[dundee] What's in a name?

[Arron Finnon]

Hi Guys,

Not spoken to “The List” for a wee bit but i have been involved in quite an 
interesting debate with lets just say for now a very big advocate of the 
free software foundation and the GNU project (however I'm sure most will 
guess).

I spoke to him with regards to Linux Society at the University and to my 
surprise (well not actually but i thought that it would have been later on) 
was a comment about the name;

//begin quote

I appreciate the intentions of your organization, but the name you have 
chosen for it has the unfortunate effect of denying the GNU Project the 
credit for our system. (See http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html.)

Could you possibly call it the GNU/Linux Society, and give us equal mention?

//end quote

By now I'm sure most of us have guessed who but anyway i digress as usual, i 
suppose my question to everyone on “The List” is what do we think about the 
term Linux, is it a fair term?

In a wider sense does it deny the GNU project of any credit they are due?  
Does the GNU/Linux make it more complicated for newer user's wishing to use 
a Unix like system?

As many know I'm a very big advocate/fan of free software and open source 
software as well, i think that the free software is an idealogical ground 
and that the half way house is open-source for the day to day practical 
world.

However i tend to always look at it from the stand point of how do i explain 
this to a new person coming to the above mentioned operating system, (and 
that in fairness is because for most of it i am) and i find that it's not 
that easy to explain what the FREE in free software is about never mind what 
GNU is.

He also raised some very interesting points as well so I'll add them and 
please feel free to comment them either via “The List” or by email to me, as 
i am truly very interested to hear what you guys think;

//begin quote

* Digital restrictions management.  Conspiracies of businesses to
restrict the technology available to the public should be an serious
offense leading to imprisonment.

* Unjust laws such as the EUCD, and its implementations
which are even worse than the EUCD itself.

* Software patents.

* Hardware with secret specifications.

* Bundling of non-free operating systems with computers by stores.

* Use of non-free formats for communication with the public by governments
and by businesses.

* Schools should not teach non-free software -- it is unethical.

// end quote

catch you guys later

Arron

_________________________________________________________________
Solve the Conspiracy and win fantastic prizes.  
http://www.theconspiracygame.co.uk/