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diff --git a/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/imperfection-isnt-oppression.html b/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/imperfection-isnt-oppression.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..78343e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/imperfection-isnt-oppression.html @@ -0,0 +1,113 @@ +<!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" --> +<!-- Parent-Version: 1.77 --> + +<title>Imperfection is not the same as oppression +- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> + <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/imperfection-isnt-oppression.translist" --> +<!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" --> +<h2>Imperfection is not the same as oppression</h2> + +<p>by <a href="http://www.stallman.org/">Richard Stallman</a></p> + +<p>When a free program lacks capabilities that users want, that is + unfortunate; we urge people to add what is missing. Some would go + further and claim that a program is not even free software if it lacks + certain functionality — that it denies freedom 0 (the freedom to + run the program as you wish) to users or uses that it does not + support. This argument is misguided because it is based on + identifying capacity with freedom, and imperfection with oppression.</p> + +<p>Each program inevitably has certain functionalities and lacks others + that might be desirable. There are some jobs it can do, and others it + can't do without further work. This is the nature of software.</p> + +<p>The absence of key functionality can mean certain users find the + program totally unusable. For instance, if you only understand + graphical interfaces, a command line program may be impossible for you + to use. If you can't see the screen, a program without a screen + reader may be impossible for you to use. If you speak only Greek, a + program with menus and messages in English may be impossible for you + to use. If your programs are written in Ada, a C compiler is + impossible for you to use. To overcome these barriers yourself + is unreasonable to demand of you. Free software really ought to + provide the functionality you need.</p> + +<p>Free software really ought to provide it, but the lack of that feature + does not make the program nonfree, because it is an imperfection, + not oppression.</p> + +<p>Making a program nonfree is an injustice committed by the developer + that denies freedom to whoever uses it. The developer deserves + condemnation for this. It is crucial to condemn that developer, + because nobody else can undo the injustice as long as the developer + continues to do it. We can, and do, try to rescue the victims by + developing a free replacement, but we can't make the nonfree program + free.</p> + +<p>Developing a free program without adding a certain important + feature is not doing wrong to anyone. Rather, it's doing some good + but not all the good that people need. Nobody in particular deserves + condemnation for not developing the missing feature, since any + capable person could do it. It would be ungrateful, as well as + self-defeating, to single out the free program's authors for blame + for not having done some additional work.</p> + +<p>What we can do is state that completing the job calls for doing + some additional work. That is constructive because it helps us + convince someone to do that work.</p> + +<p>If you think a certain extension in a free program is important, + please push for it in the way that respects our contributors. Don't + criticize the people who contributed the useful code we have. Rather, + look for a way to complete the job. You can urge the program's + developers to turn their attention to the missing feature when they + have time for more work. You can offer to help them. You can recruit + people or raise funds to support the work.</p> + +</div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above --> +<!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" --> +<div id="footer"> +<div class="unprintable"> + +<p>Please send general FSF & GNU inquiries to +<a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><gnu@gnu.org></a>. +There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a> +the FSF. Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent +to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><webmasters@gnu.org></a>.</p> + +<p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph, + replace it with the translation of these two: + + We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality + translations. However, we are not exempt from imperfection. + Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard + to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org"> + <web-translators@gnu.org></a>.</p> + + <p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of + our web pages, see <a + href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations + README</a>. --> +Please see the <a +href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations +README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting translations +of this article.</p> +</div> + +<p>Copyright © 2014 Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p> + +<p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license" +href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative +Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License</a>.</p> + +<!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" --> + +<p class="unprintable">Updated: +<!-- timestamp start --> +$Date: 2014/05/29 12:27:36 $ +<!-- timestamp end --> +</p> +</div> +</div> +</body> +</html> |