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# Why am I publishing under a non-FOSS license?
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Well... an interesting and highly controversial question, right?
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Ehhh, I think not that much, let me explain my opinion on this shit. I hope it will make more sense to you after this!
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## Some necessary introduction
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This text will mainly talk about my GoToSocial package for YunoHost, released under the "i'm so tired" software license 1.0 since 2024-01-18.
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=> https://olmewe.com/notes/istsl/ A text from the creator of this license, explaining why this license exists and some of the design choices made. I strongly recommend reading it to understand the situation.
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Some people are criticizing me for that and I wanted to address this with the text you're currently reading.
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I advise librists and liberals to breathe in and out deeply, because some arguments can make them lose their composure.
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## Because I can
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Let start with the easy part! ^w^
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### Other main YunoHost volunteers are okay with that
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I can't talk in place of every single person who were involved with the YunoHost development from the beginning, but most of the current main volunteers have approved that the release of the GTS package I created and maintained under the "i'm so tired" license.
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YunoHost already made the choice to permit apps “under an overall free license, but with clauses that restrict its use”
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### We can publish a YunoHost package under another license that the packaged app
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YunoHost allows to publish a package with any no proprietary license we want. That's all.
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And even with software released under GPL (and it's derivatives, well know for “contaminating” all derived software with the identical license), the YunoHost package can use another license, because the package is not a “derivative work” but it's a totally distinct software program that installs another one.
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### I don't care about the 4 technocratic liberties
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I'm not that committed to the “holy rules“ of the Free/Libre and open-source software.
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In fact, I see many things to criticize in them.
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More on that further in the text.
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### You're not limited: there is a large choice of fedi software
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=> https://apps.yunohost.org/catalog?category=social_media I mean, currently there are 13 fedi software available on YunoHost (without counting GTS).
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Yes, GTS is the lightweight but you technically have choice, eh.
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Which ties in with the next point...
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### Many things are inaccessible to many people and that's usually seen as fine
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Like, really, who cares that things are inaccessible? “Very few people” is the right answer.
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Otherwise the world wouldn't be a complete hell for disabled people. I say that as a disabled person.
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So yeah some things are inaccessible to some people, and as a disabled person, I really don't care if my software is not available to someone because of the “you must not endorse cops” clause.
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## Because I want
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### I want my work to be political
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Because I'm looking towards a better world. The “i'm so tired” license I'm using is a way to defend it.
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> “this is anti-capitalist, anti-bigotry software, made by people who are tired of ill-intended organisations and individuals, and would rather not have those around their creations.”
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> the "i'm so tired" software license 1.0
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I do NOT want my work used against me (so used to spread transphobia, ableism, eugenics, anti-poor speeches, etc.). I also do NOT want to help such people in their life. I do NOT want these people near me at all.
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I don't want to help malicious, antisocial people or more specifically people who take advantage of the oppression that concern me or who would like to see me in the misery or dead. And yes, I assure you that such people exists.
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If by my work I can make them feel a little bit insecure or not welcomed, I see it as a fair return.
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They have basically access to everything. Not me. In my daily life I'm excluded from many things for various reasons I don't want to mention here. So yeah: fair return.
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=> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance Did you know the paradox of tolerance?
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Basically, it states that intolerant people must be punched in their nazi face, as it should be.
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This license is simply doing that accordingly to my ideals.
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It also tells people like me that they have a place, that they're protected, that their lives are worthwhile.
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And that they can have a little trust in me and in the people who stay around, because the triage is done.
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### FOSS licenses are lying
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FOSS licenses are technocratic and libertarian, but it's hidden, thank to a big omission lie.
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And that stinks (in a bad way).
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#### The “freedom to use” is already limited
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Does the person own the hardware to run it? (Money, space, life stability, etc.)
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Does the person use the right OS to run it?
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Does the person have the know-how to run it? (And yes, the lack of documentation of your software is increasing the required know-how.)
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Does the person have the time to run it? (And yes, the lack of documentation of your software is also increasing the required time.)
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#### The “freedom to study” is already limited
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Does the person have learned how to program? How computers works? How a forge works?
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The “freedom to use” prerequisites are intensified here. Same thing but even harder: money, social status, available time, cognitive abilities, etc.
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#### The “4 liberties” are politics and are defending a certain worldview that I don't share
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That's not a secret that most programmers are white cisgender able-bodied dudes with a nice income and few constraints in their lives.
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Maybe the “triage” i talked about in the “I want my work to be political” section is done here too, but in an insidious and disgusting way? (That's a rhetorical question, the answer is obviously “yes”.)
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Ask any woman, trans person, BIPOC person, disabled person how they are living their work in the marvelous computer industry, you'll be surprised (no, lol).
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Maybe you don't meet any women, trans, BIPOC or disabled people at work or in the techy online spaces, or very few? That's proving my entire point.
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There is some things we can do to reduce those inequalities:
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- active activism against capitalism;
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- active activism for the socialism (abolish money, free home, free food, free education for everyone);
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- active activism for the anarchism (abolish social status, community-based organization);
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- active activism against any oppression (based on gender, race, disabilities, age, etc);
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- actively punish socially hurtful people (that's what the "i'm so tired" software license is doing);
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- and the hardest for some people: be a nice and respectful person that embraces human diversity and aspires to a truly just and fulfilling world for everyone.
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When a so-called liberty cannot be experienced by everyone, it's NOT a liberty, but a privilege.
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## Conclusions
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### Why I can't add limitations since there are several (but hidden) ones?
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People are mad because I'm limiting them but they don't care that the actual limitations of the FOSS licenses. Or worse: they endorse them.
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I acknowledge that FOSS licenses are not perfect and I understand their design when I consciously add limitations. I don't alter their spirit when I add limitations, I use a tool already well designed for that purpose.
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Maybe the FOSS' hidden limitations suit you: that's fine. As long as you understand what's at stake.
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The point is: I don't like their consequences, that's all.
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The limitations of the “non-FOSS” licences I'm using suit me, that's fine and I understand what's at stake.
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The point is: you don't like their consequences, that's all.
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### It will piss off privileged people…
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... because they can't have a thing when they usually have everything. That makes me really happy! ^w^
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If you're one of those people who usually has everything effortlessly:
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The feeling you're experiencing is the one I feel every time I can't buy myself a nice things for the pleasure because I'm poor.
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The feeling I have when I can't go to a friend's house because their apartment has stairs and I'm a wheelchair user.
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The feeling I have when I can't join my friends at the bar because it's too noisy and I can't stand it for neurodivergent reasons.
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That's called frustration, and I promise: the more you're experiencing it, the sooner you get used to it and resign yourself.
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And that's why I'm fighting you to defend me and people like me: we have a place to be and our lives are worth living.
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I'm fighting for a better world so that no one has to suffer like this. And if that means frustrating non-frustrated people (so, privileged people), that's fine with me. You'll get used to it, it'll be fine, I promise. 😌
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### Yes, the licenses I am using are not perfect, but…
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1. I don't have to fix the world alone.
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2. I still prefer my “non-FOSS” licenses over yours.
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### You have a different opinion?
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Great. I don't care. Keep it to yourself and apply the points listed in the “The ‘4 liberties’ are politics and are defending a certain worldview that I don't share” section. Thanks.
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xana,
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published the 30/04/2024
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=> /log ⏪ index
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=> / ↩ root |