> "Should we have the liberty to chose something that is evil?"

In order for evil to exist, you must be able to choose it.

On Tuesday 30 September 2008 8:44:25 am Isaac Atilano wrote:
> On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:39:26 -0500, "Josh Paetzel" <josh at tcbug.org>
>
> said:
> > Personally I'm all about choices.  Give me the freedom to choose
> > proprietary closed source software, open source software, or free
> > software.  I use a mixture of all three.
> >
> > Restricting my freedom to choose, whether it's proprietary closed
> > source, Free Software, or Open Source software leaves me feeling
> > unsatisfied and unfulfilled, and if I want to feel that way I can always
> > download a linux distribution. I don't need someone telling me I
> > shouldn't listen to mp3's simply because they aren't "Free" ;)
>
> I personally agree with Josh but I'd like to point out where I think RMS
> is coming from.
> To him proprietary software is 'evil.' This is a philosophical position
> which brings up questions such as:
> "To what extent does my use of proprietary software make me a
> participant in evil?"
> "To what extent does my promotion of a system that makes an evil program
> available to others make me a participant in evil?"
> "Should we have the liberty to chose something that is evil?"
> Through his words and actions, I think he's shown where he stands on
> these questions.
>
> Not everyone has to agree with RMS and not everyone does.
> Even though I disagree with RMS on a philosophical level, I agree with
> him on a pragmatic level in that it is in our best interest as a free
> society to promote the use of free software and discourage the use of
> proprietary software.
>
>
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