[nylug-talk] [ruben at mrbrklyn.com: Re: Freedom-IT Preliminary Call for Papers]

[Ruben Safir]

FYI


----- Forwarded message from Ruben Safir <ruben at mrbrklyn.com> -----

Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 07:48:43 -0400
From: Ruben Safir <ruben at mrbrklyn.com>
To: Richard Stallman <rms at gnu.org>
Cc: Ruben Safir <ruben at mrbrklyn.com>, hangout at mrbrklyn.com,
	ron at vnetworx.net, rick at linuxmafia.com, freedom_it at mrbrklyn.com
Subject: Re: Freedom-IT Preliminary Call for Papers
In-Reply-To: <E1IhEt9-0001iJ-E2 at fencepost.gnu.org>
User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.6i

On Sun, Oct 14, 2007 at 09:36:59PM -0400, Richard Stallman wrote:
>     I'm not prone to think of seperating into two distinct tracts because
>     people pick and chose, and chose not to use listen to the political stuff.
> 
> Maybe you are right, but that seems like a question of detail compared
> with the broad and fundamental question I raised.
> 


Richard, your not raising any broad and fundemental questions here.  This is
simple stuff and lets not complicate it.  The question is how can we asure
adequate attention to the political issues that involve Free Software.  This
consideration began with the selection of topic.  When the topic was selected
for multimedia and free software, it inherently addresses most key political
issues.  Every presentation is an attack on the locked down basis of DRM
infested media, propreitary closed, pay as you go libraries, and the attack
on societies fundemental right to communication and learn freely by the "content industry"

>     We generally do a good job of not overlooking the political of the technical.
> 
> Perhaps you do have suitable plans that I don't know.  However, the
> draft call for papers doesn't seem to do anything to address this,
> and I think it should.
> 
> Here's an idea.  The call for papers could say that ask for each paper
> should explicitly relate the technical subject matter to the goal of
> freedom for all computer user.  In other words, the authors should not
> only explain a technique or some software, but also show that the
> technique or software is free, that it can be used in a free
> environment, and how its existence is a contribution to the Free
> World.

This is an idea worthy more thought and consideration, but having every presenter 
make oaths of allegence and to sing some version of the International is not how 
I think we can best promote this critical area of study and commerce.

We need better ideas and use the superior intellect of yours to focus on convincing
and working with think soccor moms, not graduate students and political activists.

Ruben

-- 
http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Interesting Stuff
http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development in Free Software

So many immigrant groups have swept through our town that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological proportions in the mind of the world  - RI Safir 1998

http://fairuse.nylxs.com  DRM is THEFT - We are the STAKEHOLDERS - RI Safir 2002

"Yeah - I write Free Software...so SUE ME"

"The tremendous problem we face is that we are becoming sharecroppers to our own cultural heritage -- we need the ability to participate in our own society."

"> I'm an engineer. I choose the best tool for the job, politics be damned.<
You must be a stupid engineer then, because politcs and technology have been attacted at the hip since the 1st dynasty in Ancient Egypt.  I guess you missed that one."

© Copyright for the Digital Millennium

----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Interesting Stuff
http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development in Free Software

So many immigrant groups have swept through our town that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological proportions in the mind of the world  - RI Safir 1998

http://fairuse.nylxs.com  DRM is THEFT - We are the STAKEHOLDERS - RI Safir 2002

"Yeah - I write Free Software...so SUE ME"

"The tremendous problem we face is that we are becoming sharecroppers to our own cultural heritage -- we need the ability to participate in our own society."

"> I'm an engineer. I choose the best tool for the job, politics be damned.<
You must be a stupid engineer then, because politcs and technology have been attacted at the hip since the 1st dynasty in Ancient Egypt.  I guess you missed that one."

© Copyright for the Digital Millennium