• @Freesoftwareenjoyer
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    -92 years ago

    Because proprietary software is unethical. It takes away our control over our devices. If we want to be able to control them, we need to use Libre Software. You also can’t have any privacy or security if nobody can verify what a program does.

    • God
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      72 years ago

      unethical? takes away control?? you choose what to put on your device, proprietary software doesn’t enslave your hand into pressing the install button.

      • @Freesoftwareenjoyer
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        -52 years ago

        Just because users don’t know any better it doesn’t mean it’s ethical. Developers should have the responsibility of ensuring their users get the freedoms they deserve. Those freedoms are the right to study and modify the program and distribute the original copy and the modifications. Only with those freedoms we can have control over the software that runs on our devices. Otherwise what’s stopping the developer from adding spyware into the app (as it often happens in proprietary software)? Why would anyone trust that the program does what’s in their best interest?

        • God
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          12 years ago

          Developers should have the responsibility of ensuring their users get the freedoms they deserve.

          No one deserves anything

          right to study and modify the program and distribute the original copy and the modifications

          there is no such right in any code, legal or moral, that i’ve read in the past, i wonder what philosophical branch it is that sources this perspective

          what’s stopping the developer from adding spyware into the app

          nothing, but when they do that, that’s when they’re “being unethical”. That’s like saing it’s unethical to have a kitchen knife in your kitchen because you COULD stab someone with it.

          Why would anyone trust that the program does what’s in their best interest?

          cuz they’re dumb & uninformed. doesn’t make it unethical tho, afaik.

          • @Freesoftwareenjoyer
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            22 years ago

            No one deserves anything

            We deserve human rights, democracy, freedom of speech, privacy. Since software is a huge part of our lives, Free Software should also be on that list.

            there is no such right in any code, legal or moral, that i’ve read in the past, i wonder what philosophical branch it is that sources this perspective

            Those are the rights that are guaranteed by Free Software. If a program doesn’t give them to you, then it’s not free/libre and it means you don’t control it. If you are not familiar with this movement, you can watch this video: https://youtu.be/Ag1AKIl_2GM

            nothing, but when they do that, that’s when they’re “being unethical”. That’s like saing it’s unethical to have a kitchen knife in your kitchen because you COULD stab someone with it.

            Developers shouldn’t put themselves in a position of power where we have to blindly trust them that they don’t do anything bad to us. Why would you want to agree to that as a user? We can really do better than that and it wouldn’t cost the developer anything.

            • God
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              2 years ago

              We deserve human rights, democracy, freedom of speech, privacy. Since software is a huge part of our lives, Free Software should also be on that list.

              never seen any proof of anyone deserving anything, including that

              it wouldn’t cost the developer anything.

              i can charge $1k or i can charge $0, if i can choose, why would i go with $0. i like money, it makes life easier.

              • @Freesoftwareenjoyer
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                22 years ago

                never seen any proof of anyone deserving anything, including that

                In the part of the world I live in those are considered basic rights that everybody deserves. If where you live that isn’t true, then I’m sorry to hear that.

                i can charge $1k or i can charge $0, if i can choose, why would i go with $0. i like money, it makes life easier.

                Of course, you can charge how much you want for your software or any product you sell. Nobody wants to take that away from you. Free Software is not about price, but freedom.