[lpi-discuss] [OT] The Free/Open/FOSS/FLOSS/etc... world has F'LOST-ME! -- WAS: Principles/Sendmail

[Jon maddog Hall]

Hi,

Again, we worry about the English (American?) language and its implications.

May years ago someone asked Linus Torvalds:

		"Is it "leenux', "lynux" or "linnux"?

His answer is below.

Along those lines, a lot has been said if it should be "Free Software" or
"Open Source"?

I use the term "Free and Open Source Software", which means that neither
RMS or ESR yells at me (much).

I like what the South Americans do, by calling it "Software Livre!" (Portuguese)
or "Software Libre!" (Spanish), so I usually create the slide:

		Software Li[vb]re!

meaning that you choose either the "v" or the "b".

But more and more I believe that the real issue is the freedom that the source
gives you, so instead of just giving in and calling it something else, we should
go down a road of education as to why you should be using it, and then it does
not make any difference what you call it.  Ergo, I am more and more a
"Free(dom) Software" person than an "Open Source" person.

Linus' answer to the question put to him?  "I don't care what you call it as
long as you use it."

maddog

-- 
Jon "maddog" Hall
Executive Director           Linux International(R)
email: maddog at li.org         80 Amherst St. 
Voice: +1.603.672.4557       Amherst, N.H. 03031-3032 U.S.A.
WWW: http://www.li.org

Board Member: Uniforum Association, USENIX Association

(R)Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in several countries.
(R)Linux International is a registered trademark in the USA used pursuant
   to a license from Linux Mark Institute, authorized licensor of Linus
   Torvalds, owner of the Linux trademark on a worldwide basis
(R)UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the USA and other
   countries.