Richard Stallman: Apple fanboys are foolish people

Richard Stallman in Zurich: The father of the movement for free software about his rebellion against administrative slack at MIT, about "foolish" Apple aficionados, current fights against evil software companies and Swiss national hero William Tell, who could serve as a role model in the fight against an unjust copyright.
By the way: After the camera was turned off, Richard and I talked about some other topics: Ads in the web and his Free Software song. This part is available as audio recording here, just skip to minute 20:37: podcast.stadtfi...

[@nxxxxzn]

every Stallman's interviewer should begin with: "Let's establish a protocol: You raise your hand when you finish answering"

[@hamobu]

So basically, Stallman is imposing oppressive restrictions on people who are having a conversation with him.

[@zakiranderson722]

@@hamobu LOL yeah you could call it Kicking🤣 he's right I started behaving like this because people try and put words in your mouth and guessing your points of view rather than just listening intently to them. Like Richard said don't guess just let me speak.

[@hotpie8163]

Holy shit is he really gonna hold that thing for an hour?

[@Embedonix]

If you fap a lot when you are young....you carry on the power!

[@hotpie8163]

EMBEDONIX Haha thanks I just realized an hour for me is nothing lol

[@aziz9488]

Unless it's running free software...

[@douggale5962]

You would need to replace the proprietary firmware (BIOS) with free software too, to make Richard happy.

[@douggale5962]

Stallman is extremely dominant and pushy, and brutally intolerant of interviewers, but we love him anyway.

[@brandonbohannon9844]

I don't think Richard Stallman likes to be interviewed, I think he likes to give speeches.

[@leandrolaporta2196]

you probably right, he tends to get annoyed easy with interviews

[@e633xx]

By people who don't have a clue about how to interview, of course.

[@stumbling]

If he didn't like it he'd walk out. He didn't like the way a question/statement was being framed so he explained he grievences (which will probably end up helping the interviewer in the long run). Nothing wrong with that. I wish more interviewees would do the same.

[@jeynesm]

i came here to be impressed by him but left feeling he was a complete dick - he is merely resentful of anything that takes away his control. imagine a world where anyone could sign in to anything with no control governing system access... RS's world is fine when he gets to play command line god, if he doesn't have those privileges it's 'fascism' in his mind... just a noisy control freak

[@e633xx]

His control is YOUR control. OUR control. You're also conflating his views of the past which cannot OBVIOUSLY apply nowadays.

[@jimihenrik11]

"Steve jobs figured out a way to make computers that area jails to their users but make them so shiny that millions beg to be jailed." Awesome quote!

[@theharbingerofconflation]

I don't really see the jail on a Mac to be honest. Sure I cannot really recompile every part of the kernel but I can access and exchange pretty much any part above that should I have a reason for it. That is why stuff like Yabai is a thing. It can't really hide shit from you being a UNIX. That said, source code would be nice, but there is no jail just because I don't have it.

[@PsycosisIncarnated]

@@theharbingerofconflation the fact that you can't even fix your own hardware and no access to the source code is enough of a jail don't you think? I think the OP meant jail as in the "apple brand ecosystem". Many idiots think they buy apple and because it's pricy it must be good!

[@jimihenrik11]

@@PsycosisIncarnated i just quoted the video. But i think that's one aspect of it.

[@theharbingerofconflation]

@@PsycosisIncarnated The Ecosystem isn't a jail as you can replace any part of that and while Apple isn't exactly helpful I am and have been fixing all phones and Laptops of theirs in the family for years just fine. The right to repair should be enforced, I agree with that. But I don't need the source of their entire OS. I also don't buy into the idea that all proprietary software is harmful. RMS himself has in the past propagated the dual licensing approach so long as it suits him. Richard is also a total control freak, with a history of killing projects funded by the FSF because they used a single proprietary driver (see Debian) or they are not maintained by someone who bows to him, see Savanna. Or or or. He's also still hung up "GNU/Linux" even Torvalds said it's a stupid term. I find all of his gatekeeping to be a jail.

[@PsycosisIncarnated]

@JonnySpeed you aren't so trackable if you're using a librebooted machine through tor. But oh yeah. Macs can't be librebooted at all can they? Also you're forgetting distributions like tails OS exist. Why precisely is macos 10 years ahead to Linux? You're using Linux mint as I understand it. The stable Debian distribution. So why are you praising Mac? I don't understand lmao

[@sigururbaldursson8118]

17:43 - apple talk

[@amelio5720]

Sigurður Baldursson thanks but too late I watched the whole thing xD

[@europeansovietunion7372]

47:05 - stomach talk

[@thesatwik13]

There is hope for humanity. :)

[@jonathanp3928]

tysm

[@Jaysann22]

Thank you for saving me time by directing me to the part of the conversation i was solely interested in clicking on the vid.

[@gettheflockoutofhere]

Great interview. It's clear the interviewer wanted to have a conversation where both sides build on a topic via dialogue. Stallman was not willing to allow his message to be hacked in that way and the interviewer complied. It was a difficult situation well handled.

[@codokit]

It only shows that interviewer has no experiance and has no goals in that interview. If you want to ask about something you should ask and if someone want to give you some random text you should stop interview because you want to highlight person's point of view, but not higlight random thoughts and memories that have no connection with what you ask about.

[@BrandonGinn]

just hold the mic and shut up - richard stallman

[@inthehouse7598]

hahahaha

[@niteeshharshavardhana1638]

When is it?

[@illiadenysenko7776]

LOL

[@GNU_Linux_for_good]

Right - *nobody* has the right to interrupt the *pope* . Some must learn the hard way..

[@Webfra14]

Rule "minus one" of free software: If you interview Richard Stallman, you ask one question, then you let him talk for an hour. Do not interrupt.

