Re: Why Aren't Open Source Tools Being Considered?

[Mitchell Maltenfort <mmalten -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Bonnie,

There's something very satisfying about seeing my words get
complimented on a list of professional writers. Thanks!

> Like volunteer work of any kind that's done with the intention of advancing
> oneself. Why is there, then, the attempt to glorify it, I wonder.

Why the evangelism on the part of some open source advocates?  My
impression -- which may or may not be an accurate answer - is that the
evangelists are responding to a perceived trend that scares them.

If all information -- and a program is, at the end of the day, just
information -- comes with a fee, then you would have to pay to read a
book, and lending a book to a friend might be legal piracy just as if
you let someone install your copy of Word on their computer.

The evangelists make a distinction between "free as in beer" and "free
as in speech."  In that regard, you could think of the Free Software
Foundation as cousin to the ACLU.


Mitch


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"I don't know yet" is a better answer.

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