GNU Guru: Linux Steam "Unethical"

[Jul 31, 2012, 10:48 am ET] - Share - Viewing Comments

The GNU Website has statement from Richard Stallman where the founder of GNU and the Free Software Foundation describes his concerns about Valve's plans to bring Steam to Linux (thanks Ars Technica). He explains the freedom to install Steam games will impinge on a user's freedom:

A well known company, Valve, that distributes nonfree computer games with Digital Restrictions Management, recently announced it would distribute these games for GNU/Linux. What good and bad effects can this have?

I suppose that availability of popular nonfree programs on GNU/Linux can boost adoption of the system. However, our goal goes beyond making this system a “success”; its purpose is to bring freedom to the users. Thus, the question is how this development affects users' freedom.

Nonfree game programs (like other nonfree programs) are unethical because they deny freedom to their users. (Game art is a different issue, because it isn't software.) If you want freedom, one requisite for it is not having nonfree programs on your computer. That much is clear.

However, if you're going to use these games, you're better off using them on GNU/Linux rather than on Microsoft Windows. At least you avoid the harm to your freedom that Windows would do.

Thus, in direct practical terms, this development can do both harm and good. It might encourage GNU/Linux users to install these games, and it might encourage users of the games to replace Windows with GNU/Linux. My guess is that the direct good effect will be bigger than the direct harm. But there is also an indirect effect: what does the use of these games teach people in our community?

Any GNU/Linux distro that comes with software to offer these games will teach users that the point is not freedom. Nonfree software in GNU/Linux distros already works against the goal of freedom. Adding these games to a distro would augment that effect.

If you want to promote freedom, please take care not to talk about the availability of these games on GNU/Linux as support for our cause. Instead you could tell people about the Liberated Pixel Cup free game contest, the Free Game Dev Forum, and the LibrePlanet Gaming Collective's free gaming night.

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76 Replies. 4 pages. Viewing page 4.
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16.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:15

Creston

NKD wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:05: Creston wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:02: Wait... what??? What kind of fucking hippie is this guy? Creston The usual kind. http://i.imgur.com/qQvwu.jpg Oh good Lord. I bet he wears fucking hemp sandals too... Creston

15.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:14

Blue

NKD wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:09:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I25UeVXrEHQ

Best comment:

"Well, he only eats 'em because they're Open Sores ;)"




Stephen "Blue" Heaslip Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life

14.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:11

Mr. Tact

MattyC wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:00:
While I don't really care about the issue, I do not think that was the argument. This is freedom to modify/inspect/redistribute/etc. Like open source, not free as in doesn't cost anything.

If it wasn't for his last two sentences, I could almost believe that. But it seems he is a full on nutter.




Truth is brutal. Prepare for pain.

13.

Demonstration why Linux is below 1% for gaming

Jul 31, 2012, 11:10

eRe4s3r

.. nothing more needs to be said. Linux denies me the freedom to play my Windows games on it. Suck on that!

12.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:09

NKD

Verno wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:07:
Prez wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:05:
Creston wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:02:
Wait... what??? What kind of fucking hippie is this guy?

Creston

No kidding. Is he on drugs or something? It's been a while since I heard an argument quite that stupid. Wow.

He's always been kind of weird/crazy, he has these really arbitrary stances on things and condemns anything that conflicts.

I remember some video someone posted where he was giving a speech, he picked off something from his bare feet and popped it into his mouth in front of a crowd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I25UeVXrEHQ




If you don't like where gaming is heading, stop giving your money to the people who are taking it in that direction.

11.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:07

Verno

Prez wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:05:
Creston wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:02:
Wait... what??? What kind of fucking hippie is this guy?

Creston

No kidding. Is he on drugs or something? It's been a while since I heard an argument quite that stupid. Wow.

He's always been kind of weird/crazy, he has these really arbitrary stances on things and condemns anything that conflicts.

I remember some video someone posted where he was giving a speech, he picked off something from his bare feet and popped it into his mouth in front of a crowd




Playing: Faster Than Light, Tales of Graces F, Fire Emblem 3DS Watching: Ghost in the Shell, Hannibal, Oblivion

10.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:05

NKD

Creston wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:02:
Wait... what??? What kind of fucking hippie is this guy?

Creston

The usual kind.

http://i.imgur.com/qQvwu.jpg




If you don't like where gaming is heading, stop giving your money to the people who are taking it in that direction.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:05

Prez

Creston wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 11:02:
Wait... what??? What kind of fucking hippie is this guy?

Creston

No kidding. Is he on drugs or something? It's been a while since I heard an argument quite that stupid. Wow.




Prez on Soundclick http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=604888

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:04

necrosis

So he would rather have no Steam on Linux than Steam with DRM (which by the way is not Valves doing but the publishers of the games). Yeah that makes perfect sense. I suppose that availability of popular nonfree programs on GNU/Linux can boost adoption of the system. However, our goal goes beyond making this system a “success”; its purpose is to bring freedom to the users. Thus, the question is how this development affects users' freedom. *ANY* programs that are mainstream on Linux will boost adoption of the system. You have to take the good with the bad if you want to see Linux get more market share. Linux as a desktop OS is worse off than Apple before Jobs came back.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:02

Creston

Wait... what??? What kind of fucking hippie is this guy? Creston

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:01

NKD

Oh Stallman...




If you don't like where gaming is heading, stop giving your money to the people who are taking it in that direction.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 11:00

MattyC

Beamer wrote on Jul 31, 2012, 10:52: Since when does freedom mean everything is free? While I don't really care about the issue, I do not think that was the argument. This is freedom to modify/inspect/redistribute/etc. Like open source, not free as in doesn't cost anything.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 10:58

Verno

Poor Stallman is still deluded enough to think that his world vision is possible, I guess you have to give him points for optimism.




Playing: Faster Than Light, Tales of Graces F, Fire Emblem 3DS Watching: Ghost in the Shell, Hannibal, Oblivion

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 10:56

deqer

Hmm This comment was edited on Jul 31, 2012, 11:49.

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam

Jul 31, 2012, 10:52

Beamer

Since when does freedom mean everything is free?




------------- Music for the discerning: http://www.deathwishinc.com http://www.hydrahead.com http://www.painkillerrecords.com

Re: GNU Guru: Linux Steam "Unethical"

Jul 31, 2012, 10:51

nin

Nonfree game programs (like other nonfree programs) are unethical because they deny freedom to their users.

If you want freedom, one requisite for it is not having nonfree programs on your computer. That much is clear.

Oh god...it's like I'm being forced to watch The Matrix sequels with my eyes held open like in A Clockwork Orange...




RollinThundr Apr 17, 2013, 12:25: Eh really tossing stuff like that in there only to get your panties all bunched up. If you really want to call that trolling sure. Mr. Tact Apr 17, 2013, 12:33: Pretty sure that's the definition of trolling...

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