[@fahadus]

Everyone complaining about him cutting off the interviewer and not getting his opinions in. You should watch it again from the beginning realizing that Stallman knew that this is being recorded by a journalist who will write about his views. So he was being (considerably) polite while being assertive about his opinions, considering how easily and OFTEN journalists take your words and use it to convey their own stories. He was making sure his words are HIS and what the interviewer's preconceived ideas. Case in point: This video's clickbait title.

[@mescellaneous]

@Peter Lustig from what i watched from stallman, the difference is that he advocates for free software, while open source does not. open source implicitly let the corporate overlords profit without sharing. free software forces other software that uses free software to copyleft. i understand where your "lazy loser" comes from, and that he's somehow a fraud in your eyes. i really do, there's other software people i despise in a similar light. but there's nothing lazy about the free software movement at all. maybe it has to do with him being the only vocal advocate of it, whereby you think he's lazy because no other established person is out there fighting for this one concept.

[@Cat_Magic811]

You've got to be really, really high.

[@interguy589]

@Peter Lustig He has tried what he can and mind it he is more intelligent then you. He wrote programs like GNU emacs which have lived for longer time then you. He is somehow right that open source and free software are not same since free software fights for your freedom and it is constantly working to warn users to not use proprietary software.

[@roberttinsley8960]

He kinda did call Apple fanboys foolish tho tbh

[@deviantsemicolon618]

Nice pfp

[@alexanderbunkenburg4898]

"You're changing topics too fast and I haven't finished talking about this one." :-D

[@davidkeys4284]

lol

[@garoad2]

Oh did he use that one again on this interview?

[@ErnestoStaccolanana]

subject man, subject... topic is a proprietary word and it's harmful

[@l0rdronny83]

@Peter Lustig A lot of modern code is completely redundant, garbage code.. How can writing code in "modern standard" be looked as an achievement or good.. Please write something better or btfo

[@amalldekan1432]

@Peter Lustig He created GCC compiler dude... a fucking compiler.

[@BenRangel]

Pro tip: Mic stand

[@unlokia]

I have to respect and admire RMS for his consistency and loyalty to his causes, over the years. Many may not agree with his philosophies, but his heart seems in the right place, and he's always got good intentions, it seems, from the cumulative hours and hours of his lectures I have watched since around 2005. He's consistent: Same tee shirt, same beard, same hair, same stories (updated slightly, over the years) same quirkiness - God bless you, Richard Stallman, even though some may not agree, we are all God's children and you are trying to do the best for your fellow man. Take care all :) God bless you! :D PS: His catchphrase is _"During the 1970s..."_

[@Hez0]

God chose the foolish and weak to confound the wise and strong. God bless you too.

[@Wardaug]

Yes God bless him and open his eyes. Ironically he supports a man in Sanders that would lock him up tighter than a drum🤷🏼‍♂️

[@verumignis4778]

It really makes me laugh when people say they wont use stuff he wrote, but they type it on a device with components of gnu on them and send them to a server running gnu/linux.

[@Crinklechip-s]

Here's what I learned from this 55 minute interview. Matthias Schüssler is a calm and patient man. Good for you sir :-)

[@Scarletpimpanel73]

God he's a tough dude to have a conversation with.

[@pissedoffdude1]

That's because there's no practical option here! It's too late, what the hell is he supposed to do?!

[@marsCubed]

Nonsense, the interviewer was full of bourgeois attitudes and prejudices which most likely came from neoLiberal ideas in popular privately owned media.. If one hears the same old BS so often it can become irritating. Marxist Philosopher Slavoj ZIzek points out that ideology is ideas people do not know they have.. This seems particularly true for characters such as the interviewer who needed to be corrected repeatedly for making statements based on often posited assumptions, rather than making points based on actual/useful knowledge/depth.

[@Scarletpimpanel73]

@mars Cubed, Presuming you know what the question is before it has been properly formed and countering it is presumptuous, arrogant, and rude regardless of how "correct" you may be. Richard does exactly that in this video. Adults when we hear something irritating, listen fully and then rebut, children when irritated, instantly lash out. They lack impulse control. Richard Stallman is lacking in impulse control here. And yes it would make him an incredibly difficult person to hold a conversation with. As for the interviewer - I have no idea how "Bourgeois neoliberal" his presumptions were because he didn't get a chance to fully express any. The only sense I got was how "bourgeois neoliberal" Richard Stallman presumed he was.

[@marsCubed]

Tim Novice You are doing the same as the interviewer .. making completely irrelevant and spurious points because you don't have an intelligent contribution to make and Stallman has made you feel confused and/or stupid. It is not very smart people who do things that try to make themselves feel clever. Smart people are far more interested in things that make them feel stupid. Bourgeois neoliberal refers to status driven individuals for whom doing well within the existing economic paradigm is a primary raison d'etre ,it generally refers to notoriously unimaginative and uncreative individuals.. It is a function of social being.. and not something you are likely to be able to grasp judging by your comments above.

[@marsCubed]

Tim Novice Consider Joseph Stiglitz (and others) work on information economics. IMO it is very important as it identifies a key dynamic and problem emerging out of the kind of economy most people in the industrialised world live in today. NeoLiberalism, AKA ads and lobbies by more profitable companies, undermine information and even the languages that propagate such faulty information. ie, markets cannot solve problems by people (consumers) shopping around, There is a false assumption in classical and neoclassical economics, libertarian (etc) of "perfect information". In reality, profits are made by means of "information disparity"; ie, a trader having a computer nanoseconds closer to a trading floor, knowing more about market conditions than the other guy, lobbies, ads, hoarding information, copyrighting information, hiding information (deceptive or hyped labelling) etc. It is one of the reasons copyleft forums spontaneously weed out ads, proprietary junk, pay walls and other kinds of capitalist swindler. Because people want and enjoy and can utilise the kind of quality information that comes from open sharing. It is, something IMF's research department recently summed up rather well IMO, if read a certain way. neoLiberalism overrates "junk", including overrating neoLiberalism itself. Marketing, hype and other forms of dishonesty are the actual problem that leads to poor quality decision making.. It is a very deep concept IMO that affects many spheres, and something generated by the competitive nature of the capitalist rat race.. Places such as Mondragon have other kinds of dynamic, as do places of learning and Scandinavian countries.. to some extent. As more people discover, play and work socially and with free software and design, so things may change towards more open and high information quality systems. Hopefully you can get that concept and see its value. Hype is a harmful symptom of the problem. unnecessarily distracting and foolish waste of time. Better to try to address actual problems with quality information about open, free tools and solutions. However, this is also just one (complimentary) perspective one can take.

