Re: [Fsfe-uk] [Proposal] Mailing lists

[MJ Ray]

On 2003-10-23 17:11:28 +0100 Nick Hill <address@hidden> wrote:

> My being a DeFacto member helps an organisation not to be too 
> self-promoting 
> but instead promotes wider goals which we have in common. I would 
> rather not 
> involve myself in party politics. Being a DeFacto member therefore 
> suits my 
> purposes exactly.

I would rather not involve myself in party politics. I'd rather not 
involve myself in politics at all. Unfortunately, if you don't involve 
yourself in politics, they have a bad habit of involving you in a way 
that you don't like. Witness EUCD, swpat directive, IPR directive, ID 
cards et al. So, we have to get involved in politics in order to 
defend free software. We have to do other things too, to promote free 
software.

If you meant group politics, then I say it's even more important that 
you join, to try to keep the association balanced and representative 
of free software supporters. If the group tries to get too political, 
I hope for a stiff rebuke from the members. If only "political" 
members join, AFFS has serious problems because your "DeFacto member" 
is not really a member and has no voice at some times when they are 
most needed. Helpers are very welcome, but membership is welcome too.

We need to get some more structure in place to move forwards now, 
though, hence the flurry of proposals. Hopefully once that is through, 
we can wrap the scaffold in project work and just let it be 
infrastructure as it ought.

[Note to the list: this is the second version of this posting. Nick 
saw the first and his reply helped me improve it.]

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MJR/slef     My Opinion Only and possibly not of any group I know.
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