Well, the news about the Richard Stallman's resignation from his post at MIT and the FSF I think it took everyone by surprise. Even I was unaware of the Epstein case, because I don't usually follow TV or other media a lot. I was totally unaware of what happened and wanted to create an article announcing the news but without getting too wet as I did not have enough data to comment. But now, some comments (which I appreciate) and information that I have been able to gather on the case has given me a better view of the case.
What happened you already know, but now we are going to the extra information that I did not know, but that I think is important as a complement to my other article so that you understand everything better. Here too I leave the link of the article that asked for the resignation of Richard Stallman of his charges for the emails that had been leaked about the opinion that the rms himself had on this case. So you can see the original source of that information that triggered all this ...
Supposedly, the girl took internal emails from MIT in which Richard Stallman gave his opinion. She says Epstein asked her to had sex with an MIT member who passed away in 2016 (Marvin Minsky). And Stallman would come to Minsky's defense by claiming that his colleague had never had sex with a girl knowing that she was coerced. A witness who was at the scene assures that the girl approached, but that Marvin rejected her.
Make it clear that Jeffrey Epstein did get tried, convicted and convicted of child trafficking, and flagged as a sexual predator. In the jail where he was, he tried several times to kill himself. And it seems that he finally got it. On August 10, 2019, his dead body was found in the cell and everything pointed to a suicide, although some more conspiracies have pointed to other causes ...
It is true that some statements by Stallman taken out of context may feel bad or misinterpreted. And this may be the case. It is also true that throughout history Stallman has done statements about sexuality who have gone changing by his way of seeing things and recognizing when he was wrong. In short, in these comments he says that:
- A person is ready to have sex as soon as he reaches sexual maturity (puberty). And that there is nothing wrong with a person of the age of having sex who is a minor having sex with their consent with an adult. [In fact, this happens frequently in society]
- After a conversation, he realized that it is not only about the physical, but there is also the mental section. Therefore, consider that a minor (even in his sexual maturity) has sex with an adult because it can cause psychological harm to the minor. [He is not in favor of rape, or pedophilia, or anything like that]
- Later, he goes further and recognizes that it is not right for a minor to have sex with an adult under any circumstances. Even with your consent.
Where is the key?
Having said that, I go back to the main story and his resignation of the positions by those pressures. More specifically to the intercepted emails that have been used against him for commenting on the Epstein case and others. What was said in those emails about the case I mentioned before Minsky was:
- «[…] The term 'sexual assault' is somewhat vague and slippery […] she presented herself to Minsky fully prepared.»Responding to a thread of emails from MIT to some students who asked on a social network for a demonstration to protest what happened. But, if it is true that there was a witness who saw it all and it happened like that, Stallman could be right.
All for the case involving the late Marvin Minsky He was charged with sexually assaulting one of Epstein's victims. And the words "sexual assault" are too strong for Stallman, since it seems that the victim was forced to do so by Epstein himself and not by Minsky. Perhaps the objectionable thing here would be to think that a coerced person considers himself to be "totally ready" to do something, since it may seem that it was out of his own conviction and it is not. I personally think that it is all there the key to misunderstanding.
Stallman was judging by the term itself, not the facts. Anyone who knows Richard's story and what he is like personally can understand his ways. It is said that he has Asperger's Syndrome, and I am not making that as an excuse. But personally I have some traits on the autism spectrum and it's fucking sometimes to understand certain things that others understand easily.
In any case, Stallman is now in the limelight and making headlines for a few statements. I want to make it clear again. In no case did he commit the crime (He only gave his opinion), I said it in the first article and I say it again here ... That is why he has recognized that all this commotion has been due to «a series of misunderstandings and mischaracterizations«.
Conclusion
I'm not saying it for this case, or for any one in particular. I consider myself a feminist, but please, some women call themselves feminists and they are really doing a lot of damage to real feminism. Real feminism is one that wants gender equality, not the empowerment of women over men. That would be "Hembrismo" or "misandría" and it should not be confused as feminism, because it is not. And please don't use the word feminazi either.
Regarding the sexual issue, I want to make it clear that I consider rape as one of the most serious crimes that can be committed, along with murder. But there is something just as disgusting that someone who has committed it is not convicted and pays for it, and that is that someone who has not done it and is innocent is convicted of it ... I repeat, I am not referring to a particular case, but It seems serious to me.
UPDATE:
More data and information on this topic, so that you can draw your own conclusions (It is in English, but it is worth reading, even if it is translated if you do not know English, because it has very interesting information, especially the second article):
- On Richard Stallman's leadership of the FSF.
- Confession of a programmer who worked for a long time with Richard Stallman.
I don't know the story very well ... I've been to his talks for GNU and it's a shame how the story ended.
And all for some moralists wanting to make a fuss and advertise themselves, with the added joke that it is in a society that gives them freedom of opinion! A pity that he resigned, in these cases I like Torvalds' aptitude more, he would send them to take wind and it would stay so fresh.
I honestly believe that there cannot be more topics in this article. And even if the author calls himself a 'feminist', I think he should think about it. RMS voluntarily and actively (no one asked) decided to support a person who had sex with a minor trafficking victim. And instead of either shutting up or questioning the version of the said octogenarian, he decided to question the most vulnerable part. And this is part of a history of derogatory attitudes towards the female collective.
