[ox-en] Free Software -> Libreware or Liberation Software
- From: Raju Mathur <raju linux-delhi.org>
- Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 12:43:15 +0530 (IST)
Hi everyone,
"Claude" == I Claude Harper <tekell swbell.net> writes:
>> I've never really liked the term "Free Software" for the reason
>> of
Claude> confusion me neither
>> "Free Software". Perhaps the more Latin-based "libreware"
>> (Liberty
Claude> "Libreware" is actually in use in some Spanish speaking
Claude> countries and Brazil, is it not?
Claude> I was going to suggest "Liberation Software". Not only
Claude> de-emphasizing the free as in beer confusion, but
Claude> emphasizing that it increases freedoms and room for
Claude> self-enfolding. I guess we can then derogatorially refer
Claude> to that other software as OppressionWare. :)
Wouldn't ``Liberated Software'' be more apt than ``Liberation
Software''?
Of course, this whole semantic debate appears a tad over-the-board
IMHO. Why the heck do we get so caught up in words that we forget
what they are referring to? I dislike RMS' harping on about GNU/Linux
as much as the debate between ``Open Source'' and ``Free Software''.
All we know is what WE want, and no one ever asks what the 99.9999% of
people on this earth who wouldn't give a damn whether it's called free
software or junkware or whatever require. Building intellectual
castles in the air is an interesting pastime, no doubt, but let's get
back to earth once in a while and instead of defining and discussing
ideals see how to sell them to the putative man on the street.
/me ponders a white paper entitled, `Fascination with Words: the Rise
and Fall of the GNU Empire'.
Claude> well, like everything else, no point in trying to dictate
Claude> some term. We have both thrown out some ideas. We'll see
Claude> what happens. I think I will stop using Free Software and
Claude> use one or the other or both.
Regards,
-- Raju
P.S. Flames welcome :-) Have a look at the recent FSF-India mailing
list archives (currently only open to members for some strange reason)
at http://202.88.232.42/mailman/listinfo/fsf-india if you want more
ammunition for indicting me.
P.P.S. Member since 2000 or something -- I Don't Read Slashdot ;-)
Claude> On a side note, I have been hoping to come up with some
Claude> term "Liberation ______" for a philosophy in general. A
Claude> parallel term to Liberation Theology, but definitely not a
Claude> theology.
Claude> One of the aspects of any "new society" I would be
Claude> interested that it has liberated people from cohercion,
Claude> domination, oppression which is preventing what I am
Claude> learning to call their self-enfolding.
Claude> ...or maybe " ____ Liberation", "Self-enfolding
Claude> Liberation", hmmmm.....
--
Raju Mathur raju kandalaya.org http://kandalaya.org/
It is the mind that moves
_______________________
http://www.oekonux.org/