Comments on: Different Types of Freedom http://foolswisdom.com/different-types-of-freedom/ A fool and his blog are soon parted. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:21:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0-alpha By: Lloyd http://foolswisdom.com/different-types-of-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-16204 Lloyd Sun, 04 Mar 2007 02:04:58 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/different-types-of-freedom/#comment-16204 <strong>Ian</strong>, I like your analogy! It reminds me of the likely equally inappropriate analogy that solidified in my mind while I was listing to a radio program in the travel crawl of commuting in Toronto (2000-2004). One of the program's guests mentioned how our democratic political systems, including modern day Germany's, have protections in place against a fascist government changing the rules even if they were elected under other pretences (or that very pretence) -- not that such a political group would respect them. I think it may have been then when I changed me from the armed chaired, idealist "BSD is better" to preferring and participating in GPL'd software development. More recently, <a href="http://diveintomark.org/"><strong>Mark Pilgrim</strong></a> wizened me to one of the “nuanced reasons to prefer straight-gpl-licensed code”, “[derivatives] of straight-gpl programs must themselves be straight-gpl, thus ensuring license compatibility”. I wrote briefly previously about <a href="http://foolswisdom.com/open-source-license-proliferation/">Open Source License Proliferation</a> Ian, I like your analogy!

It reminds me of the likely equally inappropriate analogy that solidified in my mind while I was listing to a radio program in the travel crawl of commuting in Toronto (2000-2004). One of the program’s guests mentioned how our democratic political systems, including modern day Germany’s, have protections in place against a fascist government changing the rules even if they were elected under other pretences (or that very pretence) — not that such a political group would respect them.

I think it may have been then when I changed me from the armed chaired, idealist “BSD is better” to preferring and participating in GPL’d software development.

More recently, Mark Pilgrim wizened me to one of the “nuanced reasons to prefer straight-gpl-licensed code”, “[derivatives] of straight-gpl programs must themselves be straight-gpl, thus ensuring license compatibility”. I wrote briefly previously about Open Source License Proliferation

]]> By: Ian McKellar http://foolswisdom.com/different-types-of-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-16192 Ian McKellar Sat, 03 Mar 2007 20:15:38 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/different-types-of-freedom/#comment-16192 What I love about the GPL is that it defines a set of rules for a community using and developing a piece of software. The BSD license is based on the idea that having no rules is a better way to live. Its kind of like the difference between freedom in Canada and freedom in Darfur. Sure, if I wanted to ride around on a horse with an machete in my hand I'd rather live in Darfur, but I like being able to walk home safely at night. (yes, that analogy is an exaggeration) What I love about the GPL is that it defines a set of rules for a community using and developing a piece of software. The BSD license is based on the idea that having no rules is a better way to live.

Its kind of like the difference between freedom in Canada and freedom in Darfur. Sure, if I wanted to ride around on a horse with an machete in my hand I’d rather live in Darfur, but I like being able to walk home safely at night.

(yes, that analogy is an exaggeration)

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