Re: [OT] mothers, free software

[Robert Brockway]

On Thu, 17 Nov 2005, ness wrote:

> Hi,
>
> This day I had a really enervating discussion about free software with my 
> mother. Finally I got her to claim the following statements:
>
> o  One cannot make money with free software

As others have noted most of the money currently being made around 
free software is through service delivery.  I strongly suspect models for 
making money from software exist that haven't even been thought of yet.

Linux has been putting food on my table for many years.  My company has 
been profitable since day one.  Ever job we've had has been exclusively or 
almost exclusively concerned with free software.  The assertion above is 
false.  QED.

> o  Free software cannot provide (data) security

The word "cannot" is very strong.  Open source apps _do_ provide data 
security.  If she wants to claim OpenSSH doesn't provide data security she 
better have some pretty good arguments ready :)

If she meant that free/open source apps are not as good at providing data 
security, well people have been arguing back and forth on that for a long 
time.  Opening the source allows the good guys and bad guys to checkout 
the source.  Since it only takes one good guy seeing a problem to alert me 
(and those who will fix the hole) I judge open source to be benefical to 
security on my systems.

> She also called called it fraud if a company sells support for a free 
> program.

I always try to show respect to people's mothers but I have to say this is 
absurd.  Fraud is "intentional deception for personal gain".  Where is the 
deception if a company makes an agreement and does exactly what it says it 
will do?

Support can be provided for anything the buyer and seller agree to. A 
support agreement is just recognition that the buyer needs external 
assistance.  Providing support for free software is no different from 
providing support for closed source software or shovelling snow.

Claiming it's fraud makes no sense to me at all.

> Oh, and she doesn't believe you get money for building coyotos, Jonathan.

It's been my experience that some people don't understand change.  It's 
also been my experience that they are the ones who are worse off in the 
long run, not the ones who understand change.

Rob

--
Robert Brockway B.Sc.           Phone:  +1-416-669-3073
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