Re: Support RMS

[Deb Nicholson <deb@eximiousproductions.com>]

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Hi,
As you know, I've spent many hours in FSF booths and many hours running FSF
events. I've personally spoken to many, many more than "a half dozen" women
and others who have told me their stories about RMS treating them
differently, hitting on them at a conference, loudly interrupting a young
person's talk or involving them in a mortifying public joke about
virginity. In particular, I have had several young women say to me, "Oh, I
could never give a talk at LibrePlanet because RMS might yell at me."

Others have told me that they can't bring their wife or girlfriend to these
events because the last time they did RMS or other free software
representatives were awful to them. Having a leader who inspires others to
treat potential newcomers rudely, or with contempt is not a net positive
for the free software movement.

Perhaps it would not surprise you to hear that almost none of the people
who've had these interactions with RMS or his representatives choose to
donate to the FSF or support it through their volunteer time? I'm not
surprised that the people who are left at the FSF mostly still support him.
What's sad is that the free software movement should be much, much bigger
and it won't be able to grow if it is only accepting people who don't mind
harassment, bullying and belittlement. We should be able to work on free
software without that gate.

You mentioned that a public letter is a hostile act. I understand that it
feels that way to you. Collectively the signers of that letter have spent
many, many hours trying to "call in" or improve free software *with RMS.*
He hasn't listened. It's completely false to draw a parallel between that
action and acting rudely to complete strangers at an event where the
primary goal should be bringing in new free software supporters.

RMS did come up with free software and many tools for achieving it and that
is great, vital, visionary work. He did not invent the struggle for freedom
though. And there are many aspects of even computer freedom that the FSF
does not work on; some of the EFF's work against persistent surveillance,
campaigns to popularize Open Hardware, pushing for reform of EULAs and TOS
agreements, resisting the use of algorithms that reinforce racism and
sexism in job opportunities or the criminal justice system or pushing to be
able to work on things like drones or amateur rockets without being labeled
as criminals. The struggle for freedom has to be more than one person and
more than one organization.

If the FSF is unwilling to listen to people's concerns, then I fear that it
will cease to grow and become irrelevant. I think that would be terrible
because software freedom is extremely important and that's why I'm
continuing to engage here.
Best,
Deb


On Thu, Apr 15, 2021 at 4:21 AM Alexandre Oliva <lxoliva@fsfla.org> wrote:

> On Apr 14, 2021, Deb Nicholson <deb@eximiousproductions.com> wrote:
>
> > It's disappointing that so many people have chosen to disbelieve former
> FSF
> > employees, hundreds of women who have encountered RMS at conferences or
> MIT
> > and many, many free software creators.
>
> That's a real peril, and would have been wise to take into account,
> before deciding to form a coalition with known liars and attackers, and
> before resorting to false allegations, exaggerations and distortions to
> spark an explosive reaction that facts have or would have failed to spark.
>
> These decisions have contaminated and shed doubt on the legitimacy of
> claims advanced by those who joined the coalition, or who
> opportunistically timed their action to coincide with those of the
> corporate-funded coalition.  That may be illogical, but it's often a
> valuable heuristics.  Call it karma if you wish.
>
>
> Now, if there were any true, first-hand accounts of actual sexual
> harassment, I'd be very interested in getting them straight from the
> source.  Giving out pleasure cards, politely asking people on dates,
> keeping foliage or mattresses in work offices, reports of the existence
> of institutional sexism at universities, advising caution against leaps
> to unsupported condemnation, tasteless jokes, getting angry and being
> loud are not it IMHO.  Hearsay about the same half dozen rumors over a
> period of 40+ years isn't either, unless your own investigations haven't
> hit a dead end before something concrete popped up.  I encourage you to
> let the FSF board know if that's the case, and please keep me on copy.
>
>
> > The vast majority of the people who signed the letter asking for RMS
> > to step down, care deeply about free software.
>
> I encourage them (you) to behave as such, instead of associating with
> historical opponents, and working so hard to divide us.  It's become
> really hard to believe in that commitment, and in good intentions behind
> the actions, given the present circumstances.
>
>
> --
> Alexandre Oliva, happy hacker  https://FSFLA.org/blogs/lxo/
>    Free Software Activist         GNU Toolchain Engineer
>         Vim, Vi, Voltei pro Emacs -- GNUlius Caesar
>

