Re: [GNU-linux-libre] Re: eID-belgium

[Paul O'Malley]

On 11/09/10 14:43, Tlamaki GNU/Linux wrote:
> > Let me ask your question another way.
> >
> > Is it a good idea to make people use only proprietary software for any
> > task?
> >
> > I think you will find that nobody (in this grouping at any rate) says
> > you should make people use proprietary software.
> >
> > Regards
> > P.
> >      
>    


The question raised is should Free Software do these things.
What I said should be read in this way:

If we prohibit on ethical grounds the using of this software in the 
family of Free Software, then we naturally enforce the use of non free 
software to look at these cards.

As an aside, some people make mistakes when licencing software, they say 
GPL and you can't charge for distributing it, and things like that. 
These actions make that software non free. To come back on course, to 
refuse to incorporate any software regardless of it's working ability is 
to edit peoples choices. Do you want to be the person who motivates 
someone to use proprietary software thus losing all chances to influence 
their thinking, if only by means of not making something like this 
(albeit objectionable function) software available although it is Free 
by our judgement?

If you reply please remove it, then I fear you are living with a view of 
the world that is in need of change, you only can only accomplish the 
spread of free software things by having examples you can share with 
your neighbour.

Being involved in Free Software can open your political vision, and 
while I can see and understand a protest by keeping it out of the 
distribution system, perhaps it would be better if you tried to submit a 
patch which linked to a suitable view or views of how bad the notion of 
national ID cards are which is what RMS himself said on this list.


Regards,
Paul