Re: [Fsfe-uk] Useful background on FLOSS in education

[Ramanan Selvaratnam]

ian wrote:
> On Thu, 2003-08-28 at 11:44, Alex Hudson wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 2003-08-28 at 10:51, Ramanan Selvaratnam wrote:
> >
> > > I read only the first 7 pages. It even proclaims Linux and FreeBSD to be 
> > > open software operating systems!
> > > Would it not be more meaningful to describe FreeBSD (atleast) as a free OS?
> >
> > The lack of recognition of Free Software seems to be a failing of the
> > report, they use 'open source' in it's place consistently. However, I
> > have to say that this was the only real failing that I found with the
> > report (I've only briefly glanced at it), it seems okay to me.

OK this time around I read up more and still it seems that the only 
place 'free software' or even FOSS/FLOSS is mentioned is in the 
references to the article.

> > For example, the discussion on 'open source' licences recognises the
> > motivation to give users specific freedoms (and enumerates them into
> > five freedoms; the extra one being 'freedom to access source', which the
> > FSF's four freedoms explicitly implies) [p9].

I am all for expanding on FSF's work. This fifth freedom is a good sign 
of initiative and serves the purpose of pointing out that Free Software 
is Open Source by default and more.

> > It also recognises pedagogical benefits in using Free Software [p15], so
> > we're not just talking about an economics report here: it addresses the
> > moral and ethical reasons one might want to use Free Software.

Discussing Open Source software first and then introducing the 
pedagogical benefits of Free Software  could easily send the wrong 
message that charitable tasks likes schools should adopt Free Software 
and all other businesses should adopt the 'principles' of Open Source.



> > Overall, I don't think it's that bad...

This probably is the best document out there but if we were to adopt it 
we should definitely tackle the shortcoming in the basic principles.


> I think we have to accept that popularism is always going to be around.
> I know scientists who hate many TV science presentations because parts
> of them are inaccurate. Ok, its better to be accurate if at all possible
> but I'd rather reports like this existed and went around than no reports
> at all. After all these people do need to learn and having a go and
> making mistakes is often the best way to learn. Not doing anything for
> fear of making an error is a good way of killing learning.

Well, once a mistake is made someone has to point it out too.
It is looking as if AFFS will have this task of promoting 'Free 
Software' wherever the wrong notion of it is taking shape.
> So yes, let's point out errors but try to do it in such a way that it
> encourages the people making them to do more work!
...and let us encourage anyone doing new work to get it right from the 
beginning.

Best regards,
Ramanan