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On 26/03/07, Matt Lee <mattl@xxxxxxx> wrote: > Paul Sutton wrote: > > > I am over my head here, I don't agree that we have failed just because > > someone uses proprietary code, the more people we can get using > > Linux, the more people we can hopefully get to campaign for better open > > support by vendors. > > What's the goal? The goal of GNU/Linux is to create a free > software operating system. People might always use proprietary > software, but we should not advocate, support or encourage it. To > do so sends the wrong message. You want to check that with Linus - he created a working operating system, where the FSF failed (although I think you can almost use GNU/Herd now). > > We need to educate there is an alternative, and that the alternative is > > usable by users, while at the same time teach the ethos of free > > software, getting someone to switch from Windows to Linux should be > > seen as an achivement, lets help people, it will take time but take it > > one step at a time, > > If people switch to GNU/Linux, that's a good thing, but if people > switch over to run a bunch of proprietary software, because > people seem to think it's okay, then we're failing. No. *We* are not failing at all. *You* might be. > The goal is not to get more people to stop using Windows just to run the same > non-free software on GNU/Linux. I don't really care about people running windows any more to be honest, as long as they stop bothering me because of bugs in IE or asking for help when it crashes. > > I think free and propritary can exist side by side, on the same > > system, > > Why? Do you not value your freedom? What proprietary software do > you run on your system? Yup - I value my freedom and put my money where my mouth is by writing and supporting free software and organising talks and meetings, oh and starting this LUG with alex - did I already mention that? > > lets not put uses off by saying "can't do that its against the > > free software ethos, ) if you do they may simply give up, and if they > > do We really have failed. > > You think we should just support proprietary software? How is > that in anyway supporting our goal of free software? We're not > going say people can't do things, but we should refuse to help. Nonsense. I'm happy to help - whether it's getting FF working on 'doze or flash 8 on linux. > > Regarding pdf, that is a very useful format, even the Ldp uses it for > > documents, surely we can be a little flexible on this. > > PDF isn't in question. Adobe Acrobat is what I'm asking about. > There's a non-free Acrobat Reader for GNU/Linux - should we > encourage everyone to install that? It's usually already installed - heck I have both installed, and I use both - some documents are quicker and easier to read that others in each. A. -- http://www.aarontrevena.co.uk LAMP System Integration, Development and Hosting -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html