[@NPC-kv7tn]

He's aspy af, but we need people like him.

[@Justins-handle]

What did you expect lol

[@oneandonlymoth]

Isn’t he also rapey or am I getting him confused with someone else?

[@Felix-on9dr]

​@@oneandonlymoth He did say some weird things (which he retracted) but he himself didn't do anything.

[@Chag69420]

@@oneandonlymoth He talked about kids consenting to adult activities if I'm not mistaken. Kind of similar to that online Atheist kid from Singapore that went off the deep end.

[@alfred.clement]

52:35 "syntax error: I couldn't quite parse that..." -Richard Stallman

[@mauricioprado6395]

this is not an interview, this is keep your questions and listen what I have to say.

[@null2846]

Stallman is an asshole, period. He might be forgive for that by his main fanbase, a bunch of socially inept aspergians who have problems understanding why you should respect someone and not be hostile toward them during an interview, but not by normal people, including linus himself. Stallman has simply gotten to the point where he believes all views that aren't his own are just not worth listening to. His interview with Brian Aker for example, Stallman was obnoxiously rude and defensive. Fuck Stallman, I honestly hope someone teaches him a thing or two the next time he talks over someone, personally insults someone like he did here, or accuses someone of "personally attacking" him by saying "you didn't answer the question".

[@mauricioprado6395]

not sure if you are under the impression that I am a fan or whatever, I am not. I personally not only not agree with the way he treat people, but neither with his philosophy. I just found funny how unprepared is most people that interviews him, and also a little puzzled why would they want to interview him on the first place.

[@null2846]

***** I didn't think that you agreed with him, I was just ranting.

[@cebruthius]

His patience makes up somewhat for his tendency to confound and confuse (perhaps on account of him being a non-native speaker.) Stallman values speaking in a specise manner above all things. If it takes an "aspergian" to appreciate that, so be it.

[@MrSlowestD16]

+Null Yeah, he's a jack-ass. Very arrogant. Very pretentious. Very much on top of his high horse. I agree with some of his aspects (ie. pushing FOSS), but I'm not extreme about it like he is - there's very good programs out there that I *HOPE* aren't spying on me, but we'll never know for sure...and that's something I accept with very high quality non-FOSS SW.

[@j4k154]

His arrogance makes Linus Torvalds seem like a lovable person.

[@crimsun7186]

Well, the difference is that Linus never seems to do all the 'crazy shit' he does when not behind a computer. So, he may be just a keyboard warrior. Stallman has displayed temper tantrums numerous times in person.

[@JanilGarciaJr]

Except in the NVIDIA incident. Generally, he is cool. IMHO he was cool in the NVIDIA incident.

[@-ThePharaoh-]

John Dunlap Linus is way nicer and smarter.

[@AllanBrunoPetersen]

Wut, they're both lovable.. :p

[@parodoxis]

I think he's clearly one of those people who had to "work on their social skills" as a kid, and it's probably still hard for him (perhaps Asperger's?). He interrupts the host a lot, but I don't see anything else particularly arrogant. And to be fair, if you look at other videos like this, he usually doesn't interrupt this much. (I suspect it's his response to not understanding where the questioner is going, or their accent). Linus is arrogant, but the arrogance he displays publicly is exaggerated for humor.

[@mo5el3abeed937]

love how 20 min in to the convo he just starts lotioning his feet lmao

[@theharbingerofconflation]

at least he does not eat anything off them like he did in that one speech

[@zytr0x108]

@@theharbingerofconflation I don’t know whether I want to see it, but do you have a link?

[@ElectricityTaster]

23:02 ear wax + lotion = maximum moisturizing.

[@Elite7555]

Yeah, RMS has a history of being gross...

[@Metagross923]

dont make me angry, you wouldn't like me when i'm angry! STALLMAN SMASH!

[@BrandonGinn]

hehehehehe

[@akwalek]

belly smash!!

[@alexman128]

Hahahah

[@sykocode1616]

Ok that was funny xdxd

[@randallsmith5631]

"Stalin would've loved smartphones".They track you everywhere

[@aonoymousandy7467]

Exactly

[@kex1xik]

17:45 - opinions about Apple and its products

[@DarkSoul-ds2]

kex1xik to the top you go

[@stephenhosking7384]

Thanks! Most helpful. I have a huge admiration for Richard Stallman, but I came here for his comments on Apple, and not a 55 minute interview.

[@MetalJakst3R]

Stallman has very good points and important ideas on how to confront the increasingly suppressive computer environment and I really want to show this interview to friends and colleagues but his insane arrogance in this makes it incredibly awkward and cringy to watch. Seriously? Stallman demands not to be interrupted and asks the interviewer not to "guess" what his answer will be, but he literally interrupts him constantly without even listening to the full question.

[@kirtah7]

+MetalJakst3R Agreed. Even when the interviewer just agrees with him or nods or urges him on, Stallman still gets flustered that he's being "interupted". Stallman keeps acting like he's done talking, the interviewer notices Stallman seems to be done talking and tries to move onto the next topic, then Stallman decides he has something else to say and accuses the interviewer of interrupting him or guessing. I feel like to interview Stallman smoothly you'd have to just shut up and let him lecture. He doesn't seem interested in other people's ideas, thoughts or interpretations. His ideas are interesting and important but he's not the only human being capable of independent thought. He should have more respect for others. And I say this as a huge fan/user of GNU software. RMS is just a bad spokesperson.

