[Fsf-Debian] Who gets to say what the definition of “Debian” is?

Bryan Baldwin bryan at katofiad.co.nz
Sun Aug 5 03:23:10 UTC 2012


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On 08/05/2012 02:51 PM, Michael Gilbert wrote:
> Actually, only Debian "main" is intended to be 100% dfsg-free 
> software.  The entire composition of Debian "the system" is up to 
> individual users/developers/volunteers and how they choose to 
> compose their particular parts of the whole.  Imposing a singular 
> objective on users'/developers' rights to make self-actualized 
> decisions on "their own system" is ultimately an inhibitor to 
> freedom, and well counter-productive to your own self-actualized 
> pursuit of your own vision of freedom.

Hucksterism. No one is telling users what to do, or imposing their
"singular objectives" on anyone. The suggestion that barring Debian
from the FSF's free distribution list is the same as telling users
what to do is incredibly intellectually dishonest.

Also, what you have said is a contradiction to what others have said
about Debian. You say the system is heterogeneous with free and
nonfree software that users may choose or refrain from choosing.
Others have maintained that Debian is 100% free, and contrib/nonfree
are not part of the system (as does Debian's documentation). Which is
true?

What I am talking about *is* what we are free to do. I am free not to
use, distribute, or support nonfree software. FSF is free to make
lists of the names of distributions that also do not distribute or
support nonfree software. You are free to believe that going out of
your way to do the work required to enable other people to choose
nonfree software is respecting their freedoms, and exclude your work
from FSF's list.
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