FSF Shares Holiday Fairy Tale Warning 'Don't Let Your Tools Control You' (fsf.org) 25
"Share this holiday fairy tale with your loved ones," urges the Free Software Foundation.
A company offers you a tool to make your life easier, but, when you use it, you find out that the tool forces you to use it only in the way the tool's manufacturer approves. Does this story ring a bell? It's what millions of software users worldwide experience again and again, day after day. It's also the story of Wendell the Elf and the ShoeTool.
They suggest enjoying the video "to remind yourself why you shouldn't let your tools tell you how to use them." First released in 2019, it's available on the free/open-source video site PeerTube, a decentralized (and ActivityPub-federated) platform powered by WebTorrent.
They've also created a shortened URL for sharing on social media (recommending the hashtag #shoetool ). "And, of course, you can adapt the video to your liking after downloading the source files." Or, you can share the holiday fairy tale with your loved ones so that they can learn not to let their tools control them.
If we use free software, we don't need anyone's permission to, for example, modify our tools ourselves or install modifications shared by others. We don't need permission to ask someone else to tailor our tools to serve our wishes, exercise our creativity. The Free Software Foundation believes that everyone deserves full control over their computers and phones, and we hope this video helps you explain the importance of free software to your friends and family.
"Don't let your tools tell you how to use them," the video ends. "Join the Free Software Foundation!"
A company offers you a tool to make your life easier, but, when you use it, you find out that the tool forces you to use it only in the way the tool's manufacturer approves. Does this story ring a bell? It's what millions of software users worldwide experience again and again, day after day. It's also the story of Wendell the Elf and the ShoeTool.
They suggest enjoying the video "to remind yourself why you shouldn't let your tools tell you how to use them." First released in 2019, it's available on the free/open-source video site PeerTube, a decentralized (and ActivityPub-federated) platform powered by WebTorrent.
They've also created a shortened URL for sharing on social media (recommending the hashtag #shoetool ). "And, of course, you can adapt the video to your liking after downloading the source files." Or, you can share the holiday fairy tale with your loved ones so that they can learn not to let their tools control them.
If we use free software, we don't need anyone's permission to, for example, modify our tools ourselves or install modifications shared by others. We don't need permission to ask someone else to tailor our tools to serve our wishes, exercise our creativity. The Free Software Foundation believes that everyone deserves full control over their computers and phones, and we hope this video helps you explain the importance of free software to your friends and family.
"Don't let your tools tell you how to use them," the video ends. "Join the Free Software Foundation!"
My 'tool' tells me exactly what it wants (Score:3)
and I obay.
Re: My 'tool' tells me exactly what it wants (Score:2)
Weirdos (Score:1)
Most people cannot do without (Score:2)
Most people in the software space need these tools, because they cannot actually do their jobs. With the tools, they can sort-of fake it. Hence hey have no choice. What they are doing is essentially the software version of poverty prostitution.
Certainly glad (Score:2)
that was explained to us in such detail!
what arrogance (Score:1)
They speak as if only they provide source code to "tools" when they aren't even the first to do so, and also as if the only thing that prevents users from modifying tools is source code when in reality no one EVER does so. FSF devolved into a cult long ago , we'd all be far better off without their jackass leader who throws tantrums when people don't pay attention to him.
Re: (Score:2)
as if the only thing that prevents users from modifying tools is source code when in reality no one EVER does so
Perhaps it might be more honest as "the only thing that prevents users from hiring someone for modifying tools is source code."
Re:what arrogance (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm someone and I have used available source code to modify tools to better suit my needs. Then I published the diffs for others to use.
I have never seen the FSF claim to be the first to provide source code.
The GNU project did contribute an awful lot of userspace tools that got incorporated along with the Linux kernel to provide GNU/Linux, the OS. GCC is still a popular choice for compilers (and especially cross compilers).
GCC also gave LLVM and so Clang a start.
Re: (Score:3)
A whole heap of whooshes.
OP claimed nobody EVER modifies their tools. I refuted.
OP claimed FSF speaks as if they are the only group to provide source. I have never seen such a claim. I said as much.
You seem like one of those people who just likes to complain even if you have to contort logic and bend over backwards to do so. You seem to be outraged that the FSF made an animation that talks about the FSF and it's mission? What did you expect the FSF to promote, Oracle?
I am well aware that BSD exists and has
Re: (Score:2)
Somebody's been hitting the punch bowl a little hard today. Hint: I haven't had any yet.
Re: (Score:2)
A deliberate absurdity to drive the point home. I guess I need a jackhammer...
Re: (Score:2)
Is that you, Lennart?
Poor quality (Score:2)
Couldn't they have hired a better animator? I've seen better from unpaid fan projects.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Yeah, but the animator wasn't allowed to use any unfree graphics or animations tools and ... well ... you see the result.
Re: (Score:2)
Pfft. Big Buck Bunny was done in nothing but Blender.
Big Buck Bunny; Pepper&Carrot (Score:2)
Better with free tools may be possible. David Revoy's comic Pepper&Carrot is made with Krita and Inkscape, both free, and Blender Institute's Big Buck Bunny and other short films are made with free Blender.
Re: (Score:2)
> other short films are made with free Blender.
https://studio.blender.org/fil... [blender.org]
Some are awesome.
Don't Be A Tool Puppet. (Score:1)
Like Apple users? They are all tools. Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!
EFF or FSF (Score:1)
https://yro.slashdot.org/story... [slashdot.org]
https://news.slashdot.org/stor... [slashdot.org]
Or just slow slashdot holiday editors didn't get short-bus love for the holiday.
Love you guys!! Keep on posting everything no matter what you've posted before!