[@peter_castle]

+MetalJakst3R You nailed it. The guy deserves credit but also should listen ALL the question (even if he thinks he already knows what the questions is) and should be more humble. Period. This is not much to ask!

[@MetalJakst3R]

Yes, that's basically it. He's not that bad in his lectures and speeches, but the FSF should really consider getting someone else to do all the interviews and public relations. I mean, I get it, he probably answered the same questions a thousand times already, but there are still new people who are interested in free software and are possibly appalled by his attitude. It's only hurting his own work in the end.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

11 minutes in, I'm done!

[@WaffleBoy13100]

yep he is an annoying asshole in the interview. Who cares what his points are if he gets irritating all the time. Accusing the interviewer of thinking hypothetical situations as if he has done anything practical for the last 10+ years

[@WR3ND]

5:55 ← The moment when I knew the interviewer didn't get it, latching onto words without understanding their context and what is actually being said. Richard Stallman shows a lot of patience here.

[@RandallStevenson]

you tried to lead RMS in an interview, never try to control RMS just give him his subject and let him talk himself out :P

[@sandybrown728]

Never trust Apple devices

[@truthseekers666]

Dude, i felt sorry for you seeing you hold your recorder. Get a tripod or mic stand. ;-)

It wasn't so bad. And a mic stand has the distinct disadvantage, that you get a recording with much more ambient noise, because the mic is not so close to the one who's talking.

[@DrGaius]

try a lavalier microphone

I have one of those, but for two people, you need two of those and probably a mixer. I have one of those too, but I find it easier to hold the recorder. *g*

[@crackpippi]

Or set it on the table..

[@user-yb3bx1fe6v]

Rather "Ifelt sorry for you being just a mic stand"

[@gamingSlasher]

Stallman has great ethical standings and ideas but in this case the interviewer actually impressed me more. Being able to stand the arrogans of Stallman for an hour proves that the interviewer is a very calm and balanced person. Thumbs up for the interviewer.

[@anant6778]

Torvads - * Uses 11" Macbook * Stallman : " aPpLe FaNbOyS ArE FoOlIsH PeOpLe" Torvalds " Bruh...." ..... Stallman : * releases GPLv3 * Torvalds: * sticks to GPLv2 * Stallman : "Bruh..." Strategy 100 Restoration 100

[@theharbingerofconflation]

@championchap honestly GPLv3 and 4 are a mess to code under. There is more attribution happening then work actually getting done.

[@focumQuarium]

A truly free person and we - the society accustomed to slavery with the slave-mind... The difference in PoVs is so evident in this interview. I loved the guy!

[@jean-jayvester1358]

I am slowly learning how pause and cadence control are fundamental to healthy emotion free debate! Thank you Mr Stallman!

[@OhYaseen]

Richard Stallman has a Linux mind (incredibly vast) and an Apple personality, (constrictive and unable to have a two-way conversation with).

[@garvess]

Wow, it is impossible to have a conversation with this guy. The interviewer should have just hit record and left the room.

[@everennui1]

+Gary Edwards I think it's the other way around. Stallman only interrupts when he is interrupted. Pay attention to the way he speaks with anyone else. He is someone people should really look at when they want to learn how to communicate effectively. He stops the guy when he tries to pawn of two ideas as one. The way he and I see it - you talk about one issue at a time. If your point is at the end of a statement with another point (something that COULD be argued) then it is necessary to STOP (right there) and discuss the first idea, because just because "YOU" think something doesn't mean it's, "Right." What someone is saying to another person in these circumstances are, "Hey, here's this idea that you have to agree on that supports this next idea." Language is hard. Ideas are incredibly LARGE things and I think most people don't remember that. To communicate effectively it's important to be as clear as possible. That's the way Richard Stallman attempts to speak, and being a computer programmer - he does it incredibly well. People are always cutting people off, whether it's to just chime in and agree or we are just waiting for our turn to talk. Listening is turning your mouth off and to stop the urge to spout out whatever comes to your head.

[@aeschlimannify]

+everennui that's obviously untrue, fe just look at the q&a section of the pantalk - he interrupts people almost everybody.

[@MrSlowestD16]

+everennui You high? Stallman jumped on him while he was agreeing - that was plain as day, but that aside like 5x in here the interviewer didn't even finish the question before Stallman started ranting on something completely different. Talk about being interrupted? Did you watch the same interview I did? Interruption is a 2-way street.

[@pithikoulis]

lol human communication is not a TCP protocol - something Stallman clearly misses to understand.

[@ZacharyBittner]

What you guys don't contemplate is how interviewers and journalists use these techniques maliciously. For example, he will bring up a hypothetical kid who is peer pressured into using proprietary software. Then stallman responds that he doesn't have to give into peer pressure. Then he responds that there is a high suicide rate amongst children and not giving into peer pressure can be stressful so you killed a child by your insistence of free software. Journalists have baited people into these argumentative techniques before and politicians and people in the media have come up with their own tactics to prevent those types of arguments which is why you always get this kinda filler ingenuine responses.

[@jackiepuppet_5324]

interviewer turns his patience up to '11'

[@squibbae]

Unbelievable. I don't think he let the interviewer finish a single question.

[@randallsmith5631]

"Edward Snowden is a hero".

[@cidshroom]

It seemed like he shot down any question that would be inconvenient to have asked. He just doesn't want to hear a scenario where his idealistic concepts fail to match with reality.

[@satzbau9185]

no you fool you absolute mongoloid he answered everything well and logically. None of the questions posed by that limpdick shite interviewer held any weight which is why they were so easily dismissed. That you're too fucking stupid to understand that is well and fine, but it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Lots of low iq fuckwits with top comments on this video for some reason.

[@emanueleprenci789]

Non

[@erikmorgan6761]

@@satzbau9185 Chill out. Maybe you're right but do you have to humiliate cidshroom?

