Re: [GNU-linux-libre] review PureOS ISO

[Jean Louis]

Hello Francois,

Thank you for your short story. Interesting, and I am glad you have
recognized values in free software.

Myself, I am not opposing you or anyone to use the simple word. I am
rather specific, and accurate, just when you program, you want to be
specific, or the end result will not be what you expected it to be.

> I come from the world of proprietary software that I used to use
> everyday for my Audio/Visual work. When "switching" to free software,
> because of ethical reasons that I understood after years (it is never
> too late), I had to find a way to produce the same work with free
> software. I often use the word "alternative", without negative
> connotation to refer 2 applications that have the same purpose. Whether
> it is free or not. Final Cut is an alternative to Premiere, just like
> Premiere is an alternative to Final Cut. Kdenlive is an alternative to
> Pitivi just like Pitivi is an alternative to Kdenlive. Why would talking
> about alternatives be such a problem? What other word would you use to
> help somebody looking for a free software to replace his restrictive
> proprietary one? Is the word "replacement" a better one?

>From that viewpoint when switching from proprietary to free software,
of course that an individual is searching for solutions, he used one
piece of software and is now to use other piece of software. There are
different view points, and levels of awareness of what it really is,
and means for future.

If you ask me, what is alternative to freedom, I don't have any
alternative to freedom. In fact I don't like people messing with my
private life, through software, or without software.

Can jail be alternative to freedom?  To me, no.

Proprietary software is for me jail. It is not alternative to freedom.

And to have freedom as alternative to jail, makes no sense. Freedom is
freedom, jail is jail.

More about it:
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Alternative

In other contexts but those of free software, users may mention the
words, it is nothing bad. Users are like students, they are in various
stages of learning.

It becomes bad when a teacher, such as developer of Free System
Distribution uses "alternatives" to proprietary software. This implies
that teacher does not know what is he/she doing. You see? I do expect
more of the teacher, than of the students.

Jean Louis