[WSIS CS-Plenary] Collaboration software debate

[Georg C. F. Greve]

Dear Vittorio,

 || On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 11:22:14 +0200
 || Vittorio Bertola <vb at bertola.eu.org> wrote: 

 vb> At the same time, it seems to me that renouncing to have meetings
 vb> because there is (yet) no real time translation tool is as
 vb> ideological as renouncing to have meetings because there is (yet)
 vb> no free software tool for conferencing.

While you are right to point out that ideology is not a bad word per
se, it is generally used in a derogatory form such as the one that
you demonstrate in your message.

By clearly expressing that you disagree with a certain course of
action and making its "ideological nature" the reason for your
disagreement, you make it clear that you disagree with something
purely on the basis that is it ideological, thus turning it into a
"bad thing."


To the subject matter:

Civil Society largely defines itself by its principles, among which
are inclusiveness, freedom and transparency. I do not think that Civil
Society should only adhere to its principles in case they do not
happen to interfere with convenience.

Unless WSIS Civil Society wishes to officially assume the position
that people using Free Software and people from the South with less
extensive hardware and connectivity should be rightfully excluded from
its political discourse, proprietary conferencing software cannot be
considered.

Sorry for the brevity, the WIPO IIM is somewhat intense. [*]

Regards from Geneva,
Georg


[*] Our intern Karsten Gerloff is doing a "overview blogging" at
https://www.fsfe.org/Members/gerloff/blog/ in case you're interested.

-- 
Georg C. F. Greve                                 <greve at fsfeurope.org>
Free Software Foundation Europe	                 (http://fsfeurope.org)
Join the Fellowship and protect your freedom!     (http://www.fsfe.org)
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