This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Perl Buzz by Andy Lester. Original Post: Free Software Foundation helps no one with name-calling Feed Title: Perlbuzz Feed URL: http://perlbuzz.com/atom.xml Feed Description: What's happening in the world of Perl programming, including Perl 5, Perl 6, the CPAN and Parrot? Latest Perl Buzz Posts Latest Perl Buzz Posts by Andy Lester Latest Posts From Perlbuzz

Discourse on the Net is tough enough without lowering yourself to pointless name calling. The Free Software Foundation ought to know better, especially when their work is so important.

Today John Sullivan posted a story about problems the FSF has with Amazon's release of the Kindle source code yesterday. Their three main issues are:

Not all the code is included.

Changes to Kindle code do users no good because users cannot legally update their devices

Important features remain secret.

The article is well-thought out, and clearly makes the three points. It would be a fine article if not for the insulting headline: No, Amazon did not release all of the Swindle's source code.

Why, FSF? Your article stands on its own, so why sling the mud? Why lower yourselves to juvenile name-calling? What do you hope to gain by calling the Kindle the Swindle? Are we to think "Ho, ho, those clever FSF folks!" I can't imagine.

Relatedly, please read Roger Ebert's article "The O'Reilly Procedure" on the lowering of the standards of debate in our society.