Re: Advice Workplace that Forces Non-Free Software

[Mike Gerwitz]

On Sun, Aug 30, 2020 at 01:51:47 -0400, Mike Gerwitz wrote:
> Hey, Jean:
> I agree, and I agree that we ought to help whomever we can.
>
> But I also recognize that not everybody sees it as an injustice, and not
> everyone will be convinced.  Helping someone who does not want to be
> helped has its own considerations.

I forgot to emphasize one other point:

In my original message, I encouraged lily to try to change the working
environment if possible.  In a similar way, I don't necessarily think
that everyone should avoid jobs that don't subscribe fully to the free
software philosophy.

The reason is that the best way to change an organization is often from
within.  If you make it a goal to do so, then while your ideals may be
strained, the end result could be quite beneficial to society and to our
movement.  If we avoid situations that conflict with our ideals, then we
can't hope to change them.

This is in a way similar to using non-free software for the sake of
studying it to write a free replacement.  You suffer, but you do so for
a good cause.

But certainly if your goal is to change a company for the better, and
that goal proves to be unattainable, it's time to move on.

-- 
Mike Gerwitz
Free Software Hacker+Activist | GNU Maintainer & Volunteer
GPG: D6E9 B930 028A 6C38 F43B  2388 FEF6 3574 5E6F 6D05
https://mikegerwitz.com

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