[Access-activists] Ending Philosophical Debate

[Chris Hofstader]

All,

I think that everyone on both sides of the free software priorities 
debate has had the opportunity to participate and express their views. I 
think that all points of view have been adequately represented and that 
we are seeing nothing more than repetition and argument for the sake of 
argument. Therefore, if anyone posts to this list on either side of the 
debate (excepting rms who is my boss and can over-rule me <smile>) after 
noon EST, I will change the list to a moderated status and start 
rejecting messages on this subject.

We have a lot of really smart  and remarkably energetic people on this 
list. This fact is born out by the tremendous insight demonstrated by 
this debate. Now, I think that priority number one is to channel all of 
this energy and intellectual firepower into the myriad software 
engineering tasks we would like to see accomplished to inprove the 
computing power of people with disabilities and others who can benefit 
from these initiatives.

This debate has helped energize a lot of people interested in free 
access technology software projects and, while I think the discussion 
has run its course and that there is little left unsaid, a lot of new 
people have contacted me about helping out in one way or another. For 
this, we owe Eric and rms a debt of gratitude as, without their clear 
and concise points, many people would be far less clear on what FLOSS 
actually means and why software freedom is of such paramount importance 
to so many of us in the accessibility world.

As always, anyone is welcome to write to me directly or call me on the 
phone to discuss these matters. If you do not have my phone number or 
other private contact information and you want to talk to me, please 
write off list and I'll send you my numbers and such.

Happy Hacking,
cdh