[@rtsa4633]

@@satzbau9185 You could probably explain why he is wrong, instead of, you know, being a child. I personally think he was right.

I feel like there could be a book called "How to Interview Stallman with Probable Success". After watching this video you start to realise certain things, like if the host said "a lot of our viewers might think that... ...could you explain why that's wrong?" when presenting a hypothetical situation Stallman probably would've responded a bit better XD

[@Storm_.]

This guy has so many issues. I guess people often say genius goes hand in hand with madness. I respect him for what he stands for, but I pity him for his personality.

[@satzbau9185]

I pity you for not being intelligent enough to follow what he's saying. It's not particularly marvelous or super high iq, and I don't see how you can claim he's mad when he's very clearly perfectly sane.

[@garoad2]

He's not nuts, but damn, he's talking economics and political systems. Clearly he knows nothing correct about the topics. He has some things to say worth hearing about freedom and privacy but he's grossly misinformed on capitalism and economic freedoms.

[@danielgmjr]

"Don't try to say I'm wrong, cuz that makes me angry". Sounds like fanatical religious people.

[@MichaelOLeary1977]

thats the point being open hack found faster and fixed idiot...

[@null2846]

Michael O'Leary Oh man you sure sound intelligent, nice ad hominem too. Who's to say someone won't get the source code, look through it, recognized an exploit that someone hasn't found yet, compile the program, test it, it works, and then sells said zero day vulnerability? www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/awareness/security-concerns-open-source-software-enterprise-requirements-1305

[@null2846]

I see you have nothing to say, Michael. Yet another freetard with ultimately nothing to say.

[@7th.Chosen]

ssuure, because the host/interviewer obviously knows better about free software and computers... its not like stallman founded free software foundation or a top software engineer.... flawless logic right there...

[@ZacharyBittner]

Null because that recompiled code would be open source too and would be recognized for having malicious software installed.

[@fusionfile]

Richard Stallman seems to prefer monologues to dialogues.

[@garyn1780]

maybe because this is an interview, not a dialog... obviously

[@uzefulvideos3440]

I think Richard Stallman would prefer to give a speech.

[@f-22r]

To be fair this guy wasn't a very good interviewer.

[@jscorpio1987]

Broadsword I completely agree with you. There’s nothing professional about the interviewer whatsoever. He keeps looking at the camera while chuckling at what Stallman is saying. Stallman is speaking to him like he’s a child because he’s acting like a schoolchild who can’t stop giggling and interrupting class.

[@zorano360]

Because the interviewer can't comprehend what kind of message that Stallman want to deliver to society.

[@albertrogers8537]

Stallman is right, there is no excuse for having to buy a machine that obeys instructions neither you nor anyone hired by you are permitted to read. That is like allowing a complete stranger, possibly in Bangladesh, to have the electronics of your motor car sent to him to fix, and you give him carte-blanche trust that everything he does is proper. Trust, But Verify should apply here.

[@seireiart]

415 Apple fanboys were offended.

[@stolensentience]

watching this on my iPhone, nodding my head

[@RezaAP]

Did he just put skin cream on his feet while giving interview? He is the one of the greatest mind, but...

[@m0rShh]

There's a video where he literally picks something off of his foot and eats it in the middle of a lecture.

[@jameshalleluyah8133]

I enjoy listening to Richard Stallman. We need more Richard Stallman's fighting this fight.

[@The_Realest_Monkster]

Sweet Jesus.. I like free software but this is just insane.

[@guerreror58]

Some would say insane is an understatement.

[@ink5473]

+Roger H. Newell It's a war and they want your data and your freedom

[@guerreror58]

+Andrew Ryan Let's not use hyperbole. There is no "war."

[@ink5473]

Rogelio Guerrero Yes very true, I just use that term to refer to the controversy between free and not-free

[@RustyX2010]

the war has been won and they have your money!

[@mrenovatio3739]

no one cares what the bald dude has to say... just let RMS say what we need to hear...

[@destinyobamwonyi8865]

Am a big fan of Richard Stallman, and I will forever remain thankfull for his creativity.

[@HitokiriKinchou]

Stallman was either bullied too much as a kid, or not bullied enough. This interview is quite painful to watch, the interviewer cannot even say the first 3 words of his question because Stallman jumps in aggression at the challenge that the question will pose to him. I believe Stallman to be smart but no matter how many decades pass he won't be able to make things happen the way he wants them to because he doesn't understand that everyone else is not like him, don't work in the same business/circumstances as he does, ergo, have different needs, and these needs must be met or changed in a way that they can have free software provide a solution for them. If you have sight issues and I am an expert on engineering glasses, and I tell you that the glasses you wear are evil and unethical and you should not wear them, but that there are some glasses that are righteous, but these glasses don't correct your sight problems and that you should bear with the inconveniences of not using your evil glasses, hence, condemning you with the fate of being ill-sighted for the rest of your life unless you become a glass engineer yourself and make good glasses for you, when you work and support your family as a cook who knows nothing about glass engineering, then I am nothing but a useless idealistic.

[@DanHarkless_Halloween_YTPs_etc]

Too much, per Wikipedia and quotes from Stallman. His parents were reportedly abusive, particularly his alcoholic father. But I suppose that upbringing may have helped form him into the guy that brought GNU and the GPL (and big chunks of Linux) into the world, so hey, everyone go ahead and beat on the brat with a baseball bat! 😉

That... Is a very bad analogy. Good working glasses are essential, security is not. I understand corporations may feel the need for security in protecting their interests.

[@bigfoot5092]

there is no such thing as "not bullied enough". Period. I rather think rms had a lot of time to think about these topics beforehand, and more importantly, and more importantly a lot of direct experiences, so it's hard not to get all those thoughts out. Afterall, rms devoted his live to this

[@riphihe]

sudo = fascism. ROTFLMAO!!! Good rant!! I love it!

