Mike Parker wrote:
Alix Pexton wrote:
Walter Bright wrote:
Nick Sabalausky wrote:
"Walter Bright" <newshou...@digitalmars.com> wrote in message
news:gqj7kh$l...@digitalmars.com...
Nick Sabalausky wrote:
(The whole idea of "free as in freedom software" not also implying
"free as in beer" (Side note: since when is beer free?) is
complete bullocks.) (And yes, I just used the word "bullocks". I'm
in a weird mood...)
I always thought the "free as in beer" came from this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Froggy_Evening
*shrug* For all I know it could have come from that. But one thing I
do know: Chuck Jones is an animation god :)
I attended a lecture by him once. He's also engaging and a very nice
man. The crowd loved him, and he deserved it.
My interpretation of the phrase "Free, as in beer" is that the beer is
free, whenever it is not your round. When it is your turn to go to the
bar, it's everyone but you that gets free beer. In this context, "Free
Software" is that which is produced by a community where each member
makes a contribution in turn, either trough creating or testing, and
as a result everyone shares the benefit.
A...
I think everyone is reading too much into it. The point is simply to
distinguish between gratis and libre. There's no suitable adjective to
distinguish them in English (other than the two words themselves, which
aren't widely used), as "free" is used to mean both. Beer is a product
that is often given /gratis/, and the phrase "free beer" is used often
enough ("Sure I'll come to your
party/dinner/barbecue/your-favorite-social-event. I'm not one to turn
down free beer!") that it gets the message across quite effectively. You
could substitute any product for beer to the same end, but the meaning
wouldn't be as immediately obvious methinks.
At least, that's always been my understanding. Of course, you'd have to
ask Richard Stallman since, IIRC, it was he who first started using the
idea of free speech vs. free beer to promote Free Software.
Who pays for the beer when it is you who hosts the party?
A...
