Sometimes when solving a problem, you start to develop an appreciation for your tools. You say to yourself, "My that's a lovely saw. If it weren't for that saw, I doubt I could be the carpenter I am today."
Other's aren't content to admire the saw, but instead give up carpentry entirely to pursue saw manufacturing.
But if you're Richard Stallman of the Free Software Foundation, and if computers were saws, you'd write some holy commandments on how to build saws, use demagoguery against those who don't follow your commandments, and then issue slurs against charitable organizations started by unconverted saw makers.
Yes, the saw maker that Stallman is ripping on is Bill Gates. Now, I don't have a great appreciation of Microsoft. Microsoft's historic business practices were unethical. I don't even particularly feel that Bill Gates should be entitled to his vast fortunes given that they were, in part, ill-gotten.
I'll stop short of criticizing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, however. They are doing good work that surely even Stallman can respect. Unless, of course, he honestly believes that his tool is more important than the people that might someday live to use it because of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
1 comments:
Peter, as always, I admire your clear and balanced perspective on the world.
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