[@parodoxis]

+Rex2k10 Wow. You are somehow quite well-versed in only one side of the arguments, without even a hint that you have a clue what the opposition is. Him "shitting on" binary blobs has nothing to do with his computer not needing them. It's not that he doesn't want you to play your video games, he'd rather you be able to play them without binary blobs, because those are wrong. It's as simple as that. Same thing for all your other arguments - you miss the point in every case, especially for the very arguments that are refuted on gnu.org. What a one-sided rant. Gloats about how rebellious he is? Did you even hear his response to the "would you say you're a rebel" question? It seems you misunderstood his anecdote about ITS system's lack of security, too, because your analogies highlight non-issues per his explanation.

[@henhoci]

I understand where Stallman is coming from. He was trying to avoid what we have with data collection today. I respect that.

[@DanHarkless_Halloween_YTPs_etc]

"Ja, it rubs the lotion on its skin; I agree."

[@Vamp898]

"I have an question about something important" "I dont care, i want to talk about how much fun my life was in the past"

[@varpen]

Stallman is great. Always providing facts about his opinions and views. You got to respect that! He's maybe a bit hard to interview, but the interviewer should have done his homework before that and prepared.

[@playoffl36ron8]

it's hard to find an interiew of stallman not becoming easily agitated

[@sinekonata]

States are not failing to do their job, their job *is* to serve the companies.

[@leandrolaporta2196]

touche!

[@EmilyRose0]

Well I like Stallman but he really gets insulted pretty fast here. Maybe he just wanted to provoke him explaining things more deeply maybe not. But this reaction was a but too much.

[@elinhagglund33]

Makes me disappointed. I love stallmans view on free software. I always thought he was very humble. I have not finished watching the video and I was like, shit I dont know if I wanna. Since I always admired him so much. I hate people being rude, I find it so repulsive. But I'm not gonna judge him to fast. We dont know what happened before, perhaps theres something to this we dont know. perhaps theyve discussed something that made him angry before or whatever. im just saying, there might always be additional info to everything, we should not be to quick to judge. But I agree. I think he sounds way to cranky and easily disturbed.

[@web3wizard381]

elin hagglund lmao @ that haircut

[@louiscritchie]

I think that the rudeness is not Stallman being rude, but instead being firm. It's important to keep ideas from getting mixed up, and that is why Stallman can be a bit harsh - Someone mixes up ideas that are totally different. I think that in the end, with the example about the 16 year old student, he was a little too rough on the interviewer, but in the other cases he was OK. In the recent years of my life I've found that it's a lot better to be direct and firm with people than to let little things slip. People are bad at critical thinking so you must help them along sometimes, and if that means correcting them directly, then so be it.

[@nonenothingnull]

Emily Rose The problem is introducing assumptions and theories, impose thoughts that are not necessarily false, but also not necessarily relevant to the issue.

[@MrSlowestD16]

+Elin Hagglund That's how I felt - he spoke at my university though and I attended because I admired him. My mind was changed VERY quickly by listening to him. Very condescending. Very arrogant.

[@junialter]

I SO like how Richard talks. That's one of the most perfect styles I know of.

[@theharbingerofconflation]

lucid rambling

[@kbdkbd99]

I like both these guys but I really like that Richard Stallman doesn't allow his interview to paraphrase him. Great interview.

[@1stSilence]

I guess, most people at one point disagreed with Stallman about free software, a lot still do. The truth though is, his predictions became reality. As he says in this interview, the facts support his claims. One of the most important voices in IT.

[@codecato9527]

Watching this on a Corebooted Thinkpad X230, running Arch and i3wm :D

[@keyboardwarrior3327]

Too bad arch isn't supported by the FSF

[@LTIFEX]

Typical arch user making sure everybody knows

[@popespalace823]

Convert your arch install to parabola.

[@chuckadams9131]

Wow, I think Matthias, the interviewer in this video deserves a medal for his patience. Richard goes on and on about fascism but doesn't seem to see that he himself is behaving as a textbook example of a fascist. Everything must be his way, there is no room for other thought, any deviation from what he believes makes him angry. And the reprehensible way he treats Matthias is unforgivable, how can anyone get this lost is beyond me. Look, I like the idea of free software, but Stallman should not be the representative of free software, he should spend his time seeking good counciling.

[@YellowPenis]

Being trapped in a conversation with Richard Stallman is my nightmare.

[@rawaniajay]

Richard Stallman Is The Man Who Changed My Habits The Way I'm Using Computers !

[@verumignis4778]

Clouds are for rain, not for your data.

[@islander31]

That's what happens to 'know it all folks.' Really bugs me. Stallman, respect goes both ways.

[@rogermuppet]

He needs to work on his social skills.

[@popespalace823]

You're right, the interviewer is awful.

[@jscorpio1987]

Pope's Palace yeah. It’s completely unprofessional how he is keeps laughing and interrupting. A professional interviewer lets the interviewee answer his questions without interrupting and twisting what what he says into something completely different. God, I want to reach through my phone and slap that smug smirk off his fucking face!

[@turtleh]

This man has a strong arm holding that recorder up for so long.

[@mastergmatquant]

Richard Stallman needs is worldly famous for his contributions, But ... man o man! the guy is an "Obsessive Compulsive" Control Freak! He's trying to control the interviewer's phrases, what he should or should not do, what even he shouldn't think/guess and even his facial expressions during the interview.

[@atomicorang]

Stallman really is a difficult person and combative

you would be as well if your idea is being crushed by corporate interest!!!

[@atomicorang]

thats a good point

[@obfuscated3090]

I approve of both traits. Why be a doormat?

[@christopherjames9843]

I think people are misunderstanding Stallman here. He is by no means trying to be an ass. He just has no people skills. He is totally right about companies becoming too large. The big companies now dictate things. They pay politicians to write laws in their favor. Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, Intel, Nvidia, Microsoft etc.... They work to squelch competition and shaft consumers.

