Re: Support RMS

[Robbt <robbt@azone.org>]

I am definitely trying to stake a middle ground here and that seems like a losing position. I read the GitHub statement that many have signed on to and I did feel like it overly harsh in it's treatment of RMS. For instance suggesting he has a dangerous idealogy is not true based upon what I've seen and read.

While I do agree that he has engaged in problematic behavior. He does have some beliefs about sexuality that people find offensive but he doesn't make it a point to promote these as an ideology as far as I know. He also doesn't appear to misgender transpeople aside from rudely rejecting they as a pronoun so calling him transphobic isn't right. His problematic behaviors are not ideology as far as I can tell, unless one sees his ardent unflinching support of free software and a refusal to compromise in the use of proprietary software as dangerous because that is the ideology I see him actively espousing.

On the other hand it is also very possible that he has internalized sexism that is likely common to one degree or another due to our upbringing in a patriarchal society and one that has historically treated women poorly and excluded them from leadership roles especially in technical fields. It takes work to overcome this and I suspect that a lot of the unconscious biases people hold are generally just hidden through polite mannerisms that RMS seems to lack.


The whole GitHub post paints him as an absolute monster and I can't get behind that when there are so many people in leadership positions in this world that have engaged in worse and probably hold much more repugnant ideas but they don't share them out loud.

I feel on the other hand that he has definitely creeped out a lot of women and many people have problems with his behavior and I'd be wrong to pretend that there isn't something there.

I also feel like the hero worship RMS can do no wrong and anyone who is criticizing him is a liar isn't helpful in terms of healing or addressing the real problems his behavior and tolerance of it has caused in terms of alienating people.

On the other hand do those who signed really think everyone on the board of the FSF should resign immediately ?

Or is that just one of these impossible demands intended to show how outraged the signers are and to stoke the fire of division. I don't know. I think Molly DeBlanc was the original writer and she used to work at the FSF and so perhaps there is a lot of personal history there that I'm not aware of.

That suggestion if actually done I imagine would be catastrophic for the organization and have bad impact on free software as a whole due to the impact of the GPL. So I don't see why so many people are signing off on it. Even if RMS were to step down again this wouldn't heal the rift this whole scenario has caused.

I am hopeful that the board meetings and addition of staff and a creation of a transparent process regarding the selection of officers will improve the governance of the FSF.

I think the way that RMS announced his return was completely inappropriate because of the lack of planning for the uproar it was going to cause.

I am sad that RMS felt the need to return to the board and did so in this impromptu fashion. I think the mission of the FSF is important and I think it is good to have an organization that is unflinching in it's support of software and hardware freedom even if it exposes the shortcomings and compromises myself and others make in our everyday lives.

I wish that it could pursue this mission without RMS needing to be on the board and in a position of leadership and authority.

I can only hope that those who are now in positions of power can figure out a way to navigate through this storm and keep the organization intact without dismissing the valid concerns of many people and without sacrificing RMS and what insight he can provide. I don't have much inner knowledge of the organization and very little history so maybe this isn't a likely outcome.

I hoped that the FSF would grow beyond a dependence on RMS as the sole leader but evidently that didn't happen and so I guess we will see what happens as this process evolves.

I just hope that everyone can try to have some empathy for each other and remember that those of us here are on the same side in our desire for increasing software freedom and empowering people to have control over the technology in their lives.

Thanks for reading my thoughts on the matter, I'm not sure if they are helpful or just the muddled result of me spending too much time trying to process these events without much direct first-hand knowledge or involvement. I do think that words and what happens next with the FSF matter a lot though in terms of the impact it will have on our society and planet as a whole so we should all try to be mindful of that even if we can't predict the ultimate outcome. Our movement needs to be bigger than any of our egos and we need to learn how to treat each other better even as we fight for the freedom to share.

In solidarity,

Robbt


Mar 26, 2021 7:04:30 PM Deb Nicholson <deb@eximiousproductions.com>:

> Well, it's disappointing but not surprising that a call for improving the
> way people are treated within the free software movement is being seen by
> some on this list as "hateful" or somehow in "opposition to free software."
> I honestly don't see how creating a haven for sexist behavior and
> disrespect can lead to the movement's growth, but maybe I'm mistaken in
> thinking that we all want that growth.
> 
> I am grateful to those who are interested in working towards an inclusive
> and non-toxic future for the free software movement. Maybe I'll get to work
> with you all someday on one of the projects that is interested in growing
> the free software movement.
> 
> Best,
> Deb
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Mar 26, 2021 at 5:03 PM Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support> wrote:
> 
>> * Deb Nicholson <deb@eximiousproductions.com> [2021-03-26 16:52]:
>>>    An interesting thing about men who harass women is that they usually
>>>    don't do it to men. Men who let the community know that they "don't
>>>    believe in harassment" are the last people to find out it's happening,
>>>    because no one feels safe telling them.
>> 
>> Generalization without end.
>> 
>> Why are you sending accusations to this mailing list? How is this
>> mailing list to defend your rights? Or is your only purpose to divide
>> and bring more hate here?
>> 
>    Well, it's disappointing but not surprising that a call for improving
>    the way people are treated within the free software movement is being
>    seen by some on this list as "hateful" or somehow in "opposition to
>    free software." I honestly don't see how creating a haven for sexist
>    behavior and disrespect can lead to the movement's growth, but maybe
>    I'm mistaken in thinking that we all want that growth.
>    I am grateful to those who are interested in working towards an
>    inclusive and non-toxic future for the free software movement. Maybe
>    I'll get to work with you all someday on one of the projects that is
>    interested in growing the free software movement.
>    Best,
>    Deb
> 
>    On Fri, Mar 26, 2021 at 5:03 PM Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support> wrote:
> 
>      * Deb Nicholson <[1]deb@eximiousproductions.com> [2021-03-26 16:52]:
>      >    An interesting thing about men who harass women is that they
>      usually
>      >    don't do it to men. Men who let the community know that they
>      "don't
>      >    believe in harassment" are the last people to find out it's
>      happening,
>      >    because no one feels safe telling them.
>      Generalization without end.
>      Why are you sending accusations to this mailing list? How is this
>      mailing list to defend your rights? Or is your only purpose to
>      divide
>      and bring more hate here?
> 
> References
> 
>    1. mailto:deb@eximiousproductions.com
> _______________________________________________
> libreplanet-discuss mailing list
> libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org
> https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss

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