[Office-commits] r9868 - trunk/campaigns

[sysadmin]

Author: www-data
Date: Thu Oct  1 10:09:14 2009
New Revision: 9868

Log:
web commit by tal82k

Added:
   trunk/campaigns/thecaranalogy.mdwn

Added: trunk/campaigns/thecaranalogy.mdwn
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--- /dev/null   00:00:00 1970   (empty, because file is newly added)
+++ trunk/campaigns/thecaranalogy.mdwn  Thu Oct  1 10:09:14 2009        (r9868)
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+What if buying a new car were like using non-free software?  While the 
following example may seem a little far-fetched, it is a pretty good analogy to 
understand the importance of user freedoms in software.
+
+Imagine going out to buy a new car.  After deciding on a brand, you go to that 
dealer and start looking at what they have to offer.  You decide on a model you 
like, and the salesman tries to sell you on all sorts of things you don't need 
and some things that really you are not sure about.  Undercoating? Is that 
necessary?  You sign all sorts of contracts, and finally you can bring the car 
home.  
+
+You opted out of the trunk-use charge.  While there is a trunk built-in to the 
car, they were trying to charge you extra to get a copy of that key.  'I don't 
really need a trunk,' you think. 'I'll add it later if I feel I'm missing it.'
+
+A few months go by without a hitch, and you generally love that car.  When 
driving one day, you hop on the highway.  You love the sound the car makes when 
you rev that engine.  Wait a second, you can't seem to go above 55 miles per 
hour!  You hear a computerized voice say, 'Due to a required firmware 
safety-update, you can not accelerate above fifty-five miles per hour.  Enjoy 
your drive.'  You shrug your shoulders and think, 'Well, it's for safety.  
There could be worse things.'  You get off at your exit, and go home.
+
+The next morning during your commute, you notice some funny noises coming from 
beneath the hood.  You have a friend who is really good with cars, so you ask 
if she can help you out after work.  When she sees your car, she tells you, 
"Nope.  Can't do anything for you.  This is one of those Nonfree cars.  I can't 
even open the hood."
+
+So you bring it to your mechanic, and they do not even bother with charging 
you a diagnositic fee. "Sorry, sir.  This is a Nonfree car.  Even if I had the 
right tools, I can't even open the hood lock, let alone fix what might be wrong 
with it.  It's against the law."  Dismayed, you go back to the dealer to ask, 
"What's the deal?"
+
+After waiting for a while, finally a service representative calls your name.  
You explain the noise the car is making and all the steps you have gone through 
in order to get it serviced.  She explains that because the Nonfree name has 
such a great image, they don't allow just anyone to service their cars.  You 
have to be trained and accredited.  You ask to see the contracts you signed.  
One of them states that the addition of any third-party, non-approved parts, 
will void your warranty.  You ask the representative what this applies to, and 
she says that even painting your car a different color without approval from 
the dealership would void the warranty.
+
+Your car goes into the dealer's repair shop.  They charge you a diagnostic 
fee, as well as an "accredited repair license surhcarge."  They call you up to 
pick up your car, and they say they found nothing wrong.  You get the car back, 
and it still makes that unnerving noise.  You ask the mechanic and he says, 
"Oh, well some Anlibre cars just make that noise.  It's nothing to worry about."
+
+While this story may seem ridiculous, it is exactly what happens when a person 
chooses to use non-free software.  You choose the software that best fits your 
needs, and sometimes a salesperson will help you out.  You agree to a contract 
that you probably did not read, and you use the software.  However, you can 
only use the software in ways that the publisher agrees with (driving, in our 
analogy).  When the software malfunctions, or even when you want to make 
something better, there is nowhere to go except to the publisher of the 
software.  You can not go to a friend who is good with computers.  You can not 
go to a company to have them fix it for you.  You must go to the developer.  
When you bring your problem to their attention, they may say, "We can fix that 
for you."  They may say, "We will think about adding that in our next release." 
 Or they may (probably) say, "That's a feature of the program, there is nothing 
to fix."
+
+Free software, on the other hand, promotes user freedoms.  Free software is 
defined as: software that you can use for any purpose (driving, paper weight, 
art, etc.); software wherein you have the freedom to study it and change it if 
you wish with access to the source code (pop the hood and look at what's 
inside, repair or modify in any way you see fit); software that can be 
redistributed; and software where you can improve the program and release your 
improvements (add an active hood scoop and turbo-charger, and put the plans for 
doing so on your favorite modding site).  
+
+We don't accept infringement on our freedoms when buying a car, so why should 
we with software?