[discuss] Reuters: Novell could be banned from selling Linux: group

[Andrew Kohlsmith]

On Monday 12 February 2007 4:40 pm, Don Kelly wrote:
> This may fall into "semantic games", but "open source is free software
> without ethics" does not have to mean that "open source is unethical".
>  It merely means "open source is free software that does not derive
> from a particular ethic".  I truly fail to see the link from this to
> "open source advocates are unethical".

Yes, I think you are playing with words.  If RMS didn't mean to incite those 
who didn't follow his particular ethics, he would clearly state so.  "Without 
ethics" I am sure was carefully chosen for maximum effect.  "without my 
ethics" would have been much clearer but still able to ruffle 
feathers.  "with different ethics" would be a statement which is both true 
and unobjectionable.

Don't mince words; "without ethics" means exactly that: unethical.

> I'll admit, RMS is blunt and odd; often to a fault.  I can see how the
> quote you give can be parsed without taking offensive.  I can also
> understand how one could parse that statement and feel maligned.  I
> don't think this is intentional on the part of RMS.

I feel the opposite; RMS needs the soundbite, and he needs the attention.  I 
believe it was very intentional.  He's someone who has the capability to edit 
himself and who has put himself in the position of a spokesman; it's due to 
that, and the continued use (according to Evan) of that particular phrase 
that cause me to believe that the words were chosen carefully.

-A.