[Fsf-Debian] Non-free firmware question during install

[Ian Jackson]

Paul van der Vlis writes ("Re: [Fsf-Debian] Non-free firmware question during install"):
> Op 07-08-12 16:49, Gunnar Wolf schreef:
> > «Some of your hardware needs firmware to operate; to the best of our
> > knowledge, only non-free firmware exists that can be used to run this
> > hardware». Would that be OK?
> 
> Hmmm. It's OK, but I don't like it. I would like to avoid the word
> "non-free" and talk about the positive other side, about "free".
> 
> What about:
> Some of your hardware needs firmware to operate. Debian only ships free
> firmware and probably there was no free firmware available for your
> hardware at the time this installer was made.

The problem with that wording is that it's pretending that the
non-free firmware doesn't exist.  The user might not realise that
actually they could get a nearly-completely-free system working on
their computer, and might well give up and install a non-free OS
instead.  I also think it's verging on dishonesty.

> But if we do not talk about nonfree firmware, we do not need to tell
> that we do not recommended it.

We absolutely do need to mention that it exists.  Otherwise we are
deceiving the user by omission - failing to mention that there are
other options besides giving up entirely.

Our commitment to freedom does not mean that we should be deliberately
concealing non-free options from our users, where it is likely that
our user would choose to use a non-free option as opposed to just
giving up.

To think of it another way: if we respect our friends we don't conceal
from them some choices because we think they're a bad idea even if we
think our friend might like them.  And we need to treat our users as
our friends and allies, and respect them; not treat them like some
people would treat their children.

Ian.