• @Freesoftwareenjoyer
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    -51 year 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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      11 year 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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        21 year 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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          1 year 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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            21 year 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.