Eben Moglen said in his conversations in Bangalore that community is
the response of a culture to an Idea.
I liked this concept and feel confortable with it. In this definition
the Free software community is not
a singular entity but a microlithic(multiple) one, with some universal
Recognisable characteristics like
"Some values which are nearly universal--as universal as values can be
in a community of millions--are
the preference for public discussion of technical matters, and
opposition to software patents and parts
of the DMCA." (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software_community"
To conitnously stress that community is singular entity would border
on arrogance and megalomenia.
Your culture could be different than mine, so please excuse me my
cultural reaction to free software like
we can identify as universal and
mutually agreeable. Unless you are an AK-47 wielding meniac who wants
to fix your distro, I can try. Maybe
because you think am a christian and you think that along with muslims
and communists I am a threat to this
country and you choose not to help me with my config's, I am fine.
Although I will consider you insane.
Look at the the people who so blatantly discuss Politics and Political
parties on this list, they mostly
are from places where there is a larger degree of political
awareness(Kerala for example). That again
is a cultural reaction, which the rest of the list members are putting
up with. So whats all this fuss about
some political party responding to Free sotware, Atleast its Free
software and not atleast yet "Open source"
We are putting up with FOSS, the "O" there being largly the culutural
response of the bussiness community to
free software.
I am from kerala, high literacy, 0% child labour, and high social
indices. All thanks to political social
movements, excuse me if I try to see free software as an intrument to
furthur the social causes. That may or
maynot be my response. maybe someone else from Kerala might have got
fed up with Politics and show such a
cultural reaction.. thats fine also. As long as freedom matters,
whats your problems sir's??
Why should I mimic the western response to free software and restrict
myself to mere techinical matters, there
are people doing that here as well, they are most welcome to do that.
I might even to to bar camps or unconferences
or even .in's and dot whatever's.
what is all this fuss about??