Re: Corporate Conspiracy Open-Source Theory

On 2025-07-01, Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:

Some people really cannot let go of the idea that Free Software
projects might be controlled by big corporates out to push their
agenda on the poor, defenceless users (and developers, no doubt).
>
Here’s one case I encountered -- can you spot all the ways he has
mixed up his arguments?
<https://community.asterisk.org/t/cmake-for-a-modern-build-system/108944/7>
>
Conspiracy theorists are never strong on consistency, anyway ...

There does seem to be some political machinations going on, and there
are opinionated people in the Free Software world who do seem to want to
steer things in a particular direction.

However, "Conspiracy Theorists" aren't always wrong, and it pays to be
ahead of the game.

You sound a bit like those who have perfect faith in the market, a
sentiment I don't subscribe to.

Theoretic freedom is different to practical freedom.

The GPL doesn't give a lot of freedom, it is the ability to exercise
choice, and have viable options available that give freedom.  Without
*viable* options, you don't have much freedom, regardless of what is on
paper.