www/philosophy compromise.html

[Yavor Doganov]

CVSROOT:        /web/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Yavor Doganov <yavor>   08/09/26 16:32:08

Modified files:
        philosophy     : compromise.html 

Log message:
        Boilerplate compliance fixes.  Use HTML entities for the non-ASCII
        "ruinous" transcription.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/philosophy/compromise.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.1&r2=1.2

Patches:
Index: compromise.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /web/www/www/philosophy/compromise.html,v
retrieving revision 1.1
retrieving revision 1.2
diff -u -b -r1.1 -r1.2
--- compromise.html     26 Sep 2008 15:12:50 -0000      1.1
+++ compromise.html     26 Sep 2008 16:31:29 -0000      1.2
@@ -6,31 +6,32 @@
 
 <div style="float: right; font-size: 90%; width: 30em; margin: 1em;
 background-color: #ececec; padding: 1em; -moz-border-radius: 1em;
-margin-top: 4em;"><p><em>"Twenty-five years
+margin-top: 4em;"><p><em>&ldquo;Twenty-five years
 ago <a href="/gnu/initial-announcement.html">on September 27, 1983, I
 announced a plan</a> to create a completely free operating system
-called GNU -- for 'GNU is not Unix'. As part of the 25th anniversary
-of the GNU system, I have written this article on how our community
-can avoid ruinous compromises. In addition to avoiding such
-compromises, there are many ways you
-can <a href="http://www.gnu.org/help";>help GNU</a> and free
-software. One basic way is
-to <a 
href="https://www.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom/join_fsf?referrer=4052";>join
-the Free Software Foundation</a> as an Associate Member."</em>
-&mdash; <b>Richard Stallman</b></p></div>
+called GNU &mdash; for &lsquo;GNU is not Unix&rsquo;.  As part of the
+25th anniversary of the GNU system, I have written this article on how
+our community can avoid ruinous compromises.  In addition to avoiding
+such compromises, there are many ways you can <a href="/help/">help
+GNU</a> and free software.  One basic way is
+to <a 
href="https://www.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom/join_fsf?referrer=4052";>
+join the Free Software Foundation</a> as an Associate
+Member.&rdquo;</em> &mdash; <b>Richard Stallman</b></p></div>
    
 <h2>Avoiding Ruinous Compromises</h2>
 
 <p>by <strong>Richard Stallman</strong></p>
 
-<p>The free software movement aims for a social change: <a 
href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">to make all software free</a> so
-that all software users are free and can be part of a community of
-cooperation.  Every non-free program gives its developer unjust power
-over the users.  Our goal is to put an end to that injustice.</p>
+<p>The free software movement aims for a social
+change: <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">to make all software
+free</a> so that all software users are free and can be part of a
+community of cooperation.  Every non-free program gives its developer
+unjust power over the users.  Our goal is to put an end to that
+injustice.</p>
 
 <p>The road to freedom
-is <a 
href="http://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2008/spring/the-last-mile-is-always-the-hardest/";>a
-long road</a>.  It will take many steps and many years to reach a
+is <a 
href="http://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2008/spring/the-last-mile-is-always-the-hardest/";>
+a long road</a>.  It will take many steps and many years to reach a
 world in which it is normal for software users to have freedom.  Some
 of these steps are hard, and require sacrifice.  Some steps become
 easier if we make compromises with people that have different
@@ -60,11 +61,13 @@
 
 <p>But we reject certain compromises even though many others in our
 community are willing to make them.  For instance,
-we <a 
href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html";>only
+we <a href="/philosophy/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html">only
 endorse the GNU/Linux distributions</a> that have policies not to
 include non-free software or lead users to install it. To endorse
-non-free distributions would be a <acronym title="
-ruinous (rū'ə-nəs) adj. 1. Causing or apt to cause ruin; destructive. 2. 
Falling to ruin; dilapidated or decayed.">ruinous</acronym> compromise.</p>
+non-free distributions would be a <acronym title="ruinous
+(r&#363;'&#601;-n&#601;s) adj. 1. Causing or apt to cause ruin;
+destructive.  2. Falling to ruin; dilapidated or
+decayed.">ruinous</acronym> compromise.</p>
 
