I feel like we mostly agree with each other, we just don’t agree about the extent to which FOSS is helpful.
I agree, although perhaps less dramatically, that closed source is harmful, and that you can’t trust it. I agree that FOSS makes trusting software easier (although not trivial, critical vulns can still exist for years), and FOSS helps democratize whatever the software is used for (although in the current capitalist hellscape, software tooling is a relatively small hurdle).
To me, you don’t need FOSS to build a (literal) guillotine, and you don’t need FOSS to spread flyers. It’s not necessary for a revolution, and recent history seems to show it doesn’t really move us closer to a revolution. I don’t understand the basis for your claims otherwise. Communication benefits from software, and FOSS means that we can trust our tools of communication more, but in the end we still largely depend on ISPs and corporate hardware. People don’t have open source hardware phones, running mobile distros of Linux, loaded with radical app repos, running a massive adhoc p2p communication network.
I see FOSS as a goal. I want to live in a world where FOSS is the natural state of things, collaborating instead of competing. That is the end state I want to achieve, but it is not itself the solution for achieving that state.
FOSS is the solution (in microcosm) in the sense that it is a good replacement for capitalism, but not the solution in the sense of doing the work to achieve the end goal.
I feel like we mostly agree with each other, we just don’t agree about the extent to which FOSS is helpful.
FOSS is a tool. Tools are useful, not helpful. People can be helpful. Especially with the right tools.
(although not trivial, critical vulns can still exist for years)
Because the amount of participants are trivial. If people took FOSS seriously and stopped paying billions of dollars to CS…
To me, you don’t need FOSS to build a (literal) guillotine, and you don’t need FOSS to spread flyers.
If you’re using software to do just that, then I’m saying that you’re wrong. If you’re using physical fashions like crafting a club and having a fight with people who agree…
People don’t have open source hardware phones, running mobile distros of Linux
I do.
but not the solution in the sense of doing the work to achieve the end goal
Well, I AM saying what Richard Stallman has rouhgly in an extended elaborate fashion of much more profuse explanations and statements, that FOSS is necessary to stop CS from being respected let alone relevant to fucking anything digital based on an agreement towards respect for another human’s life without knowing that person. Without needing to know anyone to make that statement. Even I agree with him regarding the subject to which respect is given to people I have the opposite of respect in history denoting such appropriate.
If you’re using software to do just that, then I’m saying that you’re wrong.
My point was that you don’t need to use software to do just that.
I do
You’re not most people. You’re not even most anti-capitalists or revolutionaries. It’s important to stay grounded in the reality of meeting people where they’re at. If you’re expecting your revolution to be populated by tech savvy people, I’ve got some bad news to break to you.
relevant to fucking anything digital based on an agreement towards respect for another human’s life without knowing that person
I agree, that’s why FOSS is the ethical choice. But that doesn’t get us closer to a revolution. If I understood your last paragraph, it was a bit hard to follow.
My point was that you don’t need to use software to do just that.
And my point is using the reference as a metaphor for something I’m not willing to discuss in this environment. I’m waiitng for SAFENetwork to build a sustainable environment to build a proper revolution.
I’ve got some bad news to break to you.
There will never be a meaingful awareness of this shit and everyone will die because bio-/tech/etc.- virus/baked planet/pollution/AI/etc.?
I know that already. My project is to figure out how to get people to learn what is necessary to survive.
Guess what? Everyone will die. In less than a decade. Guaren-fucking-teed.
Revolution is pretty much irrelevant because this will happen either way. It doesn’t fucking matter.
Counterpoint that be only one I’ve thought of or heard of. FOSS-AI can counter and crack all Closed Source AI and pretty much all personal computers with helpful virus infections that rebuild the target to GNU/Linux.
Whatever. It don’t matter. Either way I’ll find my soul a whole damn new galaxy cuz I ain’t comin’ back here.
