Re: Freedom to take freedom (was Re: [Fsfe-uk] Accountants need MS...)

[rob]

Quoting Lee Braiden <address@hidden>:

> For instance, I for one think it would be a good thing to restrict the right
> to use my software for military purposes.  I also think the GPLv3
> anti-tivoisation measure, and the Affero measures are both good ideas.

These don't compare for a very simple reason. Anti-military  
restrictions are not "reflexive"; they don't just prevent harm against  
the freedom to use software.

Software used by the military will be used for disaster relief or to  
defend against invading armies or prevent genocide. And the software  
that the military creates or extends can be used by those who oppose  
over-reaching militarism to further their own cause. So opposing  
military use of software is not a clear-cut ethical good.

Which isn't to say that supporting it is either in a general ethical  
sense outside of software freedom.

- Rob.