Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!AI.MIT.EDU!rms
From: rms@AI.MIT.EDU
Newsgroups: gnu.gcc
Subject: A strange sort of fanaticism.
Message-ID: <8906190141.AA00386@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu>
Date: 19 Jun 89 01:41:55 GMT
Sender: daemon@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Distribution: gnu
Organization: GNUs Not Usenet
Lines: 58


    I also
    believe that you have lost a great deal of credibility and support with
    your demonstrations of fanatics and your obnoxious and irrational statements.
    Just to name a few:

	    - You justified a comparison of your cause with those who protested
	    (and died) in Tienamen Square.

There can be useful analogies between lesser and greater outrages.
Physicists used to draw useful analogies between electrons and
planets--very disparate in magnitude.  I believe I stated my awareness
of the difference in intensity when I made the analogy.

	    - You proposed violence in the form of destruction of Macintoshes
	    (give a Mac the axe)

Are you saying that the owner of a computer has no right to take
an axe to it?  What is this, confiscation of private property?

Your use of the word "violence" is intended to call up people's
associations with "violence against other people or their property",
but these are inappropriate in the case of one's own property.

Whether this would be a useful piece of public relations is another
matter.  Some people say it is not.  This is an interesting subject to
discuss, but I don't think info-gcc should bear the brunt of the
discussion.

	    - You requested that all those who disagreed with you should write
	    to you.  "Even though I know you're wrong, I just want to know how
	    many of you there are."

Is curiosity an indication of fanaticism?

	    - You deny some groups their constitutional rights because they are
	    "agressors" and don't deserve them.

I've already explained why this is not an accurate description of
what I am proposing to do.  If you object to having a moderated
gcc newsgroup pass through your machine, you don't have to pass
it through.  If you are really mad, you could say so on gnu.flames or
whatever the unmoderated newsgroup is called.

	    - You so rudely responded to supporters of GNU who are concerned
	    about the legalities of using GNU.  "I won't take you to court.
	    I can't even afford it."

I don't recall saying this.  I did say I opposed nuisance suits, and
that I couldn't even afford them.  But most people would not say that
is fanatic.


You suggest that I have lost credibility.  Readers of this list may be
interested in deciding whether to consider me credible; they might
even be interested in your opinion on the question; but it is unlikely
they are interested in what you think they think.  Please spare us
all.