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   Hi,
   As you know, I've spent many hours in FSF booths and many hours running
   FSF events. I've personally spoken to many, many more than "a half
   dozen" women and others who have told me their stories about RMS
   treating them differently, hitting on them at a conference, loudly
   interrupting a young person's talk or involving them in a mortifying
   public joke about virginity. In particular, I have had several young
   women say to me, "Oh, I could never give a talk at LibrePlanet because
   RMS might yell at me."
   Others have told me that they can't bring their wife or girlfriend to
   these events because the last time they did RMS or other free software
   representatives were awful to them. Having a leader who inspires others
   to treat potential newcomers rudely, or with contempt is not a net
   positive for the free software movement.
   Perhaps it would not surprise you to hear that almost none of the
   people who've had these interactions with RMS or his representatives
   choose to donate to the FSF or support it through their volunteer time?
   I'm not surprised that the people who are left at the FSF mostly still
   support him. What's sad is that the free software movement should be
   much, much bigger and it won't be able to grow if it is only accepting
   people who don't mind harassment, bullying and belittlement. We should
   be able to work on free software without that gate.
   You mentioned that a public letter is a hostile act. I understand that
   it feels that way to you. Collectively the signers of that letter have
   spent many, many hours trying to "call in" or improve free software
   *with RMS.* He hasn't listened. It's completely false to draw a
   parallel between that action and acting rudely to complete strangers at
   an event where the primary goal should be bringing in new free software
   supporters.
   RMS did come up with free software and many tools for achieving it and
   that is great, vital, visionary work. He did not invent the struggle
   for freedom though. And there are many aspects of even computer freedom
   that the FSF does not work on; some of the EFF's work against
   persistent surveillance, campaigns to popularize Open Hardware, pushing
   for reform of EULAs and TOS agreements, resisting the use of algorithms
   that reinforce racism and sexism in job opportunities or the criminal
   justice system or pushing to be able to work on things like drones or
   amateur rockets without being labeled as criminals. The struggle for
   freedom has to be more than one person and more than one organization.
   If the FSF is unwilling to listen to people's concerns, then I fear
   that it will cease to grow and become irrelevant. I think that would be
   terrible because software freedom is extremely important and that's why
   I'm continuing to engage here.
   Best,
   Deb
   On Thu, Apr 15, 2021 at 4:21 AM Alexandre Oliva <[1]lxoliva@fsfla.org>
   wrote:

     On Apr 14, 2021, Deb Nicholson <[2]deb@eximiousproductions.com>
     wrote:
     > It's disappointing that so many people have chosen to disbelieve
     former FSF
     > employees, hundreds of women who have encountered RMS at
     conferences or MIT
     > and many, many free software creators.
     That's a real peril, and would have been wise to take into account,
     before deciding to form a coalition with known liars and attackers,
     and
     before resorting to false allegations, exaggerations and distortions
     to
     spark an explosive reaction that facts have or would have failed to
     spark.
     These decisions have contaminated and shed doubt on the legitimacy
     of
     claims advanced by those who joined the coalition, or who
     opportunistically timed their action to coincide with those of the
     corporate-funded coalition.  That may be illogical, but it's often a
     valuable heuristics.  Call it karma if you wish.
     Now, if there were any true, first-hand accounts of actual sexual
     harassment, I'd be very interested in getting them straight from the
     source.  Giving out pleasure cards, politely asking people on dates,
     keeping foliage or mattresses in work offices, reports of the
     existence
     of institutional sexism at universities, advising caution against
     leaps
     to unsupported condemnation, tasteless jokes, getting angry and
     being
     loud are not it IMHO.  Hearsay about the same half dozen rumors over
     a
     period of 40+ years isn't either, unless your own investigations
     haven't
     hit a dead end before something concrete popped up.  I encourage you
     to
     let the FSF board know if that's the case, and please keep me on
     copy.
     > The vast majority of the people who signed the letter asking for
     RMS
     > to step down, care deeply about free software.
     I encourage them (you) to behave as such, instead of associating
     with
     historical opponents, and working so hard to divide us.  It's become
     really hard to believe in that commitment, and in good intentions
     behind
     the actions, given the present circumstances.
     --
     Alexandre Oliva, happy hacker  [3]https://FSFLA.org/blogs/lxo/
        Free Software Activist         GNU Toolchain Engineer
             Vim, Vi, Voltei pro Emacs -- GNUlius Caesar

References

   1. mailto:lxoliva@fsfla.org
   2. mailto:deb@eximiousproductions.com
   3. https://FSFLA.org/blogs/lxo/

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