Free Software: Stallman and Births
Since I have four children, I found the following quote from Stallman to be very disturbing:
Perhaps he was just trolling. Well, Stallman's right. Even fish can reproduce. However, even a dog knows not to piss on his friend's leg.
Hundreds of thousands of babies are born every day. While the whole phenomenon is menacing, one of them by itself is not newsworthy. Nor is it a difficult achievement—even some fish can do it.When a fellow Emacs developer said that he had just become a father, Stallman replied, "I am sorry to hear it."
Perhaps he was just trolling. Well, Stallman's right. Even fish can reproduce. However, even a dog knows not to piss on his friend's leg.
Comments
But I would expect that a conscientious person's children will be a net benefit to the world, and along with that, a conscientious person should to impress this obligation on their children.
But of course, that's not the circumstances of a lot of births. And if every potential parent had access to the information and resources to use birth control as they choose, probably there wouldn't be a very rapid increase in population (at least I've heard of surveys that imply that). But of course the whole thing is confusing... there's a choice you can make early on, but once you have a child you have to put the very option of choice behind you and fully embrace the choice you've made -- which makes it hard to reflect on the choice in its then-historical context. And what was a choice becomes a person, who is able to make their own choices, all of which creates a feedback cycle making deductive reasoning hard and prone to misfires like Stallman's.
Maybe stallman just disaprove fork()?
Pity.
remind me what I told you like 4 years ago please.
All that said, there's no reason for Stallman to be a jerk about it. One can state their opinion without being rude.
Every few years, Richard T. (not Richard S.) would forge a repost to the list to stir up trouble. Again, the keeps with the custom of that list.
Brandon wrote:
> remind me what I told you like 4 years ago please.
Probably something like, "Don't listen to Stallman."
I just don't think Stallman will every realize how harmful his statements are for the FSF. I will readily admit that Stallman is my hero. However, this is solid proof that I should take everything he says with a massive grain of salt.
I hope you're right. However, saying "I'm sorry to hear that" when someone gives birth is not acceptable. That's not a humorous rant.
Neither underestimate him nor worship him. Your best single insight would be his original short story on DRM and academic papers. It's the dystopia he fights against.
I've read three of Stallman's books and I've hugged him in person. I've always liked him despite his rough edges. I was just taken aback by his devaluation of human life and his disrespect for his fellow programmers.