Re: [GNU-linux-libre] Request for Endorsement for ConnochaetOS

[Quiliro Ordóñez]

On 20/08/11 04:52, Henry Jensen wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:03:48 +0000
> Ineiev<address@hidden>  wrote:
>
> > > Anyway, I think this discussion is a little off-topic on this list.
> > It is being discussed whether a free distribution may want to represent itself
> > as Open Source.
> I think there is a misunderstanding. ConnochaetOS, as far as I as the
> maintainer can stand for it, represents itself explicitly as Free
> Software.
>
> However, I am not alone and there are people who help the project,
> especially in the forum by answering questions from  users and doing
> some documentation in the wiki. They feel obligated to free software.
> But they may use sometimes wordings that may look unfortunate by some
> other people in the Free Software Community.
>
> This is how we came here. Now, there are some points that should be
> clarified:
>
> 1. The Free System Distribution Guidelines doesn't require to use or to
> avoid explicit wordings. It requires that a free distro "must take care
> not to recommend nonfree software." The FSDG covers content of a free
> distros documentation, but there is no prescribed terminology. If I am
> mistaken, please correct me.

If we use terminology that promotes the ideas of people that do not 
value freedom, we promote their ideas and not ours. Please consider that.

> 2. In the explicit case it is discussed if it is okay, if some members
> of a free distro use the term "open source" in its documentation. I had
> a discussion with a representative of the FSFE about this matter, and
> the FSFEs summarized point of view is "We prefer the term "free
> software", but if you say "open source" it is fine with us, because it
> is the same thing". So, from the FSFEs point of view there should be no
> problem.

Richard said he is discussing this issue with FSFE. FSF does not support 
that position. In fact, FSF regards opensource software as something 
good but the opensource ideas as bad. It sounds contradictory but it 
isn't because some of what they do agrees with what we do but not all so 
the terms are not interchangeable.

> I myself see this matter a little more severe. I think the term "free
> software" should be used, and I correct wordings occasionally. But
> since many new users are involved and the community is growing I can't
> control every sentence they write. What's more: In a hypothetical
> discussion in our community about this issue, a member who uses the
> term "open source" can always refer to the FSFE and say "Hey, the FSFE
> said, it is okay when I say "open source"". Since 90 percent of our
> community is living in Europe that would be a reasonable point and one
> could hardly argue against that.

Please get an official written statement from FSFE stating that. It 
would clear up things for all of us.
> Regards,
>
> Henry

Great work!

--
Quiliro Ordóñez
09 821 8696
02 340 1517

"No se puede sacrificar la libertad por ningún bien, por ninguna promesa 
de pan o de paz o de justicia, porque ese pan tendría amargura de 
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"Não se pode sacrificar a liberdade por nenhum bem, por nenhuma promessa 
de pan ou de paz ou de justiça, porque esse pan teria amargura de 
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nem faria sentido." Alfredo Pérez Guerrero