 <p>Compromises are ruinous if they would work against our aims in the
 long term.  That can occur at the level of ideas, or at the level of
@@ -73,24 +76,25 @@
 <p>At the level of ideas, ruinous compromises are those that reinforce
 the premises we seek to change.  Our goal is a world in which software
 users are free, but as yet most computer users do not even recognize
-freedom as an issue.  They have taken up "consumer" values, which
-means they judge any program only on practical effects such as price
-and convenience.</p>
-
-<p>Dale Carnegie's famous self-help book, <em>How to Win Friends and
-Influence People</em>, advises that the most effective way to persuade
-someone to do something is to present arguments that appeal to his
-values.  There are ways we can appeal to the consumer values typical
-in our society.  For instance, free software obtained gratis can save
-the user money.  Many free programs are convenient and reliable, too.
-Citing those practical benefits has succeeded in persuading many users
-to adopt various free programs, some of which are now quite
-successful.</p>
-
-<p>If getting more people to use some free programs is as far as you aim
-to go, you might decide to keep quiet about the concept of freedom,
-and focus only on the practical advantages that consumer values
-understand.  That's what the term "open source" is used for.</p>
+freedom as an issue.  They have taken up &ldquo;consumer&rdquo;
+values, which means they judge any program only on practical effects
+such as price and convenience.</p>
+
+<p>Dale Carnegie's famous self-help book, <cite>How to Win Friends and
+Influence People</cite>, advises that the most effective way to
+persuade someone to do something is to present arguments that appeal
+to his values.  There are ways we can appeal to the consumer values
+typical in our society.  For instance, free software obtained gratis
+can save the user money.  Many free programs are convenient and
+reliable, too.  Citing those practical benefits has succeeded in
+persuading many users to adopt various free programs, some of which
+are now quite successful.</p>
+
+<p>If getting more people to use some free programs is as far as you
+aim to go, you might decide to keep quiet about the concept of
+freedom, and focus only on the practical advantages that consumer
+values understand.  That's what the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; is
+used for.</p>
 
 <p>That approach can only get us part way to the goal of freedom.  People
 who use free software only because it is convenient will stick with it
@@ -100,16 +104,17 @@
 <p>The philosophy of open source presupposes and appeals to consumer
 values, and this affirms and reinforces them.  That's why we
 <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">do not support
-"open source"</a>.</p>
+&ldquo;open source&rdquo;</a>.</p>
 
 <img src="/graphics/gnulaptop.png" alt="" style="float: right;" />
 
-<p>To establish a free community fully and lastingly, we need to do more
-than get people to use some free software.  We need to spread the idea
-of judging software (and other things) on "citizen values", based on
-whether it respects users' freedom and community, not just in terms of
-convenience.  Then people will not fall into the trap of a proprietary
-program baited by an attractive, convenient feature.</p>
+<p>To establish a free community fully and lastingly, we need to do
+more than get people to use some free software.  We need to spread the
+idea of judging software (and other things) on &ldquo;citizen
+values&rdquo;, based on whether it respects users' freedom and
+community, not just in terms of convenience.  Then people will not
+fall into the trap of a proprietary program baited by an attractive,
+convenient feature.</p>
 
 <p>To promote citizen values, we have to talk about them and show how
 they are the basis of our actions.  We must reject the Dale Carnegie
@@ -123,9 +128,10 @@
 frequently that those are just <em>additional secondary reasons</em>
 to prefer it.</p>
 
-<p>It's not enough to make our words accord with our ideals.  Our actions
-have to accord with them too.  So we must also avoid compromises that
-involve doing or legitimizing the things we aim to stamp out.</p>
+<p>It's not enough to make our words accord with our ideals.  Our
+actions have to accord with them too.  So we must also avoid
+compromises that involve doing or legitimizing the things we aim to
+stamp out.</p>
 
