Star RMS: Cloud Computing Is Bad, Blogosphere Responds
Linked by David Adams on Tue 30th Sep 2008 02:26 UTC
Talk, Rumors, X Versus Y A very interesting "Blogwatch" posting at Computerworld links out to an interview with Richard Stallman wherein he posits that Cloud Computing is a trap to entice users to give up control and privacy and become subject to closed, proprietary platforms. Since RMS is a professional provocateur, I wouldn't consider all of his pronouncements newsworthy. But the thoughtful responses linked in this blog roundup were interesting, and I believe the issue of convenience vs control vis a vis Cloud Computing is a very timely and important debate to be having at this point in IT history.
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StephenBeDoper
Member since:
2005-07-06

Darn toot'n. That crazy computer hippie FOSS crap is sure not a success. Heck, that Linux kernel doesn't get used anywhere outside of crazy entusiast's basements.


I don't think Stallman has ever decried Linux. Although the term "Linux," there's another story/Quixotic crusade that is difficult to take seriously. Which is the point that I original jested-at: no one takes Richard Stallman as seriously as Richard Stallman does.

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jabbotts Member since:
2007-09-06

yeah, I know the "GNU/Linux" thing where RMS will only give an interview if all references are stated that way. Very true too.. RMS takes Mr Stallman most seriously.

I most really just poking fun at the idea that what RMS decries becomes popular in contrast to how popular the Linux kernel and the GNU apps wrapped around it without having the propellant of RMS decrying it. ;)

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da_Chicken Member since:
2006-01-01

Although the term "Linux," there's another story/Quixotic crusade that is difficult to take seriously. Which is the point that I original jested-at: no one takes Richard Stallman as seriously as Richard Stallman does.

Nope, I think you're taking Richard Stallman more seriously than he does. Arguing about GNU/Linux is simply a strategy to make people pay more attention to the ideals that the GNU project stands for. Just like in that famous Zen story, you mistake the finger pointing at the moon for the moon.

Richard Stallman's insistence on asking people to call the operating system GNU/Linux doesn't really indicate he that he would take himself seriously. Instead, it clearly indicates that Stallman takes his free software ideals very seriously. Would a man who takes himself too seriously put a computer disk on his head and call himself Saint IGNUcius?
http://www.stallman.org/saint.html

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adkilla Member since:
2005-07-07

I think you missed the following note at the bottom of his page:

Warning: taking the Church of Emacs (or any church) too seriously may be hazardous to your health.

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StephenBeDoper Member since:
2005-07-06

Nope, I think you're taking Richard Stallman more seriously than he does.


Where in the world did you get that notion? Richard Stallman is the computing equivalent of that crazy uncle who the whole family is slightly embarrassed of, and who always gets drunk at Thanksgiving dinner, then goes off on rants that end with "...and next thing you know, they'll be trying to take my guns!"

Richard Stallman's insistence on asking people to call the operating system GNU/Linux doesn't really indicate he that he would take himself seriously. Instead, it clearly indicates that Stallman takes his free software ideals very seriously.


What does it have to do with free software ideals?

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