[@ShubhamBhushanCC]

I have a laptop signed by Stallman with Linux on it and I am immensely proud of it. I like his view. A lot of people are pragmatic about open source software. I prefer a moralistic and ideological point of view. Practicality is a construct of time ideas are forever.

[@TheGunman889]

That's so cool ! what laptop ?

[@Mexicomank2]

Shubham Bhushan what makes paid software so immoral? Why can't a company or group spend time making software and charge money for it ? Like I'm really trying to wrap my mind around his opinion that paid company software is evil

[@TheGunman889]

Mexicomank2 Ya, I have no idea either I don't think he understands. Paid software is only bad if it restricts you from using the software that you bought or changing stuff in it. It should be free for the user to change

[@Mexicomank2]

I think I figured out his reasoning. If you can't see the source code you can't look transparently at all the programs functions. Meaning it's possible for a closed source app to be spying on you with a hidden agenda. Making it inherently evil

[@TheGunman889]

Mexicomank2 hmm

[@fwang3695]

interviewer: I agree there Richard Stallman: in any case ....

[@zoommair]

I don't care if he is the daddy of GNU, learn some fucking manners. The interviewer was so composed, never attacking Stallman, but Stallman took everything as an attack and wouldn't even let him speak. Then relating everything back to fascism? Get real, I can't take this guy seriously at all. I can see why Linus just let him talk at conventions, it was probably easier for him to deal with being the meek man that he is.

[@trixtursplayground]

Also... while you are being interviewed on camera, maybe don't take care of personal hygiene? Right around kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJzOdamBfMiBidE

Obviously it's you who has zero manners or decency. You don't know anything about him , or Linus. You are just piecing together a patchwork of illogic from a couple minutes of hearing a few people talk on videos. What exactly are you trying to do for freedom or a greater good?

[@zoommair]

"A patchwork of illogical..." what? I think you forgot to complete your thought while you were raging on the keyboard. And I've seen enough videos of Stallman to know his philosophy is admirable, but his manners are shit.

[@trixtursplayground]

Lol, what? Oh boy.. don't hurt yourself.

[@zoommair]

LOL, here come the fanboys completely missing who is actually being interrupted in this interview. Suddenly "asking questions' is 'interrupting.' Stallman and his fanboys need a lesson in active listening. This is an interview, not a fucking speech. Get over yourselves. And seriously, don't fucking apply lotion and pick your ears during an interview.

[@f-22r]

My issue with Linux distros is that they are great for novices who only need a web browser and word processor, great for pros who use command lines all day, and terrible for everyone in the middle. I'm not command oriented, I'm GUI oriented and you don't get a full GUI on LInux. They say "type this command in" and I have no idea what it does and it doesn't solve my problem. So I'm a more advanced user when I use Windows.

[@zestyorangez]

I get the impression that Stallman a: despises getting interrupted b: is rather defensive/standoff-ish in conversation.

[@johncornharvester]

yup, he is going to lecture what he wants to lecture, and fuck you if you dont want to hear what he has to say.

[@zestyorangez]

of course i want to hear what he says. I clicked on the video but it's supposed to be an interview and interviews should always have a give and take. The interviewer made mistakes too but lets not forget that there are better ways to address said mistakes.

[@theNotoriousBFM]

the pergers man. once you learn how to interact with those types of people it's not a big deal. I used think Stallman is often foolish with his comments, but the older I grow, the more I respect his position. he also put his money where his mouth is, and continues to live his own life by his principles. few of us have the courage to do that.

[@elinhagglund33]

c: interrupt the interviewer all the time before he finishes the question he want's to ask Stallman. The finger usually points back at one self. I guess that is also applicable to Stallman. =)

[@NuevoVR]

I personally love his passion

[@Mattia_98]

Legend says, Stallmann never let anyone finish a questinon.

[@Trid3nt861]

17:56 What Apple really thinks of its consumerbase.

[@magichsu]

100% correct, especially iphone and ipad are trash. IOS forces users to install apps from apple store, it doesn't even ship a file manager. This is my phone, I have the right to decide how to install apps and I need to know where some files are stored. Not to mention it is so inconvenient to share data between apple devices and PCs or other devices.

[@phillipprado]

Golly...Stallman is right for the most part but his demeanor makes me want to disassociate myself from him or things he's associated with. I feel less and less bad for calling it Linux and not GNU/Linux Everytime I see him talk lol

[@TheSilentFool]

Well you got it wrong, he prefers the term Linux over GNU/Linux, he doesn't like Linux and GNU being coupled by default in that way.

[@timofeisablin9172]

The interviewer should have studied Stallman's personality at the same level as Stallman studied the history of Switzerland.

[@gronki1]

Stallman avoids confronting his ideas with reality. So, will 2016 finally be "the year of Linux"? Yeah....

[@billkillernic]

+Dominik Gronkiewiczthats stupid.... that's saying that he is also avoiding the spaghetti monster on the 66th dimension of the universe theory.... when you don't speak about something that's stupid you are not avoiding it you just don't even think on that term since it's stupid... what does "the year of linux" even mean? it's so vague... and why should it be in 2016? because it fits to your advantage since it isn't? so we should throw any ideas that won't get realised within 2016 or won't get over popular in 2016 or won't sell like crazy within 2016 or whatever your concept is about "being the year of something" because yea after 2016 the world will cease to exist... you are just retarded sir.

[@MsHojat]

+Dominik Gronkiewicz Actually in the next 5-10 years Linux might be a really huge player. This is because Linux is getting more well-known, people are getting more upset with Windows (especially with Windows 10), and _perhaps_ most importantly, games now have a strong base to run on Linux with the cross-platform Vulkan API, as well as various game engines like Cryengine, Unity, Unreal Engine

[@vibovitold]

+MsHojat bullshit. for starters, people aren't really upset about Windows 10. the disasters known as Milenium and then Vista were both way better opportunities for Linux to take over, as we know it never happened. secondly, the world has shifted to mobile devices, and Linux distros haven't got any foothold in the mobile world. Ubuntu phones are even more rare than Ubuntu desktops. Linux will continue to dominate as a server OS, but the personal device battle is long lost, and there's no plausible gamechanger in sight. the rest is just wishful thinking. sorry if that sounds harsh, but that's the truth

[@billkillernic]

vibovitold you just dont know shit about what this is all about...

