24 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
24 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "Thoughts on LGM + RMS"
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date: 2025-05-06
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draft: false
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summary: "I'm attending the Libre Graphics Meeting later this month, and what a way to influence my experience with the event - before it even starts."
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tags:
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- Open Source
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- Libre Graphics Meeting
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---
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**Edit:** The organizers are [now cancelling the keynote](https://libregraphicsmeeting.strong-type.systems/2025/news/2025-05-07_0001-keynote-will-not-go-forward/) in response to everyone's collective discomfort.
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I'm attending the [Libre Graphics Meeting](https://libregraphicsmeeting.org/) later this month, and it's also my first LGM! What a way to [influence my feelings about the event](https://libregraphicsmeeting.org/2025/news/2025-05-06_0002-keynote-announcement-richard-stallman/) before it even starts:
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> On Wednesday, May 28th at 19:30, Dr. Richard Stallman will deliver a keynote on Free/Libre Software and Freedom in the Digital Society at Libre Graphics Meeting.
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Regardless of your feelings about RMS (try to guess mine!) there are some things about the keynote announcement that troubles me. I felt like this was better done on my blog instead of a quippy Mastodon post.
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* **RMS is controversial**, that much is agreed upon (and this is also pointed out by the organizer.) This guy has _two different websites_ claiming how "bad"/"good" he is, seriously?
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* **RMS is not heavily involved in "Libre Graphics"**. This is _also_ pointed out by the organizer (they sort of toss away that point however.) Fine, it's your event and you can decide who gives a keynote.
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* **His presence _is_ driving people away**. Some of my friends are deciding not to go/canceling because of his presence. (That alone should be pretty telling?!) If I didn't book everything already, I would reconsider going myself.
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* **The organizer has admitted that they received "a pattern of concerning remarks"**, which somehow _isn't_ a red flag by itself?
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It's certainly _A Choice™_ to have the context provided above, and still be like "yeah, this is who I *want* doing a keynote." Certainly there must be more interesting people to pick from in this space? You can bet I'm not going to be around for his keynote.
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