Richard Stallman's resignation, Part II

OK, so the last thread was closed. We should recall the following advice when discussing this topic:

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Originally Posted by jeremy(Post 6042421)I'd encourage everyone who isn't clear to read my recent posts in General, then read the LQ rules. Really think about statements like "Challenge others' points of view and opinions, but do so respectfully and thoughtfully ... without insult and personal attack. Differing opinions is one of the things that make this site great."...which are not just platitudes but core to our ethos. Then read the thread in question; every post of it. I've just done so again, wondering if I reacted too quickly or too harshly. I don't think I have. I'm a huge proponent of free speech and open debate, but there has to be a line. I understand that line is grey, and for every person who thinks we're too lenient there is someone who thinks we're too strict. Finally, if the topic is one members would like to discuss then feel free to start a new thread. The thread was in no way closed because of the subject matter. Do note, I have made very clear what the expectations for General are. The new thread would be very much subject to those guidelines. If you'd like to participate in General, and at LQ more broadly, please do keep them in mind. --jeremy

So, this has to be discussed... respectfully. And I hope that one or two bad apples don't spoil "the whole damn bunch" [thanks, GnR].

What we know so far:

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Richard Stallman posted a new update today on his personal site. "I want to respond to the misleading media coverage of messages I posted about Marvin Minsky's association with Jeffrey Epstein. The coverage totally mischaracterised my statements. Headlines say that I defended Epstein. Nothing could be further from the truth. I've called him a "serial rapist", and said he deserved to be imprisoned. But many people now believe I defended him -- and other inaccurate claims -- and feel a real hurt because of what they believe I said. I'm sorry for that hurt. I wish I could have prevented the misunderstanding." On MIT's internal Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) listerv, Stallman had seen the description of a protest of Marvin Minsky which said Minsky was "accused of assaulting" one of Epstein's victims. Stallman argued that "the most plausible scenario" is that "she presented herself to him as entirely willing" -- even if she was coerced by Epstein into doing so -- whereas the phrase "assaulting" implies the use of force or violence, faciliating what he calls "accusation inflation... Whatever conduct you want to criticize, you should describe it with a specific term that avoids moral vagueness about the nature of the criticism." An angry MIT alumni who was forwarded the email then "started emailing reporters -- local and national, news sites, newspapers, radio stations" -- and then not receiving quick enough responses, published it herself in a Medium essay titled "Remove Richard Stallman. And everyone else horrible in tech." And then leaked the whole thread to Vice.

https://news.slashdot.org/story/19/0...-marvin-minsky

Also, since that succinct synopsis from Slashdot, Stallman has also resigned from the FSF.

Further developments include the rumour [though it does look likely] that Stallman's page was vandalised by the FSF before he managed to move it to a GNU Project server.

http://techrights.org/2019/09/29/fsf-defaced-rms/

Hopefully we can discuss and document the developments of this important topic whilst keeping it happily afloat. What does this situation say for free software? How did we [and that's a very collective 'we'] end up here? Where do we expect this to go?

The last notable comment was from jsbjsb001. I do not believe this comment treads over the rules of this forum but is part and parcel of what this very sensitive topic signifies:

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I think what's happening here is part of the "larger campaign", a "new world order" if you will. And it looks like FSF has been infected with the same "virus", I would call this "virus" "human malware". It seems to me this "larger campaign" is basically where it's not about "free software" (or whatever the original goals were) anymore, it's basically a "political agenda", think the "#MeToo" movement... In other words, it's about being "politically correct" and taking the "right political position". So if you're not "outraged" about "guilt by association", then you're someone who is on the wrong side of the "political fence", and you're "one of the abusers", therefore, you supposedly "support" the abuse of women etc. It's fairly obvious to me what's really going on here, and it's sad the same "virus" that's infected society has found it's way to the FSF. You've really gotta ask yourself; who's next? It's a sad day alright...

If this is speculative, so be it. Speculation is fine if it doesn't harm anyone, I posit. I think execution is the main point here, rather than content.