GNU Business Network Definition comments
Alfred M. Szmidt
ams at gnu.org
Sun Jun 11 19:11:25 UTC 2006
> However, I believe more pragmatism is called for in the basic
> GNU Business Network Definition principles.
>
> Freedom and practicality don't go hand in hand.
They do. It's always more practical to be free than to be enslaved.
The problem is you can't always have all you want, so sometimes you
accept less freedom for exchange of something else. That depends on
the options you have at each moment.
It depends on how you view it, sometimes it is more practical to use
non-free software instead of developing a free alternative.
I haven't read anything outside this list, sorry. But my problem
with the views that companies supporting some propietary software
should be accepted in the GNUBN is that the the GNUBN loses all
significance for me.
It's only very few fanatical companies that don't use or support
some free program or other. Once you accept mixed companies, it's
difficult to set any limits. And I as apotential employee can no
longer rely on a GNUBN company s an employer that guarantees that
what I'll learn there will be on free software, and as a customer I
can't trust a company that makes a living out of supporting
propietary software to work for me or recommend solutions, since
they may impose propietary software on me.
I'd rather have a clear meaning for GNUBN and few companies
included, at least initially that having many companies which I
don't know anything about by just its GNUBN sticker, because mixed
companies are allowed. If I still have to sort out myself which
companies will ensure my freedom as customer or employee even
between GNUBN, then I don't need GNUBN at all.
You put it well, and I couldn't agree more with you.
Happy hacking!
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