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Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.carno.net.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!lucy.swin.edu.au!news.rmit.EDU.AU!goanna.cs.rmit.edu.au!news.apana.org.au!cantor.edge.net.au!news.teragen.com.au!news.access.net.au!news.mel.connect.com.au!munnari.OZ.AU!news.ecn.uoknor.edu!news.ysu.edu!news.radio.cz!voskovec.radio.cz!news.radio.cz!CESspool!hammer.uoregon.edu!hunter.premier.net!feed1.news.erols.com!howland.erols.net!swrinde!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!nntp.ucsb.edu!usenet From: Axel Boldt <boldt@math.ucsb.edu> Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.misc,comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,comp.os.os2.advocacy Subject: Re: Linux vs whatever Date: 30 Jan 1997 16:05:50 -0800 Organization: Univ of California at Santa Barbara, Dept of Mathematics Lines: 35 Sender: boldt@fermat Message-ID: <ywt7mkud7z5.fsf@math.ucsb.edu> References: <32DFFEAB.7704@usa.net> <5c155c$p6u@raven.eva.net> <ywtwwsv507k.fsf@math.ucsb.edu> <5cqdic$ouc$2@pike.dnaco.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: fermat.math.ucsb.edu X-Newsreader: Gnus v5.3/Emacs 19.34 Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.unix.bsd.misc:2158 comp.os.linux.advocacy:81788 comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy:51455 comp.os.os2.advocacy:264561 leeizzie@dnaco.net (Lee Malatesta) writes: > In <ywtwwsv507k.fsf@math.ucsb.edu>, Axel Boldt <boldt@math.ucsb.edu> writes: > >"John S. Dyson" <dyson@freebsd.org> writes: > > >> GPL is only a tool and not a religion (or hopefully so.) > > >Obviously, the GPL is a religion. It states a value (software > >sharing), it tries to punish those who refuse to follow that value, > >and it aims at world domination. As good a religion as any. > >Or better. > > It tries to punish in the same way that my hammer punishes my finger > when I hit my hand instead of the nail. > > The GPL places no restrictions on anyone, unless they use a GPL'd > product. Actually, the restrictions only kick in if and when they try to *distribute* possibly modified copies. Use and copying and modifying itself is completely unrestricted. Since the GPL'd products are so lovely, it could well be construed to be a punishment that the sinners are not allowed to exploit these goodies in evil ways. > I have yet to see any religion not affect anyone not using it. I believe Judaism is completely neutral towards non-Jews. Axel -- Axel Boldt * boldt@math.ucsb.edu * http://www.math.ucsb.edu/%7Eboldt/