I can't help it, I better get these out of the way, - Curious, why do you keep switching to all capital letters at arbitrary points. It doesn't add to clarity, but I keep interpreting it as you're screaming. - Why don't you continue responses without changing the subject line? - Again, freedom is a noun. Freedom software sounds very odd - The reason that email you forwarded aggravated many people, was the way in which it was suddenly thrust in. A little bit of etiquette can go a long way.

No one is misquoting anyone. Either your usage of words or tone seem to mean or imply that free software as it is today is lacking. You keep talking about, for instance,

- "improving" to attract the masses, - asking everyone to see it as an end user as opposed to a hacker (I safely assumed this meant, hackers to some extent are more familiar with the internals, so can deal easier with software that is superficially unfriendly), - the end user is not happy, or - plugging all the holes so that the business men will be comfortable using it.

From these, among other things, some people will tend to make assumptions regarding what you're trying to say. Maybe it is a fundamental communication gap.

As I've explained in another reply on another thread (because my mail client likes to sort it like that), I bought my computer a while ago. Things have changed in the recent past. But none of that matters, it isn't too hard to wipe a hard drive. I was just trying to portray the hold monopolies can have on vendors, and consequently the mind share they have amongst users. If a person hadn't seen anything else, they'd be just as happy with GNOME, KDE, Mac OS, Windows, BeOS, or whatever for basic needs when introduced to them. It's when all you've ever seen and previously worked on is, say, Windows, you will likely go with the most familiar even when handed a choice. Even at the extent of loss of freedom.

RedHat is doing exactly what free software from a corporate perspective is all about. They sell entirely free software at large markup, purely for the peace of mind their support offers to big companies. There is nothing preventing you, an individual, who will not want to spend the 3500$, from obtaining any of it for free, studying it, modifying it, distributing it, and of course, expanding upon it.

[ http://www2.uibk.ac.at/zid/software/unix/linux/rhel-rebuild.htm ]

They've done more than most other companies ever will for the growth of free software. For years they've allowed anyone and everyone to download the huge ISO images of fully free distributions fully free of charge, for instance. Who pays for their bandwidth? How do they survive if they can't charge for services and support centered around their products as well? If you find it exorbitantly expensive, find another source for your software. That is what choice is about. If no one buys it, they will have to lower their prices or die naturally. Don't criticize or get angry, just let your choices do the talking.

[ http://www.redhat.com/about/mission/business_model.html ]

If you give an average person a very good program that satisfies their immediate requirements, they will use it. If it were free, it would be free, if it weren't, then it wouldn't be. I have an old Mandrake box at home which does everything my parents need, and which I can administer remotely. Let's assume I haven't told them anything about the freedom they're consequently enjoying. All they know is that they aren't paying for it, it works well, and that while their friends get affected by viruses and worms, they have no problems receiving email from their son. Where in this was the philosophy communicated? If tomorrow the hard drive were to crash, and the local computer man were to install Windows, they will adjust to it and use it. I'm trying to indicate that philosophy and social implications are bigger than just free software.

Give them good free software and they will use it, sure. The software will travel on it's own. This, and the communication of ideals aren't necessarily linked. They are using it because it's good. Give them free software and explain to them why being free makes it inherently good, and they will still use it. But more importantly, the ideals have also spread.

I am willing to take my chances on another kernel stepping up to the plate even if the Linux kernel hadn't filled a hole in the GNU system. It might have taken more time to reach the level of adoption we see today (or maybe even less if it were even more popular for some reason), but it would have happened independent of Linux. Point being, there would have been someone who valued all this (and was skilled enough) to write things that worked to fill this void.

And all this about fierce promotion, gaining critical mass, mass revolution and things like that. I really wish to know what it is your aim for all of this is.

Harish | http://wahgnube.org/

Hi Tarun and others,

Due to lack of time i didnt go through all the mails on this topic. Quick scan gives me the feeling that it is being dragged unnecessarily.

1. Tarun, you are right that we need to make free software easier for general user. We are doing good work for that. I dont see any one has any objection in furthering it.

2. We the users of free software should also take the responsibility of helping people like Mr Rammanohar, where ever we can. It is not a good idea from our part to say 'RTFM'. Lets try to help others, dont forget that we are working for the freedom of sharing knowledge.

3. At the same time, we dont care abt people saying "i will use/support free software when it is technically better choice". That show their lack of commitment to the issue of freedom we raise, ignore them. I can understand a person who is using non free software because there is no alternative, while accepting that he is not doing the right thing and trying to bring a change to his situation.

regards, arun.