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compassion is important | |
September 18th, 2019 | |
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I started this phost intending to say something about RMS [0] and | |
the various responses I see coming out on the web and in | |
gopherspace. | |
[0] Richard Stallman and the Fall of the Clueless Nerd | |
The thing is, nobody really cares about "yet another opinion". | |
It's just another example of how comments are useless [1]. | |
[1] "Comments" on Labs blog | |
Instead I think I'll say something about compassion. | |
Right now people are suffering. Richard Stallman is watching in | |
shock, outrage, and yes, in pain, as the world he built around | |
himself falls apart. He is suffering. | |
Also, the dozens of individuals he has interacted with over the | |
years who have been the targets of his well-meaning pedantry, of | |
his priviliged musings, and of his "hot takes", are feeling the | |
painful effects of those encounters. They feel demeaned, | |
less-than, or ignored. They feel injured, helpless, outraged, and | |
yes, in pain. They are suffering. | |
Epstein's victims have suffered horrendously and suffer still as | |
the government closes their options for compensation in the wake | |
of his suicide. | |
In short, there's a whole lot of pain going around and we'd all be | |
a little bit better people if we took a moment to consider it | |
before we launch into our next diatribe. That's not to say you | |
should shut up. Just try not to forget there's humans on the other | |
side of your outrage. |