Re: GNU project _does_ discriminate contributors by classes

[Dmitry Alexandrov]

Mike Gerwitz <mtg@gnu.org> wrote:
> On Tue, Oct 29, 2019 at 17:43:05 +0300, Dmitry Alexandrov wrote:
>> Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support> wrote:
>>> GNU project does not discriminate by gender, or other classes, neither 
>>> verifies genders of contributors, or their classes, as everybody is welcome 
>>> to contribute
>>
>> To the best of my knowledge, thatʼs completely untrue: major GNU subprojects 
>> do discriminate contributors by classes: if a contributor-to-be happens to 
>> be an employee, FSF does not trust his words about origin of his 
>> contribution, he has to bring a reference from his employer.
>>
>> Speaking frankly, even if we put aside how time-consuming it may be, itʼs 
>> hard for me to imagine what can be more degrading and thus ‘alienating’ to 
>> someone, than a straightaway demand to prove that he is not a liar.
>
> This is a legal issue and has nothing to do with discrimination.

Why do you say that as if discrimination cannot be a legal issue?  (In fact, 
sexual discrimination is sometimes a legal issue, discrimination of minors is 
almost always is a legal issue, discrimination of foreign citizens is a purely 
legal issue.)

In any case, by all means it has to do:

| discrimination (countable and uncountable, plural discriminations)
|
| 3. (sometimes discrimination against) Distinct treatment of an individual or 
group to their disadvantage; treatment or consideration based on class or 
category rather than individual merit
— https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/discrimination#English

> I had to have my employer sign one of those waivers.  The purpose is to put 
> my contributions on solid legal ground.

No need to convince me that it has a good purpose.  I never supposed, that it 
is groundless, only that:

 a) being magnified in public mind, it contribute more to reputation of GNU as 
an unwelcoming place than vague “not feel at ease” stuff; and

 b) claim that “GNU welcomes contributions from all and everyone” while this 
issue is unresolved might be perceived as hypocrisy and make things even worse.

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