FUD vs. FUD?

> It will be interesting to see to what extent the iPhone uses GPL'd software.
This isn't concluding iPhone contains GPLed code.

Also, Mac OS X does contains lots of GPLed packages, such as bash, BCC, Emacs and a lot more. The kernel is based on FreeBSD doesn't mean everything is BSD.

It is FUD from the FSF, unless they have proof they shouldn't say anything or they fall to the lows of Microsoft and the tabloid press. It is hypocritical to state that FUD is wrong, before going out and doing it yourself. It might sound good and get publicity in the short term, but such behavior might do some long term damage.

I think it's generally best to steer clear of FUD and its risk to one's reputation, there are far nobler reasons to become despised.

Seriously though, once people get the idea that you're not always to be believed, you just dilute the potency of your future messages and it's hard to get that back. People generally consider the degree though, whether it was a dirty big lie or just a bit of genuine uncertainty and doubt.

Maybe it's wishful thinking that the aggregate reputation of a diverse group of individuals with freedom of speech is no more exposed to the actions of one person than our common values and goals are to any single project. Mainstream media though...

Another angle is that some individuals are more prominent than others (matron!), do they have pro-rata responsibility to behave in a certain way?

As Taco said they are not conclusive, but there is a quite visible implication, and that they have made it at the same day that GPLv3 and iPhone came out speaks a lot in favor of it being a part of a certain agenda.

And that alone isn't a problem. FSF is born and lives with an agenda. The problem is only if this implication has a too strong potential of causing fear, uncertainty and doubt based on not so solid grounds. If it were a solid fact we would probably not even think of calling it FUD.

Anyway, I do feel this is a bit of a nit picking, on my part as well. I just wanted to bring this thought forward, that "our side" can sometimes be guilty of what we routinely accuse our "enemy" of. I think that the line is thin in this case between FUD and a genuine concern. What worries me most is that if we are to proclaim this as FUD does this basically mean we are disarming ourselves from the GPLv3 argument? To be honest what I feel about GPLv3 is as it is a defensive weapon that we can point to at any time a threat to the Free Software ecosystem manifests itself, but how to do that without easily falling into the FUD area?

Maybe we should just be cold and quiet. And when someone hits the shield, instead of saying "you've been warned" we could say "you should have done your homework, we don't wave with our weapons the way you wave with yours".

Hmm..

I think that to a point they do, and with such prominent individuals organizations too. Well maybe that's where the key to this question lies. Maybe FSF should be more tactful with what they release to the public, as not to turn out "fuddy". At the same time its supporters can individually say whatever they want and imply whatever they want and decide for themselves what will be FUD or what wont. In any case they wouldn't then be doing much of a harm to the reputation of the FSF as an organization and even if someone spreads FUD it wouldn't be as strong and harmful if there isn't enough of other individuals who would go in agreement with it.

So yeah, organizations should be a bit more selective than individuals.

I think they're whole different balls of wax.

"We know that Apple has built its operating system, OS X, and its Web browser, Safari, using GPL-covered work. It will be interesting to see to what extent the iPhone uses GPL'd software."

To me, this statement smacks of "Apple sucks... They build a product using Free Software and then turn around and dump on users by restricting the hell out of them."

That doesn't hold with the "Linux infringes Microsoft patents" flat out accusation in my eyes.

I personally think that Microsoft sucks in terms of FUD, but I don't think it's unethical. I feel that GNU/Linux has only ONE quality making is worth using - Freedom. If you're using it for some other reason, then being scared away from it is not a loss in my book. With the FUD wars going, those who venture in anyway have some exposure to the ideals, and just may become Free Software advocates. But sheepish people, the kind swayed by FUD, tend to not stand for things they value anyway.

I did not say anything

Gosh I just burst into laughter as I realized this. I'm so sorry to both you and Whistler. Yeah it was whistler who said it.

I'm not even sure how to explain this.. why did I think it was you.. weird. I guess I lacked sleep or something.