[@vibovitold]

Bill Killernic i expected namecalling :) back in 2006 i also argued with people who said Linux would become huge within 10 years, and they also told me i was a dimwit who knew nothing etc. 10 years have passed and where are we? i understand your frustration perfectly, but it's still just that: frustration. nothing more

[@rostyslavv2006]

Its hard to listen, cause they both continuously interrupt each other.

[@ink5473]

Just don't interrupt him while he is speaking and ask clear questions

[@garoad2]

The last question around 45:00, he didn't even get to ASK the question (which was about convenience) before RMS interrupted for over two minutes on a totally irrelevant (to the question) anti-Cloud terminology speech. Nobody likes hypocrisy, if you want the courtesy you'll need to do the same.

[@Cat_Magic811]

Are you fucking high, son? He doesnt even get the words out.

[@rauljosegarcia]

He is not an easy interview. A very interesting mind.

[@christopherdennis4280]

I love R. Stallman. I think it's wonderful that he pushes back and insists upon clarity and accuracy. It's honest and real and actually demonstrates respect for intelligent dialogue.

[@taxalot]

I feel sorry for the interviewer for having to cope up with that kind of shit.

[@XD-ci6jl]

lmao at anyone on earth hating on this guy. literally saving humanity from itself...

[@amitezuthachan5779]

I am a linux user but I loved windows xp had so many great memories :(

[@Stabby666]

I used to support Stallman, but in person he does come across as an opinionated and pedantic git. He becomes angry if someone disagrees with him in any way, he claims that ALL proprietary software is evil. I completely disagree with that - if people just gave away years of research and development, they'd be as poor as him. People deserve to keep an advantage for a time if, say they have developed a new game algorithm or graphic engine, or creative program. He seems to suggest that people should just develop everything on github and allow anyone to take it and give it away. Sorry, he's intelligent, but there's something wrong with his world view.

[@Stabby666]

Alec Claire I'm probably older than you, and I have been a software and hardware developer for over 20 years. I've been a freelancer, and have developed and sold my old games for mobile phones, and also developed and sold my old circuit designs. I have also developed FPGA designs, which I do not choose to share. Sure, people can choose to give their work away - I've also worked on OSS projects in my spare time, however like most people I need to earn money to live. So, I believe I've far more experience in this area that yourself. The fact you are speaking to me in a rude and condescending manner suggests you are a kid / teenager who does not know the meaning of capitalism himself and has probably never had a job. Ask your parents why they need to work.

[@Stabby666]

***** I actually currently run a software team of 15 people. It's not a "childs view of life". Both you and the other guy seem to be kids intent on having an argument by making ridiculous statements that everyone should work for no money, and generally throwing insults around, so I'm removing your comments.I'm sure you'll be highly successful in life if you choose to work for nothing. Have a nice day.

[@Stabby666]

***** I didn't bother reading your rambling, incoherent garbage. Deleted :)

[@Stabby666]

***** You finally show your true colours. I've deleted your racist response.

[@Stabby666]

***** Carry on showing everyone what an intelligent little chap you are. Come on, throw out more insults. I'll leave them here for all to see. I'm sure you'll make everyone proud...

[@jscorpio1987]

Why does the interviewer keep looking at the camera and chuckling? He’s not professional at all. No wonder Stallman is talking to him like he’s a child. Because he’s acting like one.

[@aeschlimannify]

RMS fanboys are prob a little bit more foolish.

[@kocho4242]

Mr. Richard Stallman, freedom == chaos. Thanks to freedom, we have countless number of Linux distributions, instead of one perfect distribution. Authors of those distributions fight with each other, instead of join their forces. Thanks to freedom, Linux failed on desktop. OS should be developed closely to hardware, like Apple does it. And the dictactor is needed to show a proper direction.

[@PavelEvdokimov]

RMS, thank you for freedom

[@ink5473]

+Pavel Evdokimov What OS does Stallman use or what distro? I'm new to Linux

[@andrewfoglesong4831]

+Andrew Ryan There's a Trisquel sticker on his laptop so my bets are Tirsquel :)

[@bastiat6865]

As an interviewer it is really unnecessary to finish someone's sentence for them. Ask the question. Let them finish the thought. It's ok to have a pause. Why rush from question to question. I personally don't care about the interviewer's input other than asking questions from a place of curiosity. Stop talking over, guessing and interrupting the interview subject. It's just rude and makes for poor interview flow.

[@zanzaraloggan3713]

First interview I watch with Stallman. I already love this guy!

[@bigbossmatt]

best part of this was just watching the awkward dynamic.

[@0penpress]

how does he fit his ego in the door?

[@null2846]

RMS demonstrating that everything is about him so he feels justified in attacking people personally - still. He can't comprehend a principled opinion that isn't lock step in agreement with his.

[@alecclaire3046]

Ego? WTF are you talking about? If you interview smo you let them speak and don't interrupt. They're doing you a favour, cause you make money of it. Besides the interviewer is completely unprepared: the hardware, the questions, poor command of English, twisting the statements made by the Stallman imply poor command of logical thinking. How he even came to interview Stallman I can't comprehend.

[@null2846]

***** It doesn't take much to "push" RMS. He's snapped at his fans in public numerous times. I think it's fine to say that he's a fucking asshole, but he has some good ideas (practical? no.)

[@MrSlowestD16]

+Alec Claire The poor fucker can't even get the questions out of his mouth before Stallman starts ranting on something completely unrelated in a different direction.

[@user-gr5do8nk7e]

true

[@Ezixax]

"if they send the child home with some non-free software you should say 'NO! Not allowed!'"