From: Ian McWilliam (kaosagnttpg.com.au)
Date: Thu May 01 2008 - 05:53:17 CDT

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On 26 Apr 2008, at 2:30 PM, Nick Holland wrote:

> Ian McWilliam wrote:
> ...
>> Can anybody explain why is it acceptable to modify a "standard" for
>> "ports" but not not for "base"?
>
> I think "Standards" is a bogus argument here. That's not what
> this is about.
>
> Try this way of looking at it:
> The author of xpdf wants DRM in the source code. That is his right.
> Many users find it more useful without it. That is their right.
> We distribute patches to build a version that disables the DRM that
> will never be incorporated into the main package. That is our right.
> The author distributes it the way they wish to, and OpenBSD
> distributes a patch. Everyone's rights are respected.
>
> Author has freedom, users have freedom, OpenBSD has freedom.
>
> The authors of OpenSSH don't want to hide the version. That is
> their right.
> A few users think there is benefit in hiding the version. That
> is their right (you have the right to remain wrong...)
> Someone distributes a patch that will never go into the OpenSSH
> code. That is their right.
> The authors distribute the code they wish to and users can
> distribute a patch. Everyone's rights are respected.
>
> Authors have freedom, users have freedom, patchers have freedom.
>
> You see a difference. I see remarkable parallels.
>
> This is real freedom in action.
>
> What you seem to think is that you get a vote or claim on someone
> else's work. No, you don't. Not here, at least.
> OpenBSD decides what is in OpenBSD,
> The xpdf authors get to decide what is in xpdf,
> The OpenSSH authors get to decide what is in OpenSSH.
> And that is how it should be, and that is how it is.
>
> YOU get to decide what you wish to use, too.

Not if you modify that software away from it's original intention and
not tell me about it. Then I don't get to decide.

>
> You may use OpenBSD or not.
> You may use xpdf in patched or unpatched form.

Only if I know it's changed. No body seems prepared to tell me you
modified it at point of installation.

>
> You may or may not respect the wishes of the author of documents
> you look at with xpdf.
>
> wow, you got freedom too. Amazing how this works. :)
>
>
> Think about this:
> I suspect most developers and users of OpenBSD think the DRM
> "features" of xpdf are stupid and annoying..but I bet virtually
> all of them would fight for the RIGHT of the author to decide to
> be stupid and annoying, and put whatever they darned well please
> into their own code.
>
> There is a difference between wishing and attempting to persuade
> someone to do something differently, and demanding or expecting
> them to do something differently. A very large difference, which
> is often missed by many.
>
> I WISH xpdf didn't have silly DRM stuff in it.
> I WISH people didn't distribute silly patches for OpenSSH
> I am glad they can.
>
>
> Nick.
> --
> By reading this note, you agree to not think of a big red bird
> with fuzzy pink feet.
>
>

Ian McWilliam

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