Re: licensing

Sorry, Simon. Please click the link below.

Simon deWeerdt wrote:

>On Sun, 2003-10-19 at 21:25, Taran Rampersad wrote:
>
>  
>
>>I snipped everything else, because the answer is right there... Rather 
>>than going point by point.
>>    
>>
>
>  
>
>>>Why should the people of South Africa have to ensure that their software
>>>cannot be used in proprietary applications?  They will not be required
>>>to buy competing proprietary applications so why would they choose to?
>>> 
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>Aha. But why should some proprietary company profit from what equates to 
>>the toil of the citizens of a country? Why should some farmer, who 
>>doesn't make much but pays his taxes, have to help pay for software 
>>which someone who is driving a BMW will wrap into his/her code and 
>>upgrade to the latest BMW?
>>
>>I'd be a rather irate farmer. ...
>>    
>>
>
>If I were such a farmer I would resent being spoken for like that. 
>Speak for yourself.  
>
I did, in a fashion. I just added some things that I've read about South 
Africa. Car and Driver isn't a very reliable source, but... they had 
pictures.

>
>Why is it that people assume they can speak for farmers.
>  
>
http://www.knowprose.com/images/agri0001.jpg

This farmer is working some land rights issues right now on 93 acres of 
land, is working on planting mango trees, and is writing C++ code and 
consulting in his spare time, as well as doing some blogging and writing 
as he can... Or vice versa, as you see it. I have some dirt under my 
fingernails.  What gives you the right to say that I cannot speak about 
farmers?

(And if you wonder about the veracity of that image, the number is 
clear. 868 is the area code for Trinidad and Tobago, you'll want to 
verify it with the Ministry of Agriculture).

Do you want to know how long it will take my mango trees to start bearing?

>  
>
>>There was really no debate. There still isn't. Be a farmer in South 
>>Africa for a day. Pay taxes. Trust your government. What would you expect?
>>    
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>
>I can't be such a farmer.  That is an idealist's debate, using imaginary
>farmers.
>
The farmers certainly are not imaginary. At least, I don't think I'm an 
imaginary.

>
>We simply disagree.  If you want to assert that any farmer who spent a
>few moments to think of it would agree you are welcome to but I must
>point out that intelligencia asserting they understand farmers is a
>little presumptuous.  And really that is off topic.
>
>Simon
>
You're right. We disagree. Intellectualization of reality still leaves 
us with reality. That farmer will still pay for code in proprietary 
products if their government chooses a BSD license.

This farmer will make sure his government doesn't do that with his 
money. *I* would like a BMW tractor.

I apologize for not telling you I was a farmer, and accidentally 
allowing you down a path where you made an erroneous assumption.

Taran