And by God, feminism (the one that the author says is not the "real" one, as if it had some authority to decide which is the real one) seeks equality among all but it turns out that in reality it does not exist and is manifested most areas. It seems that in technology and even in the "free software" movement (as it also happens in other contexts of activism) as well.
1-Do not accuse and do not give evidence. Tell me what topics you see.
2-I am a feminist, I do not have to reflect on that. But there are others who camouflage themselves within feminism to destroy feminism itself.
For example, those who put political ideology on it, because this is not something of the left or the right, it is something of everyone.
3-RMS opinion went to a mailing list and he is a person who tries to be fair. He only questioned the use of the word "assault" not the act itself. I understand that saying assault is as if Mevin had rushed on the victim, and it seems that the victim was already coerced into doing so. I haven't been there and I don't have enough data so I can't say much more.
4-derogatory attitudes? RMS on a social level is not the best, and neither is Torvalds (see CoC, and help received). I'm not good at it myself. But at least I try to be as fair as possible. And you can't shoot a person and then wonder if maybe they were innocent. In this case RMS has given his opinion alone. And if I had, for example, from Epstein, then I wouldn't be in favor of RMS. But it has not been the case.
5-I have the same authority as you to describe feminism. Equality doesn't exist, that's why feminism exists. That is evident. and? At what point have I written otherwise?
Please, I ask the rest of future comments if it is necessary to criticize what I have written (if they are right I will admit it), but not this type of comments without any basis and judging me without even knowing me, the projects I have around feminism (and the integration of women in STEM), or my actions… Thank you.
1- Men defending men who relativize trafficking and other sexist attitudes, classifying as "hembristas" or "feminazis" (yes, I know that you have not done it in the latter) women who defend their rights in an uncomfortable way for men. that oppress them ...
2- Feminism IS political. How is free software, veganism, the fight against climate change or against racism and homophobia. Everything is political, so stripping feminism of it is not exactly the most "feminist" thing. And putting it together with point 5, perhaps you and I have the same authority to define it. But who really has the authority to define it are the protagonists of the struggle: women. Not us.
3- "RMS's opinion went to a mailing list and he is a person who tries to be fair." I don't know what he tries to be or not, I only value his actions. And from my point of view, sending a letter (which no one had asked for) to say that "assailant" was an inappropriate word for his friend was an attempt to relativize and minimize what he had done. And it is just as serious.
4- Several things: I have not judged your justice when dealing with your companions. As for RMS, saying in interviews that they do not remember that any woman was interested in contributing to the FSF (when of course there were women who had done so at the time of the interview) or having on their doorstep «[…] "sexy girls" are derogatory attitudes towards women. What is being judged is how these attitudes harm the female collective in the world of technology. Comments and opinions have consequences and are therefore important.
I have given my opinion based on the text you have written and the arguments I have given are based on it. Obviously I don't know more about your life.
Going from informing to giving an opinion leaves this editorial article mislabelled and, commenting on an underlying issue outside the main theme between breaststrokes, detracts from the professionalism of the site. It is unfortunate.
Chest blows ????
According to you, this type of headline is better, right ?:
https://www.cnet.com/es/noticias/richard-stallman-renuncia-jeffrey-epstein/
https://www.elespanol.com/omicrono/20190917/richard-stallman-padre-software-libre-defendio-pedofilia/
https://www.lavanguardia.com/tecnologia/actualidad/20190918/47459747545/richard-stallman-dimision-mit-jeffrey-epstein.html
We are collaborating to forge a world where freedom of opinion will disappear, and where opinions will be enough to bring a person to trial. I don't think that's fair ...
Isaac, the chest blows from the comment battle. A publisher is a publisher and I believe that it is not necessary to go in to defend or justify it; the reaction is already a sign of defeat.
He was trying to make a constructive comment. Whether you agree or not with the content, always appreciate your time and effort.
A greeting.
It is debatable that the author declares himself a "feminist".
I leave a section of an interesting article on the subject.
“Let us also remember that not only Stallman came out to defend the director of MIT, Joishi Ito. Also other renowned men from the world of culture like Lessig and Negroponte have done it. Enough of this attitude of herd of men defending men for the fact of being men. There is no "witch hunt" from the feminist movement.
Women have been and continue to be violated in all areas by men who exercise their power and take advantage of their position: in the cinema, in the opera and also in the field of technology and social movements. And we men continue to be determined to ignore it because we are not the ones who suffer the violence but the ones who exercise it. "
https://radioslibres.net/hombres-y-software-libre-reflexiones-al-hilo-del-caso-epstein-stallman/
The issue is very delicate, but it is good that awareness is being raised of the damage it causes ... unfortunately this paradigm shift is painful and no matter how little you are involved, it is time for everyone to act. The problem we see here is that the potato is so hot that anyone who approaches it can burn. I hope everything works out in the best way for Mr. Stallman. and Isaac don't take the comments we make to heart, you are the editor here and if we read the posts it is because we think they are good informational material. Thank you very much for the work you do.
Thank you.
Yes, it will be better to leave the subject until more data is had and to know how everything concludes.