New subject: [opensuse-project] Re: SOPA blackout - I don't think openSUSE ought to be making political statements.

20 Jan 2012

      ...
This is exactly why I propose openSUSE should just say no and refrain
from all political activism.  There are millions of issues openSUSE
could devote its time and energy to, but because our members and users
are highly unlikely to agree on even one, the best option is to stay
away.
Per Jessen, Zürich (5.5°C)
The project took a stand against an issue which, while regional in
legislative terms, would be international if put into in effect, and
threaten much of the infrastructure that makes our project possible

With SOPA/PIPA, it was in our best interests to join the protests, and
make it clear that the legislation threatens the smooth running our
project

There are millions of issues out there, but only a handful of them
directly effect us, and even fewer raise issues we cant easily route
around. SOPA/PIPA was one of these rare few.

We're not an activist group, we're an open source community, and the
only place politics should have here is making sure we speak loud enough
to keep external political influence out of our project. 

In an ideal world, I agree, we shouldn't have needed to do anything at
all, but then again stupid american politicians shouldn't be trying to
legislate across borders and implement technical solutions that make no
sense for their countries petty commercial interests

Personally, I have no doubt we needed to be involved in this protest.

I hope to never see the project involved in a protest like this again,
but that's up to the rest of the world applying common sense when
drafting technical legislation. 

Sticking our head in the sand and hoping other people will make the same
points as we need made to survive isn't a responsible option if we want
to keep openSUSE moving forward.

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Richard Brown
Systems Engineering Team Leader
City College Brighton and Hove

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Re: [opensuse-project] Re: SOPA blackout - I don't think openSUSE ought to be making political statements.

Richard Brown

Patrick Shanahan

Carlos E. R.

C

Carlos E. R.

jdd

Swapnil Bhartiya

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