Post #1339725
2026-03-30 06:31 UTC
@bustikiller
Yes, that is one way to look at it. If FOSS is bricks and bolts it is not responsible for the evil castles and tanks built with it.
If FOSS were coca leaves or poppies it was different perhaps.. Can't blame the small farmers that supply the drug cartel. FOSS creators are also poor wrt earnings of their work. Or are they privileged to be able to spend the time and money?
Suppose FOSS is bricks and bolts. There's still a difference. A brick doesn't know it is abused. But FOSS does. It has many intelligent people creating it.
Shouldn't they weigh the net result of the externalities? If on some areas there's delightful progress, but the overall trend is dystopic?
Or are we in the clear because as an individual we can't be held responsible for the collective? Same as with climate change perhaps, "my 2cts count for nothing, the big polluters must act"?
Replies (1)
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@bustikiller@mastodon.social 2026-03-30 06:39
@smallcircles it's already tough for FOSS developers who are (mostly) building their projects with little to no compensation to be held accountable for anything else. We have to shift the focus to the wrongdoers. What does weighing the result of externalities mean? Should we cancel a FOSS project because some bad actor started building on top? That's the end of FOSS. Should we add ethical (thus, subjective) layers of permissions on top of FOSS licenses? That also kills FOSS.