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Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 10:06:46 -0700
From: Joachim Achtzehnter <joachima AT netacquire DOT com>
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Subject: Re: change in behavior of make from 3.80 to 3.81
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John W. Eaton wrote:

> I mean, isn't free software all about getting something for nothing,
> then complaining about it and expecting others to do yet more gratis
> work for you?

Free software is about collaboration of a community consisting of
developers, users, documentation authors, testers, translators, etc. to a
common good, namely the production of good software that serves the needs
of that community. A peculiar aspect of all-volunteer free software
projects (some are wholly or partially funded where this can be different)
is that nobody can force another member of the community to do something
they don't want to do, so it is all based on persuasion and winning over
others by argument. To phrase this volunteer aspect the way you did is
seriously misleading. You make it appear as if a handful of developers are 
making a contribution and everybody else is just getting a gratis
benefit without contributing. Clearly, developers make a huge contribution,
nobody is denying this, but to suggest that *only* developers contribute
and everybody else should therefore just shut up is the exact opposite of 
what free software is supposed to be about. A healthy free software project 
depends on and welcomes input from the community. The attitude exhibited by 
some on this mailing list, of trying to muzzle opinions they disagree with, 
does not help.

Joachim

-- 
work:     joachima AT netacquire DOT com   (http://www.netacquire.com)
private:  joachim AT kraut DOT ca          (http://www.kraut.ca)

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