 <p>For instance, experience shows that you can attract some users to
 <a href="/gnu/why-gnu-linux.html">GNU/Linux</a> if you include some
@@ -135,11 +141,11 @@
 Flash runtime (still), or a non-free device driver that enables
 support for certain hardware models.</p>
 
-<p>These compromises are tempting, but they undermine the goal.  If you
-distribute non-free software, or steer people towards it, you will
-find it hard to say, "Non-free software is an injustice, a social
-problem, and we must put an end to it."  And even if you do continue
-to say those words, your actions will undermine them.</p>
+<p>These compromises are tempting, but they undermine the goal.  If
+you distribute non-free software, or steer people towards it, you will
+find it hard to say, &ldquo;Non-free software is an injustice, a
+social problem, and we must put an end to it.&rdquo; And even if you
+do continue to say those words, your actions will undermine them.</p>
 
 <p>The issue here is not whether people should be <em>able</em>
 or <em>allowed</em> to install non-free software; a general-purpose
@@ -165,13 +171,13 @@
 of freedom, look at <a href="http://www.fsf.org/resources";>the FSF
 resources area</a>.  It lists hardware and machine configurations that
 work with free
-software, <a 
href="http://www.gnu.org/links/links.html#FreeGNULinuxDistributions";>totally
-free GNU/Linux distros</a> to install, and thousands of free software
-packages that work in a 100% free software environment.  If you want
-to help the community stay on the road to freedom, one important way
-is to publicly uphold citizen values.  When people are discussing what
-is good or bad, or what to do, cite the values of freedom and
-community and argue from them.</p>
+software, <a href="/links/links.html#FreeGNULinuxDistributions">
+totally free GNU/Linux distros</a> to install, and thousands of free
+software packages that work in a 100% free software environment.  If
+you want to help the community stay on the road to freedom, one
+important way is to publicly uphold citizen values.  When people are
+discussing what is good or bad, or what to do, cite the values of
+freedom and community and argue from them.</p>
 
 <p>It's no use going faster by taking the wrong road.  Compromise is
 essential to achieve a large goal, but beware of compromises that lead
@@ -192,12 +198,20 @@
 <a href="mailto:address@hidden";><em>address@hidden</em></a>.
 </p>
 
+<p>
+Please see the 
+<a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
+README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting
+translations of this article.
+</p>
+
 <p>Copyright &copy; 2008 <a href="http://www.stallman.org/";>Richard
 Stallman</a>.</p>
 
-<p>Richard Stallman is the founder of the Free Software Foundation. You
-can copy and redistribute this article under the <a rel="license" 
href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/";>Creative Commons
-Attribution Noderivs 3.0 license</a>.</p>
+<p>Richard Stallman is the founder of the Free Software Foundation.
+You can copy and redistribute this article under the <a rel="license"
+href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/";>Creative
+Commons Attribution Noderivs 3.0 license</a>.</p>
 
 <!--
 <rdf:RDF xmlns="http://creativecommons.org/ns#";
@@ -222,7 +236,7 @@
 <p>
 Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2008/09/26 15:12:50 $
+$Date: 2008/09/26 16:31:29 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>
@@ -234,6 +248,25 @@
 <div id="translations">
 <h4>Translations of this page</h4>
 
+<!-- Please keep this list alphabetical by language code. -->
+<!-- Comment what the language is for each type, i.e. de is German. -->
+<!-- Write the language name in its own language (Deutsch) in the text. -->
+<!-- If you add a new language here, please -->
+<!-- advise address@hidden and add it to -->
+<!--  - /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->
+<!--  - one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->
+<!--  - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->
+<!--  to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->
+<!-- Please also check you have the language code right; see: -->
+<!-- http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php -->
+<!-- If the 2-letter ISO 639-1 code is not available, -->
+<!-- use the 3-letter ISO 639-2. -->
+<!-- Please use W3C normative character entities. -->
+
+<ul class="translations-list">
+<!-- English -->
+<li><a href="/philosophy/compromise.html">English</a>&nbsp;[en]</li>
+</ul>
 </div>
 </div>
 </body>