Re: State of the GNUnion 2020

[Dmitry Gutov]

On 25.02.2020 1:55, Samuel Thibault wrote:

> > That is a problem. But one that wouldn't be solved simply by the
> > leadership's say-so. GNU is usually all volunteers, and if existing
> > developers don't accept the new project management platform, they won't use
> > it.
>
> As I mentioned in another mail, I am not talking about the software
> running the platform, but the community around the platform. It's the
> contact they get from the community living on a given platform, which
> makes the welcoming atmosphere. And there leadership does matter.

Okay then. I'll rephrase what I said in another email as well.

As a part of the community, I think you can work on that welcoming 
atmosphere without pushing RMS out, or asking for his blessing (which is 
surely already implicitly given, with Kind Communication Guidelines out 
there). And, to repeat myself, having the "crown" on your head is 
unlikely to make this process particularly easier.

> > If we declare that all of GNU should share a certain set of values, and
> > especially that maintainers must share the free software values, whatever it
> > really means in practice, *that* sounds exclusionary already.
>
> Did you really read what was actually written on
> https://wiki.gnu.tools/gnu:social-contract ?
> It does not talk about the values that contributors hold for themselves,
> it talks about the values put in the software of the GNU project:
>
> “
> The GNU Project provides software that guarantees to all users the Four
> Essential Freedoms, without compromise:
> ”
>
> etc. It does not talk about exclusively using free software etc.

*shrug* Again, you have put out a document that reiterates things that 
should already be so. So that leaves (apparently not only myself) 
guessing what is it for.

Could you clarify, then, what that message might have been about: 
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gnu-misc-discuss/2020-02/msg00224.html

?

Specifically, the first paragraph. What free software values the 
maintainers do not currently agree to uphold, but will if they adhere to 
the Social Contract?

Maybe you guys should have a talk between yourselves and figure out 
whether everyone shares the same understanding and vision for it.