepresenting his words and calling for his removal while at the same time stating this is not about RMS but about her own personal accumulation during her personal life.

[(Anonymous)]

-- I've spent a lot of time working with him to help him understand why various positions he holds are harmful. I've reached the conclusion that it's not that he's unable to understand, he's just unwilling to change his mind

The humility there. Who died and made you King of Opinions? Should we all check with you on what's right?

Hello there, here's some autistic guy as well.

[(Anonymous)]

RMS is just a guy who does not get his words checked, and those are the consequences. My opinion on him is a bit harsh, but I believe he somewhat deserves it, even though not in such a sensational fashion.

I'm an autistic man who's looking for therapy to resolve his. Doing some useless ramblings about semantics should not be a way to think and extrapolate about the real, traumatic issues that may happen to other people. Me myself being an electronics engineer, I cannot abide for more people doing tech jobs like him. If you're a leader of any organization no matter which, you should check your words, because that implies you public image, period. It's just that simple.

I for one, believe that we need to have more level-minded people, if such endeavors are going to thrive.

Kind Regards.

Re: post-RMS Free Software

[(Anonymous)]

Закрывайте фонд, не позорьтесь. Он сгнил. Реферренты очень скоро отменят ежемесячные пожертвования на ваши адреса.

You should be killed.

[(Anonymous)]

You should be killed, along with the rest of the infiltrators.