Ignorant writing [was: MonadLUG November 8th, 2007 ]

[Bruce Dawson]

Paul Lussier wrote:
> charlie <cfarinella at unclechuk.com> writes:
>
>   
>> Who: Tim Wessels
>> What: Revolution OS ( a movie )
>> Date: December 13, 2007
>> Time: 7:00PM
>> Where: SAU 1 office, 106 Hancock Rd., Peterborough
>>        http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Www/MonadLUG
>>
>> From http://www.revolution-os.com/
>> ----------------------
>>
>> REVOLUTION OS tells the inside story of the hackers who rebelled against the 
>> proprietary software model and Microsoft to create GNU/Linux and the Open 
>> Source movement.
>>     
>
> I had completely forgotten about this film.  I don't think I've ever
> seen it, and I know I'll never make it to the meeting to see it.  So I
> decided to see if NetFlix has it and I'll just watch it at home.  
>
> They certainly have it, but I'm rather surprised at the description
> they provide for the movie:
>
>     For the past two decades, a group of computer hackers,
>     neocommunists and entrepreneurs has been gradually undermining
>     Microsoft's monopoly and fundamentally changing the way software
>     is developed and owned -- a revolution that resulted in the Linux
>     operating system and the Open Source movement. This fascinating
>     documentary explores the OS movement's origins and depicts the
>     grassroots nature of Linux and OS as they march into the
>     mainstream.
>
> Neo-communists?  I think that's rather harsh.  I wouldn't describe the
> F/OSS movement as being run by Neo-communists.  And, technically,
> could a movement being "run" (and I use that term loosely too) by
> communists and entrepreneurs ever succeed, given that capitalism and
> communism are opposing forces?
>
> Is it me, or was this blurb written by someone who is ignorant on
> several different levels?
>   
Ah, you're someone who grew up cowered by the cold war! Your definition
of communism appears colored by that experience. Also communism and
capitalism are two different fruits (ala apples and oranges) - communism
is a political idealogy, and capitalism is an economic idealogy.
Personally, I think both are bug-ridden implementations of what we're
living with today (democracy, and capitalism), but I don't have the
energy Linus has to fix the world.

What word would you use in place of "neocommunist"? Anarchists? Rebel?
Keep in mind that Stallman is frequently referred to as a communist,
(although I don't think he's a card-carrying member of the US Communist
Party), and that's probably why the author used the term. Probably
"Merit-ists" would be a better word - if it existed.

I believe the word "communist" is mentioned several times in the movie.

--Bruce