Why "Open Source" is a dead end *for Ubuntu* (Was: Why no mention of GNU?)

[Eric Feliksik]

I'm happy Mark Shuttleworth brought up this thread again. "The Ubuntu 
Linux distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world". 
This basically means one of Ubuntu's goals is to bring Free/OpenSource 
Software to the masses. Based on that, I will explain why this can not 
go without putting much emphasis on ideology. The attitude of "RMS is a 
fundamentalist, the term 'Open Source' will save us because it's more 
pragmatic" will do the Ubuntu project no good.

Making people usering "Open Source" software can create an illusion for 
us. The illusion is that FLOSS actually wins territory; the risk is that 
it's just hot air.

I see many people invest a lot of time and money in making others use 
stuff like Firefox. Don't fool yourself: If the reasons are only "better 
security", or "tabbed browsing", then nothing is won, and you waste your 
energy. We all know that in 2 years (or 10, for that matter) Microsoft 
will improve IE, and people won't bother to download Firefox anymore. 
They won't bother to go to google.com, because IE7 has a MSN-search 
toolbar by default.

So if we are looking for *loyal* users, they must give them a persistent 
reason to use Free Software, even if they are under pressure by 
incompatible formats/protocols/services. Therefore they need to be 
educated. Ubuntu is currently mainly used by home-users, and has great 
potential to create loyal users by explaining them about ideology. 
There's no need to discourage shaving and to sing the Free Software Song 
[1] daily, but without people knowing about the ideology of Free 
Software other than "It so cool and stable" will not be of much use.

Therefore I'd say that especially as Ubuntu is getting a *lot* of 
attention from home users, there is a golden oppertunity to put more 
emphasis on the ideology of Free Software. In the end it does not matter 
how a thing is called, but the terminology "Open Source" does not solve 
any problem in the quest for loyalty. If you do not agree, then open 
your eyes, and see the numerous people that have *no idea* of what FLOSS 
is and what it stands for, whether you call it "Free Software" or "Open 
Source". Those are very intelligent people, often studying Computer 
Science, and sometimes even using GNU/Linux themselves.

Thanks for reading,

Eric

P.S.: I don't say the term "Open Source" has no right of existence; but 
it's mainly useful to convince managers of the practical merits. This is 
good; If they invest in Free Software it will improve. The same goes for 
users of free software like Firefox: it makes people care for 
browser/standard-compliance. But don't be satisfied with users. We need 
friends.

[1] http://www.gnu.org/music/free-software-song.html