Malcolm Gin

I was expecting a terrible non-apology from Stallman, but this is even worse than I thought it would be. #cancelstallmanhttps://twitter.com/theamyshim/status/1172946689553887232 …

Sarah, Pause for a moment. Irrespective of Richards actions, what is the intent here? Replace Richards name with your own, or one of children's. How would feel as the receiver and observer of such emotional vitriolic language? What will you do when Twitter comes for you?

My worry is that while twitter is a powerful platform change, it can and is also used to bully and drive social conformity. I see value in calling out for change but I am concerned by the vitriolic language. This feels dangerous. We are and should be better than this.

I see you as a agent for change. My worry is with such power comes responsibility. One has to stand above the crowd and wield such influence as a force for good, not fan the emotional flames to create a mob. Why? Mobs have no true leaders, tempered debate or conscience.

I've met RMS and he is odious. You are standing up for someone who would throw Sarah (and me and maybe even you) under the bus without a second thought. He's already done so with many like us and excuses it as "semantics". He defends pedophilia ffs.

Malcolm, even if someone is odious, the response should not be. My point is that one should not become that which one fights against. Why? Because you loose the moral high ground of the argument for change. It devalues the position held.

Classic tone policing. It's not unjust or unvirtuous to call attention to and to criticize and resist injustice. In this case (and in many others where folks like you stand up for poor, victimized, abusers) the harm RMS causes far outweighs his worth to society and culture.