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Mozilla foundation's new CEO causes concern due to anti-gay-marriage views

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Disagreement (Score: 3, Insightful)

by jack@pipedot.org on 2014-04-02 10:07 (#Y1)

I'm sure the CEO of almost every company has some viewpoint I disagree with vehemently.

I will now go live in the bush as a hermit.

Re: Disagreement (Score: 1)

by kerrany@pipedot.org on 2014-04-02 13:11 (#Y8)

Where do you think the line ought to be? Somewhere past "an unpleasant opinion" I suppose? What about "an unpleasant opinion backed with money"? Don't forget, the guy's not just a dick, he's a dick who puts his money where his mouth is. (There's a really terrible but hilarious dirty joke to be made there...)

Or are you saying that there is no line, that you'll buy/use/promote anything from anybody if it's something you want or need?

Or... maybe I'm misunderstanding. Maybe you're saying you'd just rather not hear about this stuff, so you don't have to make the choice, even by inaction?

Re: Disagreement (Score: 1)

by billshooterofbul@pipedot.org on 2014-04-02 14:32 (#YC)

There are a lot of people who do put money behind causes I disagree with that I don't know about due to campaign finance rules and crazy 501 non-for profits.
The stupidest thing in my opinion is to not use a free software product because of who is the ceo of the foundation behind it. Its free software. Using it doesn't require me to give any money to them. Now, if I were donating money to mozilla, or a developer of their products, it would be a different issue. But using free software? That's just odd. The whole point of free software is to not put any restriction son the use of the free software. Especially a web browser. You're free to use it to learn about causes the ceo of mozilla disagrees with, and anything else you want. Users shouldn't be discriminated against or harassed in any way. Thats BS.

I'm more in line with the parent of this thread, Its really annoying when people impose their value systems on you and assume that you agree with them and additionally assume you agree with their action plan to further their goals. I rarely agree with people on these things, and am offended with the notion that I must believe *exactly* as they do and do *exactly* what they want me to do.

Re: Disagreement (Score: 1)

by kerrany@pipedot.org on 2014-04-02 15:58 (#YF)

Heh, I think the point was that by using the software, you appear to be supporting the beliefs of the Mozilla foundation and, by extension, its CEO. I support free software - but it is the antithesis of discrimination. The guy who runs Mozilla supports discrimination. That's a headscratcher for me - presumably they chose him because he epitomizes their views, and that's disturbing. Personally, I think they made a mistake. The guys at the end of this thread have it right - this could hurt Mozilla's reputation, especially since people are making a moderate fuss about it.

Mind if I restate your points, as I read them? This is what it sounds like you're saying, as far as I can tell:

1. I know there are assholes out there and I don't know who they are, but some of them probably make things I use. I might object to paying them money for stuff if I knew who they were.

2. The software's free, so it doesn't matter what the CEO thinks - because using it isn't the same as giving them money. (How does the Mozilla foundation support itself? Why do they try to get users, if users are worthless?)

3. If something is free, it should be used without restraint. (Not restrictions - restrictions are things that limit HOW you can use the software, not WHETHER you should use the software. Restraint is the thing that makes you go, "Hey wait a minute here..." when something like this comes up.) To rephrase, it sounds like you mean: free as in beer means free as in morals - if the KKK started giving out free cupcakes, it'd be OK to take one.

4. That last paragraph reads like "Even asking this question is rude. I might think it's OK to discriminate against gay people, but I can't say that because people would get offended and I'd look like a dick. Making me have to hide that opinion is mean." I don't think you meant it that way, but the air of discomfort behind it is readable.

I want to point out that the question I was trying to ask - will this harm Mozilla? Is this something we should be worrying about and trying to put a halt to? Is this bad for the community? - was not built on the assumption that you supported one viewpoint or the other beyond the basic "controversy bad, Firefox good". Yeah, personally, I'm all for equal rights, and I love Firefox and other free software, but I do not expect you to share those opinions. I do expect you to have an opinion (cuz everyone does) and - if you choose to express it - to express it in a way that makes some sense, but aside from that? Who gives a damn.

OK, sure, maybe this is a trivial topic. People are dying in thousands of unpleasant ways every day; a cure for cancer still hasn't manifested; there was a giant friggin' earthquake in Chile yesterday. But... this is news for nerds, not news for people concerned only with the gravest of SRS BSNSS - and honestly, I do think this will do Firefox's (and Mozilla's) reputation some harm. It's already done some harm to it and the harm is ongoing.

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Time Reason Points Voter
2014-04-06 03:24 Normal 0 reziac@pipedot.org

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