Free Software Foundation and RMS issue statements on Stallman’s return | Hacker News Reader

Free Software Foundation and RMS issue statements on Stallman’s return

arstechnica.com

7 pointsmadradavid9 comments

> there is no apology from RMS nor FSF to Ms. Giuffre, who is the person who was harmed most by RMS' statements.

It is insane how ArsTechnica still spins this story as if that girl is somehow victim of Stallman, a person she's never even heard of.

For my taste, the language of Stallman's and FSF's statements is far too apologetic. Such lies should be met with firm and decisive resolve.

She's heard of him:

https://twitter.com/VRSVirginia/status/1174108999039406080

And yes, it's absolutely appalling that RMS is doing cover-up for Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. That his friend Minsky got busted is NOT an FOSS issue, yet RMS has made that and arguing for a lowered age of consent his call signs.

RMS is not doing a cover-up for Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. This claim you made is an ugly lie that you and the likes of you promote all over the internet despite the overwhelming evidence of the contrary.

These lies do not become truths if you and your friends repeat it 1000 times.

All that Stallman did was being himself: diligently getting to the bottom of the issue and using very precise terms to describe what had happened. But none of that matters to you, of course.

RMS continues to claim, without evidence, that Minsky was not an Epstein client. He's actively covering up Epstein's crimes. It's not a lie, it's literally in RMS's "apology".

> All that Stallman did was being himself: diligently getting to the bottom of the issue and using very precise terms to describe what had happened. But none of that matters to you, of course.

Why would it matter to anyone? RMS has a friend who participated in a child sex trafficking ring. That has nothing to do with FOSS. All it does is taint the movement.

> He's actively covering up Epstein's crimes.

As Andrew_nenakhov said, you can repeat this all you want. Specifically this is the most ridiculous accusation which has been debunked to death. You might want to try going over the actual facts again.

> All it does is taint the movement.

If the perception of a "taint" is based on lies spread by a bunch of idiots on Twitter and some "journalists", this is not Stallman's fault. As for "the movement" itself, Stallman is a thought leader and an uncompromising idealist who left MIT to pursue it. He is the kind of person people like Eben Moglen [1] considered a giant. Stallman's statement speaks volumes about his character.

Unless the damage and the harm inflicted upon him by the mob and the lies is fully repaired, I do not care about whatever actually valid reason someone might have to get him to step down.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKxzK9xtSXM

How is it "debunked", when Stallman just published his post saying that Minsky is falsely accused? You can go read it for yourself.

Stallman only harms any movement he's involved in. He's best left a footnote in history. He's not someone to build a movement behind.

> In the attempt to defend Minsky, RMS declared it "morally absurd" to call statutory rape "rape," and he spun an elaborate scenario regarding the likelihood that Giuffre—whom RMS had never met—would have "appeared entirely willing" to Minsky.

Ah, no, it was not elaborate at all. Although it may look like that to an ars technica writer. Or reader.

Here's what RMS wrote: "I think it is morally absurd to define "rape" in a way that depends on minor details such as which country it was in or whether the victim was 18 years old or 17." Meaning, you can't count on law to dictate what is moral and what is not. Rape is immoral whatever the country and whatever the age.

Also, and I may be wrong on the US side of this, because I only know for sure the Spanish side, the Americans call rape to the sexual abuse of an underage from an adult. Here in Spain we use a specific term, I think it would translate to "child sexual abuse". Using "rape" feels weird. It is wrong, it is a crime, but I feel calling everything rape makes a disservice to true rape victims.

But then, it is their country, their laws, so I'm fine. I'd never live in the US, though. Very punitive society. I read that people has been charged with child abuse for sending, while being underage, images to another underage which is absolutely insane. And then, I heard, when they move to a new place, even if they finish their sentence, they have to notify everyone they were a "child abuser" in the past. Which is very very very spiteful. Oh, and if they had been in jail in the past they have to notify their employer!!! It is so common, it is a key part of the plot of Ant-Man. It is so, so sad... Feels like a fascist dystopia.

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