[Lancaster] Twitter

[Mike Dent]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: lancaster-bounces at mailman.lug.org.uk [mailto:lancaster-
> bounces at mailman.lug.org.uk] On Behalf Of mp
> Sent: 20 February 2009 12:30
> To: Lancaster Linux User Group
> Subject: Re: [Lancaster] Twitter
>
>
>
> Mike Dent wrote:
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
>
> >>> On Thu, 2009-02-19 at 23:19 +0000, mp wrote:
> >>>> Hmmm, Twitter is non-free software.
> >>>>
> >>>> But there are Free Software alternatives.
> >>>> http://www.techenclave.com/open-source/identi-ca-open-source-
> >> twitter-alternative-114388.html
> >>>> http://gigaom.com/2009/01/14/identica-gets-funding-to-make-open-
> >> source-twitter-variant/
> >>> Identi.ca is great - the Lconica software is something
> >>> we're looking at implementing for a community.
> >>>
> >>> However, although I'm on both Identi.ca and Twitter,
> >>> it's the latter that most others (beyond the Free
> >>> Software community) are on. Any suggestions as to
> >>> how to change this are most welcome :-)
> >> Get off Twitter, but twit it first to all your friends/contacts,
> >> stating
> >> that you move to the Free Software alternative, because you believe
> in
> >> the free Internet, which is being eroded by Twitter, Facecrack,
> >> AOL/TimeWarner et al. When invited to Twitter, when spoken to about
> it,
> >> state that it is bad for freedom, like some would say about things
> like
> >> McDonalds.
> >>
> >
> > Hmm, I'm not sure about this free Internet thing. If the
> companies/universities/ISP's etc that the
> > Internet connects through wanted to start charging for data or
> electricity at their sites then who
> > are we to grumble?
>
> We are the people who make up this world. Who else?

You views are too strong and far from mine so I shall back out here :)

thanks


>
> > I think so far we have had a great ride and should be thankful for
> that, it's certainly not our
> > right to have it like that forever.
>
> "Certainly"? Says who? Rights are fought for and won (or lost, with
> that
> attitude!). Not given. There is no such thing as a natural law that
> determines whether "it is our right" or not. This is entirely
> ahistorical. Why are you in favour of Free Software - why is that "our
> right", but a free network isn't? Why is freedom of speech your right?
>
> Once upon a time it was no one's right to do anything. Think of the
> rights that generations have died for which make it possible for you to
> express yourself here and now and say no to further rights. That's
> rather disrespectful to a long bloody history of fighting for rights.
>
> > How ethical a company are Cisco (as an example of a maker of lots of
> internet routers and switches)
> > if they are not ethical, do we stop using those portions of the
> internet which use their kit?
>
> The current debate addresses exactly this. Network neutrality is
> demanded by Internet users in the U.S (and the rest of the world). This
> is a high level public policy debate - not just some radical faction's
> ideas. The stakes are incredibly high.
>
> While you can't really stop using their services, you can demand that
> they keep them free.
>
> > yes it would be nice if the internet were run on free open source
> software routers which were powered by
> > wind/hydro/solar power but I don't think it will happen for many
> years to come.
>
> Not unless you stand up for the idea. Who do you think will drop it in
> your lap? God? Corporations?
>
> > Enjoy it while it lasts :)
>
> Create it while you can - fight while there is still something to fight
> for. Once it is gone it is too late.
>
> "When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out..."
>
> -mp
>
>
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >> Like ethical consumerism - Sainsbury's is not going to go away by
> >> shopping in it. Shopping in Single-Step is better for the earth.
> >>
> >> Cyberspace is a space in a rather real sense, but it is being
> enclosed
> >> by non-free projects. The more that join the non-free, corporate
> >> networks, the easier it will be to introduce traffic prioritisation
> at
> >> switch level, which the network providers are very keen to implement
> -
> >> hard and software ready to go (debated in the US under the terms
> >> "network neutrality" and "common carriage"). If the majority of
> >> Internet
> >> users are on Facecrack and Twitter (which will be highly
> prioritised),
> >> then few will complain about the end of the free flowing internet.
> >>
> >> Facecrack and Twitter etc. are the preconditions for the end of free
> >> traffic on the internet.
> >>
> >> mp
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> Lancaster at mailman.lug.org.uk
> >> https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/lancaster
> >>
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>
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