Re: [libreplanet-discuss] Fwd: The FSF Allows No Derivatives]

[Yoni Rabkin]

> On Mon, May 25, 2015 at 07:09:50PM -0400, Yoni Rabkin wrote:
>> 
>>     Software runs the same on every equivalent computer. Computers are
>> not unique; 
>
> I have to disagree with you there,  computers are in fact
> unique, as unique as any physical thing, you will never find a
> rock that is idential to another rock, nor a computer that is
> idential to another one.  At the very least, the MAC address is
> different, but in detail, the contents of each chip is also
> different, since with the fine-grained architectures nowadays
> there are various fail-safes since it's expected there will be
> some failures in each chip, so they are re-routed in various
> ways.
>
> on top of that, there are different instruction-set
> architectures, drivers, appendages.  
>
>
>> one loaded with the same software is as good as
>> another. 
>> This isn't true of people because people are unique. 
>
> Just because a lot of computers have the same "belief system",
> i.e. Linux,  doesn't mean they are the same. that would be like
> saying "all christian people are the same", disregarding that
> there are many distributions/denominations, and that each
> person/computer has their own packages and idiosynchrasy.
>
> also same exact software on a different computer, can still give
> you different results, because of speed, drivers, dust, etc. 

Drawing an equivalent of any sort between machines, which are lifeless
manufactured objects, and human beings, and attempting to say that those
objects are as unique as humans is ethically wrong. This is called
dehumanizing, and is the source of much trouble. Please don't do that. I
truly hope (no cynicism in my words here) that nobody will ever treat
you or anyone you love the same way as a lifeless object, or even try to
claim that you are like one in order to justify less than humane
behavior. Each person is a world onto themselves; this is why life is
precious.

If torturing reality to this extent is what is necessary to make the
CC-BY-SA argument I can't continue the conversation from this
point. Sorry. I don't mind trying other avenues of conversation, but not
one based on dehumanizing my neighbors.

-- 
   "Cut your own wood and it will warm you twice"